God is Good, Even in the Storm
(I’ve been writing this for a while, and I’ve been trying to make it perfect, but that’s never going to happen so here it is. It started as a blog but ended up being more like a sermon at the end. )
Grandma:
I am tried, I am weak, I am shaking, and I am going crazy. Why oh why does everything happen in my family all at once?
My grandma died. The most wonderful, spiritual, holy woman in my life has gone home to be with her maker. It hurts.
I am sad: I will not see her again in tell I die (in a long time I hope), I don’t get to talk to her anymore, my role model is not here anymore to go to, my hero who I want to be like, because she was like Christ, is gone.
And yet, I am happy: she is no longer suffering, she’s in heaven, she is with my grandpa (her husband), and she could be no place better than with the Lord.
My grandmother is one of the best Christian women I know.
God pointed out a verse to me that is a great example of my grandmother. Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” This is my grandmother; “For to Virginia Lawson, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” How many people can you truly say that about?! Wow!
She truly lived a life for Christ, and now that she has passed away she has gained more than anyone can ever imagine.
I may spend nights crying, but it’s not for my grandmother. My grandmother is in heaven singing praises to the Lord, and couldn’t be happier; nothing to cry about there. I cry only for myself and the ones left behind. I am allowed to grieve, and celebrate at the same time.
God’s timing:
I have to say a little bit about God’s timing in my life over the past few years. God is good. Over the past couple of years all four of my grandparents have died. The first to go home was my Grandpa Lawson (2/4/06). The next was my Grandma Brice, and then my Grandpa Brice, and now my Grandma Lawson.
Every time one of my grandparents has gone home to be with the lord, besides my family (my family is always there for me), my friends have been there to help me through. Once it was a weekend play with friends, once it was the apple pie party, then there was paintball, and this time it was the Renaissance Faire. Every time I had a nice weekend right before, or shortly after, to be with my support system of friends (two in particular).
Wow, just look at God’s timing in my life. Whenever there were tuff times ahead, God made it so that friends and family were near to help me through.
Support Systems:
Galatians 6: 2 “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
I have been trying to open up more to my friends about times when I am in need, and when I have burdens on my heart. My favorite song for years has been; Lean On Me, and yet I’ve always thought about that song where I was the one singing it, telling friends I’m there and that they can lean on me. However, lately I have been trying to see it from the other point of view. That I can really go to my friends, I can swallow my pride and ask for help (Brice’s don’t like asking for help, we are stubborn).
I am a really, really private person. I don’t open up easily and am not the kind of person to call up a friend to ask for anything or talk about something I’m struggling with. Most of the time, I need to be asked to share what’s going on in my life, I’m not good at taking that first step. Even then I don’t like talking about myself; I rather listen to what others have to say.
This being said, there was a sermon I really liked that my old pastor preached on. It was all about risk. He preached on Luke 9: 23-24: “Then he (Jesus) said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” And I would also like to add Luke 14:27 “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Being a Christian means taking risks. Being a disciple means taking risks. You will get hurt; not you might, you will. You will have to put yourself out there. You will have to trust people, you will be betrayed, and you will get hurt. But, you will advance the kingdom of God, and you will be rewarded in heaven. Not everyone will cross you, there are those who can be trusted if you would only give them the chance, swallow your pride and ask for help, share your pain, and open your heart. Learn to love one another with a Christ like love. Yeah you could get hurt, but in the end it’s worth the risk.
Thanks:
In the past couple weeks; I have been through a lot. I have been exhausted physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I am still on this emotional rollercoaster. I have gone out on a limb and shared my burden with a few people and asked them for prayer. In this past week, I have experienced moments of peace and calm amongst the storm where I knew the only reason could be is that someone was praying for me. God is good. Thank you to those of you who have been praying for me, and are continuing to pray for me. You are showing me a love like Christ, and I am truly grateful to have you in my life.
Grandma:
I am tried, I am weak, I am shaking, and I am going crazy. Why oh why does everything happen in my family all at once?
My grandma died. The most wonderful, spiritual, holy woman in my life has gone home to be with her maker. It hurts.
I am sad: I will not see her again in tell I die (in a long time I hope), I don’t get to talk to her anymore, my role model is not here anymore to go to, my hero who I want to be like, because she was like Christ, is gone.
And yet, I am happy: she is no longer suffering, she’s in heaven, she is with my grandpa (her husband), and she could be no place better than with the Lord.
My grandmother is one of the best Christian women I know.
God pointed out a verse to me that is a great example of my grandmother. Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” This is my grandmother; “For to Virginia Lawson, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” How many people can you truly say that about?! Wow!
She truly lived a life for Christ, and now that she has passed away she has gained more than anyone can ever imagine.
I may spend nights crying, but it’s not for my grandmother. My grandmother is in heaven singing praises to the Lord, and couldn’t be happier; nothing to cry about there. I cry only for myself and the ones left behind. I am allowed to grieve, and celebrate at the same time.
God’s timing:
I have to say a little bit about God’s timing in my life over the past few years. God is good. Over the past couple of years all four of my grandparents have died. The first to go home was my Grandpa Lawson (2/4/06). The next was my Grandma Brice, and then my Grandpa Brice, and now my Grandma Lawson.
Every time one of my grandparents has gone home to be with the lord, besides my family (my family is always there for me), my friends have been there to help me through. Once it was a weekend play with friends, once it was the apple pie party, then there was paintball, and this time it was the Renaissance Faire. Every time I had a nice weekend right before, or shortly after, to be with my support system of friends (two in particular).
Wow, just look at God’s timing in my life. Whenever there were tuff times ahead, God made it so that friends and family were near to help me through.
Support Systems:
Galatians 6: 2 “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
I have been trying to open up more to my friends about times when I am in need, and when I have burdens on my heart. My favorite song for years has been; Lean On Me, and yet I’ve always thought about that song where I was the one singing it, telling friends I’m there and that they can lean on me. However, lately I have been trying to see it from the other point of view. That I can really go to my friends, I can swallow my pride and ask for help (Brice’s don’t like asking for help, we are stubborn).
I am a really, really private person. I don’t open up easily and am not the kind of person to call up a friend to ask for anything or talk about something I’m struggling with. Most of the time, I need to be asked to share what’s going on in my life, I’m not good at taking that first step. Even then I don’t like talking about myself; I rather listen to what others have to say.
This being said, there was a sermon I really liked that my old pastor preached on. It was all about risk. He preached on Luke 9: 23-24: “Then he (Jesus) said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” And I would also like to add Luke 14:27 “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Being a Christian means taking risks. Being a disciple means taking risks. You will get hurt; not you might, you will. You will have to put yourself out there. You will have to trust people, you will be betrayed, and you will get hurt. But, you will advance the kingdom of God, and you will be rewarded in heaven. Not everyone will cross you, there are those who can be trusted if you would only give them the chance, swallow your pride and ask for help, share your pain, and open your heart. Learn to love one another with a Christ like love. Yeah you could get hurt, but in the end it’s worth the risk.
Thanks:
In the past couple weeks; I have been through a lot. I have been exhausted physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I am still on this emotional rollercoaster. I have gone out on a limb and shared my burden with a few people and asked them for prayer. In this past week, I have experienced moments of peace and calm amongst the storm where I knew the only reason could be is that someone was praying for me. God is good. Thank you to those of you who have been praying for me, and are continuing to pray for me. You are showing me a love like Christ, and I am truly grateful to have you in my life.