I strongly agree.
Though I have a lot more certainty about this being the end times than your sentence implied. I think you do, too.
Thanks.
I attended the funeral of de Bro Eucebio sp? De Leon today--Pastor's wife's grandfather, as you know. It was a very precious time. The Presence of God was heavily in the place. His whole reputation was one of loving God and his family and other and trying to insure that all knew Jesus and were ready to go.
It was a very teary service for me even though I know without a doubt that Bro De Leon, Poppo, is in Heaven with The Lord doing better than ever.
It was so precious to sense His Love for Jesus again in his reputation and The Lord's Love for him in that service. It was sooooo precious.
And, of course, I was reminded when I saw him in service a couple of Sundays ago how I'd felt rather strongly that he would not be on this earth much longer. But I had dismissed that sense and certainly had said nothing to him. Thankfully, he knew from many inputs from me how I felt about him. He was one church member who really RECEIVED with love and affection the mug I made him.
So, should I have said something to him? I don't know. Might have been a blessing. What would I have said. I don't know. Something loving, which he'd have graciously received.
Should I have mentioned it to Pastor Brent? Perhaps. He'd have likely dismissed it as he tends to do with such things. He's so burned out over churchianity nonsense and Pentecostal nonsense that he's tended to throw the baby out with the bath on all such things. I don't know that a lot would have been gained by my mentioning it to anyone.
Perhaps some would have spent a few extra minutes with him or some such. But he was always awash in his family's love. It's his family's norm, routine. He, of all people probably felt loved and appreciated about his family because he was so loving.
It's a current dilemna as you know with my 84 year old step'dad's trip to Alaska for 3 weeks. I have felt such a strong press in my spirit to try and get the amendment to the trust done that he wants. And I did. Then he insists that he has to read it many more times and won't sign it until he returns.
I told him that I felt I needed to get it done before his trip but he just gave me a sharp response that he wasn't going to sign it before his trip. I'm puzzled about how to handle it now.
I don't have the certainty I had when I visited you and others in the Midwest last summer that my mother would graduate from this life before I returned from my trip--which she did.
This sense is more like there's a 70-80% chance that dad will return in good health from Alaska but not 100% I don't know how better to put it. I think he is likely to come back safe and sound. But I still have that strong sense that I needed to get the legal papers revised--which I did and then he bowed up about it even though he wants it done, too. Thankfully, the other trustee is more than reasonable and it should not be a problem regardless but it would be so much easier if he took care of it before he left.
And then there's just the conversations that are difficult to have with him though he thinks he's easy to talk to. I'm pretty much not ready at all for him to graduate. But I've done about as much as I can do to prepare for and help prepare him for it. And, he has seemed increasingly diligent to get piddly chore stuff done around the place that he wants done before he graduates.
These sorts of feelings and considerations are pretty common for some of us believers in such situations. I don't have an easy pat answer. I don't think there is an easy pat answer. We all see through the glass darkly. We all are flawed human beings with imperfect walks with God.
God IS VERY ABLE to speak very emphatically and at loud volume in a variety of ways WHEN HE WANTS a message to be unmistakeable and unmistaken. But He OBVIOUSLY PREFERS that still small voice Scripture speaks about. There's something mysterious and important about our training with regard to that still small voice. And pat answers just don't fit.
Anyway--so much for my feelings and cogitations at the moment.
Thanks for your post.
Blessings,
Hi Quix,
Qx: Though I have a lot more certainty about this being the end times than your sentence implied. I think you do, too.
jm: My sense is that the Last Days are imminent. But either way, my job is to love God and to love people and to remain faithful.
Qx: I attended the funeral of de Bro Eucebio sp? De Leon today--Pastor's wife's grandfather, as you know. It was a very precious time. The Presence of God was heavily in the place. His whole reputation was one of loving God and his family and other and trying to insure that all knew Jesus and were ready to go.
It was a very teary service for me even though I know without a doubt that Bro De Leon, Poppo, is in Heaven with The Lord doing better than ever.
It was so precious to sense His Love for Jesus again in his reputation and The Lord's Love for him in that service. It was sooooo precious.
jm: Am very glad the presence of the Lord was sweet at the funeral. Am blessed to know of the godly heritage of that family. Am glad the departed is in the presence of the Lord.
Qx: It's a current dilemna as you know with my 84 year old stepdad's trip to Alaska. I have felt such a strong press in my spirit to try and get the amendment to the trust done that he wants. And I did. Then he insists that he has to read it many more times and won't sign it until he returns.
I told him that I felt I needed to get it done before his trip but he just gave me a sharp response that he wasn't going to sign it before his trip. I'm puzzled about how to handle it now.
jm: I don't think there's much that can be done. He's given you his answer. I trust the Lord will preserve him through the trip and bring him safely back.
Qx: This sense is more like there's a 70-80% chance that dad will return in good health from Alaska but not 100% I don't know how better to put it. I think he is likely to come back safe and sound. But I still have that strong sense that I needed to get the legal papers revised--which I did and then he bowed up about it even though he wants it done, too. Thankfully, the other trustee is more than reasonable and it should not be a problem regardless but it would be so much easier if he took care of it before he left.
And then there's just the conversations that are difficult to have with him though he thinks he's easy to talk to. I'm pretty much not ready at all for him to graduate. But I've done about as much as I can do to prepare for and help prepare him for it. And, he has seemed increasingly diligent to get piddly chore stuff done around the place that he wants done before he graduates.
jm: All one can do is take it one step at a time and trust the Lord to orchestrate all the people involved and all the details. Our life and times are in His hands. The limitations and capacities of each person in the situation are still within the scope of God's omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. May His sovereign will be done.
Qx: These sorts of feelings and considerations are pretty common for some of us believers in such situations. I don't have an easy pat answer. I don't think there is an easy pat answer. We all see through the glass darkly. We all are flawed human beings with imperfect walks with God.
God IS VERY ABLE to speak very emphatically and at loud volume in a variety of ways WHEN HE WANTS a message to be unmistakeable and unmistaken. But He OBVIOUSLY PREFERS that still small voice Scripture speaks about. There's something mysterious and important about our training with regard to that still small voice. And pat answers just don't fit.
jm: Yep. The puppy dog and the toddler feel themselves to be so autonomous, but actually, in healthy situations, grown-ups are closely monitoring puppies and tikes without their awareness. I think the Lord does the same with us, watching closely. And we understand Him and His ways less well than the puppies and toddlers understand their caregivers.
And it's SO much more about the believer seeking the face of God, walking by faith and trusting Him, than it is about the actual issue at hand. That's my sense. I try to be mindful of this no matter how hectic my day is or how overwhelmed I am dealing with any list of challenges and to include Him rather than try to handle it on my own, with a right attitude rather than a rotten attitude. Let patience have its perfect work.
Good to hear how you are doing. I would say, "thanks for sharing" but that would sound corny.
Blessings to you too,
Very glad to communicate,
Thanks again for all you do and who you are,
jm