Death and/or Dying

2 Peter 3:8-10 (NIV) 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

I've been thinking about this for a little while...and putting it off. It's not a nice subject....death/dying. Well I guess dying would come first. Funny thing is I kind of started thinking about it because of Michael Jackson's death and all the media attention. Not because I'm all that much of a fan. Sure, I'm a kid of the 80's and the sequin glove, etc. WAS a big part of growing up. I guess it was more because of ALL the attention. Sure, he did some good things with his life and money...didn't always seem that happy, but still some good things. "The King of Pop"

BUT there are LOTS of good people with good intentions that do things everyday that are noteworthy but not noticed. AND there are lots of people that when they pass on will not get all the attention they deserve. Chalk it up to some of the unfairness of life I suppose.

Tonight though I think I found out why I had waited. Before this would have just sounded like a rant about Michael Jackson. I found the complete opposite (thanks to a mom on carepages site). Her son died of cancer. He was 12. She recently posted this website: http://deathisnotdying.com/ I downloaded and listened to the audio. The lady gives an awesome testimony. She did not win her battle. She died July 2 of this year. She was a mom to 2 young kids and a wife and a friend, etc. She gives much info to think about and one of the best explanations I think I've heard of why we need a saving relationship through Jesus.

She will not hit the papers or even TV probably outside of her town in Canada. She will not be known as the queen of anything. She reminded me though of a way to live life because truly we're all dying everyday some people just have a better indication of when that might be.

I've been thinking about it anyway, but tonight I finally shared with my husband and said it out loud: I'm not afraid of death because I know where I'll go, but I am afraid of the dying part. Mostly because of fear of the unknown.

I pray this is not too much of a downer for you. However, I'm believing that in a dark world we need to shine light as much as possible. This lady's video/audio presentation does that. You can't keep news like that to yourself.

Roller Coaster of Life

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

In church, we heard about Elijah (1 Kings 18 and 19). Elijah was on top of the world because he had just proven His God was the real, true God. Shortly after, the queen orders Elijah killed. He runs for his life and actually asks the Lord to let him die. Extreme high to extreme low. So I got to thinking about ups and downs and….roller coasters. Surprisingly, I think faith can be described as a personal roller coaster through life.

You see it from a distance, the roller coaster known as “Your Life with God”. It’s the first ride you notice. However, there are lots of other rides trying to get your attention that look fun too. Maybe you choose to ride some of those first. You find they’re OK, but the roller coaster keeps pulling you back. Maybe a friend asks you to ride with them. The coaster looks daunting. Big hills, deep valleys and twists and turns. Once you get on, you’re on for the whole ride. You have a choice to willingly get on the ride….or not. You choose to ride. You get in and put on your seat belt or harness (think of it as God’s arms) to keep you safe and provide protection. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. You might dread the feeling of that first hill because you can’t see what’s on the other side. S-l-o-w-l-y climb up that first hill. A job is lost (click, click, click), a loved one dies (click, click, click), you question why you got on this ride in the first place (click, click, click). You have to get up high enough to be able to have enough push to get you through the rest. You’re not alone on the ride. You can hear the people in the front cars heading over the top of the hill and picking up speed on the other side. You fly down the hill and head into the twists and turns of life. Some happy, some down. You realize that even when you are at the highest or lowest point, the rails are underneath you keeping you on the ride. You come screeching into the station. The attendant asks if you enjoyed the ride.

In light of eternity, the ride was a blip 2 ½ minutes tops. You may have waited longer to get on the coaster than you did on the ride. Now you get to enjoy the rest of the time in the park. J

Too sweet.....little children :)

(NIV) Matthew 11:25-26 Rest for the Weary ²⁵ At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

This week, the kids and I are helping with vacation bible school. Tuesday during snack time, one of the little girls came up to me and set down a cup of water. I asked her who it was for and she smiled and said, "it's for you!" Then she gave me a hug and ran off to play Duck, Duck, Goose. She's only known me 2 days. What a nice little pick me up and reward for me.

Young children are so much more free with their emotions! When they're mad, you know! When they're sad, they cry. When they're happy, they laugh. I think we can learn a lot by hanging around younger kids. I do believe God has gifted them with a special knowledge well beyond their years.

If you are blessed to have younger kids in your life right now, take time to enjoy their outlook on life. It is often said (and I didn't really believe it), but they do grow up faster than you realize. If you have older kids....they still need somebody to talk to and bounce ideas off of. They're learning to make their own way in the world. Help them learn about God as a friend. Even though I went to church (twice on Sundays) growing up, I didn't realize the friendship/relationship that God desires with all of us until much later.

Storms....

Since I last wrote, school has ended for the 08/09 school year. The summer lays ahead of us and it seems like SO much time with empty days to fill. But the days will fill up as they always do, some with cries of "I'm bored" (ahhhh the days of youth!), some overpacked with too much to get done in one day.

Last night, I finished a book I was reading and started looking at some of the writing I've done when I actually sit down, read the Bible, listen for the still small voice and write down whatever comes to mind. Since the last entry I wrote was about being centered and staying in the eye of the hurricane, I thought this might be appropriate. There have been days I feel this much more than others, but still always a good reminder.

Luke 8:24-25 (NIV)
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."


THE STORM

Sometimes a storm rages across the land
or the ocean or the sea.
Sometimes the storm happens within me.

A physical storm with thunder, lightning, rain,
an internal storm with sickness, weakness, pain
Afraid? No faith?
Believe in the ultimate storm chaser

We may think Jesus is sleeping and we will surely drown.
He calmly says peace, be still
and the storm will calm right down.

Often times the storm lasts longer than I’d like,
but I’ll sit down and ride it out
God is in control.

Whatever storm(s) you may be going through right now, please know that you are not alone in the boat. God does not sleep. There is NO storm to big that with God's help we cannot ride through. When we give up control, we make it easier for God to calm the storm....or at least calm us to deal with it.

Centered and Living in the eye of the storm

Center definition ( from www.webster.com ) a: a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition b: a source from which something originates

The sermon this past Sunday was on focusing on the center and making Jesus our center, not ourselves. The pastor used Rocky 2 and a song by Aerosmith to make the point. It was done in a humorous way which helped the teenage son to pay more attention. :) We do live in a very "me" oriented society. However, when the focus is on us and we are our center....it's off of Jesus and other people's issues/needs. As the saying goes, "the world does not revolve around you"....and it shouldn't. I don't think we intentionally put ourselves there. Circumstances, advertising and society all play a part in pushing us closer to the center of our lives and making it about us.

While he was talking, I was getting an image of a hurricane with the eye of the storm at the very center. Later, I read up a little on hurricanes/cyclones. The eye of the storm is almost always warmer and calm. The storm swirls around the center, but the center is peaceful. That doesn't mean the rest of the storm won't come as the eye passes over.

Life can seem like that cyclone sometimes. Stuff happens that we can't explain or doesn't make sense. Sometimes it's hard to see the good that come out of a bad situation or life storm. BUT if we can keep God the center eye of our storm and we can keep our focus centered on the eye and not the storm, we will be able to survive the storm and rest secure centered in His love.

Revelation 5:5-6 (NIV) Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, ...

^{Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV)} Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Praying that the eye of the storm is big enough for us to center our attention on and the swirling storms of life will not move our focus off God as our center.