2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MARCH 8, 2017
Most people would say they
have goals and want to make
progress in life. It’s a natural de-
sire, and there’s nothing wrong
with wanting promotion in vari-
ous areas. But we need to realize
that anytime we ask God to pro-
mote us, or use us in greater ways,
we’re going to have to go through a time of testing and preparation to get there.
It’s important to understand that God will never tempt us with anything evil, but He will allow—and
even sometimes arrange—for things to happen in our lives that will challenge us and help us develop
the character we need to successfully handle greater privileges and responsibilities.
James 1:2-3 (AMPC) says, “Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in
or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial
and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.” When we go through
trials with a good attitude, trusting God to use them for our good, then they will work things out of
us—immature behaviors and ungodly mindsets—and cause us to grow in our faith.
There are different kinds of tests that get us to the point where we learn how to do things God’s way.
One of the most common tests is the forgiveness test.
Forgiving people who hurt you, disappoint you, do something you don’t like, or maybe even betray
you is not easy. It’s one of the most challenging things we have to learn to do as Christians because it
can seem so unfair to just let someone get away with the injustice they’ve done.
I understand this very well because I felt that way when the Lord spoke to my heart about forgiving
my father for the years of abuse that he put me through. But I came to realize that holding on to my
anger was really just continuing to hurt me. I needed to be more concerned about myself and my rela-
tionship with God, rather than trying to make him sorry for what he had done. The truth is when you
choose to forgive people, you’re doing yourself a favor.
In Matthew 5:8, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (NIV). And Prov-
erbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do fl ows from it.”
It’s so important for us to keep our heart right with God. When we do, we can hear Him more clearly,
be a lot more sensitive to His presence and enjoy close fellowship with Him. And there is nothing we
need more than the presence of God in our lives! God is the source of every good thing, and Psalm
16:11 (NKJV) says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
I love Psalm 17:15, which says, “…I shall be fully satisfi ed, when I awake [to fi nd myself] beholding
Your form [and having sweet communion with You]” (AMPC).
If we are not pure in heart, we’re sacrifi cing an intimate relationship with God because we’d rather
harbor anger, bitterness and resentment toward others in our heart.
Everyone experiences offenses at times, and when we do, we have to be determined to do something
about it with God’s help. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 that YOU need to guard your heart…not
that He’ll send an angel to miraculously do it for you. So when you recognize that you’re offended by
something, you need to quickly take action, doing what God tells you to do to overcome it.
Mark 11:25 says, “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him
and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your
[own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop” (AMPC). This verse is saying that if we choose to
hold on to unforgiveness, then God can’t forgive us of our sins, and our intimacy with Him will suffer.
The best thing we can do when we need to forgive someone is pray for them, make the decision
to forgive and “let it drop (leave it, let it go).” That means you stop talking about what they did, stop
thinking about it and rehearsing it over and over and over in your mind.
The quicker you decide to let offenses go, the easier it will be; however, if there is a hurt that has
been in your heart for a long time, it may take some time for you to get totally free of it. But you can
do it—by God’s grace—if you won’t give up!
Jesus gave His life so we can have relationship with God, not religion. I want to encourage you to
choose a pure heart, free of unforgiveness, so you can have a personal, intimate relationship with God
that will fi ll you with His joy and prepare you to fulfi ll His good plan for your life!
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.
She has authored more than 100
books, including Battlefi eld of
the Mind and Seize the Day:
Living on Purpose and Making
Every Day Count (Hachette).
She hosts the Enjoying Ev-
eryday Life radio and TV pro-
grams, which air on hundreds of
Grant Gording, BC-HIS
Jenna Buetow
stations worldwide.
Board Certifi ed in
Hearing Instrument Sciences
Free Hearing Screening
IN MEMORIAM
Patricia Irene Ronan
1939-2017
Patricia Irene Ronan, 78, of Cot-
tage Grove died Feb. 25, 2017.
She was born Jan. 30, 1939 in
Volga, S.D. to Howard Clifford and
Ruby Iola (Ust) Evans.
She graduated from Centerville
(S.D.) High School in 1957.
On Aug. 25, 1958 in South Dakota,
Patricia married James Neil Ronan.
They were married for 45 years before his death in 2003.
She enjoyed camping, fi shing, and luncheons with friends. She
always welcomed family and friends with open arms, and was
“Mom” to her children’s friends.
Survivors include two sons, Kelly Ronan of Cottage Grove and
Lonnie Ronan of Drain, a sister, Kathy Anderson of South Dako-
ta, a brother, Howard Evans of Reedsport, three grandchildren and
seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Neil Ronan in
2003, and her son, James Kevin Ronan in 2006.
No service is planned. Arrangements are in the care of Smith-
Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove.
Bill Huffman
1951-2017
Hearing Consultant
Bill Huff-
man, 65, of
Cottage Grove
passed away
March 2, 2017.
He was born April 7, 1951 in Eu-
gene, Oregon to Ray and Lorraine
(Pace) Huffman.
Bill graduated from Cottage Grove
High School in 1970, and then went
to Lane Community College's main
campus.
He married Loreen Wright on July 10, 1971 in Reno, Nevada.
Bill drove dump truck for Bohemia, Inc., then chip truck, then
dispatching chip trucks, then back to the woods driving log truck
for Koos Logging.
Bill joined The Lemati Gang in 1974 and had a leading roll in the
bad guys, called Wee Willie. He performed until 2000 until the falls
became too hard.
Bill is survived by his wife
of 45 years, Loreen Huffman of
Cottage Grove, two sons, Ray
and Adam Huffman, both of
Cottage Grove, a brother, Gary
Huffman of Cottage Grove and
three grandsons that he enjoyed
teaching to fi sh and hunt. He
was always in his element when
he was in the woods, hunting
and camping with friends.
A celebration of life will
be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday,
March 11, 2017 at the VFW Post
in Cottage Grove. Arrangements
by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral
Chapel, Cottage Grove.
Kenneth Richard Perini
1929-2017
Kenneth Richard Perini, 87, of
Cottage Grove passed away at home
of natural causes on Friday, Feb. 17,
2017.
He was born Sept. 13, 1929 in An-
lauf, Oregon to Bill and Lela (Kel-
ley) Perini.
Kenneth graduated from high
school in Drain, Oregon. He served
two years in the Army as a radio repairman. He also spent his work-
ing years as a logger and operated Perini’s Feed & Seed as the store
owner.
His hobbies included hunting, fi shing, and farming, and he spent
his retirement years enjoying time with friends and family. He was
a Shriner and a member of both the Masonic and Elks Lodge.
On June 17, 1956 in Cottage Grove, he and Jerrie Culvey were
married. They had 60 years of marriage together.
He is survived by his wife, Jerrie Perini, son, Scot (Pam) Perini,
daughter, Julie (Keith) Giarrusso, step-sister, Karen McKay (Gary)
Wallace of San Antonio, Texas, fi ve grandkids and nine great-grand-
kids, all of Cottage Grove, two nephews and one niece.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Juanita Hensley, and
step-brother, Chuck McKay.
At Kenneth’s request, no service will be held. A Celebration
of Life is to be held later. Cre-
mation is in the care of Smith-
Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel &
Crematorium. Memorial contri-
butions may be made in Ken-
neth’s name to Signature Hos-
pice of Eugene, 2620 River Rd.,
Suite 300, Eugene, OR 97404.
Same Day Appointments Available
www.grantshearing.com
1498 E. Main St., CG
541-942-8444
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