Mom

Martha Louise Huttenstine

Martha

Mom knew where she was going. She was glad to serve God while she was here but I am sure if she had a choice in her last days she would have chose to go home.

Mom and Howard knew that Christ made a difference in their lives and they wanted others to also know. None of us know how long we have or what our last day(s) hold. Mom was able to have a full life of opportunity but even in that, the last few years were of no quality that we could see. God can give us the most of our days when we seek Him in how we spend those days. He gives joy and peace and contentment that the world does not give. He gives and gives when the world offers so much that rob us of the very things God wants to give us. It is only through following Christ that you will gain all the things that really matter.

Martha L. Huttenstine, 89, of Monroe Township, OH, died Saturday morning, May 18, 2013, at Lake Pointe Rehab and Nursing Center, Conneaut, OH.  She was born July 13, 1923 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania and was the daughter of Walter and Sophia (Stenger) Taylor.

A Pennsylvania resident for most of her life, she moved to Boardman, OH, in 1968 where she resided until moving to Monroe Township in 2000 to be near her daughter.   She truly was a “Martha” who enjoyed being with family and friends, and feeding her guests.  She also was a “Mary” and spent her mornings putting Jesus first with her daily devotions and prayers.  She was an active member of the Boardman Church of the Nazarene and transferred her membership to Kelloggsville Church of the Nazarene.  She enjoyed going out to eat and vacationing.

Survivors include her daughter Laura (Kurt) Butler of Monroe Township, OH; four grandchildren, Amanda, Sean, Lance, and Garrik; her niece Charlotte Brenner and nephew Walter Woods, both of Youngstown whom she raised; her niece and nephews’ children and their families of Ohio; and more extended family in Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Howard Huttenstine; four sisters, Stella Pearl, Florence, Musetta, and Reata; a brother Charles; and her nephew George Woods whom she raised.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, May 23, 2013, at the Kelloggsville Church of the Nazarene, 4841 St. Rt. 84, Monroe Township, OH, with Pastor Les Bolen officiating.  Burial will be in Kelloggsville Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church on Thursday afternoon from 1:00 until the time of the service at 2:00.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family or to the Church.  Envelopes will be available at the church and at the Marcy Funeral Home, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, OH, which has charge of arrangements.

DOVE

Martha Louise Huttenstine

Date of Birth:  July 13, 1923

Went Home:  May 18, 2013

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! but Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth–
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

John 14:1-4 ”Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (Jesus’ words)

TAKE TIME TO KNOW

When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say.

I know how much you love me
As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.

She said my place was ready
In heaven far above;
And that I’d have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I’d always thought
I didn’t want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday
Just even for awhile,
I’d say goodbye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized
That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven’s gates
I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne.

He said, “This is eternity
And all I’ve promised you;
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it all starts anew.”
“I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last;
And since each day’s the same day,
There’s no longing for the past.”
“But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things,
You knew you shouldn’t do.”
“But you have been forgiven
And now at last you’re free;
So won’t you take my hand
And share my life with me?”

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart
For every time you think of me,
I’m right here in your heart.

Laura’s Testimony:

Mom has worn out a few bibles. One that I remember sitting on a stand beside a chair in the living room that was given to her by her sister has the back off of it. She has notes written all through it. In the front cover she had written that “Life is too short not to put Christ first”. That is what mom did. She put Christ first. Mom’s devotion was part of her breakfast. She would sit every morning with her Bible and her coffee.

Life is too short. You all remember when you were young how we thought we had so much time and those of you who are young are thinking that right now. Before you know it, you are my age. Then, before you know it, your soul is called home. I want my home to be with my Savior and the only way I know for that to become a reality is to seek God’s wisdom with all my heart and to walk in all the light He gives me.

There are lots of reasons for who I am. I thank God that He planned my life. I am sure there are many reasons why I am a Christian today. The biggest reason is probably the prayers of others. The most visible reasons for me are:

First, Mom and Howard would take me to church and then we would go to lunch somewhere. I know there is power in God’s word and it is alive and working. I also believe there is power in song. I believe the music that played in the car also played a part in my salvation. I thank God for those messages. They also had music playing at home much of the time.

Second, I believe Billy Graham was an influence because I recall watching his crusades in the living room and also attending one with my mom. I think I prayed the sinner’s prayer at the end of every service just to be sure. I loved the song “Just as I am.” Also, TV viewing was decent and I can’t ever remember complaining about what was on. I remember Lassie, Little House on the Prairie, The Walton’s, Shirley Temple. We watched a lot of sitcoms also but they were nothing like what you see today.

Thirdly, I remember mom having her coffee, breakfast, devotions and prayer every morning. I can still see her at the kitchen table. I thank God for her example.

Alzheimer’s took a lot away from her these last few years but I always hoped she still had those moments with God even in her illness. I believe she is in heaven and that Howard was there alongside Jesus to welcome her. If we ever want to see our loved ones again, we need to accept Jesus as our Savior and be walking as close to God as we possibly can. It is only by my mom’s faith that I believe she arrived at heaven’s gate. Without faith in Christ and His blood I don’t believe we have a hope.

Christ makes life worth living. Mom now knows better than any of us what we have to look forward to if we are in Christ and Christ is in us.

When talking to our Pastor Lester Bolen about mom’s passing, I shared about a journal that I was able to retrieve from the nursing home. It had to be a God thing because I don’t remember seeing it there before and with her changing rooms and such over the past 7 years and it not getting lost, it has to be a miracle. Her name is not in it but I can tell beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is her hand writing. It is her hand writing from before her illness so that makes it even more amazing. In the first few pages, she has written, “Prayer is the battle itself, but we think of prayer as preparation for the battle.”  Mom was still being used by God to teach me. I have come out of prayer so exhausted sometimes that this really sunk deep. It was a revelation to me because it is so true. When we take our troubles to God in prayer, the prayer is the battle. We can then leave it with God and He fights the battle for us. It also helped me to realize that the big battle has already been won.

Pastor shared about how mom’s devotion in the morning was probably spent with many prayers that were fighting battles for those she loved.

A few more pages into the journal, she had written, “Satan’s ploys are no match for the Savior’s Power.” I am sure that I will continue to get messages from God by reading through mom’s journal that God managed to preserve through the years.

This is for Howard. Every time I hear this song, I get a tear. He sang it in church along with many other songs but for some reason this one stands out in my memory. He gave me many good memories.

Mom and Howard strove for what they knew to be right. They included Christ in their life so that they would wear a crown when they were called home. They would like nothing more than for us to join them when we are called up yonder. Strive for what is right and include Christ in your life.

 

Gaither Vocal Band – I Shall Wear A Crown from rlmelco on GodTube.

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