Well, it's been a while since I've been able to blog in here. To say there's a lot going on is an understatement. My life is changing, flipping upside down, but I have peace about it. I'll say more about this a little bit later, but basically I am being shown that God is in control, no matter what.
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.
This is probably the most important week in the Christian faith. For all the miracles that Jesus performed, nothing compares to the miracle of Easter. If you haven't taken time this week to reflect on God and everything He has done for you, I urge you to do that now. Take a few minutes and pray, read the Bible, or do something else that allows you to focus on God.
I'll have another blog a little later with a major announcement :-)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Catching up..
I mentioned that it's been a crazy week, and really, it's been a crazy few months. It seems like every time you try to do something for God, you get slammed. I think the devil works in that way so you'll get distracted.
I've been going through a phase lately where God is cleaning out the junk in my life. I feel like things are getting simpler, in a way, because I'm getting rid of those distractions. I've struggled with a lot of different things throughout my life, and I think that God is using this time during Lent to finally cleanse me of a lot of things.
One of my aunts died last week. She was one of my dad's sisters. I drove down with my mom to Alabama on Thursday night for her funeral, which was Friday morning. It was nice to see my family there, because I get to see them maybe once a year (if that). I went down last year with Amanda so she could meet all of my living aunts and uncles on my dad's side. Fortunately, she was able to meet my aunt Mary before she passed.
The weekend was hectic (I got a speeding ticket on the way down, a flat tire while I was there, and some other things) but it was also good. I got to sing with my uncle's band, which was awesome for me. Ever since I was a little kid, I've wanted to sing with him.
I will remember the weekend if for nothing else than I got to spend some quality time with my mom. Since I got married in 2008, I might see my mom once a week or so. She has had some problems with her short-term memory and some other health issues that they are getting worked out, so I usually see her for her doctor's appointments. Being able to spend time with her and actually have conversations with her was really nice. I did miss being home, though. It was probably the first major trip I have taken without Amanda since we got married.
At most funerals I have been to, the preacher talks about Psalm 23. This was no exception, and I want to share that with you if you have never read it.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
I used to be so distraught by the topic of death that I didn't even want to think about it. Now, I have so much peace. I realize that Mary's life did not end - only her time on earth. Only her pain, only her suffering. Only her sadness and mourning. Only her body, which suffered from muscular dystrophy and other issues. No, her life did not end - it has only begun! She is with the Lord, who she loved so much. She is with her husband, her daughter, her brothers and sisters, her parents - everyone she loved who has went on before her. My aunt Mary is not the one who is suffering.
It wouldn't be right for me to end this without saying this. Think about your life for a moment. All that you've done in your past. All that you have planned to do in the future. What would happen if that was taken away from you? What would happen if it was YOUR time? Where would you go?
I believe that Jesus Christ paved the way for us. Some religions say you have to do this or that, or behave in this way or that way in order to reach heaven. Jesus, however, paid the price so you could reach heaven in a much easier way. God sent Jesus, His only son, to pay the price that we should have paid. All God asks is that you accept Jesus as your savior.
That doesn't mean that everything will change at once. You will still have your bad habits, you will still have to work out a lot. That's okay - that stuff will work out later (I'm still working through a lot of that, myself). But the neat part is this: When you accept Jesus as your savior, you are saying , "Yes, I believe you died on a cross and took the punishment for sin that I should have received. There is nothing I can do to earn my way to heaven. None of my good works could ever be good enough to pay the price."
The only one who can make that choice is you. You can accept Jesus or reject Him. I'm not going to judge you either way. However, I know my aunt Mary accepted Him and I did, too. I know where she is today, and I know where I will be when it is my time to leave.
I've been going through a phase lately where God is cleaning out the junk in my life. I feel like things are getting simpler, in a way, because I'm getting rid of those distractions. I've struggled with a lot of different things throughout my life, and I think that God is using this time during Lent to finally cleanse me of a lot of things.
One of my aunts died last week. She was one of my dad's sisters. I drove down with my mom to Alabama on Thursday night for her funeral, which was Friday morning. It was nice to see my family there, because I get to see them maybe once a year (if that). I went down last year with Amanda so she could meet all of my living aunts and uncles on my dad's side. Fortunately, she was able to meet my aunt Mary before she passed.
The weekend was hectic (I got a speeding ticket on the way down, a flat tire while I was there, and some other things) but it was also good. I got to sing with my uncle's band, which was awesome for me. Ever since I was a little kid, I've wanted to sing with him.
I will remember the weekend if for nothing else than I got to spend some quality time with my mom. Since I got married in 2008, I might see my mom once a week or so. She has had some problems with her short-term memory and some other health issues that they are getting worked out, so I usually see her for her doctor's appointments. Being able to spend time with her and actually have conversations with her was really nice. I did miss being home, though. It was probably the first major trip I have taken without Amanda since we got married.
At most funerals I have been to, the preacher talks about Psalm 23. This was no exception, and I want to share that with you if you have never read it.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
I used to be so distraught by the topic of death that I didn't even want to think about it. Now, I have so much peace. I realize that Mary's life did not end - only her time on earth. Only her pain, only her suffering. Only her sadness and mourning. Only her body, which suffered from muscular dystrophy and other issues. No, her life did not end - it has only begun! She is with the Lord, who she loved so much. She is with her husband, her daughter, her brothers and sisters, her parents - everyone she loved who has went on before her. My aunt Mary is not the one who is suffering.
It wouldn't be right for me to end this without saying this. Think about your life for a moment. All that you've done in your past. All that you have planned to do in the future. What would happen if that was taken away from you? What would happen if it was YOUR time? Where would you go?
I believe that Jesus Christ paved the way for us. Some religions say you have to do this or that, or behave in this way or that way in order to reach heaven. Jesus, however, paid the price so you could reach heaven in a much easier way. God sent Jesus, His only son, to pay the price that we should have paid. All God asks is that you accept Jesus as your savior.
That doesn't mean that everything will change at once. You will still have your bad habits, you will still have to work out a lot. That's okay - that stuff will work out later (I'm still working through a lot of that, myself). But the neat part is this: When you accept Jesus as your savior, you are saying , "Yes, I believe you died on a cross and took the punishment for sin that I should have received. There is nothing I can do to earn my way to heaven. None of my good works could ever be good enough to pay the price."
The only one who can make that choice is you. You can accept Jesus or reject Him. I'm not going to judge you either way. However, I know my aunt Mary accepted Him and I did, too. I know where she is today, and I know where I will be when it is my time to leave.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
It's been a very hectic span of days...I will have a longer post soon. My aunt died last week, and I traveled down to Alabama for the funeral and to spend some time with my family. It was a great trip (well, there were some minor hiccups, but otherwise it was great). I got to spend time with a lot of my dad's family, got to sing with my uncle's band, and had a nice time talking to my mom on the way down and the way back. Isn't it odd that sometimes, families don't take time to be close until it's too late?
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