So...a lot of things have been going on lately. In the past couple of months I have seen many people I care about in pain, whether it be over illness, the loss of a loved one or just the weariness that this life brings. I remembered when my dad passed away four years ago. I had a mix of emotions and for several months, I just felt numb. However, there was one feeling during that time that continued to resonate within me. Is my faith (and my dad's) in Jesus Christ for real? It has to be...or I will never see my dad again. I was at a point where I was crying out to God and my faith in Him was being tested like never before. Because someone that I loved, that I couldn't see my life without, was no longer here with me.
I can tell you today...that it is real. That I have no doubt in the power and strength and truth of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. How do I know for sure? It's hard to explain, other than the peace and joy that I experienced and still do today. It's a supernatural peace that only comes when my mind is set and speaks the name of Jesus. I'm telling you, to just try it. Just breathe His name "Jesus." I can remember sitting in the front row of my dad's funeral and we were singing "It is well with my soul" and in that moment, I lifted my hand to God with my eyes closed and I saw it...I saw my Dad in heaven and He was laughing. This has an even more significant meaning from years past...and well, maybe I'll share that story another time :). In that moment...I knew that my Daddy was more than Ok...He was fantastic. He was for the first time, well ever, WHOLE. It gives me peace right now just thinking about it.
I felt for the first time ever in those next couple of months, that I was connected to heaven in a way like never before. Now that a person that I love so dearly, that I had shared my entire life with and all of my life experiences with was standing next to Jesus in Heaven...the place people only dream about...that now, a piece of my heart was there too. It didn't seem so far off any more. It was almost tangible to me and became so real. Like, I had one foot in heaven and one on Earth. It connected me to God even more and the realization that He has a place for me there...and it allowed me to remain connected to my dad. Knowing, that I will see him again.
I know this is kinda deep...I know it's hard to understand, and so I pray that today you will allow Jesus Christ to drench you in His love. That you would allow Him to be your Savior...and that the hope of heaven would not seem so far away...so intangible for you. That you would begin to understand how deep, how high, how wide, is His love for you. That His salvation would seep into every crevice of your heart and that you would embrace Him. And if you know Him already, that the joy of your salvation would be renewed. That we together, can become excited again for His promises. That we wouldn't walk through this life in fear, but that the fear of losing would be swallowed up in our Victory in Him. May you feel loved today.
Wow...just a quick God thing to share...in this very moment I have Pandora on and right now it just began playing "Give Me Jesus". That was the song that I requested to be played at my Dad's funeral. And just last week we sang it in church. Amazing.
