Comfort and Encourage One Another

“13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4)

These words brought comfort and also brought tears...a good thing. Tears because I was reminded that I truly do get to see him again. Then I was a bit distressed wondering how I would find him in the crowd. But the tears are good. I'm afraid I have a tendency to be strong, cool, collected (and I need to be those things for several reasons) and in the midst forget to cry when I remember my terrible loss.

I described to a friend that I think I have this little cabinet in which I store the finality of this death, this so-permanent loss of my sweetheart. I don't open that cabinet very often...and when I do, it's a micro-peek and then I slam it shut. Still trying to process it all, I guess.

And the LORD is my portion and my inheritance. The LORD Himself walks with me. Floyd was an awesome husband, far better than I deserved; his influences changed my life, my walk with God, my respect for God's Word...a thousand changes for the good. And I'm grateful beyond words for those years.

But the LORD is my portion...and He's better. And what a blessing it is to have this opportunity and motivation to my lazy, oft-distracted soul to know Him better.

Counting

This morning, I'm counting the things that are the same, that have always been true in my life:
God is my Father.
Jesus is Lord over all.
Jesus is coming again!
Holy Spirit lives in me.
They love me. Me. Anne. They love me.
Father listens to my cry, my prayers.
Angels are dispatched to help me when I need them.
Father sees the way I take; He knows my steps before I do.
He is the one that is making my way perfect...He is working all these situations and circumstances for my good.
He has a plan for my life: He has known me from my mother's womb. He sees my sitting down and my rising up.
He has works prepared for me to do.
He has planned a future and a hope for me.
He knows everything about my life and has all the power there is. And I can trust Him to do what is needed to bless me and take care of me.
And I'm so thankful. So very thankful.

No fear!

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head. - Cowper

Fear NOT!

In the last several months, I believe the Spirit has shown me so clearly that fear is my enemy. It is external to me, an objective attacker. If it's "inside" me, it's only because I've let it in.
It's been reported that the phrase "fear not" occurs 365 times in the Bible...mostly as an imperative, a command! And, if God has commanded "do not fear", then it must be possible for me to comply and obey this command. Otherwise He would not have given this strong directive.
So how to keep fear outside me? Stop it in its tracks. When fear tries to invade, that's the time to verbally (or maybe physically!) stomp my foot and stop him in his ugly tracks.
I will not fear!
God has not given me the spirit of fear, but rather of power, love, and a sound mind.
If this is hard, then remember, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Everything. Every tool I need to resist and evict fear, He has already given me.
A quote from an unknown source: "The conditions that inspire fear are often the very same conditions needed to inspire faith. Any life challenge presents us with a basic choice: fear or faith?"

I am so grateful for this grace, being able to see fear as an external enemy. May God always help me in this way!

Presence

"I will be with you...always."
Today, March 26, I'm counting the blessing of the Presence going with me...as I go with Him into the challenges of the day.
His peace, His gentle leading is my greatest need in this journey.
May I slow down, be still and be very present...in His Presence today.