MY GRANDMOTHER GLORIA PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY

We live and pass through this life, and then find ourselves in a spiritual state of life or death for all eternity. After we die in this body we either find ourselves in heaven with Jesus or in complete eternal separation from the God of Creation in that place called hell. That's just the reality. This life is hard and extremely important. This time we have on this earth is just a tiny blip of time within eternity. It's a transaction for faith or unbelief, a choice for Jesus or Self! The Bible says that few people choose the transaction of faith and eternal life in Jesus because he is the narrow road, he is the only gate. But there is only one way to get there, and that is through confessing and trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through His life, death, and resurrection. People are looking for eternal life in all the wrong places, and not through the way God the Father has provided.

For my Grandmother, this life was very hard. She had an inner fight that most of us could not understand or relate to, and she carried hard things inside and that manifested in her choices, and we wrestled with her in love. She also confessed Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and lived out her faith in unique ways. Through the inner struggles she found a way to express her worship to Jesus by playing the piano and organ at church, by serving her young family with beautiful meals and appreciation of fine things and appearance, loving her grandchildren and children as best she knew how, by not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus and passing down faith in him to her kin....she knew Jesus wouldn't turn her away, and she endured and persevered and had a peace that underlined all of the good and bad of her life experiences. That peace was Jesus' peace. Jesus took care of her through it all. He did all the work for her to get to heaven and her confession and trust in Jesus is known by him. We fall face down in surrender knowing that the blood of Jesus is poured out over her. Gloria is with Jesus now, and she can finally rest. Jesus you knew her life and struggle and you carried her through. Thank you that she did have faith in you as her Savior. Please receive her into all your Glory and Love and Compassion. I pray her tears of joy and gratitude would bless you as you embrace her within your loving arms that she has longed for all her life. Thank you for loving her and saving her in you alone. We worship you for your love is faithful!

Everyone can relate to inner struggles that are lonely and extremely difficult to find victory over. Some things are very traumatic and impact us for our entire lives, and the battle can last for the lifetime we have in this world. The ups and downs, the success and failure, the resentment and then the forgiveness, the hate and the love, the shame and guilt and the grace and mercy......it all can make us restless and tired, and makes us search for the love and relief we long for in the wrong places. Sometimes we can give up on what we know to be true  (that doesn't mean Jesus does!) We then find ourselves in a state of mind and being that can be without hope and faith, but deep down in our spirits we know that the Spirit of Jesus does not lose faith and always hopes, and always loves. There is his Spirit inside of us that longs for healing, righteousness, reconciliation, relief, unity, friendship, kindness, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. This fight between our flesh and His Spirit is why we need one another. We need to carry one another through the battles of the flesh with His unconditional Spirit of love. When one is weak, another can be strong and help. Even if it is only through prayer, that help can come to those in need! COVID has separated people from their elders for months. Those months of solitude, loneliness, suffering ultimately plays a toll on our most fragile seniors who are mom's, dad's, grandparents, great grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends.... and they can give up and feel hopeless in it all. And many have passed away because of these circumstances. Through it all, we know that prayers are being lifted up to Jesus for him to be present with them in their senior living communities, and hospices. We trust that he is present. 

Right now, I pray that Jesus would be with every single senior who is lonely, and feeling hopeless, because they have not seen their family for months. I pray that Jesus would strengthen their hearts and water the seeds of faith that have been planted throughout their life. I pray that the faith that pleases God would spring up in their souls for Jesus alone. I pray Jesus, that the spirit your Father has given them would cry out to you. Jesus, you are faithful and able to do more then we could ever ask or imagine. There is no one like you Oh Lord Most High! And if these elderly die may they pass away into eternity confessing you as Lord and Savior, because they desire you above all else.

Grandma Gloria, I will miss you here, but know that very soon we will be with you for all eternity in Christ. This album by Caleb Andrews called “Betrothal” is dedicated to you.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nzOiSSSXcmuUp0WPvFkZqlY2EOK1r8PRc