Death, From Mom

Mom took some time to write down her thoughts, feelings and study notes on death.  It's a "coincidence" that I come to this place in her journal this week being as her passing was so vividly recalled on Sunday when we sang Amazing Grace-My Chains Are Gone.  Our dear friends and family in the Lord had beautiful sang that song (at my Mom's request) during her wake.  It's a bittersweet reminder of saying a temporary good bye and the blessed freedom we have in Jesus Christ, both in this life and in next. all because of His amazing grace.  The thought in that song that we are have been set free, free to dance, to praise, to worship, to live in our Savior eternally fills me with joy for her, and eager anticipation for the future, when I reunite with Mom and all my loved ones both present and past, in the place prepared for us by the Lord.  So here's Mom's entry on death. Seems as always, she was focused on how to help others.  It was her desire to be a comfort and give hope to those coping with death of a loved one or coming closer to that day themselves.

For each "today" we are given and for the inevitable "tomorrow" that will come, we don't have to be afraid.

Jesus Christ is with all who trust Him and He will have the last word because He is risen from the dead.

When we don't know what to say!!

Job 6:14a  To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend.  

We need from our loved ones, family-

Job 6:11  What strength do I have, that I should hope?  And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?  
Job 6:14...kindness

and above all else, show love.

2 Corinthians 5:1-11  For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down--when we die and leave these bodies--we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.  We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.  For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies.  Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all.  We want to slip into our new bodies so that theses dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life.  God Himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.  So we are always confident, even thought we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.  That is why we live by believing and not by seeing.  yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.  So our aim is to please Him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body.  For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.  We will each received whatever we deserves for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.  It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others, God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

Mom referenced her journal entry on "Aging", which consisted of a page from Our Daily Bread devotional by RBS.  I will just finish with the end of that devotional  (You can read the whole entry on March 18, 2014 in the Archives)

From Our Daily Bread.

"He's gone 'to prepare a place for you,'

that where He is, 'there you may be.'

Our death is not the end of life--

We'll be with Christ eternally." --Hess

Death is gain because it means heaven, holiness and Him!