Recently someone who helped me to become a writer by giving me a scholarship to attend their 1-day conference in Baltimore passed away. Earlier, I had received emails about her health. She had been sent home to die from an advanced case of cancer. A very sweet lady I remembered; I think we talked once a year since that first meeting in 2009. And before she left this earthly plain, she called regarding some business - never even mentioned that she was dying from terminal cancer and didn't have long to live. She was as perky as ever - very much as I remembered her. No signs of distress in her tone which was a miracle. I didn't even mention it due to a little shock that why was this woman calling me regarding some business that can be taken care of anytime while she does not know when her last day on earth will be? I knew the answer, but I could not see myself in such a state of mind; except it be by the good and merciful hand of God to keep my mind and my spirit. To know that you are dying is one thing; but to know it could happen any day and still have peace, is another.
My dear sister in Jesus Christ went home to see Jesus, our Lord a little over a week ago. I received an email that she had passed away peacefully, closing her eyes to wake up in the presence of Jesus. I was so sad to know she was gone and even more astonished that she worked for the Lord until she closed her eyes. In my mind, she lived completely, she loved, she lived for the Lord and she had great peace about her oncoming death; so much peace, she was working until she laid down on her bed and closed her eyes and died. How does one come to that place?
Jesus said in John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world, (New Living Translation). Jesus' peace is given by Him alone through His blood on the cross; through His life He gave so we could have eternal life if we believe on Him and through our association with Him in believing faith.
In John 14:27, Jesus spoke earlier these words: "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid" (NLT). The only way to have real peace - the inner tranquility we all seek and want to have is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There is no other way - if you have Him in your life as Your Savior - He will give you a gift - a gift of peace in the midst of horrific situations, even in death (the death of a loved one or your own death. Jesus "is our peace". And if you or I know Him, then we can experience peace in times of sorrow, trail, disappointments....
Sounds so simple doesn't it? To know Jesus has been the greatest blessing of my life. So many times people have tried to confuse me about the simplicity of knowing the God who sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. So many churches...so many Christians make it difficult for people to get to know Him...I am ashamed of some of the things I have done to make it difficult by not acting more Christ-like in my attitudes and behaviors. So glad for God's mercy and his chastisement to correct my bad behavior when I needed it - I don't want anyone not to see Jesus in me. It is simple to have peace if you are dying, or lost, or confused, or in trouble - get to know Jesus Christ who died for your sins and rose again on the third day - He will forgive you if you ask Him; He will save you from eternal death and punishment; He will give you His life and that "richly"; He will give you His peace, bountifully.
Ask Him to come into your heart and to give you His peace. His peace the world will never give and the world can never take it away. This is what my friend knew when she closed her eyes down here; she had peace so she continued to work for the Lord and then she died - with His peace, Jesus' peace.
Prayer of thanksgiving: Lord, thank you for your peace. I am so grateful when I can rest in You. Some days, I am not resting in You; some days I do not allow Your Spirit to control my heart. Lord, I want to change that - I want your peace, just like my friend had when she died. I want to have peace while I live daily knowing that the ultimately, no matter my circumstances or challenges, I experience true peace of heart and mind that only comes from You. Help us all today to know You. Amen."
My dear sister in Jesus Christ went home to see Jesus, our Lord a little over a week ago. I received an email that she had passed away peacefully, closing her eyes to wake up in the presence of Jesus. I was so sad to know she was gone and even more astonished that she worked for the Lord until she closed her eyes. In my mind, she lived completely, she loved, she lived for the Lord and she had great peace about her oncoming death; so much peace, she was working until she laid down on her bed and closed her eyes and died. How does one come to that place?
Jesus said in John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world, (New Living Translation). Jesus' peace is given by Him alone through His blood on the cross; through His life He gave so we could have eternal life if we believe on Him and through our association with Him in believing faith.
In John 14:27, Jesus spoke earlier these words: "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid" (NLT). The only way to have real peace - the inner tranquility we all seek and want to have is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There is no other way - if you have Him in your life as Your Savior - He will give you a gift - a gift of peace in the midst of horrific situations, even in death (the death of a loved one or your own death. Jesus "is our peace". And if you or I know Him, then we can experience peace in times of sorrow, trail, disappointments....
Sounds so simple doesn't it? To know Jesus has been the greatest blessing of my life. So many times people have tried to confuse me about the simplicity of knowing the God who sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. So many churches...so many Christians make it difficult for people to get to know Him...I am ashamed of some of the things I have done to make it difficult by not acting more Christ-like in my attitudes and behaviors. So glad for God's mercy and his chastisement to correct my bad behavior when I needed it - I don't want anyone not to see Jesus in me. It is simple to have peace if you are dying, or lost, or confused, or in trouble - get to know Jesus Christ who died for your sins and rose again on the third day - He will forgive you if you ask Him; He will save you from eternal death and punishment; He will give you His life and that "richly"; He will give you His peace, bountifully.
Ask Him to come into your heart and to give you His peace. His peace the world will never give and the world can never take it away. This is what my friend knew when she closed her eyes down here; she had peace so she continued to work for the Lord and then she died - with His peace, Jesus' peace.
Prayer of thanksgiving: Lord, thank you for your peace. I am so grateful when I can rest in You. Some days, I am not resting in You; some days I do not allow Your Spirit to control my heart. Lord, I want to change that - I want your peace, just like my friend had when she died. I want to have peace while I live daily knowing that the ultimately, no matter my circumstances or challenges, I experience true peace of heart and mind that only comes from You. Help us all today to know You. Amen."
No comments:
Post a Comment