Four years ago, today, my grandfather (whom I affectionately called PaJim) went home to Jesus. It's hard to believe it's been four years. Sometimes it seems much longer. Anyone who truly knows me and my family can tell how much we miss him and long to see him again. He was a great and steady man of God who could speak words so simple, yet so profound. For example, he would often say "Just do right." Simple enough, right? No, it isn't always so simple to just do right, all the time. One of my favorite sayings he had was, "God is big....and He's good." Have we ever truly grasped that?? That God is BIG and what's more - He's good!
Thinking of him, months ago, I tried to write a song. I began with:
An old man lying in a hospital bed,
His family gathered in the room.
The clouds have never looked so grey,
Even with Heaven minutes away
With teary eyes, they say goodbye...
The writing stopped there, unfortunately. But a few weeks ago, Grant was pickin' around on his guitar in our living room and I had been hitting my head on the wall due to writer's block. I was desperately trying to write this song but the words wouldn't come and my tunes were....shall we say....lame. But as Grant began strumming a tune, my ears perked up and I ran for my notepad. In less than 30 minutes, we had written our first song together.
Simply put. God is faithful. We often forget that. It is very hard to see at times when things are at its worst or when life is hard and trying.
When I was single and trying to wait patiently on God's timing for romance, even when I was sick to death of the sarcastic and derogatory remarks, I had to remember - He is faithful. And looking back now, after one year and three months of marriage, I can say even louder, "YES, He is faithful."
When we were experiencing the decline of health in my grandfather four years ago, watching him slowly fade away, it was hard to keep in our minds that God is still faithful. But He was. He always has been. And He still is.
Different people have different situations that are difficult and painful....
A young mom of two in a little old shack
Trying to keep the faith
Working to make her house a home
Even though she's all alone
She don't understand, she can't see God's plan...
A man and wife with mouths to feed
And a stack of bills to pay
He's out looking for a job or two
Anything that'll get them through
Trying to believe, they get on their knees...
But no matter what you're situation is, we MUST remember that our Father in Heaven, our Savior, King, and Lord is faithful. So remember.....
When you're face-to-face with mountains
That seem impossible to move
When you're on one side of Jordan
Watching the ones you love pass through
When you're tired and weak and weary
And you don't know what to do
Oh REMEMBER He will be....FAITHFUL to you
Hebrews 10:23
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"
1 Thessalonians 5:24
"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
2 Timothy 2:13
"If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."
This post spoke to me so much! I feel like we've waited so long to go on the mission field, and over and over I battled thoughts of "God has just forgotten about us", even though I knew better. And even though it seems like He might finally be moving in our life, I have to remember He was always there during the looong dry spells of feeling like nothing is or was ever going to happen.
ReplyDeleteGod is faithful! When life just doesn't make sense, we can remember that God is faithful. Beautiful truth!
ReplyDeleteClarification of my previous comment: I meant that God may be finally moving us towards missions. He's ALWAYS moving, Amen?
ReplyDeleteAmen, amen, sister!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this! what a blessing!!
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