I would like to introduce to you a person that has been an inspiration to me and my wife Margaret in so many ways. This is our cousin Bonnie Lemke who lives in a small town near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bonnie loves the Lord and she isn’t afraid to let folks know it. She and her husband Randy have a ministry at the local state prison where they go and witness to the lost souls there. But this isn’t the reason why I am compelled to write this post today. For you see, Bonnie is also a cancer survivor and has been an inspiration to thousands of folks who have cancer and to their loved ones whose life’s have been turned upside down with the fear of losing someone to this dreaded disease.
Bonnie has been battling ovarian cancer now for over seven years. Each year was a miracle from God because the doctors didn’t think she would make it one year. It just humbles me to think of how our Lord has used Bonnie to witness to so many hurting folks out there through her CaringBrideg.org website and her prison ministry. I recall how excited Bonnie was when our Lord allowed her to be with her family last Christmas. Oh the love, joy and peace that our Lord gave Bonnie that day when she could be with her family to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. For you see, Bonnie’s health had been going down-hill and her cancer treatments were not working anymore. But God was so gracious with His love and mercy that He allowed Bonnie to spend her seventh Christmas with her family since her diagnoses. God is Good!
This morning our beloved Bonnie is laying in a hospital bed clinging to what is left of her earthly life. With her husband and family by her side, Bonnie can feel the love that they all have for her. Bonnie has fought a good fight and her departure is near. Soon Bonnie will be in the arms of our Lord and she will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:23)
Click here to read Bonnie’s “Survivor’s Story”.
32 comments:
All of you will be in my prayers. What a beautiful lady. I know you will miss her, but you will be with her again one day. Hugs and blessings!
Bonnie, what a fitting name for a beautiful soul such as she.
May the Lord bless and keep her close in His arms till he caries her safely home.
"To be absent in the body is to be present in the Lord..."
Indeed, Bonnie is quite an inspiration. Praying with you!
Blessings,
andrea
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful lady.
My prayers are with you all.
Blessings,
Terri
I'll be praying with you. Thanks for sharing her story.
I'm sorry to hear about Bonnie, but very glad she's in the Lord's timing and hands. Blessings**
Thank you for this post. It is inspiring! I am praying.
Thank you for not suffering this loss alone (well...with those around you there), but for sharing the message of Bonnie's light with all of us here in Blogland. I pray the Lord welcome her soon and that she not suffer. And I pray that He strengthen her loved ones for the journey of grief that awaits them. But praising Him that through His sacrifice, we may ALL be together again one day in the presence of our precious Savior! Hugs & love ~ Merana
Greetings -
For dear Bonnie:
Revelation 14:13 (KJV)
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hencforth: Yea, saith the Sprit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
I know the way she shared His light with those around her will never die. May God cover all of you with His comfort and strength. She is truly an inspiration. Thank you for sharing her beautiful spirit! God bless.
Glory to God for Bonnie!
I once was at Heaven's Gate with the light streaming out. JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY! It's so easy, just a matter of stepping in to the Light. And Jesus is standing there with the biggest smile you ever saw!
Bill
CornerRetreat.blogspot.com
Why we suffer will be a question we will never answer until we too see God face to face. But the inspiration and closeness to God that comes to many who do suffer is undeniable. May Bonnie and your family and friends know yourselves to be in the hands of a loving Father.
m+x
Lloyd & Margaret... thank you for sharing about Bonnie.
So sweet Bonnie ! 7 years and the picture posted of you is awesome & inspiring.
To defy science in our faith, hope, and love .... is not hard.. it just relies on our conscience (con science) in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you our sister Bonnie and your incredible family!
Love in our Lord
His Sonshine
Dear Lloyd, I came by to inform you that I have returned to blogging, cos I missed you guys much. I am so sorry to hear about Bonnie. We all have lost someone close one time or another. They are gone but never forgotten. Prayers and blessings.
You certainly have my condolences in the approaching loss of a good friend and Christian relative. At such times, I try to remember the blessings that await them and the fact that one more loved one will be awaiting us when our turn comes. May God comfort you and yours.
A testimony of God's grace in her life. Thank you for sharing about this special child of God..
Praise God we can rejoice in her faith but it hurts us who are left behind when a loved one goes on before us. I am sorry she had to suffer through cancer.
Oh the Lord is Good and Wonderful! How gracious to leave Bonnie here and show the doctors and others how powerful He is, to give her family that needed time with her. I'm saddened like others that her time is near but joyous that God is calling her home and her battle is over, she will be with Him soon and what a glorious eternal life she will have. Hallelujah!
Thank you for inviting me to your blog Lloyd. I read the story about Bonnie and I became emotional. My 81 mother just passed away Sept 8, 2010. It was a fatal stroke. I posted her story in my blog. Father succumbed to liver cancer 11 years ago at age 72. With these, I could relate to the emotional stress Bonnie and her family must be experiencing. I pray for emotional healing of her family members and those who loved her. I pray for Bonnie for her continuous fight. I know, in His time, the Lord makes things beautiful for His children. God bless you my friend, your blog followers and readers.
Thank you for sharing Bonnie's story with your readers! Her strength and love for the Lord are an inspiration. May her family and friends find solitude knowing her kindness. Lovely post!
Your postis inspiring. I watch my boss everyday struggle with stress that she knows is not good for her.Now she has wisely decided to retire and enjoy life. Your post is good for me to read.
We were sent to earth to learn and also to rediscover god. And our lives pere persanalized to strenghen our weaknesses. My mother is living with epalepsy. And one of the sideeffects of the medacation is drosyness. Snd so she sleeps at least 3/4 of the day. And so she misses alot of things. Andshe has her moments of tears and anger. So this is what i tell her. And i mean it to "People who phisicly suffer were so perfect in heven that this is what they needed to learn whe they came to earth."
True dat.
Beautiful tribute for a special friend. Just look at what was special to her--spending Christmas with her family.
I will most certainly be praying for Bonnie and her loved ones.
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."--Rev. 21:4
I too thank you Lloyd for inviting me to visit your blog while you visited mine. It's a pleasure to meet fellow baby boomers thru a beautiful blog such as yours! Bonnie's story touched so many of us in blogland, but most of all show's how God used her to show HIS love. This little time we share on earth is for us to become more like Jesus and to share the Love of God inside us. Oh but to reach those who haven't accepted God's awesome free gift of Life everlasting...you are a blessing to me too!!!!
My dear cousin Bonnie went home to be with her Lord and Savior a few hours ago. I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement and prayers. Even though Bonnie will be greatly missed by her family and friends, we all know that she has no more pain from her cancer and that we will all see her again. God bless, Lloyd
What a testimony of a life lived with true joy...Thank you so much for her story...and I am praying for her...
Hugs
xox
Praying for the family.
Many blessings of His love and comfort at this time of loss, our deepest sympathies to you and the family but also rejoicing for Bonnie and her suffering has ended...and this is being said as you shared:
“Well done, good and faithful servant Bonnie; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:23)
May the Comforter wrap you all in His love!
Peggy
and The Lighthouse of Prayer team
Hello, Lloyd~
I am sorry to hear of Bonnie's passing, but rejoicing in the fact that she has been "PROMOTED TO GLORY" and is resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father!
May God comfort her family and give them peace during this difficult time.
Blessings~
Laura
Praying comfort and peace for you and all of Bonnie's loved ones and rejoicing that she is present with our Lord.
Lloyd, I came by to thank you for leaving a comment on my blog about your precious Bonnie. I'm sorry. A friend whom I loved recently died as well, so I know it's difficult.
We serve a mighty God and I will be praying for her family.
Because He lives,
Jasmine
Praying for the family..
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