Can you imagine?

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love HIm.  James 1:12  NIV


Have you ever looked up the meaning of the word perseveres?  It means to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.  Do you consider yourself a person that perseveres?  Do you know and admire others that display this in their daily lives? 

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of going with one of my best friends to see the movie "I Can Only Imagine".  I am sure that many of you have already seen this movie or at least know the story of Bart from Mercy Me.  It's an incredible story that resulted in a beautiful song that makes me cry every time I hear it.  His story is one of perseverance and resilience in facing his childhood riddled with physical and mental abuse at the hands of his dad.  His mom left him at a young age at home alone with an abusive father.  This meant he had to also deal with feelings of guilt and abandonment.  Not very many people could have bounced back from that type of childhood and become part of a record breaking Christian band.  Long story short, go see the movie or read his story, he forgives his dad and is able to write this incredible song out of his pain, anger, and grief.  Just a truly amazing story.

So on my way home while talking with my friend Kathy about the movie, a thought came to me about Bart's story.  Now hang with me for a minute...but if Bart did not live his life of abuse and pain; do you think he would have wrote a beautiful song that would reach so many people?  Do you think Bart would have escaped his childhood and drowned out his life with music?  We will never know the answer to that question.  What we do know is that God used Bart and his life lessons to reach millions of people through music.  Not only the Christian genre of music lovers, but country and pop fans as well.  Because of Bart's perseverance, his life story has touched millions of others and has opened their eyes and minds to God. 

We see in Romans 8:28 NIV it says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."   God takes our pain, fault, sin, anger,  and brokenness and turns it into a blessing for others.  My loss of Kirk has been able to spring board me into a position that is a blessing to other widows and their families.  My loss has enabled me to reach back and help others that have begun their journey of widowhood.  Would I rather have Kirk here at home with me tonight?  You bet I would!!  But God has a purpose and plan for me that I am not going to try to understand or know the reason why.  I know that when God lays something on my heart to do, I obey and follow His lead.  I use my grief and story to try to help others that are struggling and needing a compassionate ear and heart.  If I can help just one person see the love God has for them and help ease their pain of their loss; I feel Kirk's death has meaning and a purpose.  If I lead one person to be saved by our story, then Kirk did not die in vain.  This gives his death a purpose, a beautiful purpose of leading a soul to enter the kingdom of God for eternity. 

I use this verse a lot in my blog and I'm going to use it again tonight because it applies to our story so well.  Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,"  God knows the why's and the reasons, we don't.  One thing I do know is that His way and path for me is so much better than the one I try to carve out for myself.  I don't understand why Kirk was taken from us so soon. I don't know why his life was cut so short and my daughter has grown up without her father.  But what I do know is that God has a plan for all of us and that I need to trust Him with my whole life, with my whole story.  I know His plans for me are  much more beautiful than anything I could do myself or dream of.  I say this to myself several times a day: His way not mine, His will not mine. 

I encourage you to use your story to help others in your life.  Do you know how much you will bless someone to just give them a few words of encouragement?  To let them know they are not alone.  Here's a big secret, you will actually feel more blessed by doing this.  It's an incredible feeling that is a beautiful balm to the soul.  I also encourage you to listen to the song "I Can Only Imagine".  Look up the lyrics and let the words soak into your heart and mind.  I cry every time because I can only imagine what I'll see and what my loved ones that have gone before me have already seen.  Incredible!!! 

My Rock

 

 

Psalm 62:7 NIV  “My salvation and my honor depend on God; for He is my mighty rock, my refuge.”

 

For over half a year, I have been sitting at my new area at work.  I work at a big hospital in Indianapolis but my job is within a doctor’s office.  I was able to move from a room that has no windows to what I like to call my “penthouse suite”.  I have four big windows that overlook our parking lot and our cancer center.  In front of the cancer center is a pond that has a fountain.  I am three floors up so I get to see the geese and ducks enjoy their water oasis.  I’m not going to lie, I love watching them swim.  Most days, when it’s beautiful and sunny, I envy them. 

Today as I was watching them while I was on hold with an insurance company, I envisioned their little webbed feet working hard to keep their bodies afloat.  On the surface they look so calm and peaceful gliding through the shimmering ripples, but under the surface we do not see the struggle of their legs and feet working to keep them floating. 

Are you like these ducks?  On the surface, you put on a face of being calm, peaceful, and joyful; but below the water line you are struggling and giving life all you got.  Are you hoping that one day your legs will catch up with your head?  I’ve been there quite a bit.  I have been below that water before and after I became a widow. 

After your husband died did you have the sensation of drowning in life?  Physically? Emotionally? And spiritually?    Yeah me too!!!

After Kirk died, I felt the pounding of the grief waves, the hurricane force winds, and the water rising over my head.  I had to find solid footing before the ocean of grief covered me and dragged me out to the vast nothingness of despair and anxiety.  I had so many family and friends that were throwing me life jackets and trying to direct me back.  I reached for them and they were able to help me maintain a float.  But I knew there is only one Savior, one person that could sit me on that rock.  His name is Jesus and He not only stood me on that rock…He is the Rock.

Psalm 71:3 NIV  “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.”

Psalm 62:7 NIV  “My salvation and my honor depend on God; for He is my mighty rock, my refuge.”

Psalm 89:26 NIV  “He will call out to me, You are my Father, my God, the rock my Savior.”

Psalm 40:2 NIV  “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He sat my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

I can go on and on with the many Bible verses about God being our rock in times of trouble.  In Matthew 7:25-27 NIV it says, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words and do not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus gave us this parable to show how when you put your faith and trust in Him and trouble enters your life, you are already set on a firm foundation.  Now your house will rock, it will creak, and it will sway, but it will not crash; it will still be standing on that Rock, on Him. 

Is your foundation on that glorious Rock?  That Rock does not move and it WON’T be moved.  It’s up to us to stand on that Rock!!  Will you stand on it today?  I sure pray that you do!! 

Lord, I pray that every single one of us stand on that Rock, the One that You provided for us.  I pray that we are able to withstand the gusts of this life because You are our Foundation!!  Thank you Lord for Your sacrifice so that we have that foundation to stand upon.  That Rock will never move or be shaken!!  In Your Precious name I pray Amen!!