On Death and Dying

PONDERING

Death or dying is a word that maybe most of us dread the most. But death is also a word that I wasn't able to grasp until I see it happened to my Papa and maybe until it finally happens to me. Dying also could be the most devastating because of the pain, the suffering, the grief and the the denial. And as humans we want comfort and abundance that life has to offer. But death will come like a thief in the night and we will surely can't escape it.

Last Friday, a brother in Christ of ours passed-away, leaving behind his wife and seven children. This news came to me as a jolt since he was part of our prayer items in our Monday intercessory prayers and my personal prayers as well. And whenever I hear sad news such as this, it brings back memories of my Papa who died 6 years ago that even funeral scenes on movies or tele-novelas  makes me cry. I would often ask God why do people have to die? Why do we have to bear the pain of losing a loved-one. So many questions in my mind that the only answer is to trust our Creator of the promise of life after death. That death is just a crossing-over and the end of our suffering in this fallen world that we are in.

John 14:1-4- "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." (NKJV)

This promise of God is what every Christians believe in and hold on to. This blessed assurance should make us not to fear death but rather embrace it as how we embrace life. But then because of human frailty, we still dread it because of the thought of leaving our loved-ones behind and the grief of losing someone you spend your life with. But God said:

Rev. 21:3-4 -And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. [4] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (NKJV)

So if life on earth is full of hardships and sufferings, who wouldn't want to go and join our Creator?  But it seems that we are addicted to immortality. We are humans who wants to live life on earth forever. But then death is preordained to each of us. And if we are suffering loss of a love-one, this too shall pass. And if we are to face death and or facing death, let's just focus our eyes unto Jesus.

Though I walk through valleys low

I'll fear no evil

By the waters still my soul

My Heart will trust in YOU

 

I Am Comforted

CONTEMPLATING

This bible verse came to me when I was faced by a gossip and slander against my one-flesh. It was a heart wrenching slander that it choked my innermost being. I know that living as Christians is not easy, the enemy is always around to use other people to accuse you or judge you. The inevitable happens in this fallen and corrupt world where people treat you unfairly  forgetting the good deeds you have done because of a single mistake. Tears can be overwhelming but donning self pity will not be helpful and so I prayed and pour out whats in my my heart to God. I opened my bible and God brought me in Luke 23, where Jesus was accused, scoffed at, ridiculed and then finally crucified. And what Jesus did was;

Luke 23:34- Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. 

There was no retaliation on His part. As human, I would not think the same as Jesus did. It would be natural for me to fight back but as Christian that is not what God wants me to do. I told Him that "it's not easy Lord, help me", and only love was His answer. As this verse was translated in the Amplified Bible "love covers a multitude of sin" means forgives, disregards the offenses of others. Dake translated this particular passage that not that our love will cause God to pass up or pardon the sins of others, but that it will enable us to pass up the faults of others and not hold grudges ourselves.
 I'm still on the process at this moment but I know in God's perfect time my heart will be healed. I just hold on to this verse. For now, I thank God for I am comforted cause this spirit of heaviness can be exchanged into garments of praise.

Isaiah 61:3-To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

Prayer: “Lord my heart is comforted, and my faith is strengthened by the undeniable certainty of Your promises. Death or deadness cannot prevent Your keeping of Your promises. Any lack of existence cannot keep You from bringing forth what You declare is real. What blessed assurance is available through  Your promises- by grace through faith”-Day By Day by Bob Hoekstra

Scripture & a Snapshot: Psalm 139:14

Happiness 

Psalm 139:13-16- For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Last week, July 03, 2012 at 14:30 hour, our 3rd heritage from the Lord God almighty was born. Of all my pregnancy and delivery, my 3rd was the most rewarding. I don't mean to say that the first two were less rewarding but... I will just tell my story on my next post.