God Says- Fear Not I Will Help Thee

 It's been a rather long, unexpectedly hard day emotionally- perhaps because today I received …  I don't even want to write the words. Strange how you can read my words as if they're flowing one after the other without any great pause, when in truth some of the pauses are very long. Are there tears within the pauses- sometimes. The day began rather upbeat. My nephew Devlin turned six today and my loving sister wisely knew I needed to get out of the house for a bit so I joined them in some celebrations. As the day drew on though, I suddenly felt overwhelmed. 

The memorial for my husband is in a few days and as it grows nearer, my heart grows heavier. You wanted a party- a celebration, laughter, music, good memories- and you made sure you gave all of us those- plenty of good memories to share. It will be a party and I know I will smile, I will laugh, and I will cry at your very last hooray, the guest of honor departed, but never forgotten, never. 

Going back to my earlier thought- today I received your… death certificates. The official papers legally recording your passing from life to death. Natural causes it reads- you died a death unsuspicious. Your heart gave out right there in the emergency room and it still doesn't seem quite… real. Don't get me wrong, I know it's real, but the railing against the realness remains.

I listen to inspirational music and because of that throughout my grieving various songs will spring to mind. Tonight I'm sharing two of those songs along with their lyrics. 

My Savior holds me in His hand-and He will help me as only He can.

Isa_41:13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

This is my prayer-

Psa_143:8  Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

All through Jesus Christ, my Savior and King!

Casting Crowns - Just Be Held (Official Lyric Video)

Hold it all together

Everybody needs you strong

But life hits you out of nowhere

And barely leaves you holding on

 

And when you're tired of fighting

Chained by your control

There's freedom in surrender

Lay it down and let it go

 

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Just be held, just be held

 

If your eyes are on the storm

You'll wonder if I love you still

But if your eyes are on the cross

You'll know I always have and I always will

 

And not a tear is wasted

In time, you'll understand

I'm painting beauty with the ashes

Your life is in My hands

 

Lift your hands, lift your eyes

In the storm is where you'll find Me

And where you are, I'll hold your heart

I'll hold your heart

Come to Me, find your rest

In the arms of the God who won't let go

*

Tasha Layton // Into The Sea (It's Gonna Be Ok) // [Official Lyric Video]

My heart is breaking

In a way I never thought it could

My mind is racing

With the question, "Are you still good?"

Can you make something

From the wreckage?

Would you take this heart

And make it whole again?

Though the mountains may be moved into the sea

Though the ground beneath might crumble and give way

I can hear my Father singing over me

"It's gonna be ok, it's gonna be ok"

I've blamed myself

And if I'm honest, maybe I've blamed You too

But You would not forsake me

'Cause only good things come from You

Though the mountains may be moved into the sea

Though the ground beneath might crumble and give way

I can hear my Father singing over me

"It's gonna be ok, it's gonna be ok"

From beginning to the end

You're so close

You have never let me down and You won't

In the valleys, in the shadows I know

You're so close

You're so close

Though the mountains may be moved into the sea

Though the ground beneath might crumble and give way

I can hear my Father singing over me

"It's gonna be ok, it's gonna be ok"

It's gonna be ok, it's gonna be ok

I'm gonna be ok, I'm gonna be ok 

*******

An Ear Wiggle, A Tug, and A Shrug.

 The last time ignites memories of the first time. Take those aged murky visions and wipe  the accumulated dust of the years aside. Peering into the past isn't easy, even when the dust is blown away - the colors have faded, the details blurred. I see you there though, I see the light of your love for me filling your beautiful brown eyes the first time we met.

Tiny details that make up life. I remember the first time you cut your hair- you cut it for me. The curls that crowned your head were shaved away, and there you were, and there you remained, a shaven head from that moment on. Oh, you weren't completely shaven, most would call it a buzz cut. The short hair left on your head was so soft, so fuzzy. 

From then on you'd shave your head then call me in to cut what you missed. In those few minutes you began a ritual you continued right up until four days before you left me. 

Ear wiggles. Yes, I said ear wiggles. I never knew anyone other than you who could wiggle their ears - without any aid from fingers. Your ear wiggling was unique, and try as I might I could never wiggle my ears and yes, I tried much to your great amusement. 

As I picked up the razor and began to glide it over your head letting it clip away at the few patches of hair you missed, you'd look at me in the mirror and wiggle the ear of whatever side of your head I was trimming. I'd smiled, reach out with my unoccupied hand and tug on your ear lobe, grinning back at you. We both smile, such a sweet intimate smile at this tiny ritual in our life. Then, you'd wiggle your other ear and I'd look at you in the mirror and shrug my one shoulder - hey, I had to do something, I couldn't wiggle my ear. You'd laughed, so many times you laughed at my poor attempt at imitation. You would think that throughout the years we'd grow tired of our ear wiggling, tugging, shoulder shrugging game- we did not.  

Four days, just four days before you left me you called me into the bathroom where you were sitting in your wheelchair in front of the sink. You asked me to finish cutting your hair, and there was a lot to trim. You could no longer leave me just a little bit to touch up, you were too weak- your arms too sore, too heavy. There was an apology in your asking, you told me you were sorry you couldn't cut more. I told you it was okay, but your eyes reflected a knowing of the truth. I winced as I raise my arm high to your head- my shoulder filled with pain. We were a sorry pair in that moment. You with your many pains throughout your body and me with my arm once more torn up inside. 

I trimmed your hair through the pain, and… you wiggled your ear. I tugged your ear. We smiled warily.  You wiggled your other ear. I shrugged my shoulder and gave a little gasp and shook my head. "Oops, wrong shoulder," I said, and grinned a tiny grin. You didn't smile back, instead you sighed.  You told me a few moments later as I lay the electric razor down on the counter that you were going to see if home health might be able to send someone help to help with your hair in the future. I wanted to protest, it was right there on the tip of my tongue to tell you - "No, don't do that. I can do it." But I didn't, you hated to see me in pain, as much as I hated to see you suffering. I knew if I protested it would just wear you out more, so I relented and simply nodded. Inside I lamented that we'd stop sharing our ear wiggling ritual, and I know you felt the same. A great sadness was heavy in the air around us as I left you to finish your grooming.

Silently I mourned the passing of a ritual, but what I couldn't know at that time was four days later your leaving me would take that ritual away forever, and ever. I wouldn't even have the possibility of my arm healing and us returning to our hair cutting just as we'd done over the many years, it was gone forever.

Today I cleaned up the very last of the tiny hairs you left from that hair cutting, those hairs that had a way of eluding the initial clean up around the sink, and I cried. I cried as I wiped them away knowing I'd never find them again. I cried, and in my mind's eye I could see you wiggling your ears first one, then the other, and you smiled - as I cried and shrugged my shoulders, first one, then the other.

From the first haircut  to the last, there was love. 

*

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 

Be of good cheer. There is hope of eternity! Hope of you and I in eternity with our Savior.  Tribulation I have in abundance, good cheer is my hope. Come good cheer, rear up your much needed presence, my hope isn't in the here and now. My hope is heavenward. As this world's tribulations touch each and every life, I know I'm not alone in my grief, this world is filled with grief,  we are in constant mourning. We cling to the hope of Christ always! He is our hope in this messed up world. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, now and forever!  Amen!!!!!!! All in our Savior's love!

'T', 'SA', 'SC'.

 'T', 'SA', 'SC'.  No, it's not a secret code, or perhaps it is, because no one knows what those letters stand for except me and…You, now… only me. Only me.

Only…me…Those words, those awful words twist my insides brutally causing every nerve to fire as the sickening realization of your being forever gone once more knocks the very air from my lungs and I gasp out a single agonizing breath. I try to keep the tears from coming, I try, I really try, but they refuse to listen to my silent urging. I need to breathe, but the tears are not silent ones any longer and I gasp for air, making noises only the similarly wounded can comprehend. 

This particular storm of grief begins to abate, just as a torrential downpour all of five minutes long, wreaking great havoc in such an incredibly short amount of time.

'T', 'SA', 'SC', they fill my kitchen calendar each month, only this past year I had more months without them than with. In April there were only a few days with those letters, but May, oh, May was filled! Every day had one of those letters in it. And June, yes, I filled the entire month of June with 'T', 'SA' and 'SC's'. And now…   only two days remain, only two more days with those letters and I'll never fill another month with them again, never. 

Those letters were for you, reminders for me… but, for you. And even though I haven't needed to be reminded since June 5th, the last day of you, those letters remained and I've watched them as each day of this month has passed. Now as we near July, I know when I flip over that page to the new month my heart is going to tear open. There will be new wounds that will need to be sewn closed by my Lord, my Savior, the greatest of all Physicians. He is with me, ready each time the tempest of my storm rears up the waves that threaten to overwhelm me. His love heals, His hope fills me, His peace I cannot understand, but I know it is real because it comforts me.

'T', 'SA', 'SC'. Are you curious as to what they mean? You may laugh, but as I said, I needed the reminders. 'T' - Egg On Toast. 'SA' - Egg Sandwich w/ Tomato/Cheese/Jalapeño. 'SC' - Scrambled Egg with Tomato/Cheese/Jalapeno and Onion. Yes, those were the breakfasts Jerry would eat, the breakfasts I would make for him. June 5th, the last breakfast Jerry had just happened to be his favorite of the three choices- 'T' - Egg On Toast.  Knowing his favorite was his last brings a little smile through the mist of tears. I am thankful for that memory.  And unlike somedays when the yolk would break prematurely, that day it was perfect, just the way he liked it. Such a small blessing, but huge, filled with the balm of peace. 

Only a few days of 'T', 'SA', 'SC' are left to me on that calendar in my kitchen. I will miss them, no…. I will miss you.

Joh_14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Choosing to Hope Rather Than Despair

 Tribulation- a cause of great trouble or suffering.

My God tells me to be patient in my great suffering. What do I think that means? Does it matter what I think it means? What matters is what it does mean- Patient… accepting suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. 

Accept the suffering. Is there a certain sense of relief in accepting the suffering rather than railing against it, fighting to get rid of the awfulness? We do that, we fight. We are engulfed in the pain of life. The pain of our bodies degrading in various ways as we age. The pain of our loved ones suffering and our being unable to relieve any of that suffering. The pain of our hearts being crushed by grief. We are to accept all this pain when our very soul screams so loud our minds are lost to hear anything but our cry as it reverberates through our entire existence. 

Accepting the suffering WITHOUT becoming annoyed or anxious.

Accepting the suffering. 

We really have little choice but to accept when the suffering comes. We'd stop it if we could, We'd change things if it were possible. We have to accept it, but how that acceptance manifests itself is something we can try to influence, right?

God tells us to accept our suffering without being upset or worried, and he tells us that we are to rejoice in HOPE, we are to CONTINUE in prayer instantly.

How do we accept our suffering? With hope and prayer.

Without hope and prayer we will flounder our way through our sufferings, our tribulations. 

Is it possible to get through tribulations in our life without hope and prayer? Ask any atheist and they'll tell you that of course it is possible. They may even scoff at the suggestion hope and prayer do anything at all. They may be very proud of their ability to take charge of their lives in times of deep anguish and push through it, rationalize it as they believe they must. 

My God offers me help in my tribulation, and I'll be the first to admit I need His help desperately. I need the HOPE He alone offers! I need the ability to communicate with my God. I need to know beyond doubt there truly is a reason for all the suffering that takes place, and that ALL the suffering even the most unfair kind, is temporary to eternity.  

Rejoice in HOPE, patient in TRIBULATION, continuing instant in PRAYER.

Tribulation is surrounded on either side by Hope and Prayer.

My God is in control… 

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isa. 41:13

Satan would have us despair- to lose all hope- to wallow in the darkest recesses of our abysmal anguish. 

The war I'm fighting with my grief is choosing to hope rather than despair. 

I will weep, and by God's grace they will be tears of refreshing. The rain needing to pour from my heart to water the hope of my soul-- this is my prayer.  

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer

Rejoice.  To give joy to. Delight, exult, glory. 

We aren't to rejoice simply for the sake of rejoicing. We are told to rejoice in HOPE. Rejoice in the HOPE of our SAVIOR!

'Why art thou cast down, O my soul,and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. Psa 43.

HOPE, v.t. To desire with expectation of good, or a belief that it may be obtained

Rejoice in the expectation of good, in the belief the good will be obtained.  We aren't to rejoice in ourselves. We'll have tribulation so much tribulation in our lives. In that tribulation we must be patient. How can we be patient in tribulation- through hope, as we are instant in prayer.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

Rejoice with me even as you weep with me. All by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Rest My Grieving Heart

 My grief is not something out of the ordinary, my mind tells me this but my heart cries out- it is! This isn't ordinary! This is so far from ordinary how do people survive?! 

They do, though, all the time, they survive.

My heart can't overrule my mind, not this time. I must put my heart to sleep, let the numbness that seeps in bit by bit enter unchallenged. My heart fights against unfeeling. My heart would rather ache than sleep, but my mind knows in order to heal the agony of living with death I have to let my heart grow quiet, stop its tears.  Do hearts cry? They have to because the tears from my eyes are no longer matching the tears still spilling from my heart. 

Rest now my heart, let this particular wave of tears roll gently into the shore, let this tide of grief subside for a while, as tides are wont to do, rest.

*******

Trials and tribulations. 

They enter our lives these trials and tribulations wreaking havoc with our normalcy. They stir our passionate responses and remind us of the horrors sin has inflicted upon us. We weren't meant to live our lives filled with agonies interspersed with joy. This was never how it was intended and deep down we all know this to be true. Admit it or not, it's truth. I know this isn't how it will always be. I know each and every trial, all the tribulations are temporary to eternity. I will cling to the hope of my Savior who died so I could have the gift of salvation through Him. That salvation will be a life of the purest love in eternity, life how it was supposed to be.  May God keep us in HIM as we face the horrible tragedies sin chokes us with time and time again, threatening to drag us to despair. God forbid we ever despair of the hope found in Jesus Christ, our Lord!

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

Joh_16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Act_14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

While I Was Weeping.

 From a seed to a seedling, my daily vigil witnessing the miracle of gardening, I took you along with me on my journey.  It was never trivial to you. You shared my happiness over the blooming Sunflowers, the Morning Glories- you were there when I lamented of them ever flowering, and you were there when their purple wonder opened on the long vines. You laughed when I told you the Morning Glories were taking over the garden, and I can still see your smile slip away when I mentioned how much they were even enjoying the okra stalks. Okra plants were sacred to you and their being invaded by the Morning Glories was frowned upon. Still, you didn't mind, not as long as your okra blossoms in their glorious yellow and deep purple flourish alongside the invader vines.  

This year you were looking so forward to the okra, and I praise God you were able to enjoy it a few times as it started to produce. There we were, sitting around the dining table once again- and you asked after the okra a week before you left us. I told you it was finally starting to get taller, you mentioned the summer rain is when it will really take off. I said, I really like the tall okra, not the short stuff- you see- I bought various kinds okra seeds- trying them all. You readily agreed that you too liked the tall okra, the taller the better--   we shared a smile. We were waiting on the taller okra… we were waiting on the summer rains…  they came while I was weeping.

I'll continue to watch the okra grow, and the tallest stalks will be a constant reminder of you, of me, of us.

The Zinnias out front were so small, you were waiting for them to bloom. 

They too, as I wept, dared to keep on living, keep on growing, budding and yes, now blossoming-- their beauty marred only by my being unable to share it with you. I know though, I know you'd smile and I can see your smile etched in my heart. Sleep on love, sleep on as the world continues to turn, as the flowers continue to blossom, the okra continues its ascent towards the sky. Sleep on, in the peace of a rest deserved after so much pain. Sleep on for now. I love you. 

*******

"…not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the LORD of hosts."  Zech. 4:6

By the Spirit of the LORD,  I live.

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Heb.11:13

I am persuaded of the future promised resurrection, the future promised new earth, until then I confess I am a stranger and pilgrim on this sin filled world.

"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Heb.11:16 

I desire a heavenly country prepared by God unashamedly. My God prepares.

"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." Heb. 11:25,26

Suffer now, refuse sins pleasure. Christ worth more than anything this world has to offer-- anything! No earthly treasure is greater than Christ, not a single one! All the suffering of living now worth the joy of Christ eternally. 

All by the grace and mercy of the Lord, Jesus Christ, my Savior now and forever! Amen!

Twenty-One Days Ago...

 Twenty days tomorrow, how is that possible? How? Twenty-one days ago you were still living. Twenty-one days ago at this very moment I was sitting in my chair in our bedroom, and you were sitting in your wheelchair near me. I say near me but truthfully, there was too much distance between us- wheelchair dictated distance, along with an injured shoulder on my part -I could no longer pull my recliner close to you. Prior to your surgery way back in May of 2021, we sat next to each other every night and we'd hold hands. 

No not the entire night, but from 11pm to 1am, it was our ritual of intimacy. A ritual that slipped away as you slipped away from me. I didn't know, I couldn't know that part of our lives was slipping away never to be recovered, we always kept recovery's hope for our future, always. 

The distance between our two chairs wasn't meant to be forever. Our lives changed, and while the ritual of intimacy altered it wasn't completely gone- not a single night went by without a kiss, a hug, and an, "I love you."  

Twenty-one days ago you were watching your television shows, the shows you watched without me. Why without me? Because it was the Sabbath still.

You didn't let the Sabbath separate us though. You still wanted me near you. I would put on headphones and start listening to my Christian music, or sermons and the occasional Christian movie. The majority of time I would be immersed in my worship through song and study, and as I'd get caught up in the music I'd sing out loud and you never censured me, never told me to be quiet, never told me to stop singing, never once told me to leave the room. Even when my worship songs had me singing at the top of my lungs, you just carried on as if it wasn't a problem at all whatsoever. Why? Why did you choose to have me there with you, in the room as I worshiped in song, rather than send me out to another room where you didn't have to hear any of it at all? I offered, more than once, I offered and you always said no, you wanted me in there with you. Even though I was a million miles away in my worship of God, you wanted me there with you physically. I asked why, but I know why, I do…  you loved me and didn't want that distance from me not even for a single night. 

Twenty-one nights ago you were with me, as the Sabbath ended you turned to me and asked if it were over. I told you, yes, and we began to watch our shows. Even as you would play your Mahjong on the computer and I'd continue with my studies, or other things- we would watch our shows. 1 o'clock came along, I went to you… I kissed you goodnight…I hugged you… I told you I love you…  you kissed me goodnight… you hugged me…. You told me you love me…

….for the very last time. 

Oh, those words! For the very last time! My days are filled with those words! You did this for the very last time! You did that for the very last time! It was the last time you had that! It was the last time you said this! For the very last time you laughed! For the last time you looked at me! I remember, oh, I remember that last look! I remember…your eyes were filled with shocked surprise, and mine mirrored yours, our last look… for the very last time…

…until eternity.

Twenty-one nights ago you were alive loving me for me. You didn't let our spiritual differences separate us, and I know you could have, but you didn't- you loved me so much. Stripped of that love is it any wonder I'm wandering aimlessly grasping at the past trying to gather as much of that love as I can. This patchwork quilt of memories I wrap daily around my heart just to keep it beating…just to keep yours beating with mine for as long as I can.

Why am I sharing our love with others, why am I letting them gaze through this window of our lives, of our past? Because, my grief is bleeding through my words, my mourning pouring out of my soul, each letter a tear. And, I can't seem to quiet this desperation inside that wanders the hollow halls of my life empty of you. 

Psa 56:8 … put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? 

Psa 39:12  Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 

Psa 39:13  O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more

Isa_25:8  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Rev_7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Rev_21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Because He Lives- 

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus

He came to love, heal and forgive

He lived and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

How sweet to hold a newborn baby

And feel the pride and joy He gives

But greater still the calm assurance

This child can face uncertain day, because He lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

And then one day, I'll cross the river

I'll fight life's final war with pain

And then, as death gives way to victory

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

I Will Meet You In Eternity.

 2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

Every awful, heavy weight designed by evil to crush our very existence is a LIGHT affliction.

Every pain, heartache, devastation meant to steal all our hope now and through eternity's endless time- is but a MOMENT in light of the infinity of life.

All the horrors of life ARE WORTH the eternal weight…the glory of our God, our Lord, our Savior. 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for 

the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Unseen eternity- let us look to the unseen.

Unseen eternity- life beyond this life.

Unseen eternity- our hope.

Unseen eternity- we will meet in eternity when that very last trump sounds. When my Lord appears in the sky! When He calls us to meet Him in the air! Then… then I will meet you in eternity.

That which is unseen will be seen.

I'm not looking at what is seen.

I'm looking for the unseen.

The hope of my Savior, Jesus Christ.

The hope of the unseen you.

The day you awake from death's sleep.

The day we meet our Lord together.

The day our eternity is realized.

Hope is unseen.

Hope is reality.

I know hope, I know Jesus my Savior.

I know you.

I will see my Savior.

I will see you again, Jerry.

Sleep my love, our Lord is awake.

Our Lord will return.

Our Lord will wake all the dead.

Our Lord will change all the living.

I will meet you in eternity, whether I'm living or dead when that glorious day arrives.

All by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever! Amen!

*******

2Co 4:1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not

Mercy. I faint not.

2Co 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

In the sight of God. 

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost

Hidden to the lost.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

Blinded from, not by, the light of the glorious gospel of Christ!

2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 

Preach Christ Jesus.

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

God commands light into our dark hearts.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

We CANNOT put the treasure in ourselves, we have no power to do so.

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair

Troubled- so many troubles.

Perplexed- so much perplexity.

No distress, no despair- trust in God.

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed

Persecuted.

Cast down.

Not forsaken, not destroyed- trust in God.

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

Willing to suffer - to believe.

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

Willing to die-  to believe.

2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 

Sharing Christ, willing to die to give the knowledge of life everlasting. 

2Co 4:13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak

We believe-we speak.

2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 

God raised His Son! God will raise us up- by His Son! 

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

Grace given! Thanksgiving raised up loud! All to the GLORY of GOD!

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

We perish now… but we will be renewed in Christ every day!

The Song of Jerry.

 The silence. You weren't loud, so why is the silence so deafening now? Just your presence was noise, how couldn't I have known that? I should have known. For eleven months you were in and out of hospitals and rehabs, I spent many hours without you here at home with me- but the noise of you was still here with me. Noise is so much more than sound did you know that? Your entire living being was its own sound. The sound of you. The knowledge of you alive even when  you were miles away, was its own music in my life. The background melody of my own song. The melody didn't fade away slowly, it was cut off abruptly. Yes, you were in poor health, but for so long we lived with that as the tune you played. The skips in the vinyl we constantly reset, even when there were more scratches than smooth playing. It was your song being played and I thought we were on the same recording, I never realized we were on two separate players, and when yours stopped, mine would keep going. The song of you has ended and my song keeps reaching out for yours…only to be met by silence. 

The first of many days throughout a year that we held as being special, was today- my birthday. I can still picture your face, and hear your voice as we were talking around the dinner table- you, me, the kids and you asked, "So, what do you want for your birthday?"  I didn't know, I couldn't have known then you'd be gone on my birthday. I told you I didn't want anything, but we both knew my wheels were just turning as I tried to figure out what I'd eventually tell you I wanted. I never got to tell you the things I was mulling over…  Was it better that way? You not knowing, not ordering something, not having that last gift from you after you were gone? I don't know. What I do know is I have many years of birthday cards, many years of birthday memories to hold on to, I have our birthday songs.

The silence of you on this day, when birthday traditions came and went without being met, was broken by the love of my children, my family, my friends with all their birthday greetings for me, their phone calls, their messages, their love.  I am blessed.

In my new found solo recording, I can hear the still small voice of God. 

1Ki_19:12  … and after the fire a still small voice.

Thank you, Lord for keeping me from singing alone. You aren't the song of Jerry, but You created Jerry's song for my life, You created my song, and Your still small voice united our songs together. Your still small voice separated our songs. Your still small voice is a voice of love, of promise for a day when all our songs will be reunited once more in eternity with You. 

All glory, praise, and honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now and forever. Amen!!!!!!!

Ashes of My Beloved.

 The call came, not to me but to my sister Beth. They tried to reach me, but I didn't answer. They tried over and over and finally they called the other number they had- my sister's. I didn't purposely ignore their call, my cellphone was in my purse, neglected because that phone and I have never been close friends. To some, their phones are an extension of their arms, their lives, I use a laptop/tablet for my online life. So, yes, my cellphone was in my purse dead for all intents and purposes, the battery life - zero. So, I didn't get the call, as I said… my sister did. 

The blessing that my sister is to me, she knew better than to call me with the news, she came over to my house, sat down with me, talked with me a little bit and then she said…

"The crematorium called, Dorene, Jerry's ashes are ready to be picked up." Her voice was soft, filled with compassion, her eyes already brimming with unshed tears for me, for her, for the whole of all those who are mourning the loss of my husband.

My reaction to the news? Honestly, I don't know what I said. I do know I heard my sister ask me more than once, "Where are you, Dorene? You're not here with me."  I was zoning out, I was lost in that numb world of those who mourn, the void so large it truly is easy to get lost inside of it and have no outward reaction at all because for the moment it's all too overwhelming.

Then the tears came, and the howling in my heart was so loud, so internally deafening, I zoned out again. That tiny spark of unreality, that teeny tiny bit that longed for none of this to be real, that there'd been some awful mistake, that Jerry was really alive and would be coming back home - that almost non-existence unreality of a thought was crushed by the heel of that call, ground down into nothingness, everything was all too real- Jerry was gone, real, real gone…  

And one of many songs Jerry loved by Van Morrison - his favorite singer - just echoed in my mind- because he used to sing it to me… I was His love, He was real gone on me… but now when I hear those words-  real, real gone…my mind trips over their meaning… and changes it to Jerry being real, real gone. 

This thing called grief is huge! This thing called grief twists reality- taking what you knew to be your normal and smashing it to pieces all the while offering you tidbits of itself because you so desperately want that life back! You grasp at some of the old normal, but the lingering newness of even the old normal actions are now tainted by the new truth of the new normal.

I wasn't this way with my mother's passing! My mother wasn't cleaved to me, my mother wasn't one flesh with me- Jerry was one with me- my husband by the grace of God, in the sight of God, we were joined. Now…now…there is a void. In that void my Lord God promises me protection, promises healing, gives me hope, peace, love. 

Jerry's ashes were there on the counter of the small office, and I reached for them, he was mine to hold. I held the box with what remains of him physically in my arms all the way home, and he sat on the table with my arms, my hands around him for a long while. I carried him to another room with me, and then yet another, then I knew… I needed to put Him down- I couldn't keep carrying him with me, he wouldn't want me to.  I walked over to the chess set he'd made a few years back, a chess set he proudly showed off and rightly so - it's a thing of beauty- and I made a place for him there on top of it. So there his ashes are for now. My heart is filled with pain, yet love; anguish, yet peace; grief, yet hope. The mourning goes on for now, and as my oldest sister who also lost her beloved husband, Ben, has told me- the mourning never stops entirely- it just lessens. The loss is never forgotten, but the pain grows dim. From time to time it will rear up and take the breath away, but it won't be like it is right now- a constant battle to breathe.  I will hide under the wings of my Savior, I will let His feathers cover me, He will be my shield and buckler through this spiritual, emotional, physical war of grief. 

Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 

*

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 

Psa 91:3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 

Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 

Psa 91:5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 

Psa 91:6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 

Psa 91:7  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 

Psa 91:8  Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 

Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 

Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 

Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

Psa 91:13  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 

Psa 91:14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

Psa 91:15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 

Psa 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

My Personal Belief.

 I long for the return of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I long for the day that those who have died will rise from their graves to meet Him in the air. What a glorious day that will be. I long to see my husband who so recently entered death's sleep rise up from the dead when Jesus returns. My husband, my mother, my father, and so many loved ones I long to see again. 

 I know my beliefs aren't the typical beliefs that most people have about those who die, but they bring me great solace. I'm of the firm belief that God knows our hearts each and every one of us and in knowing us, He knows our faith.  There are many who live in other countries who believe in reincarnation- that the dead come back as another being, or another form altogether, and still others believe there is absolutely nothing at all after death- no resurrection when Christ returns, that it is just an end. People have many, many beliefs and I would never judge another person's eternal life, never, that is for God alone. 

The following is an excerpt of something I wrote a few months back, I just felt the need to put it here again. 

God help us all to only seek Him, His love, and His truth, may our hearts belong to Him.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!

*******

"Everyone believes we go to heaven when we die, or… you know, to hell. It's just what everyone believes, or most everyone, any Christian anyways. What are you saying happens?"

"I'm saying when you take your last breath then that life giving force of breath returns to God and you fall into death's sleep. Death's sleep is the end of all thought. The Bibles says 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.' Think of is as a form of suspended animation- for all that makes us who we are. That breath of life holds our very essence, this is the miracle of life. Adam's body was nothing until the breath of life from God was breathed into him."

"Are you crazy? Suspended animation, uh, don't you need a body for that?"

"Do you? I mean you're saying a spirit comes from our bodies and is that any less crazy than a spirit essence being in suspended animation? Why? When God translated Elijah to heaven He took him along with his body. When Jesus rose from the dead it was with His body and with His body He returned to heaven. In fact when Jesus died and rose many were raised from the graves…"

"Wait, what?" 

"Read it- 

Mat 27:51-53 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. "

"Yeah, so?"

"These people that had their graves opened came out of those graves after Jesus rose from the dead, tell me, if they'd already had their spirit's taken from their bodies and they were in heaven from the moment of their deaths, what in the world was Jesus doing? Why would they rise from the grave and go into Jerusalem and appear to many? Why? If they were these spirit ghost type beings from the moment of their deaths they didn't need to rise from the grave to appear to others, right? Do you see, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever if you believe that happens. If you believe those dead were sleeping in death's sleep and when their graves were opened and Jesus rose, calling them from those opened graves they awoke from death's sleep with their body, and obviously not a decayed body. They were resurrected mind, body, spirit every part of them as a whole person was raised and that's what's going to happen to us too, when Jesus returns for us. The Bible tells us plainly…"

"Plainly? Nothing about this is plain." 

"The Bible plainly states- 'Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.'  Did you hear that last bit… Christ would rise and the firstfruits, those He called from the graves at His resurrection, and the rest of us and all those that hadn't been called from the graves when He rose, they will be made alive at Christ's second coming, when He returns for us! It's right there as plain as day! They that are Christ's at his coming! At his coming!"

"Uh, but …"

"There are more verses-  

'For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.' Do you see, the Lord is descending from heaven with a shout….with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise! It's right there?! Tell me why, why if they are already risen they are rising again?! Why?! All the dead in Christ will rise together in that day and we will all meet the Lord together and never be parted from Him again, never!"

"I just don't see why it matters what you believe. It doesn't hurt anyone to believe people are in heaven right now when they die. Who cares, really? If it brings comfort to people to believe that it's harmless."

"Yeah, lies are harmless that's what the Bible teaches. Truth doesn't matter, that's what Jesus says. Believing Satan over God, no problem it isn't hurting anyone."

"What do you mean, believing Satan over God?"

"God said man would die if they sinned and what did Satan say to Eve? You won't die. Dying isn't just moving on to another form of life, that's a Satanic lie, and Satan used it on Eve and got her to sin! You say it's harmless, no, it's far from harmless. It takes so much away from God when people believe Satan's lie that they just keep on living. I'm no authority on it all, I wish I were. I have done studies and if you truly want to know the truth and why it's not a harmless belief, you'll read all of the following link, yeah, it's long, a whole 32 or so pages but what's 32 pages when you are searching for truth? Make sure you take your Bible and look up every single scripture for yourself.  If when I die everyone who says they care for me in any way would take the time out of their lives to read all of this, it would be such a blessing - a last prayer, a last wish, a last hope for them of mine that they do this. If after they've read it all they still believe in what they believe now, at least they've had an opportunity for truth. I just hope and pray not a single post is made about me being in heaven, not one and if there is- that there is someone among those reading this that would set them straight and send them all this letting them know where I really am, asleep in the Lord Jesus Christ, waiting for Him to raise me from my grave when He returns for all those who are His." 

"I, uh, I'll read it now, I don't want to wait until you're dead. I don't know if I'll die before you, I mean we don't know when we're going to die. This is really important to you, isn't it?"

"Yes, very important to me. I don't want anyone deceived. I don't want a single person to have to hear Jesus say He doesn't know them at all because they think they are doing His will, when they aren't, not really. If you are proven to be advocating something that exalts Satan over God, then you have to stop believing that thing you may have thought was from God, but isn't. It's not easy. People don't want to give up something they've believed in all their lives, something most people believe in, they just don't." 

"Did you ever believe that you go to heaven when you die?"

"Yes, I did for many years. I was raised to believe that way, as a lot are."

"What happened when you found out you were wrong?"

"I was shocked, I didn't want to believe it was a lie. I didn't want to believe that so many people could be wrong- that my loved ones could be wrong, that I could be wrong. I studied and studied, praying and doing my best to know what was right and what was wrong, I couldn't refute the truth though, I just couldn't. Let me rephrase that, I could refute the truth. I could snatch up a few of the verses people love to hold up that seem to prove they are right but they take them out of full exegetical context without even being aware that they are. They study part of the truth, they don't want the whole picture, not the real, deep down nitty gritty studying that means doing something like reading a 32 page long article and taking time to look up every verse given. When it comes to our eternal life you'd think people would be eager to read it all even if just to be able to refute it all with their version of things. Show me Biblically, exegetically where I'm all wrong and I'll study and pray and study some more to know the truth and only the truth, God help me."

"Hey, no dying just to get people to read this, okay?"

"It's out of my hands, but I don't want to die any time soon that's for sure. I'd love to be alive when Christ returns, to witness His coming in the clouds, to hear the last trump sound, to be raised up from the ground and changed from mortal to immortal as I meet my beloved Savior in the air! Oh what a glorious day that will be! Such a glorious day!"

"Amen!"

"May we both live to see that wondrous day, God willing! All through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, may it be so! I'm not going to heaven when I die, but by the grace of God I am when Jesus returns and either calls me from my grave or translates me to heaven having never tasted death!"

*******

Please read it, but pray first! 

https: //sites.google.com/site/whostosaywereright2/Home/immortality-of-the-soul-is-it-a-scriptural-doctrine

Do Not Worry- My Husband's Sentiment As Well As My Savior's.

 Tomorrow. For some tomorrow never exists. Eventually for us, tomorrow won't exist. We must live our lives as if tomorrow does exist for us, to do otherwise would mean what? 

My husband who passed away two weeks ago today had plans that included a tomorrow, but those plans died with him. They were good plans, plans for a favorite dessert to be had, plans for a return to the scroll saw work he loved to do, plans to have his daughter make him a lamb dinner, plans for his son to help him figure out getting a wheelchair ramp for our car, plans for an upcoming visit with his sister, Judy, brother in law, Tom and their friend. These things he planned for weren't things of worry and distress, they were things he desired to take place. My husband didn't live worrying about his tomorrows, not for the most part. If anything, my husband was more worried about my tomorrows than his own.  

Jerry taught me that I shouldn't worry, but my nature is one of worry- a fault of mine that I constantly need to seek my Savior for, needing forgiveness because my Savior doesn't want me to worry either. Worry doesn't change anything, my husband said this and my Savior, Jesus says the same thing. 

I can look to the memory of my husband and what seemed to me to be an unnatural ability not to worry, and holdfast to that. I can look to my Savior and know that no matter what comes as my future alters- with the possibility of even losing my entire current way of life- home, possessions, the nearness of current family members, the garden I've planted again and again for several years, the trees I've watched grow from seedlings to over 15ft tall, the cuttings of trees given me by a hospice nurse before my mother passed, trees Jerry wanted planted- waiting to enjoy their fruits. So much might be altered, so much might be changed in my life, the future wants to fill me with fear and foreboding- but my Savior wants me hope, my future to be Him. Should I lose all things- home and garden, friends and family being close, possessions once owned by great grandparents, grandparents, parents and yes, my husband- I will still have the greatest treasure of all, Jesus and salvation in Him. We are told to put our treasures in heaven…

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

Laying my treasures in heaven… where life changing, my husband passing, cannot take a single thing I've place there with my Savior, this is what I must do through the grace of God, by faith in my Savior and not in myself.

Treasures in heaven. Will I mourn the loss of my earthly treasures, I imagine so, but by the grace of God I will take all my solace in my heavenly treasures- my Savior and eternal life with Him one day, those future joys no one, and nothing can take from me. 

God's will be done.

I will live as if tomorrow exists, I will make plans just as my husband did, just as we all do. I will live trusting in my Savior, He alone knows what my future holds. May I, through the Holy Spirit, learn not to worry, but to trust, to have faith in my God.

Jesus said--

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread. 

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

1Th 3:3  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 

1Th 3:4  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 

Mat_28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

No Thought For the Morrow.

 Time.

Time for us right now is finite.

Time when we die- ceases for us.

When Jesus Christ sounds the trumpet and the dead in Christ rise, time will begin again- and for those rising saved through Christ- it will be eternal time.

During our pilgrimage here on earth as the years go by we are caught up in a twisted, sick, painful, heartbreaking and also- beautiful life.

Men's heart failing them for fear -

Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Today, it is so easy to let ourselves fear. There is so much uncertainty in our world on every side. There is no such thing as feeling secure and safe in our life, not really. We can go days, weeks, months and years without too many problems, but that's not often the case. Some people live in a perpetual state of insecurity, uncertainty, feeling vulnerable and yes, scared, fearful. People can and do make themselves sick with fear and worry. Just knowing that we don't know what the future holds and only appears grim, can trouble us deeply. So much in our lives scream out for us to worry and be afraid.

God tries to tell us this very important lesson we’re likely to forget-

Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

So much TRUTH to learn!

We are living in very tumultuous times. And we have every reason to fear should we choose to allow this temporary life take precedence over our eternal life.

We are to SEEK the Kingdom of God and His righteousness FIRST before anything else- before money, food, clothes, shelter, health, all things.

Help us to this end, Lord. We would not that our hearts fail us for fear looking after the things coming, no matter what those things are. We ask that You uphold us with the right hand of Your righteousness and give us the peace that passes ALL understanding! Help us to trust in You with ALL our heart and lean NOT to our own understanding. We can't hope to understand what isn't ours to do so. Satan would have us understand everything, but he is evil and wants us to take our eyes off you and keep them on ourselves. Please, Lord, help us to keep our eyes EVER on you even as our individual lives fall apart piece by piece around us, never staying the same, never staying in a place we can be secure and content. Let us fine our security in YOU, no matter what chaos befalls us! Please, LORD, save us from ourselves! Save us! Keep us from evil! Keep our Hearts so they don't fail!

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!

*******

CONTINUED-

1894

(Excerpt from- )

Christ and the Pharisees -OR Christ's Faithfulness in Sabbath-Keeping.

BY A. T. JONES. 1894 [Religious Liberty Library, No. 18] [Cont.]

But that was not the end of the story. They did this to save the nation from the Romans. They said, If we let this man thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation. They did not let him alone, and the Romans came and took away both their place and nation forevermore. Their efforts to save the nation destroyed the nation.

Self-efforts for salvation will always destroy him who makes them.

But let us follow this in its direct intent and purpose. Their efforts to save the nation, not only brought destruction to the nation; but the thing which they did that night settled the doom of destruction for that nation forever. There was no more salvation for that nation, as such, after that night, than there was for Sodom when Lot went out of it. It was only a question of time when the destruction would come. And in view of that destruction Jesus sent forth his disciples with the everlasting gospel of this same Saviour whom they had crucified; to call every one in the nation, as an individual, to believe on him, not only for salvation from self, but for salvation from this destruction that was so certain to come.

Every believer in Jesus escaped the destruction that was to come. Those who did not believe on him, did not escape. From that time forth they needed Jesus Christ for their salvation in this life as well as for the other life. They were just as dependent upon Jesus Christ to save them from the ruin that was to come, as they were dependent upon him to save them from their own personal sins. And he gave them a sign by which they were to know when to flee for their lives and escape that ruin:-

"When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountain; let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto; let them that are in the midst of it depart out; let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return hack to take his clothes. But pray ye that your flight he not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day, for these be the days of

vengeance. Luke 21:20-22; Matt. 24:16-20.

So the doom of the nation was fixed that night. And all that the Lord himself could do for them after that was to send his saving message to the whole nation, to all the people, telling them to believe in Jesus and they would be saved out of the nation, and from the ruin that was to come upon all the nation who did not believe.

We have already spoken of a parallel to this line of things in our day. Let us notice this further now. There have been in this nation for nearly fifty years now, a people, the Seventh-day Adventists, giving a special message in which God's ideas of the Sabbath are most prominently advocated, believed, and observed. The Pharisees and the doctors of the law saw it when it began, and they have watched it ever since; and they have said, "O, it will amount to nothing; this is just a little flurry; their preaching creates quite a stir for a little while, but as soon as they are gone, the whole thing will die out, and it will amount to nothing." They have said that at the beginning, and all the way along; but steadily they have seen that it does not work that way. Steadily they have seen God's ideas of the Sabbath finding a place among the people, more and more, and becoming more widespread. Although the word might be spoken in weakness, there was that about the words that were spoken, which caused them to linger with the people, and to stay in a person's heart for twenty years or more, and at last bring him to God. They saw it doing this. And then they saw that they would have to take more active measures than that, if they were going to maintain man's ideas of the Sabbath against the Lord's, and they did it. They enforced the State Sunday laws to a greater or less extent at different times, and in different places; but that did not stop the spread of God's Sabbath. Still it went on. Then they said, "If we let this thing alone, and let this people alone, this will become a whole nation of Sabbath-breakers. They go into a community and preach, and they get only a few at the most, and probably none at all, to keep the Saturday; but they break up the people's keeping Sunday, and therefore they are simply making the nation a nation of Sabbathbreakers; and it must be stopped, or the nation will perish for Sabbath-breaking; the judgments of God will come upon the land, and destroy us all."

Therefore they were compelled to have the power of the nation joined to them to put under foot and crush out of existence, as far as lay in their power, God's idea of the Sabbath, and exalt man's. They tried it little by little, and more and more, upon the national legislature and the national power; but large numbers of the national legislature, like Pilate of old, said at first: "We find no fault in this; we will have nothing to do with it; attend to it yourselves; it is a controversy of your own; it is a religious matter; and if it comes up here, we will vote against it, every one of us." Scores of them said that. Then these Pharisees and doctors of the law said to the representatives of the government, "If you do not do what we ask of you, if you do not vote for that Sunday law, setting up Sunday here for the Sabbath of this nation, we will never vote for one of you again as long as we live, for any office under the sun."

Then too, just like Pilate at last, these legislators surrendered and said, "We will do it-we will do it." They sat down in their official seat and took jurisdiction of the case, under the threats of these Pharisees and doctors of the law. And in the doing of this, these Pharisees and doctors of the law did as certainly turn their backs upon God, and join themselves to Cesar-to earthly power-as did the Pharisees and priests and doctors of the law of old. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation; the power of God belongs to every professor of the gospel, and he who has the power of God cannot possibly have any other. No power can be added to the power of God.

Then he who professes the gospel, and calls for any other power, denies the power of God; and when he denies the power of God, and puts his confidence in the power of man, whether man as an individual, or man assembled in governments, he puts his trust in human power instead of the power of God. And when these people sent up their petitions and their prayers to Congress instead of to God, they turned their backs upon the Lord, upon the power

that goes with the gospel, and turned their attention to man for their help, to carry out this work in which they were engaged.

And thus they got Congress-yes, they got the whole government of the United States-to take jurisdiction of the case. They took the fourth commandment as recorded in God's word, and put it in the official record of the governmental proceedings, and then deliberately changed it. They definitely and purposely put the Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day, out of God's commandment, and put the Sunday of the papacy in its place. They said the words Sabbath day "may mean Saturday or Sunday; it may be one day or the other, and we declare that it is and shall be the first day of the week commonly called Sunday," and that that is the meaning of the fourth commandment. Thus under these threats the Pharisees and the doctors of the law of to-day, got the governmental authority to do just what it did back yonder,-they got the governmental power to put the Sabbath of the Lord under foot, and as far as lies in their power, to crush it out of existence, and put man's ideas of the Sabbath in it instead. That thing is done. Everybody on earth knows that that is past. And to day we are that far along in the record made by Jesus in his faithfulness to Sabbath-keeping. This nation stands now where that nation stood when it rejected Jesus Christ because of his ideas of Sabbath-keeping. Back there they did it to maintain their own ideas of the Sabbath against the

Lord's, and they did it to save their nation. And these here did it for the same purpose. Three United States senators, each one in his place, said definitely that this must be done for the salvation of the nation. Two of them had more to do than any others to carry it through, and the third one not much less,-Senators Hawley of Connecticut, Colquitt of Georgia, and Frye of Maine, each of the three placed the salvation of the nation as the purpose of setting up. Sunday as the Sabbath under these threats. Then, as the same thing has been done here and now by the like parties, for the same purpose, and by the same means, we are that far along in the account. Then what comes next? Will the rest of the account be met? Must assuredly it will; for it was all written for us. (To Be Continued…)