But others fell on good soil and produced a crop. They grew up, increased in
size, and produced 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown." Mark 4:8
I have this peace plant sitting in my office. The plant has deteriorated over the years. Still in it's original container the plant isn't doing so well. I refuse to give up on it. The peace plant was given to us shortly after Maria died. Someone suggested that I re-pot the plant and get some fresh soil around the roots and then nourish it with plant food and fresh water. In just a week I noticed that the plant is beginning to come back. Isn't that the way it works in life? The culture we live in could determine whether we thrive or die depending on the environment our roots are laid down?. We hang around drug users and pretty soon we become one ourselves. We go out to the bars with friends and pretty soon we're having booze parties at our home. We hang around people who like dope and pretty soon we start using it. We innocently look at pornography on the internet and pretty soon we have a mindless addiction that we cannot quit. Our roots are in the wrong soil just like my plant.. Which is why Minnesota Teen Challenge has the best record for success of any treatment program. They take the adults from their old soil where their roots are dying and they put them into the new soil (treatment program) and surround them with people who will encourage them on their sobriety goals and share God's love with them so Christ can really do what He does best which is to change a person from the inside out. What kind of soil are your roots in? Is it old and brittle? Does your pot need to be changed and fresh dirt added to a completely different pot? Are you giving it all of the wrong nourishment much like those with chemical or psychological addictions? Just when you may feel like giving up God isn't ready to throw in the towel. We all love come back stories where someone comes back from extraordinary odds to win some athletic competition. A recent example was watching a double amputee win in one of the running events with his set of running blades. The movie series, Rocky Balboa, is another popular example of people loving comeback stories. Will you be the next comeback story after re-planting your roots deep into fresh soil and watering and nourishing those roots so those roots will grow deeper? God will help you find your fresh soil. Won't you go to him now and ask Him to help you?
Philippians 3:21 [Jesus Christ] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
When we one day see our Savior we will exchange our weather and time beaten earthly bodies for our heavenly one. This is the exchange I see take place in Heaven's equipment room. Jesus is in the equipment room ready to greet each person as they newly arrive. In comes a 60 year old man dressed in his work clothes. He walks with a limp and has a large gash on his head from a fall.
Jesus: Paul, it is good to see you.
Paul: Jesus, is that really you? Am I really here?
Jesus: Paul, you are really here. Your time on earth has concluded.
Paul: How did I die?
Jesus: You were in a car accident. A speeding car crashed into you. Our heavenly angels came down and met you at the scene.
Paul: That must have been when I felt this incredible peace. I felt this warm glow that told me not to worry.
Jesus: You gave your life to many people Paul. I am so proud that you became an organ donor. Your heart is going to a young man with a degenerative disease heart a new life. Your cornea's are going to a young school teacher with failing eye sight. Your lungs are going to a 17 year old who will now have a chance to breath and live life to the fullest.
Paul: I really love you Jesus. You were there for me whenever I called your name.
Paul:: I remember how you came and rescued our family when our young child died. I felt this warm glow when you and your angels rescued our family. Much like I do now!.
Jesus: Paul, when you accepted me into your life when you were a kid I never forgot you. I watched you grow up into a handsome young man. I was proud of you for taking a stand for other kids who were defenseless and picked on.
Paul: Jesus, I could do that because of the strength you gave me. I had nothing to fear when you were guiding me. You helped me with all of my decisions in my life.
Jesus: I was a simple prayer call away.
Paul: I remembered not really knowing what I should do in my time on earth and you answered my prayer and helped me to pick my vocation.
Jesus: You were a very gifted therapist.
Paul: I loved my line of work. Each time I saw a patient I knew you were there giving me the right words to say and you were there helping me guide each patient. My work didn't seem like such a burden.
Jesus: Work is never a burden if you choose something you are truly gifted in.
Paul: Almost like playing is to a child.
Jesus: I was proud of you for volunteering on all of those mission trips. There were many people who were strengthened in their walk with me because of your witness. I remember one young man on one of your trips. He seemed insecure and how he walked in his own shadow. He was impressed with how you lead the group and what care you took to make each member feel welcomed.
Paul: What happened to him?
Jesus: That is the beautiful part. when he returned home he rededicated his life to me and got involved in a discipleship group with other Christians. His whole life changed and I remember all of the prayer calls he made to me. I helped him to locate a wonderful woman who became his wife. They had 4 little ones who all asked me to come into their lives. That young man is now serving me with his family in full time service. Every once a while he will call me to tell me how thankful he was for you showing God's love to him.
Paul: Me?
Jesus: yes. that is only one story. There are many more who were touched in ways that you can't imagine.
Paul: Jesus, what is going to happen to my wife and my kids? I feel this glow, but they are probably missing me terribly.
Jesus: Just as my angels were there to rescue you I will send angles to comfort them as they miss you.
Paul: I loved my wife so very much. and my kids. They were the greatest kids a man could ever ask for.
Jesus: You do not need to be afraid. Already I have plans for them. Each of them have called me and I have answered their calls. i have plans to bring Christian's into their lives who will help them recover from their grief. The body of Christ will be there for each of them. Their faith will strengthen because of what I will do for them.
Paul: ( FOR THE FIRST TIME PAUL FEELS THE GASH ON HIS FACE FROM THE ACCIDENT)
Paul: am I bleeding?
Jesus: you were, but we're going to exchange your well worn earthly body for a Spiritual one. ( Jesus shows him his)
PAUL: That looks so new. Why there isn't a blemish on it! ( Paul tries it on) I feel like a new man.
Jesus: Your new body won't have any limitations like you had on earth. You will be able to run as fast as you like. your energy will be endless.
Paul: my new eyes! I can really see far! I won't need glasses. My new ears! I can hear so well.
Jesus: Well done my good and faithful servant. Go and explore your new place. There will be a reception line of people you knew on earth and who went before you ready to greet you and give you hugs. Welcome home, Paul, welcome home.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
James was only 12 when he lost his sister the tragic night of June 10th, but when I look back over those years I see evidences of God's tender mercies on his life. Every since he was a baby he loved to laugh and smile. He was our families entertainer since he could barely walk. There wasn't a day that didn't go by where he didn't bring a smile to our faces. James made friends easily and those who became his friends were his friends for life. James often became friends with those who were considered not cool by the in crowd.
I remembered when one newcomer came to his school James took it upon himself to include him part of his circle of friends because he didn't want to see him bullied by the cool kids.
While watching his parents grieving for their daughter our son stayed involved in his New Song Kid's Choir which had practices every week and concerts every month. He loved to sing and more importantly he loved to play the piano. Our God gave our son a gift and it was the gift of music which is a gift that will keep on blessing everyone who comes within ear shot of his playing.
I am extremely proud of my son. It wasn't easy to lose his sister at such a young age, but because he understood the scriptures he knew that Maria was enjoying heaven and he knew that while Maria's life ended his life continues.
At our son's senior soccer recognition game he had the above verse by his name. I especially loved the last part with the words 'they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint'. It brings a smile to my face when I visualize our Lord carrying each of us on wings like eagles and it really brings a smile to my face when I see how much our Lord loves my son and desires to see him thrive. When two parents are in the throes of grief it is important to remember that we have a Father in heaven who loves our surviving children so much that he will sustain them and bring them out of this painful time stronger and better.
