On a More Serious Note

I received an email on August 25 that a dear friend from Bluffton had fallen asleep. Dee Dee was a vivacious woman of 58 years who was the picture of health, slim attractive and full of life. We don't know for sure what happened, only that when her husband Steve came downstairs on the previous day, she was slumped over and was not breathing.

Daniel and I attended he viewing as did several of our friends from the Fort Wayne area. All told, I heart there were over a thousand friends and relatives who went to give their condolences to Steve and their four children and families.

Thursday morning, Denise and Deborah and I attended the funeral. It looked as though close to 200 folks were there. The minister shared from the Bible. Both daughters and a daughter-in-law shared some heartfelt memories of Dee Dee as did a member of the Bluffton TEA Party, of which Steve and Dee Dee were organizers. The minister read memories of one son and then Steve shared his memories of Dee Dee and their lives together. Steve's love for Dee Dee flooded the room as he spoke. He finished by reading Proverbs 31:10-31, the scriptures which speak of a virtuous woman.

When Daniel and I spoke with Steve the night before, he said, "I know that this is not from our loving heavenly Father. This is from the devil," the one who has the power of death as recorded in Hebrews 2:14.:

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"

Could the Bible be any more plain? GOD doesn't kill people, the devil does. We need to come to the realization in our minds that death is not from GOD. Why would GOD make, form, and create us only to kill us a few years down the road. And don't tell me that GOD needs another rose petal in heaven! If GOD wanted another rose petal in heaven, don't you think HE could make one???

Steve said that morning he had read what the Bible says in Psalm 116:15:

"Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints."

This doesn't mean that it is precious as we use the term. The Hebrew word is "yaqar" which should be translated costly. It costs GOD something when one of His children dies. That person can no longer hold forth the word of life to others, he can no longer minister that which is good, he can no longer share with others how GOD can deliver them from the tricks and wiles of the devil.

Praise GOD that we have the hope of Christ's return for us as stated in
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18"

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I love you all and thank GOD for your lives.