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REMEMBERING DONNA RUELAYNE PHILLIPS REYNAGA
Recently I was studying in Philippians and was doing some research in my Pulpit Commentaries. I was reading the commentary on Philippians 2: 14-24 page 69. I was reminded of our Daughter Donna when she was one year old. She made some scribbling marks on page 69. I copied that page to make it available to our family because it seemed to be prophetic.
I think it is more prophetic than coincidental that she marked on this particular page. You can read the page for yourself and see how it fit Donna and her love for God. Donna was cheerful, never complained and she was a humble person but very deep in her Christian life. She set a good example for others. She loved to minister to others and encouraged them to go all out for God. These qualities continued to be her life style even as she had to endure sever discomfort and pain in the last three years of her life.
The Pulpit Commentary on Philippians Chapter 2 verses 19-24 further relate to Donna.
“Martyrdom may come soon; if it comes the apostle will welcome it with joy. He refers all things to the Lord and trusts in the Lord. He submits his hopes and desires, even where the spiritual welfare of his converts seemed to be concerned, wholly to the higher will of God. He hopes in the Lord, and is in conscious communion with the Lord. His hopes are guided and quickened by the indwelling Savior. His own happiness and joy are bound up in the spiritual welfare of his converts; like St. John, HE HAD NO GREATER JOY THAN TO SEE HIS CHILDREN WALKING IN THE TRUTH.” This was true of Donna!
The Commentary gives these, ‘Lessons to be learned’ from Philippians 2: 19-21 on page 70. “1. The great aim of the Christian life should be to live wholly in the Lord, in His presence, in the constant effort to please him in all things. 2. Communion of Christians with Christians is one of the greatest helps and comforts in the Christian life. 3. Pray to be absolutely truthful and real; to be, not to seem. 4. A true saint of God can endure isolations. “Who hath the Father and the Son, may be left, but not alone.’”
Donna included these words in a song she wrote; “Now I am a woman, now I am a wife, now I am a mother, giving my life.” What an awesome life she lived and gave away. It has been 18 years since Donna went home to be with Jesus. Her oldest child Abigail is now a pastor’s wife and they have two children. Jeremy recently completed a tour of duty as a Marine in Iraq, he is married and he and his wife Rachel are the Young Adult leaders in their church. Rachel Mejia ( Donna’s third child) is married to Pete. They have a 2 year old, and they are both active in their church. Donna’s youngest Ruth is a college student in San Francisco. God is Faithful to answer Donna’s prayer for her children.
Don Phillips –(408) 363-9547 LifeCoachDon@att.net www.drdonphillips.com
February 21, 1956 ---March 26, 1992
By her father, Don Phillips October 31, 2009
I think it is more prophetic than coincidental that she marked on this particular page. You can read the page for yourself and see how it fit Donna and her love for God. Donna was cheerful, never complained and she was a humble person but very deep in her Christian life. She set a good example for others. She loved to minister to others and encouraged them to go all out for God. These qualities continued to be her life style even as she had to endure sever discomfort and pain in the last three years of her life.
The Pulpit Commentary on Philippians Chapter 2 verses 19-24 further relate to Donna.
“Martyrdom may come soon; if it comes the apostle will welcome it with joy. He refers all things to the Lord and trusts in the Lord. He submits his hopes and desires, even where the spiritual welfare of his converts seemed to be concerned, wholly to the higher will of God. He hopes in the Lord, and is in conscious communion with the Lord. His hopes are guided and quickened by the indwelling Savior. His own happiness and joy are bound up in the spiritual welfare of his converts; like St. John, HE HAD NO GREATER JOY THAN TO SEE HIS CHILDREN WALKING IN THE TRUTH.” This was true of Donna!
The Commentary gives these, ‘Lessons to be learned’ from Philippians 2: 19-21 on page 70. “1. The great aim of the Christian life should be to live wholly in the Lord, in His presence, in the constant effort to please him in all things. 2. Communion of Christians with Christians is one of the greatest helps and comforts in the Christian life. 3. Pray to be absolutely truthful and real; to be, not to seem. 4. A true saint of God can endure isolations. “Who hath the Father and the Son, may be left, but not alone.’”
Donna included these words in a song she wrote; “Now I am a woman, now I am a wife, now I am a mother, giving my life.” What an awesome life she lived and gave away. It has been 18 years since Donna went home to be with Jesus. Her oldest child Abigail is now a pastor’s wife and they have two children. Jeremy recently completed a tour of duty as a Marine in Iraq, he is married and he and his wife Rachel are the Young Adult leaders in their church. Rachel Mejia ( Donna’s third child) is married to Pete. They have a 2 year old, and they are both active in their church. Donna’s youngest Ruth is a college student in San Francisco. God is Faithful to answer Donna’s prayer for her children.
Don Phillips –(408) 363-9547 LifeCoachDon@att.net www.drdonphillips.com
