Our annual Access-Life Christmas Jingle and Mingle in East Tennessee was back at Jefferson City Christian Church this year, with many new variables and not typical in many ways. However, God was there as always blessing people with His love and joy.
There were smiles at the fun activities but the picture above of the group surrounding and praying with one of the participants speaks volumes of God’s presence working touching lives and meeting needs. That is ministry in action and a very special site and moment that I hope everyone will notice and enjoy. Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who came together to help our ministry intern, Hannah Grace Spradling make ministry happen and we pray that everyone continues to enjoy this wondrous Christmas season.
By the way, for those of you with the heart for prayer. The young man in the picture who is surrounded anf being prayed for by ladies at the event is having surgery to remove a rod from his leg today per his father. I’m sure all prayers are appreciated.
Well, the big week is finally here! That’s right, this coming Thursday is Thanksgiving. It was always Leanne‘s favorite holiday and we both enjoyed it to the fullest with faith, family, friends and fellowship.
It is such a wonderful time of the year when we become more aware of the many gracious blessings that God pours out upon us everyday. As we see these many blessings through our eyes of faith, it makes us realize how good God is and how much he loves us. When we focus on these two facts it brings about a true humility where we can not only better walk in the light of His life in which we as believers live but also rest in Him knowing that He is taking care of us in such a unique and tender way.
I hope and pray that the verse below (Jeremiah 32:40) and the artwork that I drew earlier this year not only encourages you in these facts but inspires you as the verse references.
Finally, I will leave you with my favorite Thanksgiving Day verse: “There in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your family shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy” 12:7
ENJOY GOD’S MANY GOOD GIFTS AND HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!
Hey there guys and girls well ages and abilities! In case you missed it, September 21st (the Saturday after our North Texas Expo), we held our annual Fall Fun Day at Shady Grove Church in Dandridge Tennessee.
As usual it was an amazing God bless success with volunteers opening up the autumn season with blessings of arts, crafts, games, food and more on individuals and families living with disabilities in the area in Jesus’ name!
We have been doing this almost as long as the Expo in East Tennessee and it has become a real community tradition. That is one of the things I love about our East Tennessee Outpost team as they have built a wonderful community of friendship, fellowship and fun for individuals and families living with disabilities all centered in Christ.
Although, personally I’ve only been able to attend a couple I can tell from the smiles in the pictures I see that God is there touching lives and meeting needs that only he knows.
A lot of folks think disability ministry is complicated but Shady Grove has figured out quickly that it’s all about the Golden rule and just loving on people with the love of the Lord. No special training needed as God tells us he will equip the called. :-)
Thank you so much Helen and those at Shady Grove for making this special event happen every year. Coming from East Tennessee myself I think it’s best if I close this post with a happy fall y’all. :-)
Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Our Access-Life fall newsletter is in the mail. It is a very special edition as it highlights not only my number one and only girl, Leanne Goddard but the recent North Texas Expo that we did in her honor. Since we cannot mail it out to everyone we know, I thought posting it would be the next best thing. I hope you’re encouraged by the words and pictures as well as the life testimony that Leanne lived for our Lord Jesus. I also pray that God will continue to grow her legacy and make a significant impact on individuals and families living with disabilities for His kingdom.
So, we are finally wrapping up everything on the wonderful 12th annual Access-Life in North Texas this past September 14th which had over 1,000 attendees and I wanted to give everyone one last look at the good things that God did that day with the attached photo collage. It was all done to share the love and gospel of Jesus with individuals and families living with disabilities and honor my precious girl, Leanne Goddard. It was the first step in seeing her legacy here on earth grow and expand but it will not be the last as every activity, Expo, mission trip and outreach we do going forward will be to honor her and her heart’s desire to see people come to know Jesus. She and I both know well the truth that if you have Jesus you have everything you need. The fact that with God all things are possible, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and hope in God never disappoints exponentially magnifies this truth that the ministry will continue to share with the special shining light of her legacy igniting our passion to move forward and Christ alone. Thank you again to everyone who answered God’s call and made this outreach bless many in Jesus’ name!
So, the service for my sweet bride on Saturday was amazing! It was beyond my highest hopes, prayers and expectations. The presence of the Lord was there in such a special way permeating the atmosphere that many were blessed as we glorified the Lord for all the good that he has done and honored Leanne Goddard for the wonderful life she lived and the eternal impact she had on so many people. It was the best day I have had since her passing and while I know this will be a lifelong healing process, everyday that passes is just one more day closer to when I will be with Jesus and her and Heaven. Until then I will strive with all I have to glorify the Lord and honor her legacy while moving forward in Christ with life and the Access-Life Ministry. Thank you so much to everyone who attended and those who watched online [over 1,000 watched and currently over 2,200 have viewed the service]. Thank you to everyone who has been praying, sent a card, flowers and/or ministry gift as well as shared a kind word in a variety of ways. For those who shared in the celebration of Leanne’s life service, I pray you were blessed and encouraged and we will all be renewed in our resolve to see God’s kingdom expanded here on Earth which was Leanne’s heart.
Below is a copy of Leanne’s legacy letter that I wrote that was read at the service Saturday. The picture above was on the cover of the bulletins as it shows her overflowing with the joy that she had for the Lord, thankfully me and obviously our baby girl, Lulu.
Letter of Leanne Goddard’s Legacy by Paul Douglas Goddard III
I apologize to you for not being able to speak directly to you today about my precious bride, Leanne. However, as most of you know I was blessed greatly by the Lord to have such a godly, winsome and inspiring wife who loved me so fiercely as I did her that it is still difficult for me to share directly about her and the wonderful Life that God gave us. However, I know my mom who is an excellent speaker will give more justice to my words than I can at this time and they will hopefully give you more insight into the most beautiful woman I have ever known.
First, let me say that the only truth that is holding me together and keeping me going is the fact that because of what Jesus has done for both of us that she is now in the arms of Jesus in heaven fully whole and completely full of joy and one day when God calls me home, we will be reunited in His arms in our eternal home of Heaven together forever.
This gospel of Jesus’s love, forgiveness, redemption and rebirth is not only the passion of Leanne’s heart but the center of our relationship and love for each other. If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive you and be your savior please know as I quote Leanne directly in saying “it is the best decision you will ever make”.
This love for Jesus and His gospel overflowed from Leanne’s life in a holiness, innocence and purity that drew me to her while we were dating and made me want to love her, honor and adore her and do everything I could do to take care of her. She was my best friend, soulmate and number one and only girl. We often talked about how we were like two peas in a pod as we thought alike, acted alike and supported each other with the commitment of love that I can only credit to God our heavenly father. I will say that she did comment to me one time that she was disappointed that I never was able to enjoy and embrace coffee and the same way she did everyday.
She always wanted everyone to know that God loved them. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. That God was completely holy and pure. Rom 12:9, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good”. And that God wanted us to point our minds and our lives in the direction of Him and our eternal home of Heaven in all we thought, said and did. Colossians 3:1-3, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God”.
She always poured herself into whatever season of our lives we were living as a supporter, leader and overcomer. Whether we were living in the corporate fast lane and going to super bowls and All-Star games, fishing in the rain from our boat or going in and out of hospitals she was always giving 110% to honor God as well as enjoying the blessings he gave us. She never did anything halfway but always strived for excellence which often would set her apart from others. Whether she was catering a party, working on her master Knitters certification or leading an Expo outreach for our ministry, she was always giving it her best.
She also always enjoyed God’s blessings to the fullest. She loved animals especially alpacas because of her love of knitting. However, our three toy poodles all held childlike places in her heart especially Lulu our current baby girl who we have had since she was a puppy. She loved bird watching, reading Christian historical fiction, knitting scarves, socks, sweaters, dish clothes for our Belize outreach or even stuffed toys as gifts, cooking fancy and down home meals and of course puttering as she would call it when she could spend the day just doing things around the house. She was so in awe of God’s glory displayed through nature that she would often stop and exclaim “wow” when she would see a special sunset, mountains rising on the horizon as we were traveling or even when she would hear the waves crashing on the shore from the ocean. Her simple innocence and pure joy in these seemingly ordinary moments were infectious and but one of the many adorable qualities she held so tightly throughout her life.
In my eyes, she had the most beautiful face, fingers and hair. However, her smile was matchless. It would not only light up a room but people seeing it would often comment that it made her look radiant. It would always fill my heart with joy as she obviously was, is and will always be the love of my life and I thank God for blessing me with her for over 33 years.
Even though we are geographically in two different places currently with her in heaven and me still here on Earth, her words of encouragement and support are still used by God to uphold me today as we are connected in Christ for eternity.
Personally, the past few years have been very tough for us both but God has been so faithful in his provision that we both have been amazed. His faithfulness has always been a key cornerstone of our faith and life and He has always exceeded our highest hopes and prayers.
During this time she confided in me that one of her deepest struggles was that she could not care for me the way she had done the previous 33 years and it made her sad. She said caring for me was a joy for her and she loved doing it. What an amazing gift from God. She also told me one day that since she had not been able to speak for several years that she had learned that people talk way too much. What a valuable truth expressed. Lastly, we have always been a couple that told each other that they were not allowed to pass into the arms of Jesus in heaven first because the other could not bear being here alone. She shared with one of our caregivers recently while I was in Tennessee that she did not know what she would do if I passed first. I knew we both felt this way but to hear her express it to someone else strengthen my resolve to know that if this was one thing that I could do to bless her it is worth it to keep moving forward in Christ honoring her legacy with my life and the ministry as long as life endures like the great Hymn “Amazing Grace” reiterates.
I could share for hours the joy filled adventures we have shared and how many times she rescued me from being stuck in the sand, lying on the ground or penned between walls but for now let me just say that this woman God blessed me with as my forever best friend was always a fighter for God’s righteousness, lover of people and an overcomer in every way. Because of what Jesus has done for all of us she now lives in victory with him in heaven which is how I envision her every time I think of her.
This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had happen in my life and now have to share. I do not want to do it but I know the longer I procrastinate the more pressure and pain I will bear. Through the prayers of many and the strength of our Lord and savior Jesus, I am just now able to communicate with you all personally.
In extreme sorrow I must tell you that my most precious gift from our Lord Jesus and the love of my life Leanne passed away yersterday at 11:15 a.m. It was extremely sudden as just hours before we were conversing and she was asking me about things to do for ministry work. She had been very stable at home for months but for the past few weeks had said she was not feeling well. She even took antibiotics for a UTI two weeks ago. For some unknown reason her oxygen levels dropped quickly this morning and her heart rate increased greatly at the same time. We turned on our oxygen and her O2 levels bounced back but her heart rate remained at 158. So we called the EMTs and they began transporting her to the ER. Rachel one of our caregivers was in the ambulance with them and said that she was not responsive at this time and by the time they reached the hospital she did not have a pulse.
By the time I arrived at the hospital they had been working to revive her for over 40 minutes without success. I had prayed earlier and put her in the hands of Jesus and while I’m extremely heartbroken and do not know how I will ever recover, God knew it was time to take her home to be in the arms of Jesus. From talking to the doctors she probably had several infections going on that had gone to the sepsis level which then hit her heart. While she is the biggest and strongest fighter I know her body could not come back.
Please be praying for me that Jesus will comfort me as only he can because Leanne was my soulmate, the love of my life and my most precious blessing from our lord Jesus. She was always there to encourage me, support me and be there for me no matter what I needed. I love her more than words can express as we have always had a special bond centered in Christ. I cannot imagine a more godly, wholesome, holy, beautify and wonderul best friend, wife, and forever lover of my heart than Leanne. She loved me with a fierce and unwaivering heart and I only pray the God enabled me to be and do the same for her.
At this point I am an extreme grief but do know because of the best gift Jesus has ever given Leanne and me which is our salvation in Him alone that not only is she safely and joyously in his arms in heaven but we will be reunited there together in his arms someday. At this point that is all I know and all I care.
Thank you all so much for your prayer and care in our lives. As able, either I or someone else will update you all on plans for her celebration of life service as she was a person worth celebrating greatly.
Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities!
After some super help from our faithful Royal ambassador, David Browne and new ministry volunteer Jessica our summer newsletter is in the mail. :-)
We want to make sure that everyone gets to hear the good news of what God is doing through Access-Life and see the pictures of the smiles he is putting on so many faces. So attached is a copy of the front and back pages for you all to see, read and share as God leads.
If you’re interested in giving towards the work that God is doing through the ministry you can also go to the link below to donate to any of our area activities from Central Florida and East Tennessee to North Texas and Belize or the ministry overall. :-)
Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities! I just wanted to share that Big Dave our Royal Ambassador and I made it back to Florida after an adventure filled trip in Tennessee and a God blessed Expo there. :-)
It is always amazing to see God work through the hearts and minds of his people to do such great things. We are blessed to be a blessing and in God’s economy we are always blessed in return which pretty much sums up this year’s Access-Life East Tennessee Expo.
We had great teams of volunteers from New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church and Shady Grove Church on top of our SUPER Ministry Intern, Hannah Grace Spradling [as well as Jerry Carter who transported our equipment trailer with a last minute notice] that were right there with us every step of the way before, during and after the big outreach. We even connected with a few new churches like Mt Vale Church and First Baptist Church of Bean Station and loved seeing Jesus shared through the Gospel bracelets activity, Prayer and Care booth and even the Bibles that were in each goodie bag.
The exotic petting zoo with a baby kangaroo, monkey and mini camel was a big hit along with the horses from Ridin High. :-) We also gave 50 boat rides on pontoons to over 400 attendees and there was even a 12 lb carp caught at the fishing activity! All of the activities flowed with blessings from the Lord to so many individuals and families living with disabilities that we are so grateful for God’s presence permeating the Expo as always and filling so many people with His Joy.
We’re still working on wrapping everything up but wanted to say thank you to everyone who prayed, served and gave to this outreach. May God bless you richly for your time, resources and generosity!
Hope and pray you enjoy the photos and collage! You can visit the East Tennessee page on our website at Expo in East Tennessee – Access-Life for mor pictures, too. :)
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