02/23/14

Death's door has opened a lot this past week....enough so that I have felt surrounded by it.

A dear friend's son died suddenly at the age of 18.

Another friend's father passed away mid-week.

Another friend's mother passed away Thursday morning

My uncle (my mom's only brother) died on Thursday evening.  

On Saturday, my pastor's mother died.

 
The two that affected me the most, the 18 year old and my uncle, were sudden and so unexpected that they caused me to pause.

Death is part of life.  We all know that.  When it hits home closely it makes one realize the brevity of life - especially when it is  so sudden.

I took time to be still before the Lord and just ask Him to speak His words to me through the weekend.

What I came away with was nothing but peace and joy through the tears I shed.

The young man's memorial service was a blessing in more ways than one.  His mother showed much of the Lord's grace as she ministered to others as they were trying to minister to her and the family.  His service was a celebration of the full life he lived in his 18 years.

My uncle's service was similar.  It brought a joy and peace to celebrate a life of love, selflessness, and devotion to his family.  The Lord's grace was all over my aunt, mom, and other aunt, his twin, as they said "until we meet again."

There was peace in the midst of sadness.

There was joy in the midst of sorrow.

For those who know the Lord as Savior, death is not the end.  As I was reminded this weekend... death is the beginning.  It is the open door to eternity.

I meditated on this Scripture more in the last few days than I think I ever have:

I Corinthians 15:55-57 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

After watching the Lord work through these deaths this past week, I can truly say that there is no sting in death.  The Lord took the sting of death on the cross and allows us to have victory in times such as these.

He is faithful.

He gives us what we need when we need it.

There is a "peace that passes all understanding" and I have experienced it this weekend.

Our friend and her husband have been such a testimony of looking to the Lord this week through the personal tragedy of losing their son.  They have a hope that it is not goodbye.  He is alive and well in Heaven and they now have a new reason to long for home.

My Aunt showed courage and hope today when her husband of 54 years was laid to rest.  She knows he is in Heaven dancing with their two children that passed away before him.  My aunt knows she is just passing through this world and looks forward to the day she can join them all for eternity with the Savior.

For what the Lord has shown me this weekend through death, I am thankful and my life is richer for it.


These two songs blessed me so much today when I was walking at the end of the day after my uncle's service.  When we turn to the Lord and follow His ways, He will cause the world's sorrow and trouble to grow dim because we will see only HIM.  I encourage you to take the time to watch them both.

This one is short, but beautiful.

02/20/14

Here are some images of the snow we had this past week.  We have had an interesting winter here in NC.  I look back and see that we have been unusually wet and gray weather-wise through a lot of the past year.   Below the pictures you can read some of my musings as of late.

 

 

I have been learning from the Lord in years past that I am to appreciate each season that He gives for what He sends.  This applies to my actual seasons in NC.  I normally do not worry so much about gray, cold days.  I always look forward to spring, but I also try to capture and appreciate the winter season, too.

This year has been a bit different.  I think it is because we have been so cloudy/gloomy/rainy/wet for the last year.  Many times I have heard people reference that they didn't realize we were "living" in "Seattle, Washington."

I have felt a bit trapped inside as of late.  This is coming from an "inside person" so that is odd for me to say.  This season of cold/gloomy/rainy is beginning to wear on me and I am feeling the need for something more.  This past weekend I began to share with the Lord how I was feeling.  I was feeling irritable, sluggish, withdrawn.  I asked the Lord to show me what He was trying to teach me.

He soon revealed to me - I was craving the sun.

I have never put much stock in how much we need sunshine.  Yes, I talk about it with my students that there is great benefit from being out in it.  We gain Vitamin D from it, as well as warmth.  It has not been until recent weeks that I have understood more of my need for SUNshine.

This week at school I have been as excited as the children to get out and feel the sun on my skin.  I realize winter is not over, but these few days of the sun and a bit higher temperatures have given me some "pep in my step."  In fact, as I type right now I am sitting on our deck soaking in that sunshine.

As I continued to pray over what the Lord was showing me through this, He made another connection for me.  A connection that applies to my spiritual well-being.

When we go through hard seasons of life - death of a loved one, sickness, financial struggles, etc... sometimes we feel it is never-ending just as I have felt about the gloomy weather this past year.

It is in those thoughts that the Lord revealed to me my craving during those times is for the SON.  I need Jesus Christ to help me through it. I crave time with Him and when I do not get it, or choose to not come to Him to learn, I am indeed deficient.

How do we get SONshine?

We read His Word.

We soak in His truths.

We sing praises to His name even though we do not fully understand.

With the Lord, He is my light. He is my SONshine.  He is what gives me the spiritual vitamins I need to survive the season with which I am living.  The "winter" will pass and spring - new life - will come.

Psalm 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Revelation 22:5

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

If you are feeling a bit like me and are living in the southern areas of our nation, take this opportunity to go sit out in the sun.  It truly does the body good.  (If you are in a US state right now where you can't because you continue having the gloomy/snowy/rainy weather, just cling to the fact that spring IS coming.)

If your mood/feelings are because of the hard personal season you are facing, look to the SON and allow Him to fill you with His light, His strength, His love, His grace, His mercy.

I want to soak up the SON.

 Off to bask in HIS glorious Word....

02/09/14

I am...

I am happy at how this photograph turned out.  It was one of those surreal moments in time when you capture the sun just so. 

I am silly sometimes.

I am tired sometimes.

I am a wife.

I am a mother.

I am a teacher.

When one thinks of the subject/verb combination of "I am", one thinks of simple sentences like those stated above.  These would be "bony" sentences according to what I teach in class.  :)

In teaching from Exodus in the last few weeks, I am thinking of another "I Am."

I am thinking of this:

Exodus 3:14

And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

I always marvel each year when I reteach this section how the Lord continues to bring new "nuggets" to my own learning.  This year "I AM" has taken center stage.  I want my kids to know that our God is the I AM.

 

His name is not:

"I Was."

"I Might Be."

"I Could Be."

"I Should Be."

"I Will."

He IS... "I AM."

Let's think on that for a moment.  

The Lord is always there.  When you are in the state of "I am", you are in the present.  He is always in the present, but that was also the past, and it will be the future.  

He always is.

What a comfort to know my Lord is the "I AM."  I began a search of all of the examples He gives us in His Word of using "I AM" and came away astonished.  Here are a few I found.  I hope they give you encouragement today to know that God is there.  

Always.

Exodus 6:7

And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (Or for today... our sin!)

Exodus 16:12

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.  (He provides what we need for nourishment!)

Leviticus 19:10

And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.  (He provides for those less fortunate!  We should be willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.)

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  (Be still and know Him!  He is there.)

Song of Solomon 2:1 
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (He is beautiful and so is His creation.)

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (What a comfort to me to know I need not fear for He is holding me with his hands.)

Isaiah 43:10

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  (He is the one, TRUE God.)

Isaiah 44:24 

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; (He is the Creator and my Redeemer!)
 

Isaiah 46:4

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. (What a precious promise that He goes with us into our older years and carries those who are His, home to be with Him.) 

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (How many times do we doubt that He can handle our troubles?)

Matthew 28:20b
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  (Always there, my Lord...)

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (You can be spiritually fed and never hunger when your trust is in the I AM!)

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (I am so thankful that the Lord is my light and salvation!)

John 10:9

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (He is the door to freedom... to true joy.) 

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (I am so thankful that I have a Shepherd Who cares enough for me, His sheep, that He knows me and will always come for me.

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (The "I AM" lives today!  We do not serve a God of stone or one that is dead.) 

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (There is no other way to I AM than through Jesus Christ.)

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Even though we think so, we can do nothing apart from the I AM.)

 

Revelation 22:13

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

He is.  He was.  He will be.  He is the I AM.  We can be assured each day that we can trust that the Lord will be there for every aspect of our lives.  Good and bad, He holds us and understands.