Life Preservers

Billy and I are already ga-ga over our first grandson! It is our joy to imagine life with him and so we are already purchasing things to welcome his arrival. Things that will make him more comfortable and things that will prove to him how much he is loved and thought about - before we ever knew him.

Sound familar? God went to a lot of trouble to create a world to cradle his babies! He wanted our home to be comfortable and beautiful for us to enjoy. He wanted creation to teach us about love, joy, peace and beauty. And He created it in such a way that we would also learn to be grateful for the world He gave us and the Creator who designed it.

Our most recent purchase - ahem, as seen above - is his first little life jacket. We have a boat and spend a lot of time going out on it so we wanted to be able to take him out whenever he/we wanted to. Hence the life jacket. Pops was pretty specific about his life jacket. Not just anything would do. Had to have a flotation device that would keep his face and head out of the water in case of an accidental overboard. It has a strap that goes between his legs so he can't slide out of it and a flotation device that makes sure he turns to his back and that his head is supported out of the water. Pretty slick, huh? Gives a grandparent a little sense of security when traversing the high seas - well, Lake Ray Hubbard.

Anyway.....it's not such a big deal. We just love the little fella - already. And we want to keep him safe because the world isn't.

Just like our Heavenly Father. He loved us before before He knew us and prepared a place for us to live life and enjoy the beauty and wonder of His creation. He also prepared a life preserver for us. Jesus. He knew that we would fall. He knew that there would be no way back for us so He provided a life preserver for us in the form of a fully God/fully man sacrifice for our sins.

Baby K will have a life preserver for trips around Lake Ray Hubbard and a Life Preserver for his journey on planet Earth. His mom and dad and his grandparents will make sure he knows about Jesus.

Therein lies our greatest security and our ultimate safety. I pray that you are floating in the safety of His arms. O how He loves you and me.

HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

Psalm 136 was probably used as a responsive reading in the early church. The history of God's action on behalf of the Israelites would be read by the scribe and the people would respond "His faithful love endures forever." It was a reminder that in every situation in which the child of God might find himself (or herself) he/she could depend on this - God loves you!

It has been a particularly grueling week in my ministry. A precious 11 year old girl went home to be with the Lord after a valiant fight with cancer. My good friend Linda Cooper got a bad report on her PET scan and one last chemo is her option. My friend Virginia found out cancer has returned and one very young friend of Justin's - who is pregnant with her first child is facing lymphoma in her young husband. Grueling. Without a doubt, life is hard.

I suppose that is why Psalm 136 was like a balm to my soul. I have a prayer chain to get out this morning and it sometimes seems as though I have nothing to report but sorrow. And then I read - His faithful love endures forever. I need to know He loves me in sickness and in health. In richness and in poverty. In good times and in bad. He loves me. He loves you.

You can't pin your life on your health....or lack thereof. On chemo or radiation. On doctors or lawyers. On stocks or interest. You can depend on God's love for you. He is faithful in His love. And it is forever.

And His love is RIGHT. Perfect. Without error. You can take that one to the bank. In fact, I hope you do. There is an account for you in heaven. Jesus warned us to store our treasures there for there they would await us. Invest your life in abiding in His love for you. That knowledge - really, it is faith - will undergird your spirit in times of trouble and trial. And whether you find yourself on this side or heaven's side of life, you will experience abundant life.

One cold day in the winter of 2005 a deeply grieving mother stood at the grave of her youngest son and her spirit cried out to God and He responded, "Look around Sherrie. No one leaves this world alive." It was a wake-up call to me that I was not alone in this sin-sick world. Everyone will experience immense grief at one time or another. In the throes of pain, we often miss that truth. This is not all there is. This is not our home. We are simply traveling through.

Help each other. Love one another. Pray for everyone God lays on your heart. Store up for yourself riches in heaven. One day we're going home. Pack your bags now with prayer and faithfulness. With love and grace. With lots of forgiveness and tons of joy. There is a date on the calendar that is set (Psalm 139:16) and in His sovereignty, it is known only to Him. It is for us to prepare for that day today.

His faithful love endures forever.