Three Reflections on a Christian's Death

Three Reflections on a Christian's Death

After a sudden death

Death
Is hard to face
No matter how you brace
Your mind and feelings.
Still
It sends you reeling.
Mourn and grieve
Until relieved,
But don't forget the good.
Seek to cherish memories--
Both fond and less pleasant.
Remembering can heal,
Bring balance.
Yes,
Death is real
But life is forever.
Yes,
Cry, ask why, and sigh--
Or whatever form of mourning is your style.
Not denial.
And hold fast, firm, like a dying woman
To the Word of life.
God knows death.
He gave His Son to conquer it.
Someday
It too will bow the knee,
Proclaim the victory and Victor.
So as you weep and miss his still,
Lean every more heavily on our Lord
And the infinity of His will.
He mourns too and knows your sorrow.
He alone goes before us to every tomorrow.
So mourner you aren't alone in sorrow or joy or pain,
Hold fast to Christ--He'll always remain
Within reach of your heart
And from His sight you'll never depart.
Hold fast to all the truth and trust;
He will see you through.

On the death of those younger: it seems like tragedy

Hearing of the homegoing
Unexpected but to God
Our lives measured
Determined each span
Illness or accident
Swift or extended
Short or so short the life
By memory extended
Let us mourn, in grief rejoice
That one so young so soon hears God's voice
Enters joyful into heaven
Let our mourning joyful be
And homegoing crave for you and me
Should our years the Lord extend
A glorious entrance our desired end

When and why does a Christian die?

A Christian's death comes when he has completed the tasks
His Lord asks--
And then comes the rest
And then comes the glory
And then comes the seeing
And then death is the means
To life in its fullness for
Life is being with and like Christ.

How Much More Strong

I wrote this many years ago for friends facing significant health issues regarding their children.  I know of others now facing similar circumstances.  This is for you.

How Much More Strong is God

How sad this crisis
Yet
How much more strong is God.
How emotional we mortals
Yet
How perfect is God's understanding of us.
How feeble we
Yet
How powerful He.

To whom can we turn
When with passions we burn
On whom can we lean
When weakness we keen
In whom can we comfort find
When we feel we are losing our mind?

There is only One but in that One alone
Will be all we need in our hurting zone.

There is no weakness in being weak;
His is the grace we must seek;
His the wisdom we so need;
Ask, He will not call it greed.
Ask, compassion He will proffer
From His everlasting coffer.
Ask, weeping, without strength;
His will take you the full length
Of each day;
Trust and pray.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be removed into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling
(Psalm 46:1-3; ESV)

Identity

Identity

You can go to either a dictionary or a thesaurus or to dictionary.com on line and find a fascinating selection of definitions. 
I had drafted both a long and a short piece on identity from my perspective--of course it would be from mine, as I am me--and perhaps one of these week's I will post those, but not today.
Why not?  Because Sunday night, February 12, Austin Duncan opened Psalm 139 and preached on identity to the Grace Community Church congregation, and what he had to say is more eternally important than what I would have posted here. 
The message isn't up on the church website yet but I would encourage you to check here for it:
www.gracechurch.org/media as that is where it is most likely to appear.  To quote Austin,
"Knowing God is the key to knowing who you are."

Sovereign, Sovereignty

Because we do not live under a monarchy, it is easy to lack appreciation for God as Sovereign.
Sovereign, Sovereignty
According to the M-W dictionary,
A sovereign [noun] is one possessing or held to posses sovereignty;
One that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere;
An acknowledged leader: ARBITER.
A sovereign [adjective] is defined as
Superlative in quality: EXCELLENT;
Of the most exalted kind: SUPREME;
Having generalized curative powers;
Of an unqualified nature: UNMITIGATED;
Having undisputed ascendancy: PARAMOUNT;
Possessed of supreme power;
Unlimited in extent: ABSOLUTE;
Enjoying autonomy: INDEPENDENT;
Relating to, characteristic or, or befitting a sovereign;
Synonyms see FREE.
What a lot of words for sovereign [noun] and sovereign [adjective];
And yet, and yet
They only begin to describe
The Sovereign.
He is indeed arbiter/lawgiver/judge
He is in all ways excellent
He is the most supreme
He is unmitigated in holiness
He is paramount in perfection
He is absolute governor as sustainer as creator
He is independent in ways we creatures cannot conceive of
He has a freedom of which we cannot imagine.
And yet, and yet,
These words only begin;
The Word is--without beginning, without end--
With control of all,
Even the most mundane of life's details
As well as the most critical [seemingly critical].
He rules over all invisible [except to Him]
He rules over all visible
He rules over all time and
Over all space and
Over all created beings and
Over all created other.
No detail escapes His notice;
No technology is beyond His grasp;
No relationships are too boring for His interest.
What comfort!
Amazing,
Grace.