Wednesday, August 18, 2010

There shall be no more pain


Josh asked me yesterday when I was going to post something new? He has our computer set so that Hope and a Future is our home page when you open the internet...so for him it has been a reminder that it has been almost two weeks since I revealed my August memory verse, for me it has been almost two weeks of a very good reminder to work on said memory verse (which I haven't been too good at). Insert here the verse about confessing to one another.

Last night was the final session of my study with the ladies at church on A Women's heart God's dwelling place by Beth Moore. The facilitator asked for final thoughts on the study as a whole? Instead of something profound the first thing that came to my mind was that I have only missed one session (the night we had free baseball tickets) and there was only 1 day that I didn't do the homework and looking back through the book to make sure that is an accurate statement, I can't even find that day. The verse about only boasting in the Lord should be inserted here.

Day 3 in No other God's by Kelly Minter asked "Are you currently going through a time when you really have no idea how things are going to work out, but you are moving ahead in faith, believing that God will show Himself as the Lord who provides?" In the NOG book my response was that "I don't know who will help with children's choir and how I will run it." But during the video when Beth Moore read Revelation 21:4 I had a different thought.

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son


As she read verse 4 it occurred to me that this study has been a way for God to bring healing and hope to Stephen's death. It has pointed me to the gospel of mercy and set my eyes on the goal set before me. The tears are fresh on my face as I write this. In almost every video she has touched on the nerve that sparks the deluge.
All of the things mentioned in that verse is telling us what won't be there, and then Beth Moore went on to ask what are you looking forward to not being there? My first thought was fat...then I felt real bad because she started asking her audience and they said things like small caskets, victimization, betrayal, cancer....but after this went on for a while a lady in the audience said.....fat. Even though Beth Moore had been very near tears herself to think of all the pain in that room she sat down and laughed when that lady called it out. I'm not alone.
At Stephen's viewing I realized how close tears and laughter were related and I am remembering that again. One of the ladies who came through to give her condolences to Cathron said, "When I get to heaven I'm going whip that boy". I don't remember all the other things Cathron and I laughed about that night. I mostly remember crying.


I know you hate to see my cry, one day you will set all things right.
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking, I never leave your hands.

4 comments:

Melissa said...

That was the most amazing video session. I remember crying my eyes out at the thought of what will be! It's going to be amazing!

sister sheri said...

Gosh, Emily. This is beautiful. How touching and encouraging.

I am sorry but I have not gotten your CDs in the mail. But I will make up for it.

Gloria said...

Wow Emily. What a meaty post, so much to digest and contemplate. I guess you have been storing it up since you haven't posted in a while! I'm glad you have :)

My heart is happy to hear that the bible study has brought healing and hope to you. We are still riding the waves in the aftermath of saying goodbye to Arthur's dad. Some days are just hard.

(I'm with you girl - the Fat answer was PHat!)

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