Precious

Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
I know that having a devotion about death is probably not what you hand in mind for today..especially on Monday morning when you are wanting to start your week with a note of encouragement..Beloved..I pray that this will BE that note of encouragement for you.
I went to my friend Lynette's memorial service on Saturday..a woman beloved by all who knew her..The Bible says that together we make up the body of Christ..some are the arms of Christ, some the feet, but Lynette, was the heart..She was and is the heart of her family, her church, and her friends.
Knowing that this would be a difficult day, I wondered what the precious friend and pastor who had come from Mississippi to preach would say. I need to share with you today what he shared with us..a message FULL of HOPE! Beloved, the ways of God are far above our ways. They are far above the way that we think, see, or hear. We tend often to follow the way of our five senses, but God sees things from a different vantage point. He sees things through His spiritual eyes..He knows things through the heart of His very own Spirit. What the Bible says in Psalm ll6:15 is actually ASTOUNDING! The Lord LOVES to welcome His saints HOME to HEAVEN! He loves to welcome your family member who has suffered here. It is with open arms that He welcomes the SAINTS of God to their REAL home..He delights in their presence, residing with Him. Believers are precious to God. Each life is valuable to Him. When a believer is called to go home..there is much rejoicing in heaven..and for the believer who is called, I can't begin to imagine what a joy it must be..not only to see their loved ones who have gone before them..but to see the One who saved them..the One who made a way for them..the One who forgave their sins..the One who laid down His OWN life so that they could be in the presence of God FOREVER!
Most of us have suffered the loss of someone we loved greatly. For me, it was my mother..She was my best friend, my confidant..the person who cheered me on in every endeavor..The loss that we feel is definitely real. The grieving that we suffer is painful..but the knowledge that a child of God has been PROMOTED now..into HIS presence...is what will carry you through those difficult days.
The pastor said yesterday that when you have suffered an indescribable loss, and you simply can't understand WHY..Why would God allow this in your life..then go back..Go back to the things that you DO understand. Go back to the cross. Go back to the fact that God still loves you. Go back to the fact that He knows your pain and has sent the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter. Go back to the fact that He promises to carry us in our afflictions..Beloved..simply go back..Go back to what you DO know. Go back to what you DO understand..and then..let God help you to begin to rebuild.
"Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for THOU are with me;" Psalm 23:4
Beloved, the Lord walks us THROUGH that valley..and then on the other side..there is a table that has been prepared for us..our head is anointed with oil..our cup runs over..and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I can see Lynette even now, sitting at that table, with her children who are in heaven, with other family..maybe even with some of your friends or family..but most of all..the with the One who walked her through that valley, seated her, prepared a meal for her, anointed her head with oil, and filled her cup. To HIM be the glory!
Maybe today...