Loving life!
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18, NKJV)
This past long weekend my son Andy came down to Texas with his girlfriend Toni. I had the real pleasure of having both of my children, Katie and Andy, together for a fun time! We explored Granbury and we got out on the lake in my boat to see the beauty of the area. Andy wanted to learn to drive the boat so we got that accomplished as well! I don’t think any of us used enough sunscreen because we all looked like lobsters Saturday night!
Saturday night my friends Jim and Palma invited us for a family dinner and nighttime boat ride! This was just the icing on the top of the cake! It was such a God moment for me because this coming Sunday I am preaching on Romans 8:18-30. In Isaiah 53 we see the description of Jesus being a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. I am well acquainted with grief myself and these precious moments with my children point me to the future glory we will have in heaven!
I have learned over the last 2 years, in particular, that we do not know what tomorrow holds. James says it this way, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:12-14, NKJV) However, even as I live in the moment of today I know that I have hope: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:10-12)
So, I will continue to plan and do those things, Lord willing, that will help me to continue this journey, this Widower’s Walk, in a way that pleases God and keeps me vertical! I received the biggest bear hugs from my son the past few days – I so needed those and I know he did, too. And then my daughter wrote a testimony and shared on Facebook that made me understand God’s provision in the middle of grief:
“As I was sitting in church today listening to my dad preach he said something and it made me realize in the past on FB I had said a lot of negative things about my job and the reason was, that I was not being vertical and putting God first and letting him have control. If I had been vertical and let God be in control then those post would have probably never existed! I told myself that when I moved to Granbury TX this was a new start for me and that I was going to be more positive and happy. I have been living a vertical life and putting God in control and have had good days since June 3 2017. I thank God everyday for him and my dad making it possible for us to move here!” (Katie Guist, FB, 10/8/2017)
LESSON LEARNED: Keep up the good fight! As you get the opportunities make new memories with those you love.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NKJV)
Widower's Walk 