https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A55-57&version=NIV

      In this post, I feel led to share on the subject of death.  I have had those fears overwhelming me in my life at times.  I especially remember a season when I had gone through a divorce, not of my choosing.

     This happening put me in a very hard spot.  I had no way of affording a place to rent, so I chose to stay with my lovely parents.   When I was in their place, my Mom was diagnosed with dementia and many other health issues.  On top of this, my dog ended up dying.  I  remember seeing the boxes of our departed pets on the mantle, on top of the news of my Mom’s dementia.  It was disheartening, knowing I was unemployed and facing the shadows of death all around me (Psalm 23). 

     I have been encouraged to call out to the Heavenly Father throughout my life, which I did.  Even though I had the signs of death all around me, I heard God’s small voice that I was just going through a valley.  I even gave Him my dead marriage. Where else could I turn… He is life (John 6:68)!? 

    Ever since that time, I have been experiencing branches sprouting.  It started with getting a part-time job with chances of going permanent, my Ex- Husband wanting to reconcile and go through counseling /remarriage, and on April 28, 2020 we got remarried.   Our housing situation keeps improving every couple of years, also.  No, we are all not getting younger or much healthier; we have to have faith in the one who defeated the grave.  He is going before us, showing us that death is defeated.   Let us follow the Good Shepherd into Heaven!  Please comment on how God has given peace to you in this situation. 

King James Version (KJV)

Luke 24:6
King James Version
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

     There are so many times in the Bible where the Lord  emphasizes trusting Him.  When we view life as being over because of so many catastrophies and trials, we are not seeing things correctly.  There is a bigger picture, which our loving Heavenly Father knows all about.

     When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane,  He was asking God to take away the cup of suffering.   He went on, though, to state that He was leaving His life in the Father’s hands [Luke 22:42-44].  He knew that God’s will was the best; He trusted Him.

     I wanted to encourage everyone that what might have been intended by others or the Enemy as evil, God is meaning it for good in our lives.  If we can remember, Joseph faced the terrible incident of being betrayed by his brothers.  When he revealed himself in Egypt as being their brother, it was evidence that God used the betrayal to help the Israelites.  I believe Corrie Ten Boom compared life as viewing a tapestry from the backside.  It has a bunch of rough areas that don’t resemble a picture.  From the other side, it is a gorgeous picture.  Just like the angel told the graveside visitors, Jesus had risen as promised.  Our lives are not over, and we will experience our own resurrections!

https://www.bible.com/bible/114/PRO.3.27.NKJV

Proverb 3:27, and Andrew Ripp‘s song entitled Love’s Got a Way, puts the subject of imperfection and need into perspective.  We need to remember the awesome resonsibility and strength the Spirit gives to His children.  There is a purpose for us to be here… in the particular time period, the particular location, and the particular families we were born into.

First off, I wanted to open up the blog with the observation that there is a balance God can give us in dealing with this downfallen world.  There is the calling for us to help our neighbors, and to utilize what God blesses us with {Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 25:15}; but, we shouldn’t misuse the resources in doling out to every needy soul around us.  What needs to happen is that we should wait on the Spirit’s calling to assist people around us.  He will show us areas we can be used in.  That is what makes this walk with Jesus so exciting.  It is seeing His hand working as you are given various assignments.

It takes the pressure off of us when we are given the power from above (Acts 1:8).  There is a picture in my mind of the description of the members of the Body of Christ working as one (1 Corinthians 12-27).  This idea of the Body of Christ using different gifts and talents reminds me of the verse in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 ; Paul did the planting, and Appollos did the watering.  What one person is able to get done for the Lord, another person can build upon it.  Let us be yielding ourselves to the Lord, letting Him give the increase.  We are all valuable as one Body of Christ.