Beautiful Reminders

Today I had the opportunity to attend the funeral of a long time friend and sister in Christ.  As difficult as it was to be there, I was reminded that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.  For many years because of Bill’s vulnerable condition we avoided crowds during flu season.  This kept us away from church and funerals.  Now I have returned to both church and funerals, although in a limited capacity.  It is a blessing to be there again.

One of the scripture passages shared today was John 14.  When the pastor referenced this passage to be read I felt my throat begin to tighten and the tears well up in my eyes. Years ago just a few years after Bill and I got married I started attending a Bible Study held at a neighbors home.  It was more of a Bible memory group.  I spent weeks working on my passage of scripture, adding a verse or two each week.  When I had memorized the entire passage I excitedly recited it to Bill.  I thought he would be so proud of me for being diligent and disciplined in my efforts to memorize scripture.  I was not prepared for his reaction.  As I began reciting my verses a stunned look came over his face.  Not a look of pride or delight but a look of anguish!  As I finished reciting, I asked him what was wrong.  He explained to me that John 14 was the passage of scripture his mother read to him when she was telling him that she was going to die.  Now, here I was sharing the same passage with him again. Bill was very close to his parents.  They both died during his high school years. He only occasionally talked about them because he couldn’t talk about them without crying.  Getting emotional and crying caused him to get short of breath, so it was avoided.  He loved and missed them terribly.

Although difficult this morning, I was blessed along with many others in attendance to be reminded today that the Lord has gone before us and prepared a place for us when we get to heaven.  All those who have gone before us in the Lord live in those “mansions” prepared just for them by Christ. What a joy to be so loved by the Lord! Additionally, as much as my soul has been pained by grief, He has reminded me that my heart should not be troubled because of my belief in Christ.  My heart may be full of grief but my heart shall not be troubled as to where my beloved has gone.  But I can be joyful that he rests in Christ Jesus who loved him so that He prepared the way for him and for all those belong to Christ. The Lord’s promises are new every morning.  This passage is so full of God's promises for us and I am blessed.

John 14

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

²⁴ He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

²⁸ Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

²⁹ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

³⁰ Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.