So, today is a monumental day. For many reasons.

I am going to take a little different writing approach, as I share today. 

Broken into Beautiful. 
From Mourning and Sadness into JOY. 

 

Just two weeks ago, we celebrated Easter; 

Our biggest celebration of LIFE – everlasting life because of what Jesus did for us. 
(if you are unaware of those details, PM me, and I’d be glad to share, otherwise, I do believe most know what Salvation is, and what Christ came to do for the WORLD). 

In my studying this morning, I was reading about Saul / Paul. A Jew that persecuted those who followed Jesus, was blinded for a few days. The Lord sent Ananias (who very well may have been afraid to confront Saul because of his distaste for the Lord and his followers, and was willingly ready to kill them). But God in his amazing and most wonderful might, power and knowledge, knew Saul would turn from his wicked ways and serve Christ with ZEAL as he was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Paul suffered much; the scourging and persecution once he became vocal as he shared who Jesus was. 
God showed him what to do, what would happen, all for the sake of sharing HIS story with US today, through the Bible. Paul was a great example for us. 

Imagine, scales fell off of Paul’s eyes after being blinded. A representation of the old turned to new. Scales like a fish skin, is what I imagine it to be like. maybe even similar to an eye that the cataract has gone bad. Take the old lens off, to put a new lens on. (Acts 9). 

Saul’s(Paul’s) conversion was huge when he left his worldly view point to serve the Living Christ. HUGE. The terrible things he did – murder, aggression, he was educated to the max, too smart for school, if you will.  
He was a fool. He admits to being a fool. He was simply bad to the bone. 

Yet, let’s take a moment to define foolish thinking in the worlds view, vs. being a fool for the Lord. (Yes, the Bible talks about bein’ a fool – quite a few times). Paul talks about his own life in Philippians 3:1-9, and 1 Tim. 1:12-17. When we place our trust and faith in our education to get us through life, or our spouse, family members, friends, or our job, type of home we live in, the brand of car and clothing we utilize – we loose. 

——> We are lost. The stuff we accomplished becomes prideful and boastful to ourselves to say ‘LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE. look what I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED’… me me me mememememmemeemmemememememmemeME!!!!!! (insert shaking head). 

When we (and yes, it is OK to get a degree, have a nice house and things, as long as they are not our PURPOSE to define us, it is a fine line!); loosen those ‘things’ from your soul, and simply use them as a tool, too trust God with ALL our being, it is THEN faith grows. 

When we LIVE in God, his direction, are guided by HIS word, His love, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, then we GAIN the world. Because it does NOT have a hold on us. 
Because when we can loose our stuff to not hold us down, we become vulnerable. 

Let’s be honest, WHO LIKES being vulnerable? N.o.b.o.d.y.!!!!!!!

Paul began to BOAST in his weaknesses; guys and girls, WE ALLLLLLL HAVE WEAKNESSES!!!!!!!!!!! Yes we do.  
But, God! He tells us in the Scriptures, that through suffering, through trials, through the junk we live through, IF WE LET God HELP IS, we can boast of what HE DID IN us and through us. 
When we live through tough stuff, and we run into the wisdom and care of our Father, through Jesus and being guided by the Holy Spirit, we win. We become fools for Christ because the WORLD lives in an economy of achievement and goals. In spite of the shipwreck, stoning etc, Paul’s faith did not waiver. 
Get that —— HE DID NOT WAIVER – he boasted with ZEAL of all God did for him. It is not what we do, but what God does in and through us, God GETS THE GLORY for OTHERS TO SEE! 

In spite of the bad God turns the junk to GOOD! 

Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!

Folks, I come to you today, on this 23rd anniversary of the sudden death of my husband who was only 38 when he died from the affects of a drunk driver. 

The month of April is still a solemn one, yet a joyful one. yes, it can be both. It is both. 

It’s a time of reflection. Hope. Tears. Smiles. Happiness and remembrances of how God in his mercy did the same for me, as he did for SAUL-PAUL. 

Just like LIFE. 

Life has GOOD AND BAD. Ups and downs. Joy and sorrow. Difficulties and easiness. 

We are living in this time of Coronna virus. A new thing that happened – supposedly quickly to our whole world. 

Lots of speculations and weariness happening to people.

I see tons of anger, denial, frustration, despair, worry, depression, confusion etc, as we live in a lock down which has been forced upon the healthy so as not to get sick. 

The world economy has stopped by maybe, 75% ish. People want to work. People want to be with family and do their thing. 

But it is an awakening. A shifting if you will.

The why questions are many. One big question I hear often is why would a good God let this happen to us? 

Why? 

Why did Jesus get scourged, beat, spit on, screamed at, accused, etc – HE WAS THE INNOCENT LAMB !!!!!! Why did HE HAVE TO feel the pain he did for YOU ?????? WHY? 

What did I do that He would love ME so much he would die for me? 
#perspective

I say all of this to come to these points: 

This situation we are in today, is a time to pull away, take the free time you have and pray. Seek God. Ask forgiveness so you have salvation, and the opportunity to become whole. A time to learn the Bible and what it says for your life. 
Change is needed. 

let me say that again. C.h.a.n.g.e is NEEDED within each of us. Including me. Yes, in you too! We all are weak, but by God’s grace, we can live like Paul with zeal for Christ. 

Guys and Gals: here is the bottom line: 

As I “celebrate” my husbands HOME GOING anniversary, I miss him, as I do my Liz, and others who have left this earth. I do NOT want them to come back to earth. This earth has NOTHING for us. they enjoy heaven and ALL it’s glory vs the ugliness in this world. 

This life, guess what: It is TEMPORARY.

Put it in your mind, one day we ALL die. 

Whether it be from a virus, disease, drunk driver, cancer or __________. 

You and I will die one day. 

Grief is real. 
When you love much you grieve much. 

Grief never goes away, it just simply shifts your life as you (hopefully) will appreciate and rejoice in the good things you shared with the loved ones. You can reflect and talk about memories, and even shed tears. It’s all OK! 

So, wherever you are today, in your pride, accomplishment’s or in your humble spirit, every day, I, you, all of us, have to wake up, as God to forgive us of our yesterday’s junk in the trunk. May the bad be washed and cleansed as we begin today, whole, forgiven, living in peace with NO fear of any virus, government, lack or any other thing. God is with us, whom shall we fear? No one. 

Let the zeal of the Lord live in each of us, even on days like today, where we think of loved ones who have gone before us. 

#AuntGeri #Brian #Liz #Loren #Doris #Cindy #Mom #Dad and all others ….. they rest in His care. Praise you Jesus. 

May we live strong, wise and bold for Christ. Amen!