LIVE by the Providence of His Astounding Presence
O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. ~ Psalm 63:3 (NKJV)
Exactly one year ago today on December 4th of 2007, I penned and sent The Hasidic Christ Follower to scores of people. The Hasidic Christ Follower was a word richly impressed upon my heart about our LORD’s ever faithful and unbroken covenant hesed or loving-kindness.
What a beautiful time in His Presence I had that particular morning! Little did I know that later that same day, an opportunity of a different kind would present itself for us to learn yet another element of His covenant hesed, firsthand. Shielded by His Presence, we would become intimately acquainted with the certainty that truly ‘blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’.
For that very day, He had chosen to call my beautiful Mother, Judy Diane Flores into His Magnificent Presence and Eternal Kingdom – forever to enjoy the glories of Heaven.
…He simply took back unto Himself what was already His.
It was completely unexpected, and a rather normal day by all accounts. As the night’s events began to slowly and painfully unfold, all that I had to hang onto in the frightfully uncertain corridors of my being were the ‘certain words of encouragement’ He had offered me earlier that morning…that unwavering Truth of His Loyal-Love that still resounds in my spirit to this very day.
Today’s word is for those who might be momentarily struggling to REALLY LIVE while their loved One is no longer allowed an earthly life (especially during Christmas time)…but moreso, these Beloved are now enjoying the most distinct and highest of privileges that will one day soon be ours – to worship Him face to Face!
…But for now, those of us left behind and at home in the body shall LIVE by the Providence of His Astounding Presence!
When I see families – especially grandmothers – enjoying one another’s presence, I continue to ponder the great mystery of the LORD’s ways in taking some and leaving others. As one friend pointed out, ‘The tremendous grief we feel is just the testimony of how much they were loved’.
I don’t pretend to have any answers to our musings and complex feelings, but I do know that each day HE gives us is not merely an undeserved gift, but rather, it is an undeserved gift with a Divine Purpose.
It is an OPPORTUNITY to be conformed to His character… yet through many hardships.
HE has my Mom with Him…HE has MANY other dearly loved Ones with Him.
And to us whose hearts still beat on the face of this old earth, HE says “LIVE! I have made this day for YOU to know and to have more of MY LOVE; and thus be the Conduit of MY Heavenly Hesed to all those near and far…”
“But enjoying His favor, which is life; and His loving-kindness, which is better than life – it matters but little whether we are rich or poor; whether the sun of prosperity shines – or the clouds of adversity lower; whether we are reveling in health – or stretched upon beds of languishing; whether we are toiling as slaves – or wearing crowns and diadems. After a few more rising and setting suns — it will not matter a single straw–what our earthly lot may have been! The only matter of importance then– will be whether we have been accepted of God.” ~ ~ John MacDuff 1858
And ACCEPTED! (well-pleasing to HIM) we HAVE been made through our Messiah, indeed…
“Therefore, whether at home (with the Messiah) or away from home (in the body), we try our utmost to please Him;” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:9
Amydeanne
December 5, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
I am much more aware of this than i have been in the past.. knowing that God is really here for us during our hard times. Off to read your other post! 🙂
Kathryn
December 6, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Three years ago, on December 2, 2006, my father-in-law began his eternal life at the tender age of 59. One year and one day later, on December 3, 2007, my mother-in-law joined her husband in the Lord’s presence.
Both of my parents are still earth-bound as well as two grandparents, who are both in their 90s, while my husband has no parents or grandparents still living.
It will be interesting to know one day how the Lord’s particular plan and purpose for each individual was accomplished, regardless of the number of earthly days allotted them.
In the meantime, we who are still fulfilling our earthly mission “groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling (2 Corinthians 5:2).
Blessings to you, dear friend, as your remember the anniversary of your mother’s eternal life!
Jennifer Dukes Lee
December 8, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
What a lovely blog — beautiful artistically, yes, but your words are especially beautiful. God has given you a gift! I was so touched by this post, and your reminder of the incomprehensible joy that our loved ones in Heaven are experiencing. We know this, but it’s so good to hear daily — up until the day of our very own homegoing.
Carol
December 19, 2008 @ 1:31 am
Beautifully written. My heart goes out to you across the cyberworld oh BFF of mine. Sometimes it is so hard to understand His ways.
Carol
December 19, 2008 @ 1:31 am
And by the way, next time you are in ATL – email me and I’ll give you my phone number!! We need to meet!
Hope a.k.a. Ernestine
December 20, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
Dear Carmen,
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving me a kind comment.
Your blog is absolutely lovely! I am greatly encouraged. This post is precious, heart wrenching, and edifying. What a blessing you are!
I am honored that you would leave such a gracious comment for me. I am adding your Women of the Word code to my blog.
I look forward to returning and reading more.
Love, Hope