About Death, "From God's Perspective" By Max Lucado

From God’s Perspective
by Max Lucado

“We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope” (Thessalonians 4:13 JB).

The Thessalonian church had buried her share of loved ones. And the apostle wanted the members who remained to be at peace regarding the ones who had gone ahead. Many of you have buried loved ones as well. And just as God spoke to them, he speaks to you.

If you’ll celebrate a marriage anniversary alone this year, he speaks to you.

If your child made it to heaven before making it to kindergarten, he speaks to you.

If you lost a loved one in violence, if you learned more than you want to know about disease, if your dreams were buried as they lowered the casket, God speaks to you.

He speaks to all of us who have stood or will stand in the soft dirt near an open grave. And to us he gives this confident word: “I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died” (1 Thess. 4:13–14 TLB).

God transforms our hopeless grief into hope-filled grief. How? By telling us that we will see our loved ones again.

Isn’t that what we want to believe? We long to know that our loved ones are safe in death. We long for the reassurance that the soul goes immediately to be with God. But dare we believe it? Can we believe it? According to the Bible we can.

Scripture is surprisingly quiet about this phase of our lives. When speaking about the period between the death of the body and the resurrection of the body, the Bible doesn’t shout; it just whispers. But at the confluence of these whispers, a firm voice is heard. This authoritative voice assures us that at death the Christian immediately enters into the presence of God and enjoys conscious fellowship with the Father and with those who have gone before.

Where do I get such ideas? Listen to some of the whispers:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
(Phil. 1:21–23 NIV)

We don’t like to say good-bye to those we love. But if what the Bible says about heaven is true, and I believe it is, then the ultimate prayer, the ultimate answered prayer, is heaven.

It is right for us to weep, but there is no need for us to despair. They had pain here. They have no pain there. They struggled here. They have no struggles there. You and I might wonder why God took them home. But they don’t. They understand. They are, at this very moment, at peace in the presence of God.

Pray For Obama

Jesus - Bigger Than Your Box - Sermon by Max Lucado

Jesus, Bigger Than Your Box - Max Lucado from UpWords Ministries on Vimeo.

A Few Short Quotes - (Little Tid Bits)

This is about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Somebody would do it but Nobody asked Anybody. It ended up that the job wasn't done and Everybody blamed Everybody when actually Nobody asked Anybody. - Author Unknown

An English professor wrote these words on the black board: "Woman without her man is nothing." The students were told to punctuate it correctly. The men wrote: "Woman, without her man, is nothing." The women wrote: "Women! Without her, man is nothing." - Author Unknown

Failure isn't so bad if it doesn't attack the heart. Success is all right if it doesn't go to the head. - Grantland Rice

Material or Immaterial: How can we know if we are firmly caught in the money trap? When we are living as though that which is material is permanent and that which is permanent is immaterial. - Author Unknown

"SURE RETURNS":
A Smile is like a boomerang, subject to our will.
It may be flung out generously or kept unused and still.
But just like any boomerang sent winging through the blue,
A smile will find another smile that comes right back to you. - M. Kathleen Haley

"HUGS":
It's wonderous what a hug can do,
A hug can cheer you when you're blue.
A hug can say "I love you so",
Or "Gee I hate to see you go".
A hug is "Welcome back again"!
And "Great to see you"! or
"Where've you been"?
A hug can soothe a small child's pain
And bring a rainbow after rain.
The hug! There's just no doubt about it,
We scarcely could survive without it.
A hug delights and warms and charms,
It must be why God gave us arms.
Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,
Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers.
And chances are your favorite Aunts
Love them more than potted plants.
Kittens crave them, puppies love them.
Heads of state are not above them.
A hug can break the language barrier,
And make the dullest day seem merrier.
No need to fret about the store of 'em
The more you give, the more there are of 'em.
So stretch those arms without delay
And give someone a hug today! - Dean Walley

"A SMILE":
A smile is something nice to see - It doesn't cost a cent.
A smile is something all your own - It never can be spent.
A smile is welcome anywhere - It does away with frowns.
A smile is good for everyone - To ease life's ups and downs. - Author Unknown

Nick's Testimony

No matter what your situation or what your circumstances are, if you take a look at this video from youtube.com you will see how abundantly blessed you are and you will know that if you want to, you can overcome anything!

Here is the URL to Nick's Testimony on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSRj7JqURjc

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Praying For Others

I've always prayed for others but until recently I didn't think my prayers mattered that much to anyone. I'm beginning to discover that people really appreciate it and that it does matter.

I love my new job. I see people all the time who have a loved one in the hospital and they are scared and worried. I have the wonderful opportunity to share a smile with them and offer words of encouragement every day.

Last week a woman came back up to me after talking to me earlier and eating her lunch and she said "Do you pray?" I said "Yes I do." She then told me his name and we talked some more. The whole situation was touching. I felt blessed and so thankful for my new job as a plain old lunch lady in a hospital cafeteria!

I confessed to another friend, who is actually a friend of a friend, that I prayed for her and she was so surprised that she asked me to accept a gift from her. It was Rosary Beads and a pamphlet telling me the meaning of them. This opened up another opportunity to witness and share my true self. I was really honored to receive the Rosary Beads even though I am not Catholic.

I don't believe in any certain religion only in my Bible and following Jesus Christ. I will continue to pray for others with all of my heart and I believe God sent these people to me to encourage me to keep on praying.

I don't have much to give but my prayers are from my heart and if they bless someone than that's all that matters!