Bobby Lepinay

Week of Tribute

Many have asked how I am doing with the loss of my mom last week.  In a nutshell, the loss is more traumatic this week, as last week was filled with getting everything together for her Memorial service and burial and I didnt really have the time to let it set in.  I cant even begin to imagine the loss my dad is feeling.

So.......I have decided to let this be the place I write, in the the hopes of getting at least some of the grief out.  This whole week is dedicated to my mom and the memory of her.

My mom was, as Deb put it last night, "easy".  After Deb and I got married, she never once got into our business, was always from the start completely accepting of Debbie as a part of the family.  She was sensible, fair, level, completely honest.  As Deb again said, "She was a wonderful mother-in-law....as good as there is."

Looking back, I realize that my mom lived a life with much pain.  When she was 6 years old, a boy put a pencil in her ear, piercing the eardrum, affecting her hearing for life.  When she was 8 or 9, her parents divorced.  Her family lived in the backwoods of S. La and around that time mom got 'double pneumonia'.  The doctor said that her chance of survival was almost none, yet, with the help of her oldest sister who was now like a mom to her, she survived death's door the first time.

At 16, she left home with her youngest sister, Nettie, in search of a better life.  She met my dad when she was 19 in New Orleans, where she worked at the Fairmont Hotel and Felix's (still there by Cafe DuMonde...) during the war.  My dad was in the French Airforce and during the time he was back in France, she as hit by a car, flipping over it, then the next week, was shot in the abdomen by a crazed woman shooting wildly from a street balcony. 

For hours they operated, but the bullet had lodged in her spine and to remove it would have been too dangerous.  She was listed as a "Jane Doe', as no one knew her name.  When she woke up a few weeks later, she didnt know where she was or what had happened, but described a huge pair of wings that covered the entire ceiling of the room she was in.  She knew enough to know it was an angel of the Lord sent to watch over her. 

Though the doctors did not know her name, God did, and that was what mattered.

Mom once again recovered.  Not only did she live, but she walked, something they said she would never do.  She met my dad 6 months later at the train station, having been stood up by her sisters against a post so my dad wouldnt immediately see her in a wheelchair. 

Another thing the doctors told her was that if she did live and did walk, one thing for certain was that she would not be able to have children, as the bullet had really messed up her lower abdominal area. 

Mom would not take that answer. 

As she told me many times over the years, "The doctors are not God..."  "I HAD to live-God wanted me to have children!"  Before me she lost 2 babies.  She had me at 40 years of age, then my sis at 45. 

Thanks mom for being a fighter and not quiting...!

Just writing this, I can see how the enemy was out to destroy her, to keep her from having children, the very thing God had put in her heart to do.  Even as I write, a sense of 'destiny' fills my heart to completely fulfill God's intent and design for my life for His glory, period. 

.......and Mom not only had children; she raised them,..... then saw her grandchildren! 

For those of you reading along, thanks for sharing the road with me.  It's good to get it out....

Much love,

PB

1 Week Later.....

Many thanks to all of you who have been so kind over the past week.  The calls, cards, flowers, emails and prayer are deeply appreciated by the whole of my family.

I woke up this morning and as I opened my eyes, the thought hit me full bore that exactly one week ago, my mom was facing her final few hours on this side before she would cross over to eternity.  I have a variety of emotions of course and many thoughts regarding this past week.  Here are a few as they come to mind.....

1.  Death never seems 'real'.  Being a pastor, I have had to walk a number of people througth 'the valley of the shadow of death.  When the person passes, it never seems real.  We are just numb, thinking 'this cant be real....this isnt happening...'  That leads me to my 2nd thought....

2.  Death is for sure an enemy.  It was not God's original design, but through the fall, it entered the world.  Thank God that the '2nd Adam', the Lord Jesus Christ, by His resurrection, has brought LIFE!  One day His life will completely swallow death.  No more death, no more dying, no more tears.  The former things will have passed away.

3.  The foreboding and dread were much worse than the actuality.  To be honest, since my parents had me when they were in their 40's, I realize now how I lived my life under the continual fear of their dying.  The devil works through fear, seeking to torment us with it.  There is no grace before you need it.  It is only there when you need it.  Which leads me to the next thing....

4.  God is amazingly good and kind when we look to Him.  I say the last part because He is in fact always good.  We just miss His little kindnesses when we walk with our head looking down rather than up.  The things God has done in the pain of the past week are unreal:  EVERY prayer was answered, down to the thing I asked for 15 months ago when I was buying cemetary plots for the day we actually buried my mom.  I asked for it to be a clear, crisp, cool day.  It rained all day the day before, all day then 2 days after, but on THAT day, it was crystal clear. 

Do you look for His mercies to follow you? I sure do.  I need mercy in all the messes especially.

5.  Worship.  In one word, that is what has been salve to my soul.  I know more than ever the grace of God truly is more than enough.  I am sad, but also grateful to the Father above for all of His kindnesses toward my mom in the past season.  None of us will live forever on this side....none.  Real life is on the other side!

Please continue to pray for my dad especially.  He was with her every hour of every day for the past 5 years pretty much and the missing of his partner is beyond what I can imagine. 

Again, love you guys, and may we never forget:  We are children of RESURRECTION!!

pb

Marie Lepinay March 13, 1923 - January 22, 2007

My mom, Marie Lepinay, went to be with the Lord this morning at about 7:30am, Monday the 22nd of January.  It is very late and I have much to say in honor of her, but that will be for later. The pictures above were taken this past Christmas Eve, wonderfully, with her husband of 62 years and my dad, Robert L., by her, as well as her 2 children, Denise and myself, our spouses, Debbie and Richard, and all her grandchildren, Michael, Brittany, Victoria, Daniel and Rachel.

Let me just say that truly, the Father's grace is more real than I have ever known, and the thing I dreaded so much for so many years, is.....I dont know how to describe it.....:  His Presence makes her passing a sacred time. 

Thank you for all the love and prayers through the past 15 months.  Truly, as you will hear if you come to the Celebration of Life service Friday morning (11am at New Testament Fellowship, viewing at 6:30pm Thursday evening at Faith Chapel North on Hwy 29), EVERY prayer was answered over the past few months and she 'died in faith', with peace and love all around her. 

Deepest love to you all as well.....

PB

Hearing From God

Well, I'm back from the Fasting Retreat we had this past week......excellent time.  Without fail over the past 8 years I have gone, I come back strong in spirit, 'clear'.

Likewise, my sensitivity to hearing God is much increased. 

Hearing from God isnt all that complicated, really.  You just have to be quiet enough inside to 'hear' and spend time drawing near to Him.  And, oh yeah....the 'sin' thing will pretty much kill your hearing as well.

Pastor Craig will be doing a series in March on the subject, digging deeper into it, but at least in my life, the 3 above things keep me in pretty good shape to hear the Voice of my Father when He whispers things to me.

Each of the last 3 mornings, in that time right before you wake up, that twilight of quiet when you are waking, yet not fully awake....usually the quietest time of our day....God spoke to me. 

All were very short, very few words.  All had a deep effect on me and caused me to dig into the Word to further understand what God was saying to me.

Do you hear from God?  Seriously.  God wants to speak to each of us unique things that are for us and only us.  Pretty much like any good dad wants to speak specific things to each of his children, really.

May our hearts be yielded and quiet enough to listen.....

PB

The New Orleans Saints

I know I said I would be out of the blogosphere until I get back from the fasting retreat.......

BUT, I can't pass this opportunity to write about the Saint's win tonight, 27 to 24 over the Eagles.

This is HUGE, folks.....!  Even if you are not a football fan, it is such a cool story. You will find this hard to believe, but I moved to SW La in 1969, 38 years ago.  I will never forget being in my uncle's restaurant, 5 years old, watching the game on the tv he had.  I saw that day Tom Dempsey kick a 68 yard field goal, the longest in NFL history and from that day forward I was hooked:  I was a bonafide Saints fan.

Now.....

All of these years, you would always be hopeful, but every year, disappointed.  They were the joke of the league, yet, I still watched them and rooted for them, wore their sweatshirts, even when it was embarrasing. 

In 1981, they were SO bad, fans wore paper bags over their heads......really!  This is the only team that has never won a playoff game, never gone to a championship. 

Combine that with the devastation of Katrina.....after last season winning only 3 games, no one gave them any hope.  But here they are, 1 GAME AWAY FROM GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!

I can 'garantee' (cajun) you one thing:  IF they win it all, never will there have been fans more deserving than these! 

All I can say is.......GO SAINTS!!!  The curse has been broken.....! :)

PB

Fasting Retreat 2007

Every year, Pastor Craig, myself and a number of other men from the Southeast gather together in January to fast and pray for the new year. 

Without fail, God has met us every time and I have no doubt He will this time as well.

I heard that Pastor Craig did an outstanding job this past Sunday.  I love the team we have at Harvest!  It is one of life's greatest blessings to know that this church is not just built on ME.

I will be out of cyberspace during the retreat and wont be bloggging.  I leave after church Sunday night and return Wed night.  Hope you have a GREAT week and hope to see many of you this Sunday @ 5 pm!

Grace,

PB

A Manifesto for 2007

Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in DC, posted this on his blog this week.  I have found myself going back to it a few times in the past few days and it is 'sticking'.  As I said when I started this blog last year, I am committed to 'passing on what sticks'.....

May it challenge you as it did me....I printed it and put it in my Bible.

PB

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Grab life by the mane. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

The Drive Home From Lakeland...

After getting Michael settled into his new life down at Southeastern University, we made the long drive back home, Deb in one car with Brit, me in the other with Victoria, at least for the last leg of the journey.....We were all pretty sad to leave him but glad for him following God's will for His life.

Instead of just give in to melancholy, Tory and I decided to 'sing and make melody' to the Lord, spontaneous songs we just made up as we went along.  After about 30 minutes of this, she said, "Dad, lets think of individuals who come to mind and sing out our prayers for them." 

I have to say, it was a pretty cool way to pray for people.  An hour passed in no time and we had prayed for quite alot.  Victoria is 13 and I am glad for these 'imprinting moments' we have together.

A number of times, as she would belt something out, then I would echo (try to), she would crack up laughing, saying, "Oh, Dad....you are terrible!"  To which I would say, "I know......but GOD loves to hear my voice as I sing to him and that is all that matters!....So keep going....!"

Do you sing to the Lord? 

As I sit here typing, I can hear Victoria out in the Living Room, still making up songs, singing with all her heart. I think singing to God is a big part of a simple, child-like faith that brings pleasure to God.  It blesses me to hear my daughter.  How much more it must bless the Heavenly Father she is singing to???

"Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit (made up and spontaneous???).  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything...."

Just a thought....!

PB 

06 in the Rearview....07 Up Ahead

I have been out of the blogosphere as of late, and will be hit and miss over the next few days as well....

We have a "Going Away" party for Michael and the kids leaving for college this weekend tonight.....not sure whether to be :) or :(.....

We will miss him for sure and the thought of him not being at church with us and part of our everyday life is more than strange.  He will be having a ball though, without a doubt...

Ah.....the year 2006.....

Without question, 2006 will be remembered in my life a 'the year of trial'.  From dealing with my mom's fall and declining health, to our locked up church building situation, to the biggest trial, my own health stuff......."trial" would be an accurate word.  At some points, especially this summer, I honestly didnt think I would make it, so hot was the 'fiery trial that had come upon me'.  I still am not sure what happened, but suspect years of stress, hits, and 'adrenaline living' came to a head, then the enemy took advantage of my weak point to attack in the 'opportune season' (Matt 4). 

The Lord was merciful in that season, however, and our leaders rose up and carried both myself and the church through with flying colors.  And God used the trial to bring our leaders up even higher, as I was forced out of the way for those months. 

Concerning my health, here is where it has all ended up:  I had my final appointments this week and though the pain is still there and nothing has changed, they have no solutions and no more tests they know to run.  They can only presume I have torn interior muscle in the upper abdominal wall that is not able to be seen. 

Bottom line:  Take up to 2400 mg of ibupofren daily and hope for the best. 

On the bright side, I had about the most thorough 'physical' known to mankind this past year, as every part of my body, from my feet up to my neck, where all intensely tested, scanned, x-rayed.  Only my head was left out!  :)

I woke up this morning with the scripture floating around my head......."Blessed are those who persevere under trial because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." 

Not sure how well I stood.....but I am here and still love Jesus!

.....And am I ever ready for a fresh 2007!! :)

Grace,

PB