Long time no see…
I deeply apologize for not following through with the plan for my schedule of the blog. I am usually a very reliable person of my word. It makes me wonder if I should allow the spirit to lead when to post vs. setting a schedule for the work and world expectations. I think that would be best. Today, I saw a calendar pop up for the blog. It is the 7th and I set that up but didn’t see it last month. It fell through the cracks of life. All things took my attention and I let them. I am trying to control what I can and do what I can, but I need to allow God to lead. I am grateful that I set the calendar reminders and that I can follow through with them now. God will keep me on track.
Celebrations of Life…
God made it so I would be at a Celebration of Life for someone I hadn’t met. I knew his father and that is who I was there to support. It was an amazing to hear the tribute to someone who had issues with depression, drugs, and alcohol that was shared. Despite the issues they confronted daily, they showed Jesus and were a light in the world for Him. I heard of all the care and love he gave those around him. If they needed money, he would give it freely. If it came to the shirt off of his back, he would do that too. Another thing he would do is help those who needed it in time or any way they needed him. That is an amazing person.
For his family…
His grandma shared that he would even visit her in the hospital and lighten the mood. He would play doctor and ask silly questions. It reminds me of Robin Williams in the movie Patch Adams. Someone would need his help to move and with him owning and truck he would gladly do it. Despite not graduating from high school with a diploma, he had the opportunity to go to college with a full ride scholarship, but he passed. Without a degree, he learned as an apprentice and opened his own business. Those he would hire were those who came out of prison and needed work. He gave them a chance and opportunity to turn their lives around. Again, such an amazing light in the darkness.
Those he touched…
They opened the mic for anyone who wanted to share what he meant in their life. So many were touched by this one person who saw their need and filled it with unconditional love. Grandma, mom, dad, then several friends he quickly made. The people burned bridges with their families and friends, then he gave them a chance. He loved them despite what they had done. He cared for them when no one else would have even given them a second or however many chances it would have been. God worked through this broken person to reach other broken people. He can do the same with us if we let Him.
Giving vs. Receiving…
This man was able to give so freely, but it was hard for him to receive. A friend returned the kindness and gave him the sweatshirt off of his back. He asked this friend several times if they were sure they wanted him to have this gift. The friend reassured him each time that it was a gift for him to have and keep. Those who are kind are usually not used to such kindness in return. They don’t feel they deserve as much as they are willing to give. Most people don’t show gratitude or reciprocation, so when it happens at a rare time, it’s hard to comprehend. His grandma would cook big meals for him, and he learned to cook from her and shared that with his friends, too. What an amazing 26-year-old man.
Why wait till the end?
We seem to wait till the end of someone’s life to truly appreciate them. They have to be gone for them to be noticed. We have the ups and downs while they are here. There are times we don’t make time for the other people in our life, not knowing when it will be the last time we see them. Things happen to make it such a hard situation to deal with at the time, but we can still love unconditionally. In many times, it’s hard to do this and be around the person. If we step back and see the big picture, we are all human. We fall short of the glory of God and are sinners. Yet, Jesus died on the cross to redeem us. He could have stopped the process, but he freely gave. What does that look like for us?
One light in the darkness…
It is hard to be the light in the darkness. To love as Jesus loved and bear our cross in this world. People who are closer to you more often are harder to deal with. Those who are strangers are less impactful to you with their issues or problems, making it easier to deal with. I say this as it relates to me, and you may understand and relate. God is refining me in my brokenness and helping me to take control where I can, my actions, and lean into Him for guidance where I have little or no control. Going through the hard times feeling and processing my emotions and giving them to Him. I know that I am safe in Him and He loves me as I am. No longer holding wrongful judgement to those who are to be judged by God. I can’t, but He can.
From that…
God is the rightful judge. We need His guidance to judge righteously. The Holy Spirit will help and guide us through anything we face. There are Paul’s in this world who need a Titus to bear up their burdens with them in prayer and support. In some ways, I am Paul who needs help bearing up my burdens in communication and prayer. In other ways, God has me as the Titus bearing up and encouraging others in prayer and conversation. I have walked through some things that others are going through now and that’s where I am the Titus. In what I am walking through as struggles or storms now, that is where I am like Paul. This helps me focus on God and others and not on all my struggles at hand.
In conclusion…
There is a storm around me, and I am grieving what I need to in it and through it. This is grief from past events up to present events bringing them to remembrance. I need to grieve what there is to grieve and give it to God. Repent of what I did wrong, forgive others for what they’ve done wrong, and move forward in healing. It’s easy for me to put off my work in myself and focus on those issues around me. I need to love myself, take care of myself, and move forward in healing and health. All of what I hold on to is affecting me either negatively or positively. The more I let go of, the less weight there is on my shoulders. I hope to help others learn and grow through their struggles as I face mine.
Some words of encouragement…
You are important to me. I love you. There is a purpose and plan for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) There is so much need for you, your gifts, and talents in this world. The body of Christ needs you and what you have to offer. They should be a hospital for you as you work through and change for your good and others. (Isaiah 61) I believe in you. You are an amazing, good, and loving person. God loves you as He loves me. He knows what you’ve done and what you are doing. The agape love doesn’t end. He sacrificed His one and only begotten Son for you. He is chasing you and romancing you every day. Open your eyes and see. (Psalm 119:18)
Song came to mind…
Through it all, through it all, I learn to trust in Jesus, I learn to trust in God, oh, through it all, through it all, I learn to depend upon His love. My brain works in songs coming to mind with single words or sounds. Psalm 95 brought to mind, “We will live to worship, give you praise, in all our hearts, in all our ways, Father we want to do, what you created us to, we will live to worship You.” God is good and His love endures forever. My hope is in the LORD. Thank you Jesus for all who read this, bless them tremendously. In your precious name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.