October 12, 2007
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Daddy
Today will be Daddy’s one year birthday in heaven. I like to imagine what he might be doing today. Perhaps he is dipping his toes in the River of Life or maybe He is gathered around the throne with loved ones and they are singing hallelujah chorus’s to the One who loved them more than His own life. I wonder if he will be sitting in his mansion, gathered with family who had gone on before? I find great joy in meditating on these things.
As a child I knew nothing about God’s command to think on things that are true (Phil. 4:8). I remember lying in bed crying and weeping late into the night. Mama would come in and ask what I was crying about and I’d tell her that I was afraid of losing her and Daddy. Deep emotions of grief immediately followed what I was thinking on. I didn’t know any better. I was thinking thoughts filled with worry instead of trusting God. Once I became a Christian the Lord began to teach me how to line my thoughts up with scripture. He taught me through His Word to ’put off’ those thoughts that were not biblical.. to ‘renew my mind’ in what His Word actually said.. and then to ’put on’ what His Word said to do. Eph. 4:22-24
These lessons have become a lifeline for me this past year since Daddy’s death. I knew that I could sink into a deep depression if I sat around and allowed myself to think of all that I was missing now that Daddy was gone. So, instead, I have tried to follow God’s command in Eph. 4 by putting off those thoughts that I know are not true.. thoughts that keep me focused on myself and not on God’s glorious truth and His promises concerning those saints who have gone on before us. I’ve spent time reading about heaven and saturating my mind in what God’s Word actually says about it. I’ve tried to seek first His kingdom and to keep my mind set on things above. What an awesome principle this has become to me and what peace has filled my soul when I practice these things.
I thank God for His help and His peace this past year. I thank God that He saved my Daddy from an eternity of torment. I thank God that, by God’s grace, I will one day see my father again.
Daddy and I agreed that one day in the not too far future, we would meet by that heavenly River of Life. How much I look forward to that day!
Isa 26:3 – You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Eph 4:22-24 – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Col 3:2 - Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.
Gen 4:5-7 – So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Comments (8)
My father has now been gone longer than I had him with me alive, but I still miss him. I still wish he was here. I know without a doubt that he is with Jesus, and that is a great comfort. I am also thankful that he is no longer sick. I no longer grieve as I did (my husband played a huge part in that healing process), but the missing never ends. I am so thankful we have something to look forward to one day! I’m so glad you will see your father again, too!
Those are great verses. I love Philippians 4:8. During very challenging time I write it out in big letters and post it on my wall, to keep those words before my eyes. Everything changes when we obey it.
God bless you so much. I pray the Lord pour out His love and comfort upon you this week in a very special way.
C
You have found a valuable truth that many Christians never discover. We CAN control what we think about. We CAN direct our minds in the right way. Too many use excuses like “I can’t help it!” and let themselves be led deeper and deeper into the pit of despair, depression or fear. Filling our minds and spirits with the truth of God’s word is so important! Thanks for this great post regarding doing that!*** My Daddy is also in glory. I know he is loving it! Although I mourn, I also rejoice that his suffering is over and he is whole again. What a blessed hope! My Dad was an avid fisherman. Do you think the River of Life has any trout?
I have lost my mom and sister to cancer,they both were young at the time of their death. God’s promise’s of no more pain,no more suffering,no more crying has been my comfort.His promises are what bring me hope, that my future will be with them in heaven,what a reunion it will be. I miss them both,but know eternity will be a wonderful place to praise the Lord with them. Keep hold of those promises !
God bless you today! You have a future, a hope and assurance…and you know it! You are blessed!
I think fish in the river sounds great! We really won’t know for sure until we get there, though! I am kind of hoping to get some skiing in, since because I was born with a handicap it’s something I never had an opportunity to do here! I do know there are horses in Heaven, since Jesus is coming back riding a white horse, right?
Whatever is there, I know we are going to love it! Blessings on your weekend.
Good word! It’s HIS mind over matter. God so graciously gave us emotions, but He wants them to compliment us and bring Him glory. So often we give Satan a foothold and allow him to control them. My dad’s last and parting message was Micah 3:8 “He hath shown thee o man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.”
(It’s now 4 years that I lost my mom and dad, just 1 week apart.)
Dear trustinghisheart… there was so much more I wanted to write… it’s not simply a ‘mind over matter’ (I like your term HIS mind over matter *S*)and I hope that is not the impression I gave through what I wrote. The peace also comes because of a knowledge and acceptance of who He is.. .. His sovereign control over everything that touches my life… the fact that I know He gave up His life for me which translates that He will only do what is best for me in this life no matter what my circumstances may say… being able to cast the care of this trial onto Him because His Word says He cares for me… and so much more! It’s trusting in Him through all things and for all things!
I love your Daddy’s last message. I’m assuming he was a preacher?
You indeed made it clear that it is His work of grace in our lives! Dad was not a preacher. I doubt if he ever spoke much in public. It was just in his last years that he spoke more openly about what God was speaking to him. This “message” was what he wanted shared in his funeral. It was kind of his special verses for a life walk…being in His will.