February 5 2015

February 5 2015 Greetings My Friend I have a sadness in my heart today. As I got onto Facebook I saw that a good friend has passed. He was an older gentleman and it hurts. I also know he had a deep walk with the Lord so I am comforted as well. In the last week or so I have heard of another friends passing, this is getting to be something I/we face as we get older. Facing the fact that I too will die one day is sobering. The more I walk with God the less scary it seems. I also understand that the pain we feel the most is that we miss the ones that have gone on. Many times though knowing that they are no longer in pain makes it bearable and understandable but we miss them anyway. In the last few months I find my thoughts about eternity are changing. I used to think we live then we die and eternity starts at that point. I was afraid I’d be bored in heaven. I pictured myself sitting on a cloud playing a harp and that would be it. My first change in thinking came when I was wondering what eternity is and I asked God to give me some idea. He told me to look at Jesus after the resurrection. The more I did I saw Jesus walking, talking eating and drinking. I understand life in a body such as we have and Jesus’ body was like the body He had on earth. This comforted me greatly. The next lesson I learned was eternity starts the moment you accept Jesus in your heart. The more I pondered this the more I find I am walking in eternity right now. Prior to accepting Jesus fully in my heart life was so very hard for me. Most days were filled with emotional pain and thrown in with that was a lot of physical pain from abuse. Today in faith I find peace with my life, my past and my present. I have accepted the hurts of the past and gave them to God. Today I am content and at peace with my journey. I have health issues that I am handling without the despair of my past way of handling life. Right now I am struggling with regurgitation issues. It is not pleasant but I sense God pointing me to the answers through my doctor and showing me the times I have a tendency to do this. One such time is when I overeat. I don’t overeat a lot so there are other times as well. I want to panic but God quiets me when I start to think about the potential that my struggles could be life threatening. Overall I don’t think they are but my mind does conjure up such thoughts from time to time. God comforts me and I learn that what is, is. Allowing God to be in charge of my thoughts and actions is a journey on to itself. The more I am able to let go let God the more I find God watching out for my best. Remembering helps me to keep moving closer to God. In remembering I recall the times God has guided me, held me and in that I know I am wanted and loved. My friends wife hurts a whole lot right now so my prayers are for her as she faces life as a widow. My prayers are for the family too since Dad and Grandpa isn’t there anymore. In time the hole they feel right now won’t hurt so bad but now they hurt. My prayer is people know Jesus because He is the great healer and comforter. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet