An Eternal Reminder

I think about heaven so much now. My passion that overwhelms me when I worship is going to be all the time in heaven--even better than I can imagine. Even today being Easter I've been thinking about it. My Jesus loved me so much that He chose to die and now He lives. I want to love Jesus back as much as He loves me...no matter how crazy people think I am. I hope that's already begun to show in my life because it's not just something I want to write down over and over again--but it's something I want to show in the way I live, the things I say, the way I relate to others--in everything. I am completely unashamed of the story of Jesus, the cross, His death, and His resurrection, and the way He fuels me and gives me life--it's not something to be ashamed about, but something to boast about. Even when I think about the tragic things that have happened in the world, in others' lives around me and in my own, although that pain can sometimes feel overwhelmingly defeating...well, my Jesus lives. He really does. And He brings us hope. He wants me to do everything I can to bless His name and glorify all that He's worth while I'm here on this earth. It's such a very short time compared to eternity. I can't choose how I die, but I can choose how I live.

"Jesus, most beautiful name that I know, you're the exalted one".

Those are the lyrics of a song I'm listening to right now by Christ for the Nations. Such beautiful and truthful lyrics. His name is so beautiful. Not just the story and love He represents, but the story and love He is. After watching the Passion of the Christ video this morning at church, I couldn't get the image of Mary out of my head. She suffered too, seeing her son Jesus suffer and struggle as He took on the weight of the world. And we suffer because of sin too, as Jesus did. Part of sharing in God's glory is sharing in His suffering. We may experience pain now, but we are promised eternity in a beautiful place where suffering no longer reigns, but our beautiful Savior does. I can only imagine what I'm going to do when I get to heaven. I want to climb up in His lap and just be with Him. It's going to be amazing. I can't wait.

When Spring Blossoms...

A lot of times life is just like the seasons of the year. Sometimes it’s an ambitious cycle that never seems to end, and other times it's like two in one. We're all so familiar with the frigid, cool air of winter, and the soft, warmness of spring. As I look at the lives of others and even my own, I find a mix of winter and spring. You can tell the pain and hurt someone is going through, almost like sensing the distinct smell of snowfall soon to come. Although their words are filled with kindness, and their faces struggle to put on a smile--the hurt goes much farther within. Some hide it all away, yet others don't hesitate to share a word...you don't know until you feel it with them. You put yourself in their place--longing to understand their pain. Just like the wind-chill of winter. Sometimes the wind blows and you know its there, but even when it doesn't--it is still cold. You don't understand quite what its like until you feel the snow. That's when its real--you know exactly how cold everything is. You can't control the weather, but sometimes you just wish you could make it stop, just for the sake of others. There's a way around it, a way to shine when the air is filled with bitterness. Even though I can't stop the snow from falling, and I can't make it completely warmer--I can be a temporary warmth. It's like a coat, or a cup of nice hot chocolate and maybe even a blanket. It won't satisfy forever, but in the midst of someone's winter it can at least bring some sort of warmth. I feel for them, and I understand just how cold it is...I've had many winter seasons myself. Amongst this long period of time comes darkness, bitter-cold, uncomfortable situations--that just aren't easy.

But even though all the blankets, heaters, and hot chocolate won't last forever--they at least keep things easier for the time being.. until that first flower blooms under the cold, white snow. Until the air changes, and everything becomes a little more promising. The smallest blossom gives the biggest hope of a new season. It's just like a dim, yet distinct light in darkness; it changes everything about it. Faith now reaches out its hand in the season of winter. The warmth the Son brings, melts away all doubts, fears, and hurt. Flowers bloom revealing the beauty that comes from pain. Birds sing new songs of praise, thanking spring for its faithfulness. Butterflies show off their uniqueness of what they developed into. Starting off small and weak, and metamorphing into a stronger and more beautiful masterpiece--none like the rest. Creation waited all winter long for this moment. And although winter may come back around--we can still sing, praise, and be joyous in the coldest of days because we know, and have experienced the joys of spring. Life may be like this now...and we may constantly have to watch others experience their own painful winters, and we ourselves will experience hurt. And although it is easier to fall and freeze in the dead of winter, rather than soar in the joy of spring: we can and will be encouraged by this: we are promised a spring season that lasts forever!


*Happy birthday Momma!

No Mind Has Imagined...

My Princess...

YOU HAVE A HOME IN HEAVEN

Did you know that I have prepared a home for you in heaven? It is more beautiful than you can ever imagine. Your eyes have not seen nor have your ears heard the majestic beauty that awaits you. But for now, My chosen one, I need you to learn to see your life with an eternal perspective. When you cross over into heaven, you won't be able to bring anything from your home here on earth. You're only here to bring forth My life-changing news of salvation. Don't collect things; collect people. I have called you to bring others to Me. Remember, no one will grow closer Me because of what you have. Tell them how much I love them. They need to know about My amazing plans for their lives and about the eternal kingdom that awaits them too.

Love,

Your King and your Eternity Builder


"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." --1 Corinthians 2:9

Eternal Perspective

About a week ago I finished reading the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Towards the end of the book, the fourth person Eddie (the main character) meets is his wife. He has all these flashbacks and then finally has this conversation. It was interesting to me, and completely appropriate. I liked it a lot. Eddie felt the same emotions any human being feels after losing a loved one...but when looking at the whole thing from an eternal perspective, you see the reason behind it all.

' "You had to live without love for many years, didn't you?"
Eddie said nothing.
"You felt that it was snatched away, that I left you too soon."
He lowered himself slowly. Her lavender dress was spread before him.
"You did leave too soon, " he said.
"You were angry with me."
"No."
Her eyes flashed.
"Ok, yes."
"There was a reason to it all," she said.
"What reason?" He said. "How could there be a reason? You died. You were 47. You were the best person any of us knew, and you died and you lost everything. And I lost everything. I lost the only woman I ever loved."
She took his hands. "No you didn't. I was right here. And you loved me anyway. Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or touch their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it."
"Life has to end," she said. "Love doesn't."
Eddie thought about the years after he buried his wife. It was like looking over a fence. He was finally aware of another kind of life out there...' --The Five People You Meet In Heaven

For such a time as this...

If only I could begin to explain the way I've been feeling this past week. It's hard to put it all into words. I've been struggling to find the words to write down in my own journal. I've felt unbelief, pain, fear, confusion, anger even ... and although some of these feelings continue to exist, I've also felt joy, strength, love, wonder, and wisdom all flow through me at the same time. I've never tried so much to fathom the greatness of heaven and the beauty of it all, but it's a wonderful thing to be able to talk about it amongst some of the greatest people in my life. I've cried, talked, watched, laughed, greeted, and watched as so many people gathered to do the same with one another. It's amazing to me how God can transform our lives in an instant, and our hearts forever. I've never wanted to be around people so much in my life. There's something powerful about coming together and encouraging one another when the world has forced us to face another life-altering heartbreak. But through it all, I've never felt more alive in my life. I'm writing more, I'm loving deeper, I'm saying the things I normally wouldn't say, I'm taking the time to be authentic when somebody asks me how I am, I'm encouraging my friends more often, even when they're life is going great, I'm finding myself talking about Jesus more and the gift that I have, and more than ever before, I'm understanding my purpose here and the power of my story.

I had someone (thanks Katie!) remind me just the other day of the verse in Esther that says, "You were born for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). Esther was a Jewish girl, chosen to be in King Xerxes royal harem and eventually she became a queen because Xerxes liked her so much. At some point a man named Haman decided he wanted to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom. He became second-in-command in the empire and deceived the king into agreeing to an edict condemning all Jews to death. Esther's cousin pleaded with her to do something about this, since she was the Queen. But at this point, no one knew she was Jewish. She at first didn't want to because to step into the presence of the king without his asking, meant certain death. She was very afraid. And her cousin, Mordechai, said to her, "If you remain silent, relief and deliverance will arise from another place...and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

Wow. What a story. I can't get it out of my head. And at this time in my life, God is revealing so much to me about my story and my life, and why I'm here. Just like Esther, I was born for such a time as this. Even though I may never have all the answers and may never fully comprehend the way God works and why some of the most beautiful people are taken away from us--I am still reminded how temporary my life is, and how one day I'll be taken from this earth too. I won't be able to choose how or when I die, but I can choose to live for Christ, and continue to glorify my Jesus in my impact and influence in other people's lives right now. I was made for right now, for a time such as this. What an encouraging thought.

Even through all the hurt and confusion, sometimes it feels wrong to be joyful, but you know what? That's the devil trying to interfere with a beautiful thing. Joy in tragedy. It is beautiful. And I'm so overjoyed to know a God who can do all things, and a God that never has anything catch Him by surprise. A God that makes way for spring in our darkest winter. I am blessed to be walking this journey with all of you. I love you more than I could ever put into words.