In the news over the last weekend there is a story about a senseless crime, a horrible shooting where several people died, or are still in the hospital and are in critical condition. It is a something that tends to draw a crowd, when a senator goes out into public to talk to the people that they are to represent. It is in a sense a part of their job to meet with the community. Yet, on this particular day there is an event that occurs that draws the people of the community and nation together once again. It is then that the community draws near to support those in need, those who are grieving and to try and understand what has just happened in the area and why.
The individual that is in custody is now behind bars and awaiting arraignment, yet that does not heal the hurt, the pain that the individual has caused to so many families. We look for answers in the clues that the individual has left in the area, home, work place, friends and family. The community and the families that are directly affected are looking for the answers, and there are none at this time. So that may leave us with a sense of void, feeling violated within our own town. Now we look for healing and something to pull us together as a community and help build that trust in one another again.
So where do we start, what do we do as a community to support one another and help each other through the horrible event that has just occurred to us? The people of the community start by pulling together and drawing on their faith. They seek out answers and look for reasons that may or may not be there, but that pain that all that has happened is still there in our hearts. We look for inner healing and peace to return to us and those who are around us.
As a community we turn to our faith in God, we look to Him for answers, for understanding, peace and love to return to all of those who effected. Yet, why would God allow all this to happen? It is not that He allowed it to happen, since we all have free will but rather, we are in a war daily and on that day the battle came and reared it ugly head.
One way we do this is by devoting some time each day to God. Time in prayer, reading the Bible, and finding His inner peace and love to comfort us in this urgent time of need. We look to God for comfort that cannot be found in other things or places. By seeking out the Heavenly Father, He is there, He comes to us in our time of need if we are willing to reach out to Him.
The heavenly Father is there to wipe the tears of the heart, bring comfort, and even joy in the morning when the storm has settled and we start to pick up the pieces of life. He is there to help us trust others in the community once again.
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Dying and Heaven
When some of my residents die it is totally different then others, being in the fact that they are of the religious order. They are declared as professional religious, meaning that they are nuns or priests. They look and perceive death very differently then those of us who are lay persons. They see death as a reward as they look forward to Heaven and all that it holds for them. I can say that I have seen many beautiful souls go to Heaven in the last year, with one dear soul that just departed from us very recently. She will be greatly rewarded for all her work here on Earth.
The nuns and priest do not fear death, rather they often embrace it. They see it as a reward for all that they have done here to serve their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They look forward to going home to see Jesus and receive from Him their true and ultimate reward as it states in Matthew 5: 12 (NIV) "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." The nuns and priest have this reward to look forward because of what they have done to forward the gospel, and the life that they have chose to live for Him as it states in Mark 8:34 "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." They have given their entire lives to following Jesus. They have put away all other gods, and only serve the one true God as they are directed to in 1 Sam. 24:14 (NIV) "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."
In Philippians 1:21 (NIV) "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." They know they will be rewarded for their works here on Earth. They understand that by living for Christ here on Earth that she will now reside with Jesus in Heaven and that is a gain. She is now with her true Savior. Thus death for them is not bad, or a sad time rather it is a a good thing if you are in Christ Jesus. It is exciting to know that all our hard work here on Earth will be rewarded when we get to Heaven, since we are there for an eternity Matthew 5:12 (NIV) "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." They are excited to go to heaven because of what it states in Luke 6:23 (NIV) "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven."
They understand that God will be faithful to them since they have walked in His ways and have followed his narrow path for their lives. As it states in Psalms 108:4 (NIV)" For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." They are graceful for His continued faithfulness to them and they continue to walk and believe in God no matter what happens to them as they travel that path. They know that God will always come through on the promises that were made to them. Psalms 145:13 (NIV) states "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." They long to hear the words of the Father when He states "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21 (NIV).
The nuns and priest are able to understand that they will be taken care of by the Father in this life, that their needs will be met. As Philippians 4:19 (NIV) states "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." They do not fret over daily things because they are able to trust in the Lord completely. They know that God will take care of them and their needs without a shadow of a doubt. Psalms 33:21 says "In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." then in Psalms 62:8 (NIV) it states "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah" Therefore if pour our hearts out to God and put our trust and fatih in Him, He will respond to us. God is there for us, it is stated that "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." in Psalms 91:2 (NIV).
By their faith, and knowledge of who God is and their constant companionship with the Father, they do not fear what is to come but rather embrace it and look forward to meeting the one that they have devoted their lives to following. We too are entitle to all of this and more by following Jesus and walking with him daily. We do not have to fear death, we can have the same confidence that they have in their soul, by following the Lord daily. By walking with him and having fellowship with him in prayer, singing and meeting with other Christians on a regular bases.
The nuns and priest do not fear death, rather they often embrace it. They see it as a reward for all that they have done here to serve their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They look forward to going home to see Jesus and receive from Him their true and ultimate reward as it states in Matthew 5: 12 (NIV) "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." The nuns and priest have this reward to look forward because of what they have done to forward the gospel, and the life that they have chose to live for Him as it states in Mark 8:34 "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." They have given their entire lives to following Jesus. They have put away all other gods, and only serve the one true God as they are directed to in 1 Sam. 24:14 (NIV) "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."
In Philippians 1:21 (NIV) "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." They know they will be rewarded for their works here on Earth. They understand that by living for Christ here on Earth that she will now reside with Jesus in Heaven and that is a gain. She is now with her true Savior. Thus death for them is not bad, or a sad time rather it is a a good thing if you are in Christ Jesus. It is exciting to know that all our hard work here on Earth will be rewarded when we get to Heaven, since we are there for an eternity Matthew 5:12 (NIV) "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." They are excited to go to heaven because of what it states in Luke 6:23 (NIV) "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven."
They understand that God will be faithful to them since they have walked in His ways and have followed his narrow path for their lives. As it states in Psalms 108:4 (NIV)" For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." They are graceful for His continued faithfulness to them and they continue to walk and believe in God no matter what happens to them as they travel that path. They know that God will always come through on the promises that were made to them. Psalms 145:13 (NIV) states "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." They long to hear the words of the Father when He states "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21 (NIV).
The nuns and priest are able to understand that they will be taken care of by the Father in this life, that their needs will be met. As Philippians 4:19 (NIV) states "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." They do not fret over daily things because they are able to trust in the Lord completely. They know that God will take care of them and their needs without a shadow of a doubt. Psalms 33:21 says "In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." then in Psalms 62:8 (NIV) it states "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah" Therefore if pour our hearts out to God and put our trust and fatih in Him, He will respond to us. God is there for us, it is stated that "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." in Psalms 91:2 (NIV).
By their faith, and knowledge of who God is and their constant companionship with the Father, they do not fear what is to come but rather embrace it and look forward to meeting the one that they have devoted their lives to following. We too are entitle to all of this and more by following Jesus and walking with him daily. We do not have to fear death, we can have the same confidence that they have in their soul, by following the Lord daily. By walking with him and having fellowship with him in prayer, singing and meeting with other Christians on a regular bases.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Kingdom.
Last Sunday the sermon at Church was about the Kingdom of God. It was a great service with the Bible references and how it all comes together. yet I still wonder what is the exact definitation of the Kingdom of God. Is it complex or am I lokking too deeply into what I heard and now wondering what is the correct answer. I have some notes from service but seem to misplaced them in a day..LOL that is because my heart and mind have been elsewhere lately. Now that I am trying to focus on the Godly things I somehow became lost in though in the service and missed alot of the key points that the Pastor was trying to tell the congeration. Is the definitation of the Lord's Kingdom influenced by the religion that one follows, and those beliefs that we hold so dear to our hearts? Is it the same for Baptist as it is for the Catholics or any other religion that is out there that believes in God? OR is it all based on the personal relationship that we are to have with the Savior who knows us better then we know ourselves?
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