Great Love... In Spite of Great Loss

Friday, you read about about the funeral we attended for a 37 year old cousin.

That morning, while you were reading, a friend from church posted on social media, a brother in the Lord from our church, had passed after a difficult battle with cancer. Saturday morning, as you were reading what seemed to me a follow-up post, about life on both sides of death, news of another friend hit hard.

Stephanie who we prayed about in this post a few weeks ago, passed... after her second battle with cancer. With something around 4000 friends on Facebook alone, needless to say, her page was lit up. Photos and condolences and memories of the impact she had made on people; through her friendship, her faith, her family... to smile in face of every difficulty; I dare say I think we envisioned her laughing in her spirit, at the days to come.

It's not that her life was easy, nor did she not realize the difficulty of life and that the struggle is real and emotions and reactions aren't always pleasant. But as thousands have pointed out, she remained faithful to her Creator; trusting the Giver of life.... on both sides of death.

And I watched again... as I did in February 2011, when a friend from college lost his wife and their child still in the womb, a few days after a terrible car accident... {read: here} the community and the body of Christ surround Stephanie's husband and daughter with love and support. Obviously, much of it in real time for those who are local to their life; lots more through the advent of technology, from people who wish they could be there in real life.

And we enter #effectiveSunday, it got me thinking last night... what is it about the passing of life that causes us all, to show more love, more compassion, more "like-able" personality traits, more sympathy, more empathy, more laughter at fond memories, more tears of sorrow and mourning. How quickly we forget the value of people until we realize we will never see them again, say hello again, wake up next to them, wake them up in their room across the hall, never meet for coffee again, never greet as they walk into church or the office again... never talk with them about the goodness and greatness of the love of God, if we hadn't done so already.

Is this we were reminded to make the most of every opportunity? For the days are evil?

The local marine dealer advertises "Life is short. Boats are cool".

The truth of the matter, is that "Life is short. God is good".

What better way for the church to be effective that to display the love, grace and compassion of God as much every other day as we do when we gather to celebrate Christ on Sunday and the passing of a dear life on any unexpected day of the week. Our lives should be just as much about Christ in relation to those around us every day, as it is about Christ on Sunday and others when we attend their wake. Granted most of us aren't that extreme, but we could certainly be a lot closer to Christ; and display the love of Christ... in everyday life, in everyday moments, in light of tragedy and loss that make days seem not so much like every other day. There are days that life takes a turn for the worse. Yet with our eyes focused on Christ, we know that even the worst days, God uses to accomplish His purposes; whereby He received the glory. And any day there is an opportunity to give glory to God, isn't really all that bad of a day. Even in the face of adversity; in the midst of tragedy, in the angst of loss and suffering, in the middle of the trial and fires of life... God is with you always unto the end of age; especially where two or three are gathered in His name.

Pray, this #effectiveSunday, that the church would indeed, display the love of Christ and His story to a lost and dying world, not just on Sunday, not just on the day of one's passing from this life to the next. Pray for the peace of God to surpass all understanding; on these past couple of days of loss and suffering; for those struggling to rely on God; for those having difficulty trusting God; for those who no longer desire to seek the face of God... may they sense His presence in the arms of His love and grace. May the body of Christ, be as we are called, to be His hands and feet extended. May this time of loss be a time of embrace; where people draw closer to God, whether it be again or for the first time. Pray the comfort of the Holy Spirit, to guard their hearts and minds; that bitterness and confusion would remain at bay; that the joy of the Lord would be their strength and their trust in Him unwavering.

Faithful and true, is He who has called us in His marvelous light.
Our lives for His righteousness.
For the glory of God.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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