We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
2nd Corinthians 5:2-4 NLT
In 2011, I attended the Homegoing celebration of one Mrs. Sullivan. I never met her face-to-face, but I know and love her daughter and son-in-law. That afternoon, I was invited into the private world of Mrs. Sullivan by those who loved her. It was an interesting place inhabited by a strong-willed woman who was clearly defined by her love for her family and friends, always wanting to take care of everyone, who loved to laugh, and liked to cheat at any game she played... and she let you know right up front that she would cheat. Ha!
Libby told me about one of her mother's escapades that took place earlier in 2011. Libby got a call at work - her frantic husband was on the other end to tell Libby that her mother was up on the roof with her former handyman because Mrs. Sullivan was convinced there was something up there that needed to be fixed. No one had any idea how they were able to wangle the extension ladder out of the garage, let alone climb it to get on the roof! At the time, Mrs. Sullivan was 87 years old - and her former handyman was in his 90's!
You see, Alzheimer's had started to take its toll on Mrs. Sullivan's ability to stay in the present. Her latter years of life were being swallowed up by the dread disease. As is often the case with Alzheimer patients, those who were Christians before the onset, don't lose that relationship. They still know the Word, they know how to pray and want to, and they still worship. Mrs. Sullivan was no exception. She saw and heard things that weren't really there, but she knew enough to ask her son-in-law to pray for her and with her.
Pastor Alan Neel explained it beautifully. We often think of death as the end of life, but that's not the truth. Mrs. Sullivan's latter years were being swallowed up by Alzheimer's, but when she passed from life as we know it, according to our Scripture for today, she put on her new body, and the dying body was swallowed up by Life. Eternal life. No tears, no pain, no heartache.
Life, full and free. Forever...
Prayer:
Father,
We don't always understand the why of things, but we know that You are trustworthy. We thank You for Your Word which gives us real hope in times like these. Thank You for the promises of eternity with You. Death swallowed up by victory. In Jesus' Name we give You praise. Amen
Showing posts with label Mother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mother. Show all posts
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Swallowed Up by Life
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Thinking about my mother...
I wrote this several years back about my mother. She's been on my mind a lot recently. Please bear with me for a repeat.
This time I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people. They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They’ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great. They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
Hebrews 8:10b-12 The Message Bible
To say that my mother was a strong woman of faith would almost be an understatement. I cannot begin to tell you of the adversity and trials of her life and yet, her faith and trust in God remained the ultimate driving force in her life. As it turned out, that was her greatest witness.
As a teenager, I didn't understand it. I remember more than once demanding answers to "Why would you serve a God who allows all those things to happen? How can you stand there and be calm, telling me 'It will all work out'? Do you not see what's going on here? How can you stand there and thank God for any of this?"
From an early age, I was a 'big picture' kind of girl, but I didn't recognize or acknowledge it as it truly was - a gift from God - to be used to edify and to build up the body of Christ. I thought my mother suffered from tunnel vision and a one-track mind. I did not know or understand that Mom was the living illustration of Psalm 121 (included below).
At that time, I only had a second-hand knowledge of who God was and is. I didn't know HIM. I thought I did - I'd been in church every time the doors were opened from the time I could remember - but the truth was, I only knew OF Him.
Through my own adversity and trials and the working of God's grace in them, my mother's God became my God. I came to know Him in His fullness. I learned first-hand of His love in spite of my failures (or perhaps because of them). I experienced His peace in the midst of the storms of life. Over and over, always His provision. Making a way through those storms, when there was NO way.
There isn't time nor space right here to tell of all that God has done to reveal Himself so I could have first-hand knowledge of Him. I have faced the next generation and now a third generation of teenagers demanding answers to "Why would you serve a God who allows all those things to happen? How can you stand there and be calm, telling me 'It will all work out'? Do you not see what's going on here? How can you stand there and thank God for any of this?"
I pray to have the same "tunnel vision" and "one-track mind" that my mother had. And I pray that my faith in God during the tough times will be my greatest witness to those He has given me.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for my mother. For all the years I did not appreciate her, her faith in You, and You Yourself, please forgive me. Let me be a faithful witness to those You have given me. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
* Psalm 121 NLT
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
This time I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people. They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They’ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great. They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
Hebrews 8:10b-12 The Message Bible
To say that my mother was a strong woman of faith would almost be an understatement. I cannot begin to tell you of the adversity and trials of her life and yet, her faith and trust in God remained the ultimate driving force in her life. As it turned out, that was her greatest witness.
As a teenager, I didn't understand it. I remember more than once demanding answers to "Why would you serve a God who allows all those things to happen? How can you stand there and be calm, telling me 'It will all work out'? Do you not see what's going on here? How can you stand there and thank God for any of this?"
From an early age, I was a 'big picture' kind of girl, but I didn't recognize or acknowledge it as it truly was - a gift from God - to be used to edify and to build up the body of Christ. I thought my mother suffered from tunnel vision and a one-track mind. I did not know or understand that Mom was the living illustration of Psalm 121 (included below).
At that time, I only had a second-hand knowledge of who God was and is. I didn't know HIM. I thought I did - I'd been in church every time the doors were opened from the time I could remember - but the truth was, I only knew OF Him.
Through my own adversity and trials and the working of God's grace in them, my mother's God became my God. I came to know Him in His fullness. I learned first-hand of His love in spite of my failures (or perhaps because of them). I experienced His peace in the midst of the storms of life. Over and over, always His provision. Making a way through those storms, when there was NO way.
There isn't time nor space right here to tell of all that God has done to reveal Himself so I could have first-hand knowledge of Him. I have faced the next generation and now a third generation of teenagers demanding answers to "Why would you serve a God who allows all those things to happen? How can you stand there and be calm, telling me 'It will all work out'? Do you not see what's going on here? How can you stand there and thank God for any of this?"
I pray to have the same "tunnel vision" and "one-track mind" that my mother had. And I pray that my faith in God during the tough times will be my greatest witness to those He has given me.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for my mother. For all the years I did not appreciate her, her faith in You, and You Yourself, please forgive me. Let me be a faithful witness to those You have given me. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
* Psalm 121 NLT
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)