THE Perfect Gift

On Saturday I celebrated my 37th birthday surrounded by some of my precious family.  We ate food, took pictures, and played games. I received thoughtful and generous gifts.  On Saturday evening we received a phone call that Steve, a friend from church, died in a motorcycle accident.  It was sudden, it was unexpected, it hurts.  One moment we are laughing, celebrating the next moment we are stunned, grieving. 

Over the last couple of days I keep getting this picture in my head:

I see an army in marching order with a vacant spot.  The marching is slow, sad feeling. I keep thinking this army is my church, the local body of believers that I worship with, the vacant spot is Steve's spot.  We are hurting, wounded and one of our own is missing but we are still marching.  Life does not stop to allow us to grieve so we move forward.  We go to work, we cook dinner, we laugh, we make plans for the future but never far from our minds is the gap that Steve leaves or his precious family.  Prayers are constantly on our hearts for peace and comfort for his wife, his children, his parents, his siblings, his friends, ourselves.  Despite the pain,we find comfort and rejoice in the fact that although Steve is gone from this earth, from our midst, he is very much alive in our Father's house. 

Steve is not in heaven because of his kindness, his humor or his willingness to help others.  Those are things that we will miss. Steve is in heaven because he trusted Jesus' death on the cross as payment for his sins.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"  John 3:16.  The perfect gift that is offered to everyone. However, just like any gift, in order to possess it you must first receive it.

Death cannot be avoided on this earth but you can miss heaven, eternal life, by denying the gift that God is holding out to you.  Don't wait!

Human Sign Post

At the beginning of this month my pastor spoke about allegiance.  Actually, the title of his message was,  "I Pledge Allegiance".  In his message he asked the question, "To whom or to what do you really pledge your allegiance?"  He answered that question by saying that the goal of our allegiance should be our relationship with God. 

"When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you , and it would be a sin to you.  But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be a sin to you.  That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth."  Deuteronomy 24:21-23

He shared that Godly allegiance includes proper priorities. Pastor went on to say that every area of your life will be affected by your relationship with Jesus. Then he said something that pierced my heart, he said the marriage relationship is a human sign post to our relationship with Christ.  How we treat our spouse is how we treat God. Wow, maybe that's not true in your life but unfortunately it was true that Sunday morning in my life. 

I'm so ashamed to admit I was slacking in pursuing my relationship with Christ, whom I have voluntarily verbally professed as my savior. I wasn't reading my Bible or praying except for the routine meal prayers.  And yes, I was slacking in pursuing my relationship with my husband, to whom I had voluntarily vowed, before God and many witnesses, to love, honor and respect.  I was just coasting through our relationship expecting him to love, honor and cherish me ignoring the promises I had made.

Wow, every time I read that paragraph above I just want to delete it and delete it again. It is so, so, so, so ugly!

Thankfully, the lesson doesn't end there.  God loves me and you so much that he wants to expose the ugly in our lives, not to embarrass and humiliate us but to cleanse us and heal us.  To make us better, more like Christ.  The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  I confessed, He forgave. 
Thankfully, my non-grudge holding husband was quick and willing to forgive me as well.  Oh, sweet forgiveness!

Wild flowers my hubby picked for me!

Why blog?? (Husband Redeemer)

I just re-read my last blog and realized I didn't paint my husband in the greatest light.  Matt has always been very supportive of me and my goals.  My desire to write was a goal that he didn't quite understand.  His questions to me were in an effort to understand my desire as well as challenge me not discourage me.  I was the one who couldn't/wouldn't see the wisdom in his questioning.  Oh, the things I will learn through this blog.  Lesson 1:  Learn to express my intention rather than leave it up to the reader to decide.  I love my husband!

Why a blog??

Several years ago, I first shared my desire to write a blog with my husband. He innocently asked me, "What do you have to say that is worth reading?"  I was crushed.  If he didn't think what I had to say was worth reading then who would?  So I did nothing with the dream that had been building inside of me.  A few weeks ago, on a whim, I decided to set up this blog.  I was going to write, finally! I was not going to tell my husband!  In my excitement I told my husband!  I waited anxiously for him to finish reading.  I was sure he was going to tell me it was great.  He sat back in his chair and said, "So, explain to me why a blog."  I wasn't expecting that response but in the next second I could see the wisdom in the question.  I started talking while he sat patiently listening as I worked out an answer to his question.  I want to write because writing helps me solidify the thoughts, feelings, ideas that float through my mind and heart.  So why not a journal?  I want a public platform not for public recognition but for accountability.  I like accountability.  If I write about something  that God is teaching me and I share it publicly then I feel a greater responsibility.  So why not just tell someone?  I know my children will experience trials and victories throughout their lives that I may or may not be around for.  I want them to know that they are not alone.