"Christ has promised this" lives again in faith-

 I saw an old gravestone near a large tree. The roots of the tree were large and re-positioned the stones. 

The gravestones were of a family that lived long ago. I read the inscription that was weathered by the 150 years that had come and gone.

Why should we mourn our Daughter's loss,

Since death to her is bliss.

She lives again in faith she died,

And Christ has promis'd this.

I read the inscription carved years ago about a life that was short but was full of faith.

I was trying to imagine the parents who had to bury their children.

How they were people with a faith that was sure and in which my faith would pale in comparison. 

I thought of our inheritance in Heaven and how someday we will see all things in a new light.

I thought that since there were a number of family laid to rest here, five children and the parents, that each time they would have left a piece of their heart at this site, yet went forward in faith in the Lamb of God.

I took my daughter to see the gravestone one day and we read it together hoping to relay this faith of the past to today in our lives and in the Kingdom to come.

Why should we mourn our Daughter's loss,

Since death to her is bliss.
She lives again in faith she died,
And Christ has promis'd this.

One Day we will see His glorious might revealed again and again in new ways without ever growing tired. On this earth God is so kind as to give us friends to help carry the weight of loss of loves ones.

"..Friends ...come alongside us in our life's journey ... preserve (friendships) the most valuable of all possessions". (William Wilberforce)  

 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

 (John 14:1-3 ESV)

There Will be a Day-

"There Will Be A Day"
Jeremy Camp

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

[Chorus]
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone

[Chorus]

Troubled soul don't lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I can't wait until that day where the very one I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing

Song copyright: BEC Recordings

Purpose changes as our story unfolds..

Recently I was walking near a place I have walked many times.

The location is near a personal care home that was there when I was a child although known by a different name. Earlier in the evening I learned of some health trials that a few older people I know were having.

 Many times when I visit or see older people, and now getting older myself, I think of the days that they were vibrant and youthful, when their bodies would have been strong and their presence would be handsome or beautiful. Now, they are very aware of the years gone by and of limitations but boldly transition with grace to the next chapter of their lives and of their story.

 This is not to bring feelings of sadness but it can if we would lose sight of the bigger plan and our story that is held close to the heart of the Author of our story. 

Purpose changes but our story doesn't -

rusty old bucket truck once used to prune the towering oak now at rest ,

  rusty non- functional transit bus used to transport for many years now storing cardboard boxes.

 Pile of bricks at one time a strong building
- purpose changes but our Story doesn't , 
functions change
 but our plan and usefulness goes on in a less obvious way. 
What was in the past endures in various forms and only God knows the effect and the end of our efforts.

The sidewalk that ends-
 at one time must have led to a structure -now it has no destination, it's purpose has changed. 
It can be looked at as "Opportunity" to take a step in faith, trusting the Author of our story with the final end or result.

 

"The harvest at your feet- is what it is. Yet, in all of this there is hope because your Lord is the Lord of new seasons.
God made you and your story. Your story is His story.
(Tripp, Paul David. Lost in the Middle- Midlife and the Grace of God. Shepherd Press. 2004.)

Psalm 102
23 He has afflicted and weakened my strength, humbling and bringing me low [with sorrow] in the way; He has shortened my days [aging me prematurely].

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days, You Whose years continue throughout all generations.
25 At the beginning You existed and laid the foundations of the earth; the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They shall perish, but You shall remain and endure; yes, all of them shall wear out and become old like a garment. Like clothing You shall change them, and they shall be changed and pass away.

27 But You remain the same, and Your years shall have no end.

28 The children of Your servants shall dwell safely and continue, and their descendants shall be established before You.

Psalm 27:13-14 (AMP)

13 [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!

14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

The future is bright and will be creative.

"You have many productive years behind you, and though life is brief you  have the wisdom of age and experience."

The morning I started out reading about hope in the middle of trials and tribulation and how the Father is with me.

 And the day ended with a glimpse of the enduring purposes of our lives and God's plan, though our purpose may change the Story endures. Grateful for His care and that He speak to us today though the Helper who is our advocate and the Son pleads our petitions to the Father .

As the sun sets this evening be refreshed by the peace that rest gives and look up at the dawn for "joy comes in the morning!"

when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them....

 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless,

 like sheep without a shepherd. 

 Matthew 9:35 (ESV)

I then thought about God's love for me and my family. How I know very little about the intensity of God's love for me.

It was the great reformer Martin Luther who said: "the slender capacity of man's heart cannot comprehend, much less utter, that unsearchable depth and burning zeal of God's love towards us."

I read Morning and Evening on 3/4 and was challenged. "My grace is sufficient for you." -

and evening - The abundance of grace He provides- 

how much grace He supplies, for each day . and many years, and generation to generation

The Compassion of Jesus

by Charles Spurgeon (excerpt)

"SOME OF THE FORESIGHTS OF HIS COMPASSION.
The Lord has gone from us, but as he knew what would happen while he was away, he has, with blessed forethought, provided for our wants. Well he knew that we should never be able to preserve the truth pure by tradition. That is a stream that always muddies and defiles everything. So in tender forethought he has given us the consolidated testimony, the unchangeable truth in his own Book; for he was moved with compassion............ He is moved with compassion for you. For where a man cannot go, the Book can go, and where in silence no voice is heard, the still clear voice of this blessed Book can reach the heart. Because he knew the people would require this sacred teaching, and could not have it otherwise, he was moved with compassion towards us all, and gave us the blessed Book of inspired God-breathed Scripture."

"The compassion of the Master making up for all the abuses of his enemies. And, believe me, there is nothing sweeter to a forlorn and broken spirit than the fact that Jesus has compassion. Are any of you sad and lonely? Have any of you been cruelly wronged? Have you lost the goodwill of some you esteemed? Do you seem as if you had the cold shoulder even from good people? Do not say, in the anguish of your spirit, "I am lost," and give up. He hath compassion on you. Nay, poor fallen woman, seek not the dark river and the cold stream—he has compassion. He who looks down with the bright eyes of yonder stars and watches thee is thy friend. He yet can help thee. Though thou hast gone so far from the path of virtue, throw not thyself away in blank despair, for he hath compassion. And thou, broken down in health and broken down in fortune, scarcely with shoe to thy feet, thou art welcome in the house of God, welcome as the most honoured guest in the assembly of the saints. Let not the weighty grief that overhangs thy soul tempt thee to think that hopeless darkness has settled thy fate and foreclosed thy doom. Though thy sin may have beggared thee, Christ can enrich thee with better riches. He hath compassion. "Ah!" say you, "they will pass me on the stairs; they will give me a broad pathway, and if they see me in the street they will not speak to me—even his disciples will not." Be it so; but better than his disciples, tenderer by far, is Jesus. Is there a man here, whom to associate with were a scandal from which the pure and pious would shrink?; the holy, harmless, undefiled one will not disdain even him—for this man receiveth sinners—he is a friend of publicans and sinners. He is never happier than when he is relieving and retrieving the forlorn, the abject, and the outcast. He despises not any that confess their sins and seek his mercy. No pride nestles in his dear heart, no sarcastic word rolls off his gracious tongue, no bitter expression falls from his blessed lips. He still receives the guilty. Pray to him now. Now let the silent prayer go up, "My Saviour, have pity upon me; be moved with compassion towards me, for if misery be any qualification for mercy, I am a fit object for thy compassion. Oh! save me for thy mercy's sake!" Amen." (CHS)

God is faithful, he is our hope. He has changed our hearts and has broken through our despair. He has allowed our children, the next generation, to be called out of darkness, and full of faith declare the compassion of Christ. He has paid the greatest price, He has proven His great love and we will praise Him with our lives!

He is Faithful- Bryan and Katie Torwalt
©Bryan and Katie Torwalt 

I have heard a sound, coming on the wind
Changing hearts and minds, healing brokenness
I feel a generation, breaking through despair
I hear a generation, full of faith declare

pre-chorus And our song it will be, out of the darkness we will rise and sing

chorus: He is faithful, He is glorious,
He is Jesus, and all my hope is in Him
He is freedom, He is healing right now,
He is hope and joy, love and peace and life

I have seen a light, like the break of dawn
Giving blind men sight, and letting lame men walk
I see a generation, with resurrection life
We are a generation, filled with the power of Christ

bridge He has paid the highest price,
He has proven his great love for us
We will praise him with our lives,
and proclaim our love for Him