Friday in Faith

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

As the body of Christ we are here to bring others to Christ so that they may rejoice in His grace and mercy. But we are not to neglect each other as we are still well short of His glory and need the encouragement to press on.

My family has been such a blessing to me the last several months. And I write this blog as if everyone reads it, but really there are probably just two people. My brother sent me a response to one of my recent posts and it was sent in God's timing for sure. I had a pretty rough week last week, Mindy was heavy on my mind. I got a phone call that boosted me up quite a bit, then I get a response from my brother that defies definition. To say it was encouraging is an understatement. I even tried writing him a response a couple of times but the words didn't seem right. Then this verse was put in front of me (God's practical like that) and it fit so well. So to my family who has propped me up the last several months and continues to do so, all the good words you've given to me are applicable to you as well. As Jesus instructs us to encourage one another so that we can all weather the hard times, you are displaying His control of your life in your actions.

Friday in Faith

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

The scripture that really touched me most this week was one I just re-read last night. I had read this quite a while ago when cross referencing my study of Revelations. But I haven't read it since Mindy passed. It just opened my heart with a glimmer of what it might be like when I am reunited with Mindy, my Great Grandmothers, and even the loved ones I never met, but are still my brothers and sisters in Christ. Could you imagine the joy, the pure love that would be exchanged!

When I read this passage the song Amazing Grace pops into my head. Because 'twas grace that taught my heart to fear. The song has always struck a chord in me, but it was played at Mindy's service and it's had a deeper meaning for me in reflection of the short decade I had with her.

Friday in Faith

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I was reading this after getting an email with a passage in the same chapter earlier this week and it reminded me of Mindy. This was one of her favorites and she had rings and bracelets with similar inscriptions.

I have faith, hope and love. These three are rooted in Christ. And I have faith that he is the truth and I will be rejoined with her at his perfect time. And I have hope that his word will lead me to raise my children in a way that would glorify him first and foremost, but also honor Mindy. And of course the greatest of these is love. God's love and grace allowed Mindy to sit at his side now. She was baptised, as a show of her faith, on October 28,2007. That profession of faith along with her acts towards the kids should remind them of the love Mindy had for each of them. Love is the greatest, to be loved gives you the power to love. God loved us first and his love is unending.