Tuesday, January 29, 2008

A Day on the Lake in Minneapolis...

Getting Ready...
Getting going...
Getting down...
Having fun!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

In the Twinkling of an Eye...

The Lord, my God, can give new birth in the twinkling of an eye. One moment we are dead- the next moment we are believing and alive. In that same twinkling, we could be taken home. That is, we could have come to the end of the days allotted. We could be taken up, moving from this age to the next. We could find our time here on this earth is finished. In a twinkling, we could be separated from those we love- facing the reality of the frailty of our bodies, and we die.

Though we die, we will live again. And if we are trusting that Jesus lived the life of righteousness for us that we cannot live, and that he died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, a price we could not pay, then we will live again in a better place. And we will be reunited with those we love in that better place.

This all came afresh on me when Renee and Allie were involved in a serious car mishap. The van they were in (Renee driving) hit a slippery spot, began to slide, and then began to roll. Their vehicle rolled two to three times.

The miracle that they are alive is almost unbelievable. Even more so when you consider this was in the middle of the day and traffic was all around. But He (who knows the number of hairs on our head and set the number of days for our lives) guided their rolling vehicle through that traffic to land on it's wheels in the ditch on the side of I35, untouched by any other cars or trucks.

But, they are not only alive; neither of them are seriously hurt. They haven't even needed to see a doctor. They are both stiff and sore.

It was not their time. They cannot die, and neither can we, until we have lived the days He has allotted for us. We cannot die, until He has completed all He intends to complete in and through us.

I am so glad He is not finished working in and through Renee and Allie. As much as I want to rejoice when any loved one goes to be with Him, to see Him unveiled in all His glory, I am glad they are still with me. I know that is selfish. I also know that should the time come, that the Lord calls Renee home, He, in His gracious love for me, will grant me the grace to rejoice for her- in the twinkling of an eye.