The Circle of Life/Brooklyn Kay

 

     The circle of life. After celebrating and sorrowing over the earthly death of our good friend, Tom, we are filled with joy at the celebration of a new life!  Our sweet granddaughter, Brooklyn Kay, arrived this week. Have you noticed how often our earthly goodbyes are often followed by an earthly hello?

     The blessing of grandchildren is a rare and inexpressible joy. Brooklyn is perfect. We savored her ten little toes, her ten tiny fingers, her button nose, her sweet mouth, her head of dark hair and the softness of her skin. Snuggling new babies is one of life’s greatest gifts and I, for one, cannot get enough.  As we stared at our new beauty, these words came to mind.

For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

     Brooklyn, dear and beloved child of God, may you always feel His presence, His strength, His power and His guidance throughout your life. And may you always feel the warmth and deep love of all of us who surround you. You have the best parents, along with the best siblings, and a whole host of close family and friends who will always be there for you. You are dearly loved and chosen for just these moments.

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

Father,

There are no words to thank You for the gift of our children’s children. Thank You for choosing Brooklyn to be born at this time and in this family. We praise You. She is fearfully and wonderfully made.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Life Forever in Glory

 

     One day we will meet Jesus face to face. Our bodies will become immortal. Did you know, after the resurrection, Jesus ate with His disciples? Did you know that they could touch Him and see Him? And did you know He could move from place to place instantly? Walk through walls as if they did not exist? Imagine that!

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

     Thomas or “doubting Thomas” as he became known, insisted on touching Jesus. He had a body different from ours, but made with flesh and bones.

“Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Luke 24:39

     One day all of our suffering will be over. No more grief, no more disease, no more anger or bitterness, no more addiction and hopelessness. And our bodies will live forever in joy.

So, it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable. It is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

     We will be like Him, a new body, raised in power, in glory, imperishable. Keep this tucked away throughout the rest of your life. We are raised with Christ. Do not fear death.

Lord,

One day we will live forever in glory with You. Give us hope each day on earth as we share the truth of Jesus and His resurrection.

Amen

Death Into Life

 

     Jesus is risen! Because He lives, so do we. We live with Him now and forever. Most of the world religions are based on works of the flesh. Praying a certain amount of time each day, working towards a greater state of bliss, being kind enough, good enough, worthy enough.

     Only one was worthy, and it was Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection gave us the freedom to live victorious lives, trusting in Him for our eternal home. As Paul says, if there is no resurrection, we are to be pitied.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19

     The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. We need no longer fear the death of the body, but only the death of the soul. Jesus is the way home.

If we live, we are for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

     Put your faith in the Son of God, who came to dwell among us and will return to set up a new heaven and a new earth with us forever. Believe in Him and you will be saved. His death and resurrection vanquished our sins, once and for all, and gave us victory over death.

For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. Romans 6:5

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. Romans 6:8

Jesus,

Your resurrection from the dead transforms everything. You paid the price for us and we are free from sin and death. We glorify You today and every day. We praise You and thank You.

Amen

 

Celebration of New Life

 

     A celebration of life was held on Saturday for one of my husband’s best buddies. Tom was an outstanding athlete, coach and all-round good guy. He affected the lives of many in the youth hockey program in Owatonna  and Moorhead and as a golf pro at Owatonna Country Club. Before he died he found out he will be inducted into the high school sports hall of fame this fall.

     It was a beautiful setting at Owatonna Country Club and my husband enjoyed seeing his hockey friends from his college days in Mankato, along with his coach. The celebration of life continued as words were read from family members and one of Tom’s life-long friends performed the ceremony.

     During Tom’s lifetime, seeds were planted about Jesus. As Paul writes:

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6

     After hearing many sweet and funny memories, we were moved to learn, not only was this a celebration of Tom’s life, but of his death and the life to come.

     His friend, Mark, talked to Tom about Jesus shortly before Tom moved to the hospital where his cancer would take his life after many years of suffering. Here are the verses he shared with Tom:

Thomas said to Him, “Lord we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me. John 14:5-6

     And tom accepted Jesus as His Savior on that special day, and we will be with Him in paradise. The resurrection of life is real and we are blessed.

Lord,

We thank You for Tom’s life. We are grateful to have known and loved him and we praise You for Your timing in placing the right person at just the right time to speak of You,when Tom was ready. You are an amazing and gracious God.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Praise and Thanks

 

     As we end our week of praise and worship, I leave you with several verses of praise. King David sang for the Lord. He danced for the Lord. He played his harp for the Lord. He worshipped God even as his heart was breaking. He was called the King after God’s own heart. I pray you are a king of God’s heart. Enjoy the praises written by King David some 2500 years ago.

I will be glad and rejoice in You. I will sing the praises of Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

Sing the praises of the Lord, you His faithful people, praise His holy name. for His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders You have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you. Were I to speak and tell of Your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145;21

Lord,

We praise You and we worship You. We sing before You. We thank You. We adore You.

Amen

 

Praise For Creation

 

     Let God’s creation bring praise from us! The Bible tells us that in the new heaven and the new earth, Jesus will be our light. Think of how creation turns to the sun as it rises in the morning. Birds sing, roosters crow, flowers turn their heads and seeds grow. How magnificent! The whole earth praises Him right along with us.

Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them. Psalm 69:34

Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. Psalm 72;19

     Heaven is filled with light and filled with color (see Revelation 21) I love to think of the stars and the moon as glimpses into heaven through the darkness. And the rainbow after the storm? Heaven opening with the promises of our God.

Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him all you shining stars. Psalm 148:3

I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of My covenant between Me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

Lord,

Your reminders surround us. The very earth sings praises to You and longs for Your return. We thank You for the marvels of creation, the animals, the trees and flowers, the sun, moon and stars and the glorious rainbow opening right to heaven. We praise You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Sacrifice of Praise

 

     Sometimes, it seems impossible to praise God, to trust Him when life appears to be falling apart. When we turn our focus to heaven, when we praise Him no matter how we feel or no matter the fear set before us, He brings us peace. Praise God for who He is even in the most-dire of circumstances. Yes, yet we will praise Him!

Why my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42;11

     It takes sacrifice to praise God when we simply don’t feel like it. He honors out praise when it does not come naturally.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that openly confess His name. Hebrews 13:15

     And there is the secret to praising God. It is only through Jesus. Through His strength, through His name, through His sacrifice for us. Give Him praise continually!

Jesus,

We offer praise to You, the one and only Son worthy to be praised. Keep us continually in contact with You throughout our days and offer lips of thanksgiving to our God.

Amen