2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
The Absolutely Amazing Rest of God!
God wants us to enjoy our everyday lives. John 10:10 says that
Jesus died for us so we “may have and enjoy life, and have it in
abundance [to the full, till it overfl ows]” (AMP). But it seems so
many people who say they believe in Jesus are not really enjoying
their lives. It’s tragic to think that Jesus paid the price for our sins,
that He suffered to make that sacrifi ce, and yet there are Christians
who are struggling just to get by and make it through each day.
The key to having abundant life in Christ is living by God’s grace
through faith. Because grace is His power working in us that en-
ables us to do whatever we need to do in life.
When we try to do everything in our own strength and leave God
out of the equation, we just get worn-out and frustrated by our mis-
takes and failures. But when we lean on God, we actually enter into
His rest and can enjoy our lives, no matter what our circumstances
may be.
Hebrews 4:9-11 (AMP) says, “So there remains a [full and com-
plete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has once
entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his
human labors…. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest
[of God, to know and experience it for ourselves]….”
Now the rest of God is not a rest from work—it’s a rest in work.
It’s partnering with God to do what He is calling you to do by His
grace, and leaving the part you can’t do in His hands, trusting Him
to do it. Hebrews 4:3 says it this way: “For we who believe [that
is, we who personally trust and confi dently rely on God] enter that
rest….” So we start by believing.
When I’m trying to believe, I haven’t entered God’s rest. But
when I do believe, I have complete rest in Him. Living by faith is
not a life of struggle—it’s rest. And you can enter into God’s rest in
every area of your life.
I’ve discovered that the stress in my life is caused by the way I
approach my circumstances and the attitude I have toward them. It
was a turning point for me when I realized that the world will prob-
ably never change, but I can learn how to change the way I go about
handling situations that are challenging.
One key to this is knowing that as believers in Christ, we are part-
ners with God—we have a part and He has a part in everything He
calls us to do. When we don’t do the part we can do and we try to do
His part, that’s when we live stressed-out with worry, fear, anxiety,
frustration, no peace and no joy.
The reason this happens sometimes is because we think God
needs our help. We meditate on the problem—rolling it over and
over in our mind, worrying, trying to fi gure out how things should
work out. It’s like we’re telling God, “I kind of think You need my
help, and I’m not sure You can take care of this situation, Lord.”
We need to realize that worrying is useless! It’s like sitting in
a rocking chair, rocking all day, wearing yourself out and getting
nowhere. Trusting God means we give up worrying, reasoning, and
anxiety and we enter into His rest with simple childlike faith—we
live by grace through faith!
Ephesians 2:8-9 is a great scripture that says we’re saved by
grace through faith. And we walk out our relationship with God and
His plans for our lives the same way we receive salvation: by grace
through faith.
This is possible because Jesus made the perfect sacrifi ce for us
when He gave His life, taking our guilt and condemnation and pay-
ing for our sins. Through a personal relationship with Jesus, we
access God’s grace so we can do what He’s calling us to do.
It’s so amazing to know that God is always with us, giving us His
grace for everything we need to do in life. Trust God’s uncondition-
al love for you today. Do what you can do and give Him everything
else. And when you fi nd yourself getting frustrated or feeling over-
whelmed, like you just can’t do it anymore, remember to stop, get
your focus back on Him and enter into His rest once again.
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-CD series Sit, Stand,
Walk, Run. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine,
Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting
www.joycemeyer.org.
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 Unshakeable Trust:
Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times, in All Things (Hachette).
She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs,
which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information,
visit www.joycemeyer.org.
IN MEMORIAM
Sandra White 1928-2017
Sandra G. White of Cottage Grove died on September 11, 2017 of nat-
ural causes at the age of 69. She was born on April 29, 1928, in Downey,
CA to parents John and Betty (Dodd) Cooksey.
She attended Dinuba High School in Dinuba, CA. She married Philip
C. Parker, Sr. in 1967
in Santa Cruz, CA. She later married Richard B. White in Reno, NV
in 1986. Sandra worked
in restaurant management as an offi ce manager and business owner.
She later was a full-
time caregiver for her husband of 31 years. She enjoyed gardening,
and loved her dogs.
She is survived by her husband, Richard B. White of Cottage Grove;
mother, Betty Adkinson; son, Philip C. Parker, Jr. of Cottage Grove.
No services are planned. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel.
BIRTHS
Nan Chen and Michael Losey
of Cottage Grove welcomed a
baby boy on September 15 at
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Med-
ical Center RiverBend.
Shauna Wilkinson and Aar-
on Vale of Cottage Grove wel-
comed a baby boy September
11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart
Medical Center RiverBend.
Melvina Curlutu 1925-2017
Melvina “Mel” Curlutu, 92, of
Cottage Grove passed away Sept. 9,
2017.
She was born Feb. 25, 1925 in Pas-
adena, Calif. to Carl and Mabel (Tay-
lor) Asmus.
She graduated from Pasadena City
College and worked at Lockheed
in Burbank, Calif. as a Rosie Rivet-
er and at Monitor Piezo - a defense
plant making radio crystals. She also
worked as a personnel assistant at
Central Lab making solar cells and as an offi ce manager for DeAn-
za Campland and DeAnza Harbor in San Diego, Calif.
On June 12, 1943 in Monterey, Calif., she and Ferdinand “Jerry”
Curlutu were married. He passed away Feb. 26, 2001.
Mel and her husband, Jerry,
built a ski boat in their garage
Timothy Daniel Eckstine
that allowed them to enjoy her
family’s hobby of water ski-
1992-2017
ing. She enjoyed gold panning,
bowling and her main goal in
Timothy Daniel Eckstine (aka Carl) of Cottage Grove,
life was spending time with her
born February 15, 1992 in Cottage Grove, Oregon to Paul and
family. She also loved to fi sh.
Denise Eckstine went home to be with our Heavenly Father
Survivors include two daugh-
on September 9, 2017 in Dallas, Texas aft er a courageous bat-
ters, Judee Daniels (George) of
tle against Ewing’s Sarcoma surrounded by his loving wife,
Washington and Lyndee Beaver
Nichole and his parents. Timothy was the ultimate example of
of Cottage Grove, six grandchil-
strength, optimism and faith leaving a beautiful legacy of true
dren, eight great-grandchildren
kindness and humor that will be woven into the future of his
and four great-great grandchil-
friends and family.
dren.
Aft er graduating from Cottage Grove High School in
No service is planned. Ar-
2010 Timothy began pursuing his dream career as a Wildland
rangements under the care of
Firefi ghter with the Oregon Department of Forestry, where he
Smith-Lund-Mills
Funeral
made numerous life long friends. Timothy was also a Volun-
Chapel, Cottage Grove.
teer Firefi ghter with South Lane Fire and Rescue in Cottage
S entinel
C ottage G rove
www.cgsentinel.com
@
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Cottage-Grove-Sentinel
Grove.
At the young age of four, Timothy met his fi rst love, Soc-
cer. Following an outstanding high school career he continued
to play in rec leagues, even playing while receiving treatment
for his cancer. It was a love aff air that lasted a lifetime and was only overshadowed by his love for
his wife.
On July 7, 2017 Timothy married the love of his life, Nichole Needham in Cottage Grove, with
family and friends witnessing the continuation of their amazing love story.
Timothy is survived by his wife, Nichole (Needham) Eckstine, parents Paul and Denise Eck-
stine, Grandparents James and Lucille Eckstine each of Cottage Grove, siblings Jeremie (Jakelen)
Eckstine of Cottage Grove, Matthew (Maria) Eckstine of Chile, Sarah (Evan) Pope of Idaho, Th om-
as Eckstine of Eugene, Mary (Darrion) Wells of Cottage Grove, Rachel Eckstine of Springfi eld,
Nieces and Nephews Brynnley, Adelae, Jameson, Apostle, Halia, Bailey, Natalie, Tenley, Norma-
Jean, Jaylee and Maximiliano. Timothy is also survived by numerous Aunts and Uncles in Cottage
Grove, Creswell, and Australia; plus, numerous cousins and second cousins throughout the United
States. Timothy was preceded in death by Grandparents Kenneth and Norma Hoehn, and his Uncle
PJ Patterson.
A get together soccer tournament will be held on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
on the back practice fi eld at Cottage Grove High School to remember Timothy’s love of the game.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Riverside
Community Church of God, 1255 S. River Road, Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northwest Community Credit Union Timothy D.
Eckstine Fund, Cottage Grove and the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation, Seattle, Washington.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this
publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and
do not necessarily refl ect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.
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123 South 7th,
Cottage Grove, Oregon
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Bobbie Maxine Reeve
1929-2017
Bobbie Maxine Reeve (Maxine)
passed away unexpectedly on Septem-
ber 11, 2017. She was born in Grac-
emont, Oklahoma on November 12,
1929 to Jesse and Leonia Fields Blue
and moved with her family to Cottage Grove in 1936. She grad-
uated from Cottage Grove High School in 1947 and married
Paul Reeve June 30, 1950. Maxine’s fi rst focus was her family
including a large extended family in the area. She was an in-
credible cook who also enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing, and
quilting. Early in their married years, Maxine and Paul discov-
ere d the joys of rock-hunting and made many trips to high des-
ert country of eastern Oregon and Nevada. When the youngest
of Maxine’s children started school she began working as med-
ical assistant at doctor’s offi ces in Cottage Grove and then Eu-
gene. Maxine had a deep and abiding faith that she demonstrat-
ed quietly in all that she did and to all with whom she came in
contact. Several people have commented that she didn’t have a
mean bone in her body. She enriched the lives of everyone who
was blessed with coming in contact with her. She lived well,
loved well and was well loved.
Maxine is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Paul
and their children Susan Meeker of Salem, Janet Cox (Steve) of
Fircrest WA, Paul Stephen Reeve (Leslie) of Cottage Grove, Me-
linda Cook (Joel) of Zephyrhills FL and Sarah McCarty (Jim) of
Acworth GA, 12 grandchildren 3 great grandchildren, numer-
ous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by broth-
ers Bryan (Yvonne) of Cottage Grove and Charles (Sue) Blue of
Athens TX. Th e family would like to thank Dr. Dougherty and
the staff of Willamette Valley Cancer Care Center for the care
and kindness they provided Maxine over the past year.
A celebration of Maxine’s life is being planned in several
weeks when all of her children are able to be present, and will
include a service and potluck following. Details will be updat-
ed on her Smith Lund Mills website as well as published in the
Sentinel.
In lieu of fl owers, please honor Maxine’s memory by shar-
ing an extra dose of love with those around you.
Jimmie M. Merrell
March 25, 1929 -
July 26, 2017
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Jim was born at Barnard, Mis-
souri to John and Lolita Merrell.
After graduating from Barnard
High School, he enlisted in the
U.S. Navy on February 10, 1948
and retired honorably on Novem-
ber 1, 1977 as a Chief Engineman
ENC-7. He spent 20 years of ac-
tive duty during the Korean and
Vietnam wars and nine years in the
Reserves.
He married Patsy Meredith on October 4, 1952 in San Diego,
California while in the Navy. Together they had three children - Jim-
mie, Jack and Kathy. They later divorced in 1962. Patsy died in 1999.
Jim later moved to Long Beach, California where he became em-
ployed as a Certifi ed Tech Mechanic for R.O. Gould Chrysler Plym-
outh.
He met Claire James at Lakewood, California, formerly from
Saratoga Springs, New York. They married on September 20, 1969.
Claire has two children - Karen and Kim James.
Jim and Claire later purchased the Oasis Motel in Borrego
Springs, California. While managing the motel, they enjoyed many
hours with family and friends. After ten years, they sold the motel and
moved to Hemet, California. They enjoyed their retirement together
traveling the U.S., Canada and Hawaiian Islands.
In 2000, they moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon, purchasing their
home in Middlefi eld Estates. Jim enjoyed many long walks and hours
of golf with friends and neighbors.
Jim and Claire were married for 48 loving years. He was preced-
ed in death by one brother and three sisters, all from the Missouri and
Kansas areas.
Jim is survived by his wife, Claire, his three children, Jimmie
Merrell (Laura), Jack Merrell and Kathy Womac (Roger), fi ve grand-
children – Eric Merrell (Julie), Casey Merrell (Joy), JC, and Kristina
Anderson (Jeremy), all from California, and Malia Parker (Mark) from
Oklahoma, 11 great-grandchildren, a step-daughter, Karen Schultz
(Richard) from Idaho, and a step-son, Kim James from Colorado.
Jim’s ashes will be buried with military honors and a Christian
service in their family plot in Barnard, Missouri with the assistance of
loving nieces and nephews.
Jim was loved and respected by his wife, Claire, and all who
knew him; he is greatly missed. May he rest in peace.