A FULL LIFE

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come that you may have life and have it to the full."  John 10:10

My ability to see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 through was tested yesterday but in a good way.  Hard way, but good.  Most of you know that Lauri Mayo's Dad died yesterday.  I was able to be with the family through the whole thing and it was a privilege and painful.  

How do you rejoice always when someone is dying?  We did a whole lot of praying without ceasing including anointing Clyde with oil and praying that God would allow his final breaths to be at peace.  That happened in a wonderfully encouraging way for sure!  God is so good.  How do you give thanks in everything when someone dies?  Lauri and her family shared about Clydes life and that was something to give thanks for definitely!

This living for Jesus thing and asking 'what would Jesus do?' is great but it is NOT easy.  It is so easy to forget that He came that we might have life and have it to the full.  It is so easy to try and make it better but many times there is no way to make it better...like, when someone dies.  There was an enormous amount of love in the room with Clyde as he died and we couldn't make it better.  Even now as I type that I realize something very simple.  We couldn't make it better for Clyde but God did that.  We could make it better for everyone in that room including the Doctors and nurses and God helped us do that.  We prayed for peace and He gave it.  We prayed for Clydes sister to get there before he died and she did and had great moments with him.  We prayed...God answered.  It hurt but He never told us it wouldn't.  Life to the full doesn't mean life without pain.  It just means life with Him even in the pain.  REJOICE.  PRAY.  GIVE THANKS!  What a great thought for the day!  Get busy.  

Much love from a rambling Pastor.  LGLO,  Pastor Peter

P.S.  The pictures are included just because I wanted to look at something beautiful while I typed and cried.  I'm a big jelly mush!