I hope this Season brings you families and friends together. So much emotions over this time of year. People who love to see one another and those who really don't like others company. We are born into a family and yet some of us are divided. Divided over many different topics and there is someone who needs to see the Jesus inside of you. There comes to time to put things aside and make the best of the day. Other times, we can see the happiest of families and they all get along. Their joy can spill over as you see a picture and yet behind the scenes of their lives, are struggles too.
I only had one brother (Ronnie) in life and he died on Christmas Day years ago. I love when he came over and we could watch a movie or just talk. I will never forget how he wanted to open gifts early that year but I insisted on Christmas morning. That morning didn't come as I expected at all, the hospital would call to hurry to come there. Ronnie made it to Christmas morning but he was in no shape to open gifts. Life changes and we are left with memories. Each Christmas that comes, my mind thinks so much of him and his words. Ronnie said this, "Life as if today was your last day on earth, but plan for tomorrow". He loved Jesus so much and his example stands strong inside of my mind.
CHRISTMAS EVE ~
Ronnie was 37 when he died from cancer and I was 32. I allowed so much anger to fill my soul. I will stop my story there and write the rest tomorrow. As you can see I am writing on the EVE before something happen. I never knew the depth of what would happen tomorrow but God did. There must be a trust in God like no other. Only God can bring peace in the midst of lives and your choices matter too. Somewhere down the road, I began to trust God again and put him inside our house again.
Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD,
WE WILL SERVE THE LORD
My kids were young when Ronnie died. They saw me mad, angry, crying and in sorrow. I saw my mom hurt as well. Now she has lost her husband and only son. I didn't know how to help her because I couldn't help myself. Jesus wasn't enough at that point of life and I can't believe I'm saying this. It's true, but it was almost one year and I decided to go back to church. See the day that my brother died, I heard the leadership of our church say this, "I hope he dies soon, so we can go home to our families". It made me mad and crushed my spirit. I didn't go back to that church ever, but my husband found a different church for us to try. It was full of life and a brand new start. We were in our early 30's and we needed help from God.
As you go to church, it connects you with some amazing people. People will we call friends down the road of life and they stay. Had I never gone back to church, I would never be this person I am today. Full of God's love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and a brand new start with joy daily. I get excited to wake up in the morning. I know I have another day of life and that's amazing to me. I could blessings daily and never take things for granted. I try my best to share Jesus and live our the plan for my life with joy. I believe joy mean this, "Jesus Others You". Maybe it should be Jesus, you and others but I think you get it.
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE ~ WE WILL SERVE THE LORD
Each of our examples goes further than we might realize. Purpose positive words and speak only kind things about others. I have made mistakes of life and I don't want them shared anymore. Jesus forgives and forgets. Let us be more like him, forgive and forget. Pointing out the positive in your families and sharing time is a blessing beyond words. My daughter (Tracy) taught me this, "you can forgive someone but it doesn't mean to bring them back into your life". You must guard yourself and your heart. I was going throughs something big when Tracy was a teenager. She has always been wise in my eyes.
I hope you will make Jesus the head of your house too. Surrender is a big word but I promise when you surrender your thoughts to God, he changes you from the inside. My prayers and thoughts continue for you, your family and friends.
~ Sparkie
I only had one brother (Ronnie) in life and he died on Christmas Day years ago. I love when he came over and we could watch a movie or just talk. I will never forget how he wanted to open gifts early that year but I insisted on Christmas morning. That morning didn't come as I expected at all, the hospital would call to hurry to come there. Ronnie made it to Christmas morning but he was in no shape to open gifts. Life changes and we are left with memories. Each Christmas that comes, my mind thinks so much of him and his words. Ronnie said this, "Life as if today was your last day on earth, but plan for tomorrow". He loved Jesus so much and his example stands strong inside of my mind.
CHRISTMAS EVE ~
Ronnie was 37 when he died from cancer and I was 32. I allowed so much anger to fill my soul. I will stop my story there and write the rest tomorrow. As you can see I am writing on the EVE before something happen. I never knew the depth of what would happen tomorrow but God did. There must be a trust in God like no other. Only God can bring peace in the midst of lives and your choices matter too. Somewhere down the road, I began to trust God again and put him inside our house again.
Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD,
WE WILL SERVE THE LORD
My kids were young when Ronnie died. They saw me mad, angry, crying and in sorrow. I saw my mom hurt as well. Now she has lost her husband and only son. I didn't know how to help her because I couldn't help myself. Jesus wasn't enough at that point of life and I can't believe I'm saying this. It's true, but it was almost one year and I decided to go back to church. See the day that my brother died, I heard the leadership of our church say this, "I hope he dies soon, so we can go home to our families". It made me mad and crushed my spirit. I didn't go back to that church ever, but my husband found a different church for us to try. It was full of life and a brand new start. We were in our early 30's and we needed help from God.
As you go to church, it connects you with some amazing people. People will we call friends down the road of life and they stay. Had I never gone back to church, I would never be this person I am today. Full of God's love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and a brand new start with joy daily. I get excited to wake up in the morning. I know I have another day of life and that's amazing to me. I could blessings daily and never take things for granted. I try my best to share Jesus and live our the plan for my life with joy. I believe joy mean this, "Jesus Others You". Maybe it should be Jesus, you and others but I think you get it.
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE ~ WE WILL SERVE THE LORD
Each of our examples goes further than we might realize. Purpose positive words and speak only kind things about others. I have made mistakes of life and I don't want them shared anymore. Jesus forgives and forgets. Let us be more like him, forgive and forget. Pointing out the positive in your families and sharing time is a blessing beyond words. My daughter (Tracy) taught me this, "you can forgive someone but it doesn't mean to bring them back into your life". You must guard yourself and your heart. I was going throughs something big when Tracy was a teenager. She has always been wise in my eyes.
I hope you will make Jesus the head of your house too. Surrender is a big word but I promise when you surrender your thoughts to God, he changes you from the inside. My prayers and thoughts continue for you, your family and friends.
~ Sparkie
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