"...dying..yet we live on..."I Corinthians 6:9

When we lived in Stockton, our neighbor next door had the most beautiful poppy garden. When they would bloom in May, it was truly a sight to behold. His entire front lawn had been pulled out, and he had planted poppies. When those flowers would begin to bloom, for several weeks, I could look out my window and feel as though I were living in the country. They were actually breathtaking to me. They never lasted very long though. Eventually, they would die out. After they were gone, his garden for the rest of the year looked as though nothing were planted there at all, and it wasn't very pretty. When the flowers died, I didn't even look out my window. It looked like a graveyard out there to me, and I would feel like this was the end of something that was once so beautiful and full of life..but it was only the end for now...because when the next spring would come, for every poppy that had died, another grew in it's place.
As it is in the plant world, so is it in God's kingdom. Through death comes everlasting life. Through crucifixion and the tomb came the throne. Through apparent defeat came victory. We may be struck down, but we are not destroyed. It is through dying that we live on.
The last year..or even couple of years..have been tough for some of us. Some have suffered with illness..some have suffered financially..some have even lost a loved one..a brother, a wife, a mom, and even a son. I am so thankful that we are not like those who have no hope. I am so thankful that our hope lies in Christ..and that when we face insurmountable difficulties, we can stand firm on what we believe and know to be true.
The words of Jesus during his last days on this earth expressed His desire to go back to His father. (John 16:28)..We..as His people, also have a vision of our home in heaven..far beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life. We too one day, will "go to the Father"..and I want to encourage each of you who have lost someone recently to remember something that I hope will be of comfort..When you are God's child, and you leave this earthly body..you "go to be with the Father"..in other words, your loved one is "In His Presence"..The poppies are in full bloom right now. The next time you see one, my prayer for you is that God would comfort you, and give you a sweet and gentle reminder that as believers, we know and understand that we are all travelers..and not permanent residents here. May we hold each other up in prayer, and encourage each other through the darkness until the night becomes alive with the sound of many voices. May the echo of those voices grow into a storm of hallelujah's that will break in thundering waves across His throne. "Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever