You Can't Live Without It

We’re driving home from Bryson’s wall climbing sport. It’s his absolute love. He is making climbs that the adults have trouble with. I witnessed them trying, but, then again, this Nana is super-partial. I’m amazed by how skilled he is compared to the last time I was here. He’s telling me jokes. “Did you hear about the new Apple car? It’s great but they’re having trouble with its “Windows”.” And, I remind him of the riddle he told me a couple of years ago. We were sitting on their patio and the rain was pouring down. He started talking about a tsunami. Then he asks me “ What is it that we can’t live without, but it can still kill you?” I didn't know. The answer? Water. So, Bryson says, “Wonder what it feels like to be drowning?” I respond: “Well, have you ever been in water and you couldn’t get your breath?” Bryson says. "Oh, yes. Brothers. It’s called brothers.”

This kid cracks me up! But, his analogy and riddle gave me "food" for thought! Oh, FOOD – something else we can’t live without for more than 4-6 weeks – depending on the weight and health of the person! We can’t live without air for more than 3 minutes. Some people can’t live long without certain medicines or medical care. Some can’t live long without financial support of others because they are either physically or mentally disabled. The point being, there are more than a few things in life we can’t live without, but there is one thing that supersedes them all, and that is God and His Word. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). Yes, we can’t live physically without the necessities of life here on planet earth: air, water and food. However, even with those necessities, we will still eventually die and face God and if we face Him, unprepared, then we might say “We’re up a creek without a paddle!” I know the life I have here is just temporary and if I don’t have air, water and food – I’ll be a goner on this side of heaven. But, not when it comes to the promises God made in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That WHOEVER believes in Him, shall NOT perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE!” Woohoo! That’s what I’m talking about! Real life begins when we leave this life to eternal life.

If we desire to live eternally with God in heaven, we might start asking the riddle: ““What is it that you can’t live without in eternity, but must die to get it?” And, the answer is: “We must come to know the Maker of Heaven and Earth – the ONE Who created life, in the first place. Get to know the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ – Who came to give us eternal life. “To live with Christ, we must be buried with Him by baptism and raised to walk in the newness of life.” (Romans 6:3,4) Yes, we must first die with Christ, in order to live forever with Him. (2 Timothy 2:11,12)

So, if we want that “live forever and ever” guarantee – then we “Believe on the Lord, Jesus, Christ – AND we shall be saved!” (Acts 16:31) “And, Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” That, my friends is the Christian’s Bill of Health guarantee. Believe me when I say, you can’t truly live without it!

In the Sight of God and All These Witnesses

Right in the middle of church yesterday, the pastor said “Please be seated. We are having a wedding now. And, up came a lovely bride, handsome groom, their two attendants, and on the front row behind the couple were their children. The pastor said "They were married seven years ago, but today they want to be married in the church in God's sight and all these witnesses.” I suspect they felt married all those seven years, but along the way, they realized they wanted their family and their lives covered by the full blessings of God – no holds barred. Two young people, years before, threw caution to the wind and got married in a "quickie" ceremony because they desperately loved each other and that's all that mattered at the time.

This day they were making a covenant with God and each other for a lifelong, faithful relationship together. The marriage covenant is a mystery of drawing down the presence of God, of engaging His help and power in our lives. Dr. Scott Hahn says it this way: “We are sitting on a stockpile of spiritual power that we have barely begun to tap. Do not be stingy with God's blessings. Do not withhold invoking God's name over your loved ones. Every time you invoke the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, you are tapping into the great oaths that God swore when He fashioned the world; but even more, you are tapping the greater power of Jesus Christ, Who has sworn a new covenant oath, having taken upon Himself the curse for our sin.” We pray that sacred ceremony gives them “sticking” power for many years of wedded bliss.

While their short eight-minute ceremony was going on, I reminisced about a covenant made before God, this day, July 8th, 1966. That covenant was made by my sweetheart and me as we were united in the sacrament of holy matrimony. It was a special, picture-perfect day when my sweet man and I became husband and wife. I don’t believe in superstition -- you know – the groom not seeing the bride during the day of the wedding, or the throwing of the bouquet ensuring the catcher will be the next to get married, or rice being thrown at the couple that means they’ll have prosperity and fertility, though we stuck to those traditions. But I do believe those sacred vows we made and the covenant we made before God, gave us “sticking power”, when, many times, we could have cut bait and exited the drama, and the shaky times when another day with each other seemed almost too much to handle. What was it that caused "until death do us part" to be the deciding factor that created an inseparable, unwavering and unrelenting love that knew no end?

As young as we were (18 & 17), we knew what a covenant before God was and when we vowed before God: "For better or worse" (and, believe you me....we had some "worst of times") and "For richer or poorer" (Lord have mercy -- we had some mighty poor seasons) and "In sickness and health" (we both knew "sickness") and "Until death do us part". Those were our promises to each other and our vows before God.....and they stuck in the good and the bad times. I am saying.....tough times don't last...but tough people who give God first place in the mix of literally everything that concerns them.....is what sustains, equips, and remains forever true.

I’m sending kisses heavenward today because I know that’s where my Sweetheart is cheering me on to my finish line. What was it that mattered most while he was still on this side of heaven with me? What is it that matters most today? The ONE common denominator -- God, Who blessed us with 44 years of marriage on earth, and through all my years on this side of heaven, is still the ONE who blesses me today. He is the ONE who continues to wake me up each morning with joy in my soul and a song in my heart. That “triangle” covenant: God, Ron and me – had sticking power. It was a signed, sealed and delivered covenant! Spending FOREVER with God AND my Sweetheart will be awesome, and FOREVER is a long, long time.

Cuddles from Heaven and on Earth

Day 280 of Photo Inspirations - Cuddles From Heaven & On Earth
Going to church was one of my favorite "date" places to go to with my Sweetheart.  It seemed that the presence of the Lord brought us even closer together when we were there.  He would hold and caress my hand, put his arm around me, and whisper "I love you".  And I don't think God was jealous one bit when we expressed our love to each other there.  In fact, He was probably applauding that affection and love -- after all, that precious love between a husband and wife is one of His most marvelous creations.

Genesis 2:21-24 "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”  That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."  Talk about GENIUS and master-designed creations!!!!  God is the MASTER CREATOR!!

In the sweetness of God's love and our love, God blessed us with a friendship with a precious family. Howblessed we were when Owen, their 3rd-born, this adorable 10 year old pictured here, became our godson. We were so blessed to be there 10 years ago when he was baptized -- thus my photo inspirations for today.  We took being godparents very seriously -- praying for him, celebrating him and continuing to give him the reasons why he is so precious and beautiful and reminding him that God has so much potential in his future.  We always made it a big deal to celebrate his baptism every year.  After all, that's when he came into the "Family of God". And that's what I did yesterday -- I had been in Seattle on September 25th -- his actual baptism day.  I want to continue to influence this little guy in his relationship with Jesus.  If I can have a small hand in that, I say, "Here's my hand, Lord!"  His card said, "This little light of Owen's.....he's gonna' let it shine!"  And, I gave him a flashlight as a little reminder.  BIG smiles!

Yesterday was special, but as I said in the first paragraph here, my sweetheart and I made going to church a place where our love for each other increased.  So when he graduated to heaven (5 years next month), I could have only thought of how much I missed him when I went to church.  But I think, he AND God had something special in mind.  Owen took over where my sweetheart left off. To this day, since Ron's exit, Owen runs to sit by me in church.  He wraps his arms around me, holds my hand and kisses my cheek.  Oh, yes, I sense heaven with me when Owen is with me.  I am loved here and from up there.  Yes, his little light shines brightly in my life!

Marked & Branded in Baptism

Day 40 of Photo Inspirations -- Baptism Weekend
Over 150 people were baptized at the LifeChurch.tv Jenks Campus​ this weekend. There are few things as significant and inspiring as witnessing precious people expressing their faith in Christ by being baptized.   They've  put the past behind them and they openly confessed they're brand new, clean, forgiven and living in the "Jesus" camp now.   Being a follower of Christ has so many benefits --  acceptance into the family of God, limitless love, God's unmerited favor, grace, forgiveness of sins and purpose in life.

It's quite humbling to get into the water in front of everyone. There's a huge pool that is set up at the front of the auditorum.  Those being baptized climb a ladder and descend down the other side into the water of the pool.  A huge crowd of people are witnessing this beautiful act and are enthusiastically cheering them on.   We're identified with Christ, and just like He was baptized to identify with us, we're baptized to identify with Him. He was buried and rose again, and guess what? We get buried under the water and we rise again. This baptism experience is our way of publicly witnessing our faith in Christ, being forgiven of sin and expressing our willingness to be a fully devoted follower of Christ.  

When Jesus was baptized, He came out of the water, (Matthew  3:16-18), the heavens suddenly opened for Him, and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and came down on Him. And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!"   And, for all those 150 who were baptized this weekend at LifeChurch.tv Jenks -- they received God's "stamp of approval" and God was more than likely saying about each one...."This is my beloved son. This is my beloved daughter.  I take delight in in them!"  

I'm so thrilled that I received that stamp of approval, myself, many years ago and it is my greatest defense against the enemy when He tries to tell me I'm unworthy or not forgiven, or not loved.  Too bad for him -- I've been MARKED & BRANDED with that "stamp of approval"!  How about you?