Tag: Jesus

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Losing A Spouse Thoughts

Almost 2 months ago I lost the love of my life after 28 years. I thought I was ready for it after she had been so sick for so long. I was nowhere near ready for it and probably living in some dream world about it. The thing is, you can’t be, no matter how you try. It’s also a reminder that all those things you thought were important didn’t mean anything. The heartbreak of losing a spouse has nothing to do with your socioeconomic status in life. If you haven’t lost a spouse just wait it will be the most brutal thing you have ever experienced in life. ( or a child)

I think having family and friends around would help some. If you don’t have those, what you get to look forward to is a lot of extremely lonely days and nights alone. Then there is the issue of crying. If you are one of those who don’t cry much, that will change because the pain is so severe. In my experience, the public has been more than understanding when I start to cry once I explain to them what has happen.

So, before this day is over, I will have multiple crying spells. Some will be pretty mild, and some will be horrendous. I will try and negotiate with God. ( as you can tell he hasn’t taken me up on any of my ideas yet.)

So begs the question of why I don’t just give up? (Trust me it is a thought that has crossed my mind more than once)

The first, of course, is that I know exactly where she is and will be for eternity. I stood by and watched her fight health battles that most would have never even attempted. If she could fight so hard for us, I can somehow keep fighting while I am still here until we are reunited in heaven, because in the end, that is the only hope I truly have.

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Your Faith Dice Are You Ready To Roll Them?

Sometimes, you have to roll your faith dice, not knowing how they will turn out. So when do these times occur and what are faith dice anyway? Faith dice are things you build up over time in your faith journey. ( not by any works you have done) These times can very often happen in medical situations. You gather all the information you have been given and then you have a choice to make and in that moment is when you decide if you are going to roll your faith dice?

Here is an example of what I am referring. Several years ago my wife’s health had really started to fail. After a long and drawn-out conversation, I had a decision to make was I willing to roll my faith dice knowing that if I didn’t then she could die but if I did say yes then she could also die. (Reflecting on it now my wife and her doctor were like 2 little children waiting to see what Dad was going to say?) I finally decided to say yes under 2 conditions. The first was that we were going to throw everything we could at this and the second was I don’t want to hear about money. That was over 9 years ago and we still have her but this past weekend we had a similar conversation but this time it was easier to make. It may blow up on us but there is one significant difference between now and then. That big difference is the spiritual support system that we have today. So all those many years ago as I stood by the bedside all alone I had no idea what God had planned for our lives.( by the way in those situations you don’t think about how much stuff you have)

So yes I have rolled them twice in my life but in the end as a believer in The Lord Jesus Christ, in reality, I didn’t have any faith dice to roll in the first place.

However, there is one big caveat to these situations. The time to be in the Word and to grow your faith is before you are faced with these types of situations.

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Are You Being Ask To Walk On Water?

As we go through our lives as believers we try and be strong but we all face those times in which we question we doubt just like in Peter in Matthew 14: 22-32.

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.

23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! ”

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

It is not really a question of whether you will be asked to walk on your personal water or not. The question is will you have the faith to do so when called?

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Recognizing When Satan Attacks

So often we go through life and we know that as believers Satan attacks regularly. He does it because he is the ultimate loser in world history. I think we have to be able to recognize the difference between Satan’s everyday attacks and those attacks when we seek to get closer to God. This begs the question how do you tell the difference?

Well, it’s pretty simple. Here is an example of what I am talking about and how experience has taught me to see the difference. Throughout my week, Satan attacks me on a regular basis with the everyday ups and downs of life. Then when I start to do something that is related to God the attacks get more intense. Things like sending out daily e-mails to some of the women at my church. Then comes the Saturday war with Satan. It’s coming and we both know it and frankly, I let my guard down this past weekend. It happens but that doesn’t mean that Satan wins the battle. Is the battle still going on this morning? Sure. Will it lessen sometime today I suspect it will and that’s ok too. Will it crank back up on Saturday? Of course it will and I can’t lose focus on that fact.

I think it’s important to understand that one of Satan’s favorite attack times is when you are physically and emotionally exhausted. That is when it becomes real easy to let your guard down.

Like most things in life be aware of what is going on in your life and you can pretty quickly figure out what is happening.