This new season of life, although tough to go through, has been a time that I have chosen to press in to my Savior. In the last 6 months of my life, I have gone through so much more than I can remember in my lifetime, from failed relationships, to failed marriages, to my moms passing. In the midst of it all, I have been able to experience the Joy the Lord promises. I would have never imagined the Lord would honor me with a deeper, more real relationship with my father. Walking with him through this season of grief has been an honor. Have you ever been doing something where you knew, without a doubt, the Lord was smiling on you? This is how I feel when I go spend time with my dad, whether it's helping him pay bills, taking him to the bank, going grocery shopping or sharing a meal together. God is smiling on me. On Easter Sunday, if happened to be the 3-month anniversary of mom's passing. My twin sister and her husband brought my dad out and we met at the cemetery to visit mom's grave. Of course, her shell is there, but her spirit is so alive in heaven. At the graveside, my father opened a book. It happened to be The Purpose Driven Life book by Rich Warren. He had introduced a chapter in the book by saying “this was your mothers’ favorite.” It was Chapter 6. As I looked at him and realized he was going to share a message with us, I was encouraged and inspired at his strength to still trust in the Lord, even in the midst of this hard season for all of us, him especially.
He opened the book and began to share. The title of Chapter 6 is “Life is a Temporary Assignment.” It concentrated on two truths, #1 compared to eternity, life is extremely brief, and #2 earth is only a temporary residence.
Rick Warren goes on to say, “as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. At times it may feel God's promises go unfulfilled, some prayers go unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life in order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth.”
”It is a fatal mistake to assume that God's goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success as the world defines, says Warren. The abundant life we live has nothing to do with material abundance, and faithfulness to God does not guarantee success in a career or even in ministry. We must never focus on temporary crowns.”
You will not be in heaven two seconds before you cry out, "Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary? What was I thinking? Why did I waste so much time, energy, and concern on what wasn't going to last?"
”When life get tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At death you won't leave home - you'll go home.”
Blessing to all, Anneboots
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