John 14:1-17
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Life has seasons. Lately, I've had several friends tell me of the sorrow of losing parents or having parents passing on. Which is the living example of Romans 5:3-5
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us
The diligence in giving back to a parent in this extreme time. The exultation of perseverance. Giving us character, hope, and the Love God has for us, pouring into our hearts.
We think as we grow older and are not given the attention of younger people, we are retired and our example is diminished. This is not what Psalm 92 tells us.
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the LORD,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
15 To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Each week Catholics wisely pray for the Light of Christ to shine on them now and the hour of their death. People who die begin to be so calm, they leave a legacy of peace in passing to Home, in the Lord's eternal Kingdom.
Please see this email I received about Christian passing.
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let you all know that I will not be attending this coming Sunday as I will be returning to Europe as my Stepfather suddenly passed away today.
This gentle & lovely & 'ever happy' man was just as humble as could be and very blessed to have had a pain free 2 years as his illness progressed and was happily boasting about his wife and step children this morning to any/all nursing staff who would listen before peacefully falling asleep.
If I could please ask for prayers for my Mom & family this week, that they continue to feel the gratitude & blessings and deep sense of peace of today , knowing his desire was to return home for a spell, which he was granted for a few days:)
Hugs,
From His Loved One
And for a dear, dear friend who has a mom who fought with her this prior decade, "growing her up", and took her children in, sometimes for a summer; Giving the family a memory of "Grammie's" summer days instead of daycare. Her mom had her in her forties, so you know this Grammie was not a spring chicken, with spry ease, diligently raising these kids for the summer. This was the good fight. This daughter is treasuring her mom, and so very sad to loose her challenging-to-grow-her Mom. That work paid off - these two ladies - mother and daughter - have reversed roles and the days are Bible reading with the granddaughter - who has a full life - a grandson and very emotional daughter.
Conversation has stilled. Only bits of conversation are filled with memories.
Janice, like children do, is concerned this full-time nursing situation isn't as great as old home fires and has guilt. The kind of guilt her mom wouldn't want her to have. Or her FATHER. On October 9th, the nursing facility had someone in the distance singing "Happy Birthday." Janice asked her mom, "Do you remember who had an October 9th birthday?" Sweet Grammie replied, "My son, David, did."
Janice's mom has provided a legacy of overcoming the hardship of losing two of her four children in their forties, suddenly, to accident and sudden death. As well as the sudden death of her son-in-law, Kenny. And the early passing of her much loved husband. Grammie had quadruple heart-by-pass about 7 years ago in her eighties. She was rather nonchalant about the operation saying the situation was win-win. Win, if she continued in this life, win if she went Home. Now, in her 92nd year, the conversation that was up-building, confrontational and caring has dwindled.
Janice writes today:
"While I was visiting Mom yesterday I decided that I would read to her from the Bible (my daughter Kaitie does this on her visits, but wasn't able to come that day) and of course doing this impromptu, I fumbled around for a verse that would be familiar to her and came upon John 14. I read "Let not you heart be troubled..." and stopped, asking Mom "You know this one, this was always one of your favorites, do you remember what else it says?" and once again without hesitating she replied, "In My Father's House are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you..." Needless to say, my heart went into my throat and I couldn't go much further than that, but once again as her mind wanders and some things don't make sense - THOSE THINGS THAT MATTER DO MAKE SENSE! I love you, Mom and thank you every day for all that you are, and all that you have given to me - yesterday, today and always!"
Her friend replies:
"We were just talking about this last week, how faith is a real connecting factor. When my father-in-law was dying of cancer, he often didn't know what was going on and sometimes even us. But he could still say the Lord's Prayer and would join us to pray it whether he knew us or not. Moments to cherish."
Jesus couldn't be held by the grave. We will not either. Jesus was given a physical body to fully tell us we shall overcome death in HIS grace.
Ephesians 1:7-10
In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace,
8 which He lavished upon us,
in all wisdom and insight
making known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His purpose, which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away
Isaiah 35:2
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
And we were told of this by Him, in His Word. Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
And of course, the favorite verse Della leaves to her children as a peaceful legacy of the good fight, well done, by a faithful servant of His.
John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
Sprovach painted Heaven's Reception
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