Fun in the Northwoods

Yesterday, 10:21 pm

July 24, 2026, the 205th day of 2026 Comfort One Another With These Words Again, I must remind myself of this. Even though I know it, I need the reminder again, as I write it out.... View MoreJuly 24, 2026, the 205th day of 2026 Comfort One Another With These Words Again, I must remind myself of this. Even though I know it, I need the reminder again, as I write it out. So so many loved ones have passed on. So so many peope I thought would be with us for a longer time, have gone. And each ones leaves an ache, an empty place where they once were. I do not let people into my life very easily. And to be let into my heart is rarer still. Once I do, they are special to me. And when they are gone, it is a hard parting, even when I really do know that they are in a better place. We may find some comfort in that, but as they have become special to us, that fact is not as comforting as it should be. It is because they are special to us, that we want them with us, not away from us. It is especially hard when losing a beloved spouse, but it is also hard in a different way, when we lose close friends, whether they are family or not. All that we might have done together in this life is suddenly snuffed out. And that is a shock to the system. And it repeats as we pick up our phone to call or send a message. Then we and have to stop ourselves and it hits us again. It happens in every loss, those reminders that they are no longer there, that we cannot reach them. And it hurts. We want true words of comfort, not the ones that cut, not that pat answers. But we want them from a place of authority. And the word of God is that place. We want to know if our loved one's spirit is in their tomb or their ashes, or with God. We may go to cemeteries or place urns in places of honor, to speak to our loved ones, to connect them in some way. Even though we know they are not there. We may send messages to our loved ones, hoping that the connection of their physical essence will draw our message to their spirit, or that angels will deliver it for us, but we really do not want to imagine them trapped there. We want them safe with Jesus. Wishful thinking doesn't work when confronted with harsh reality, so many refuse to think about it at all. They shut down the conversation and they just go on. But that will hurt them more than searching God's word for the truth, while grieving their loss. God understands that loss. Death was never meant to be a part of our lives, but it is, so we grieve. For those I do not know the state of their soul, if they were Christians or not, is the hardest for me. All I can do with their loss is hope that somehow, before that last breath, in that space between life and death, they reached out to Jesus in repentance and surrender. But I cannot know. The best I can do is leave them to God, knowing He gives everyone every chance they need, but He does not force anyone to love Him and accept His way. I cannot either. Still, most of the people that touch my heart are Christians, so I can draw comfort that I will see them again, that this parting is not forever. So, I read over the word of God, and I know that fellow believers are with Jesus. And though my heart is aching for their presence, I can take true comfort that this parting is not an eternal parting. These words are true, and remind us that even though our spirit leaves our body at death, it is with Jesus, not in the grave. "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:8 Though our physical bodies must await the return of Christ, upon death our spirit is present with the Lord. That is a great comfort. There is a reason we say that the body is "laid to rest", even as it is turned to ashes or decays. One day it will be reunited with the spirit. God made us from dust after all. God keeps track of our bodies, even if they are only dust or particles by the time Jesus returns. It is important to Him, and to us, that we have a physical resurrection, like Jesus. We are not going to remain as a spiritual body forever once we die. So I read these words again and take them to heart, and I draw comfort. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." I Thessalonians 4:13-18 And what a reunion that will ne! "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?' The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:50-58 Stay strong! Take comfort in Jesus! NAN

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