Living to Live or Living to Die?

No big surprise. Death is inescapable.

Although not a pleasant thought for most of us - life, as we know it, will one day cease.

We just don't know the day or the time, which is probably a good thing. It is the one event in this world that, without a doubt, will happen. No matter how we try to prolong it, once our time is up, our time is up.

Many of us don't want to think about dying because it puts a whole different perspective on living.

The way I see it, that can be a good thing, though. Well it's a good thing as long as we choose living to live over living to die. There's a difference between living life to the fullest or not bothering because we are going to die anyway.

When I was going through a health trial and I didn't know what the road ahead looked like in the survival department, I was introduced to that popular country song by Tim McGraw - Live Like You are Dying. Great idea as long as living like you were dying includes more joy than dread; more peace than fear; more love than friction.

 

Dread, fear and friction arise from an unsettled heart and a feeling of unworthiness. But the good news is that dread fear and friction can be replaced with joy, peace and love. And I have found, firsthand that when that joy, peace and love stroll hand in hand with faith, death becomes a beautiful thing and something I do not have to fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, 1 John 4:18 a,b

I think it's when faith hits home that you learn to love deeper, speak sweeter, and give forgiveness that you've been denying. After all we will have eternity to contemplate how we lived our life. . .

I am in no rush to leave this world, but if my time is up, no matter how much kicking and screaming I do, it won't matter. I have two choices when it comes to life and death. I can choose to see death as something horrific, formidable and something to fear. Or I can choose to see death as the cessation of life here as we know it - but wait - there's more.

As a believer I have the hope in my Saviour, Jesus, that eternity awaits. Yay! That is my prayer for my entire family and all my friends - in fact, as naive and cliched as it may sound - it's my prayer for the world. 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

And for some final, parting wisdom, Snoopy shared some profound incite with Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown: “Some day, we will all die Snoopy!’

Snoopy: “True but on all the other days, we will not.”

How's that for a little motivation to go sky diving or Rocky Mountain climbing or 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu?

I'm in. You? 

Glynis lives, loves, laughs and does an awful lot of reading, writing, publishing and praying in her home office. Her latest children's book - Hopeful Homer offers hope and encouragement to anyone who might find herself in 'the pit'. 

www.glynisbelec.com 

writer@glynisbelec.com 

Yea Thou I Walk Backwards I See His Mighty Power at Work by Glynis M. Belec

My little sister, Sue. May your sleep be peaceful,
free from torment and struggle

     Yea thou I walk through the valley of yet some more terrible news, I know I will get through it. Last Wednesday, my sister died suddenly. Her Celebration of Life was this past Saturday. My heart weeps for my little sister but I know that I will get through it, in time, because God is my refuge and my strength. Right now I will rest beside the still waters so that my soul can be refreshed. It still hurts. But God promises to take away my pain one day. I choose to believe that. 

I will fear no evil because I have been through the basic training and God has shown me how to put on His whole armour. Four months ago when my dad had his heart attack I wondered how we would cope. Dad didn't want to stay in his house any more and the challenge of caring for an elderly parent in his own home was becoming great. Not to mention, We were caring for two households which was a monumental task some weeks. [Well at least it was starting to seem that way]. Then God opened wide the door. Our house that had been for sale for almost a year just wasn't selling. So we took it off the market. One hour after the decision was made for Dad to move in with us, his house sold. At first I was baffled. But then I realized that our original intention when my hubby and I put our home up for sale, was to downsize. If our house had sold that would have meant there would have been no room for Dad to move in with us. God wasn't kidding when He said: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. . ."

For thou art with me, is a very true reassuring statement of fact. Each time I start to sink, the Lord lifts me up. My son-in-law, who is very dear to my heart, was diagnosed with testicular cancer about nine months ago. It was another devastating blow to our family, but the presence of God was surely with me as we dealt with yet another challenge. But all through the journey, I could feel the Holy Spirit divvy out the blessed hope so vital to positive healing. We remain hope-filled and grateful. 

Thy rod and thy staff they really do comfort me just as God promised. And with that comfort comes sweet relief. His rod continues to be my guide and helps balance me as I traverse the rocky terrain we call life. About a year and 9 months ago, just after we learned that my hubby has CLL - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, I felt that I would surely trip and fall. How could I possibly manoeuvre my way through this rocky road? But I soon learned to lean heavily on that rod of God. I was reminded that this was not the first time the Great Shepherd with His secure staff had helped us tackle the rough terrain. I remembered how I trusted God to get me through my own battle with cancer. I knew God would see us through this valley, too. 

 

Who was it anyway, who said to Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials? Seriously?The testing of your faith produces endurance? There are some days I really think I am going to fail the test. And then I read about how endurance has its perfect result, so that you (I) may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. I don't want to be perfect, but I do want to please my Lord. That said, if I need to suffer some more biting news, then I will be ready. I'm going to go dig out the armour. My brain complains because the armour will be cumbersome and foreign. But I am ready to obey. Trust and obey (there is no other way!) 

 Glynis is trying her best to trust and obey these days. She is busy with many projects including marketing her latest children's book - Galloping Gus. Happily she is preparing a colouring/activity book to accompany the popular picture book. Then there are the other thousand writing projects she is working on.  Check out her website to find out what's happening. If you want to just say 'howdy' she would love to hear from you.