Earthly Reliefs--The Clymers

Definition of Earthly Reliefs: Earthly Reliefs are men and women (sometimes families, sometimes single) brought into believers' lives for the Proverbs 27:17 sharpening of a person for the glory of God. They help us breathe a little easier as we are called by our great God to travel and journey on this earth. While we are just pilgrims in a dusty and foreign land, Earthly Reliefs are the watering and feeding oases. In some ways, they minister to us and in some ways, we minister to them. But however God has called us to work on the privilege of becoming more Christlike--Earthly Reliefs are designed gifts from the Heavenly Father above to help sharpen and mold us into His image.

I'm starting a feature on my blog called Earthly Reliefs. In my life, God has brought me much needed rest from the burden of being in this natural, wretched casing called human flesh through the wonderful pleasure of having Earthly Reliefs. As with all articles on my blog, I'm hoping that this new section will help to display God's glory by showing how Earthly Reliefs have righteously influenced us toward the kingdom of God. I'm hoping that they will encourage any reader of this tiny blog to look for Earthly Reliefs in their own lives. Search for patterns and markers in the people around them that will lead them to seek and befriend these Earthly Reliefs, be mentored by them, mentor and minister to them, and with their Earthly Relief companions, desire the exact same godly image of Christ in every thought, word and deed. And in so doing, by the grace of God, will cling to them, appreciate them and emulate them as earthly models of heavenly godliness. Just as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:1--he called the church in Corinth to be like him because he imitated Christ. That's what Earthly Reliefs are. Imitators of Christ here on earth set before us to model and follow.... to diligently seek their friendship in every way, thereby surrounding yourself with godly models of Christ for His glory and His alone.

It is no great secret that this is my favorite part of blogging. Oft times, I feel a sense of obligation toward this project I have started--maintaining a blog. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy sharing stories and silly poems, for the world to see...I'm just that type. But there are times when it's hard to tell who's running whom? I can blame most of that on the aforementioned babbling in my head that keeps me drawn toward blogging thoughts that I am grappling with by my lonesome. It helps to maintain a sense of chaotic order in this noggin' o' mine. But then there are times of great happiness and joy that come along, and my Earthly Relief section is one of them. Thus, this next family.

This is the Dave and Deb Clymer Family. At first glance, they look like an every day, all American family but the Lord has created them for far greater works than just being an average, ordinary family. They are extraordinary in every sense of the word.













I tried thinking of a verse to sum them up as I felt that was the only way to truly do this family the justice that is theirs to enjoy, by God's grace. There were a ton of verses on loving, serving, forgiving, etc., but none seemed to fully capture my feelings toward them. Then Luke 9:23 shot up like a flare--and that seemed most appropriate. "And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Initially, I didn't link it to Evangelism Class, but as I am typing just now, I realize that it is one of our class outline verses and so it seems even more appropriate than when I began typing. And that neatest of all is that Dave is one of the godly trainers mentioned in a few of the posts about my beloved Evangelism Class.

These people are no frills, no fluff--walking the walk people. Denying themselves, their comforts, their wants, their desires, themselves in general, seems to be their every day m.o. So much so that you hear of the Clymers serving in ways that seem unimaginable to the rest of us. Notice I said that "you hear of." Meaning, they don't tell you about it. You have to hear from someone else. They're not the type to slip service into conversation--how much they've served, or when they serve, or where they serve. They just do it and don't talk about it--period. They don't complain, they don't gripe--they just serve. Honestly, I've never met a family like them, we're talking family here. Not just Dave or just Deb, but the whole crew. They care not for their conveniences or what they can gain for themselves, they only care for the lost and the Kingdom of God. I've never met a family so pure in heart. Yes, they have faults, sins and issues they battle, but God has worked in them so those battles do not ever detract from His glorious work in their lives... and isn't that the way it should be?

On a personal note, Deb went through chemotherapy for cancer a few years back. If you ever get the chance to sit and talk with her about it--please do! Please! I encourage you. You will leave with the type of steel encouragement that can only come from Deb's desire to see her King glorified in all things. Her testimony is one of faith and trust in God. The sanctifying process for her has been honest and open, wrought with heartache and trial and she has showed me personally what type of God she serves. She is slight in frame, but large on glorifying God. She is reserved in personality, but outgoing in love.

Her husband, Dave, is an amazing, faithful man, who loves God and knows scripture. He is a gentle, quiet soul that when faced with a persecuting and slanderous situation--roars like a lion on behalf of the righteous. He does not sway, swerve and/or compromise the truth and anything less would be unthinkable to him.

Together they are formidable. There are those who serve with the pomp and showiness of a praying Pharisee (Luke 18). The Clymers are the exact opposite. They are the tax collector who never lift their eyes toward heaven in demands of what they think they deserve. They are in a continual state of humility that truly shows us lesser Christians, how we ought to act, if we truly believe what we profess.

Why do I praise God for the Clymers? Because without them, I would have very few people in my life who show me how biblical servanthood ought to look. How desiring the walk in Christ, denying one's own flesh and daily taking a cross can be achieved for an average American family with an extraordinary faith.

I love you Clymers! Thank you for being such a huge blessing in our lives. :)

Earthly Reliefs -- The Hoyers

Definition of Earthly Reliefs: Earthly Reliefs are men and women (sometimes families, sometimes single) brought into believers' lives for the Proverbs 27:17 sharpening of a person for the glory of God. They help us breathe a little easier as we are called by our great God to travel and journey on this earth. While we are just pilgrims in a dusty and foreign land, Earthly Reliefs are the watering and feeding oases. In some ways, they minister to us and in some ways, we minister to them. But however God has called us to work on the privilege of becoming more Christlike--Earthly Reliefs are designed gifts from the Heavenly Father above to help sharpen and mold us into His image.



I'm starting a feature on my blog called Earthly Reliefs. In my life, God has brought me much needed rest from the burden of being in this natural, wretched casing called human flesh through the wonderful pleasure of having Earthly Reliefs. As with all articles on my blog, I'm hoping that this new section will help to display God's glory by showing how Earthly Reliefs have righteously influenced us toward the kingdom of God. I'm hoping that they will encourage any reader of this tiny blog to look for Earthly Reliefs in their own lives. Search for patterns and markers in the people around them that will lead them to seek and befriend these Earthly Reliefs, be mentored by them, mentor and minister to them, and with their Earthly Relief companions, desire the exact same godly image of Christ in every thought, word and deed. And in so doing, by the grace of God, will cling to them, appreciate them and emulate them as earthly models of heavenly godliness. Just as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:1--he called the church in Corinth to be like him because he imitated Christ. That's what Earthly Reliefs are. Imitators of Christ here on earth set before us to model and follow....to diligently seek their friendship in every way, thereby surrounding yourself with godly models of Christ for His glory and His alone.

I heart this part of blogging. Describing these Earthly Reliefs in black and white text has given me a huge opportunity to share the true depth and width of the gratitude of my heart toward God as He continually and richly blesses me. That's what true blessing has become to me as described in Malachi 3:10. I know it's refering to tithing here, but to me, Earthly Reliefs are far more precious and valuable than any fleeting, temporary benefit of actual paper money or even food (at times), though God continues to pour there also. Earthly Reliefs are the treasured blessings in direct porportion to God's goodness and mercy to whom He pours out on us unworthy types.



With that, I introduce to you our next Earthly Reliefs--Gustav and Nancy Hoyer. Now to be fair, anyone who knows these beloved must realize how hard it would be to try and blog a mere post about them. It is no small task. I tried to organize my thoughts, though, around what they would enjoy hearing about themselves--how they influence those around them for the kingdom of God.


Gustav and Nancy reside in the beautiful region of Southern California (thus, her posting signature "Nancy in SoCal"). They have 5 children--Nicholas, Gretchen, Lillian, Gabriel and Kurt. Their children are crazy smart (an endearing term now used liberally to describe really, really, really smart people). Posssibly the smartest children I know....all of them (well, minus Kurt, but there is a fair assumption made.) Nancy (who is crazy smart herself) is a homeschooling genius and one out of two resources that I turn to for continual guidance on all fronts. Gustav. Where do I start with him? He is the poster child for crazy smart. But beyond that he's a gifted teacher, composer, singer, pianist, recording artist, computer geek, cowboy, and all-around, saved, great guy. Did I mention he's smart too? My personal favorite is that they equally have a killer sense of humor that keeps their smarty, farty pants lifestyle in check.


Okay, by this time I'm sure they're thoroughly embarrassed, but that's not my intent. Those gifts, they all recognize, are directly from the Giver and Maker of all, so they boast not in themselves. So why did I give them this intro. Well, besides being accurate, I also wanted to set up the rest of this blog so you could potentially picture a more detailed view of some of the circumstances listed below. A view that will hopefully help you look for those in your own life that fulfill certain characteristics so that when you are gifted with the opportunity to learn and grow--you will learn and grow from those well-qualified. If you don't, then you have the potential hazard of being led astray.



So here's the part I think they'll appreciate. How have they influenced our tiny family for the kingdom of God? How has God displayed His glory before our very eyes, unbeknownst to them?

The first thing that comes to mind is the opposite reaction that the rich young ruler had as described in Mark 10. They are prepared to give everything away. And they have to us. The first time we lived here our car broke down and they loaned us their car for "as long as we needed it." We had known them for barely a monthy. The second time we lived here, we could not afford to carry a mortgage and have an apartment and yet, Scott wanted us here in CT with him (we had already been apart for about 6 weeks with no home sale in sight.) Enter the Hoyers. They were the first to offer us a place to stay. We lived in their home, drove their cars, ate their food, and played with their beloved (passed) pooch. It was the material goods that they treasured not. They only gave out of the well-spring of their hearts having been regenerated and changed into Christ's likeness. They gave no thought to their own comfort, their own way of life, their schedule and the inevitable disasters of having the Noble clumsies around. They sacrificially gave to our family, in our greatest time of need. So I do not point to the wonderful material sacrifices they gave (although great in number and value). They gave of their actual lives to allow us to be together as a family when we could not afford it. What kind of family does this outside of Christ?

Gustav, as a lovingly missed Elder of Grace Church is an incredibly gifted teacher and used his gifts by answering the many silly and milky questions of a newly saved christian (although at this time I still believed I had been saved all of my life.) He spent his valuable time mentoring and discipling me in the word and truths of God, including election, and for that I am eternally grateful. He challenged me to read through Romans and spent some time at night going over my questions. One particular exhausting (for him) but exhilarating (for me) night of discussion, I told him how much I appreciated him. He looked at me and with this ever-patient, godly expression, told me "Kim, there is no better way I would rather spend my time then going over the scriptures with you." You see--it's not that he sacrificed that time with me (although valued beyond description)--it was his heart attitude toward it. From his wellspring, he genuinely could say that he would rather go over scripture with a pathetic, dense soul like myself then doing the many other activities he so enjoyed, but probably missed while we lived with them.

Nancy, a gifted teacher, has used her gifts to influence me in such a way that is not the brash and harsh--get-it-right attitude that I deserve. She has chosen the kind, compassionate, enduring route that gently, patiently and faithfully leads me to spiritual matters of the heart and a genuine homeschool knowledge that can only be described as full and complete. When I think of Nancy and all she does and shares, I think of the Prov. 31 woman in verse 11 where it talks about her husband does not lack. That is how I feel about Nancy and I'm sure anyone who knows her would concur. When you are her friend, you lack nothing out of a godly friendship. You never lack a knowledgeable, godly conversation; a spiritually, heart-filled mentoring encouragement; or a good laugh. I have observed her when she speaks and you can see her mind working as she filters her words so that she is in line with what scripture teaches. She has mad writing skills and uses them for the eternal purpose of blogging and encouraging her family. If there is an earthly Titus 2 model--she would have a picture posted.

This amazing family has (and continues to) influence those around them for the kingdom of God. They are holy and righteous; combining their natural gifted smarts with a godly heart and desire for Christ. They make a formidable pair that anyone within their radar would be naturally attracted. I would imagine it gives them many opportunities to share the truth they know, just like in my case. I count them a great blessing in my life as they are the first family for me, personally, who showed that the very merciful and kindness of God has personally touched me with accurate and biblical preciseness.

Seek a family like this. Bug them like we do. They are rare and costly because Christ has positioned a very few with such talents and gifts to befriend us peasants. I always think were it not for the grace of God actively working in the Hoyers and their utter submission to Christ, we would not be a blip on their screen...that's how different we are.

How do you say thank you to a family that has literally modeled the true and complete Christian philosophy as spelled out by Paul in the New Testament. The only way to say it is--TO GOD BE THE GLORY...GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!

Earthly Reliefs -- The Judsons

Definition of Earthly Reliefs: Earthly Reliefs are men and women (sometimes families, sometimes single) brought into believers' lives for the Proverbs 27:17 sharpening of a person for the glory of God. They help us breathe a little easier as we are called by our great God to travel and journey on this earth. While we are just pilgrims in a dusty and foreign land, Earthly Reliefs are the watering and feeding oases. In some ways, they minister to us and in some ways, we minister to them. But however God has called us to work on the privilege of becoming more Christlike--Earthly Reliefs are designed gifts from the Heavenly Father above to help sharpen and mold us into His image.

I'm starting a feature on my blog called Earthly Reliefs. In my life, God has brought me much needed rest from the burden of being in this natural, wretched casing called human flesh through the wonderful pleasure of having Earthly Reliefs. As with all articles on my blog, I'm hoping that this new section will help to display God's glory by showing how Earthly Reliefs have righteously influenced us toward the kingdom of God. I'm hoping that they will encourage any reader of this tiny blog to look for Earthly Reliefs in their own lives. Search for patterns and markers in the people around them that will lead them to seek and befriend these Earthly Reliefs, be mentored by them, mentor and minister to them, and with their Earthly Relief companions, desire the exact same godly image of Christ in every thought, word and deed. And in so doing, by the grace of God, will cling to them, appreciate them and emulate them as earthly models of heavenly godliness. Just as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:1--he called the church in Corinth to be like him because he imitated Christ. That's what Earthly Reliefs are. Imitators of Christ here on earth set before us to model and follow....to diligently seek their friendship in every way, thereby surrounding yourself with godly models of Christ for His glory and His alone.

So it is with great joy that I bring you our first Earthly Relief models--The Frank and Lisa Judson Family. What better family to start with than this dear family as I have specifically mentioned them before on this blog, so now you can get a firsthand look?

Frank and Lisa Judson hail most recently from Michigan although they are New Englanders at heart--having grown up in Wolcott, CT. They have 4 precious children who are homeschooled.

Frank is a gifted Pastor and teacher at Grace Church where I am privileged to hear him speak from the pulpit in an occasional service or during adult Sunday School. The men at Grace are privileged as he faithfully teaches the Friday morning men's bible study. Frank's teaching style is a refreshing mix of Frank-ism teaching often using contextual slang and street rhetoric, rooted in sound doctrine. Frank is compassionate, passionate and faithful. He is unswerving in his conviction toward the truth of the word and is unashamed of the gospel in the very fiber of his being. He takes his call to holiness everso serious, yet his gifted comical and easy-going personality makes him immediately lovable-which is such a gift because of his amazing desire for evangelism. He is sober-minded with his Matthew 28 call and is the very model of the proper desire to which any professed believer should have.

Lisa is a continual breath of fresh spiritual air that continually leads the women at Grace with her sound and truthful speech in teaching; her unabashed desire for her home, husband and children; and her equal desire to see people saved unto Jesus Christ. Her desire for the glory of God in what she says and does is unmatched and her tireless serving heart makes her the perfect Earthly Relief candidate. My privilege to call her personal friend and sister has increased my desire for the glory of God that only can be attributed toward the very definition of Earthly Relief.

Their children are products of godly parenting and the fruit of their labor is easily seen though their children are fairly young. God has placed many talents in their household including an eye for the creative arts, beautiful piano playing, sports-minded likes (our personal favorite), and an ease of familiarity about them that would beckon any normal minded person to constantly want to be around them. The last talent is what, I would imagine, has been given to them from God as a resource because of the very public desire to minister as a family.

The entire family can be described as extremely helpful, conscientious, good stewards, faithful, kind, loving, and humble.

May it be as I have opportunity to be sharpened in my relationship with them, that the desire for holy and godly living be increased in my own life as they have so wonderfully displayed the Earthly Relief mindset of one anothering to me personally.... and to others.