Women's Devo | April 2022
Our Heritage - From the Cross to Our Father’s House
In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3
For whosoever shall call upon name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13
When Jesus died on the cross, some of His followers thought that was the end, and all Hope was lost. Oh, but on that Resurrection morning all of their Hope was restored. Mary ran back from the tomb and told the disciples, “He is risen! He is alive just as He said!” They continued with the commission that He had given them to make sure His legacy would live on, and His work would be completed. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:33 NIV
God blessed me to be born into a praying family. My heritage began with my mother’s family. Around 1914 her oldest sister, Eula Mae O’Quinn (Stephens), went to a brush arbor around the age of 14 and was saved, sanctified, and baptized in the Holy Ghost. My grandmother and grandfather, Maggie and Tyler O’Quinn, were not too enthused about the idea. You have to understand that the move of God was just beginning across the area. :God was calling His people to serve Him and to spread His great gospel. Of course, my grandmother became curious and went to church. Well, you know what happened! God poured the same power on her that He had on my aunt. From that time on, Granny walked several miles to church with her twelve children. Granny and Grandpa O’Quinn also raised several nieces, nephews, and anyone who came and needed a place to live. You can rest assured that whoever lived with them was taught about this great heritage, the love of God and His saving grace.
During this time my mother, Betty Jean O’Quinn Johns, was also saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost at a very young age. She was one of twelve children. Later my dad, Moncie Johns, happened to be one of the “strays” who needed a place to live. In fact, several of my aunts’ husbands-to-be ended up at my grandparents’ house. God was just working His plan to continue this “Heritage.” At the early age of fourteen, my mom married my dad who was 21. They were blessed with seven children (5 daughters and two sons) and adopted 2 more sons. They also fostered 184 foster children over 22 years after the original seven children married. As you can tell, this “Heritage” was being spread beyond our immediate family because at our house “you went to church”--no questions asked. My mother taught us like Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” My dad didn’t serve God for many years, but my mother held on to God and prayed fervently. At the age of 61, my dad received God and served Him until he went to be with the Lord at the age of 80. My mother kept the faith and prayed over all of us constantly. At the age of 88, on February 12, 2022, she went to be with the Lord still believing that all of us will join her one day in our Father’s house.
Our Father’s House welcomes “strays” and “whosoever shall call upon His name.” No matter how deep in sin or whatever state we are in, God will love and forgive us. He has promised in His word, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 He has commissioned us to share our heritage with our children, grandchildren and all who are placed in our path. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15 It is our responsibility to help make sure that the heritage Jesus left for us continues throughout our family and the world until the Lord comes to call us home. God has also commissioned you and me to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
Jesus came to be the sacrifice that was needed for the world’s sins. He arose as our Savior, and He’s coming back as our King of Glory!! “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17
So, be that shining light on a hill--hold on, pray, stand steadfast, live a life that is pleasing to God and share this blessing to everyone that you meet. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Jesus paved this path for us to follow Him to our Father’s House! Look up for our redemption draweth nigh!
I’m going home with Jesus
In the twinkling of an eye.
I’ve made my reservation for a mansion in the sky,
I may not know the moment
Or I may not know the day,
But I know that I’ll be leaving
When He calls His Church away.
For whosoever shall call upon name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13
When Jesus died on the cross, some of His followers thought that was the end, and all Hope was lost. Oh, but on that Resurrection morning all of their Hope was restored. Mary ran back from the tomb and told the disciples, “He is risen! He is alive just as He said!” They continued with the commission that He had given them to make sure His legacy would live on, and His work would be completed. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:33 NIV
God blessed me to be born into a praying family. My heritage began with my mother’s family. Around 1914 her oldest sister, Eula Mae O’Quinn (Stephens), went to a brush arbor around the age of 14 and was saved, sanctified, and baptized in the Holy Ghost. My grandmother and grandfather, Maggie and Tyler O’Quinn, were not too enthused about the idea. You have to understand that the move of God was just beginning across the area. :God was calling His people to serve Him and to spread His great gospel. Of course, my grandmother became curious and went to church. Well, you know what happened! God poured the same power on her that He had on my aunt. From that time on, Granny walked several miles to church with her twelve children. Granny and Grandpa O’Quinn also raised several nieces, nephews, and anyone who came and needed a place to live. You can rest assured that whoever lived with them was taught about this great heritage, the love of God and His saving grace.
During this time my mother, Betty Jean O’Quinn Johns, was also saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost at a very young age. She was one of twelve children. Later my dad, Moncie Johns, happened to be one of the “strays” who needed a place to live. In fact, several of my aunts’ husbands-to-be ended up at my grandparents’ house. God was just working His plan to continue this “Heritage.” At the early age of fourteen, my mom married my dad who was 21. They were blessed with seven children (5 daughters and two sons) and adopted 2 more sons. They also fostered 184 foster children over 22 years after the original seven children married. As you can tell, this “Heritage” was being spread beyond our immediate family because at our house “you went to church”--no questions asked. My mother taught us like Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” My dad didn’t serve God for many years, but my mother held on to God and prayed fervently. At the age of 61, my dad received God and served Him until he went to be with the Lord at the age of 80. My mother kept the faith and prayed over all of us constantly. At the age of 88, on February 12, 2022, she went to be with the Lord still believing that all of us will join her one day in our Father’s house.
Our Father’s House welcomes “strays” and “whosoever shall call upon His name.” No matter how deep in sin or whatever state we are in, God will love and forgive us. He has promised in His word, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 He has commissioned us to share our heritage with our children, grandchildren and all who are placed in our path. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15 It is our responsibility to help make sure that the heritage Jesus left for us continues throughout our family and the world until the Lord comes to call us home. God has also commissioned you and me to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
Jesus came to be the sacrifice that was needed for the world’s sins. He arose as our Savior, and He’s coming back as our King of Glory!! “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17
So, be that shining light on a hill--hold on, pray, stand steadfast, live a life that is pleasing to God and share this blessing to everyone that you meet. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Jesus paved this path for us to follow Him to our Father’s House! Look up for our redemption draweth nigh!
I’m going home with Jesus
In the twinkling of an eye.
I’ve made my reservation for a mansion in the sky,
I may not know the moment
Or I may not know the day,
But I know that I’ll be leaving
When He calls His Church away.
Patricia Whaley serves alongside her husband, Bishop Tommy Whaley, as Senior Pastors of the Darien Church of God in Darien, Georgia. They have been married for 51 years and have been in ministry for 50 years, 40 of which have been at the Darien Church of God. They have three adult children, Karey Johnson (Wayne), Hope Thomas (widowed – her husband, James Thomas, went to be with the Lord on November 30, 2021), and Jerry Whaley (Tina). They also have eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren of whom they are so very proud. Their adult children and spouses and several of their grandchildren are a vital part of ministries within their church (praise and worship, teaching, youth ministry, women’s ministry and anything that needs to be done). Regarding Patricia’s siblings, five along with their spouses are pastors and the others use their talents for the Lord within their local churches. Patricia worked in Banking for several years and then retired from the McIntosh County School System. She is enjoying retirement, even though she feels she stays busier than ever. She also enjoys spending time with her family and quilting.
No Comments