Mmmmmm . . . there is a time. The time I'm talking about is called "Today."
Today is the momemt we're in right now. We're told in Hebrews 3:13,14 to "encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."

We can only "share in Christ" if we all "hold firmly" to our faith in the One who wants to bless us far beyond our imagination. And he does bless us . . . because He loves us. Even when things don't so much like a blessing, because life gets hard sometimes. Still . . . in the stillness . . . He is loving, caring, and wanting us to draw near to Him. And there . . . in His stillness . . . amid the clamor and roar of life I know His love is real. And I am so, so thankful.

A year ago at this time I was living day-to-day with the hope that things were going to turn out okay for Lyn. Some days were with good news. Most days weren't.

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of her passing and there's a part of me that still finds it all so unbelievable. But yet, real it was and is.

Scott Krippane wrote:

All who sail the sea of faith

Find out before too long

How quickly blue skies can grow dark

And gentle winds grow strong

Suddenly fear is like white water

Pounding on the soul

Still we sail on knowing

That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whispered peace be still

He can settle any sea

But it doesn't mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close

And lets the wind and waves go wild

Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial

That we pass through in life

And though we're shaken

We cannot be pulled apart from Christ

No matter how the driving rain beats down

On those who hold to faith

A heart of trust will always

Be a quiet peaceful place

Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whispered peace be still

He can settle any sea

But it doesn't mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close

And lets the wind and waves go wild

Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child

Life is not what we make of it. Life is our eternal existence. Whether we believe it or not, we are created for eternity. I am so thankful that as we traverse this time on earth that we are rehearsing for the real show and that we have this time now to get it right. I am so thankful for the word of Lyn's decision to commit her life to Christ. She is now and forever living the reality I look forward to. She is living eternally what MercyMe "can only imagine." I am thankful for that reality. I am thankful to know of her assurance. I am excited to know that I will see her again and we will forever walk together. [Of course I "imagine" her being quite busy reading to all the little children there.]

I pray that we can all be together eternally. I pray that we all take the option to be committed to Christ and thus united eternally. It's simple. Just believe that

"God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." [John 3;16]

because

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us." [1 John 3:16]

and now

"I have been crucified with Christ and I now longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himeself for me." [Galatians 2:21]

"I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you [me] with power through His Spirit in your [my] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your [my] hearts through faith. And I pray that you [I], being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you [I] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God"
Ephesians 3:16 - 19

God, through His Holy Spirit, gently reminded me of this precious Truth in His precious, powerful, living Word. There is power, there is peace, there is love ... in the fullness of God ... in His perfect ways and will and purpose.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus thoughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" Edphesians 3:20-21

"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24:1,2

On July 3, 2006, my sister Lyn Colyer passed from this life into eternity.
It has been two months. I'm not yet settled with this. It still hurts. I occasionally run across one of the several notes I made from phone updates from James or Josh on Lyn condition. I read notes like "immune system building back up" or "rough day for Josh" and others. I recall the anxiety that we went through for those forty or so days. I picture the look in Mom's eyes while in the waiting room on July 2 when she came to terms with what was happening ... it still makes me sad.
Back to school, work ... church activities ... the wedding of Candace and Mike is two weeks away ... there's so much to keep me busy and for most of my time my mind is involved in other thoughts. But still ... there are those times when I can't seem to manage the hurt. Maybe I haven't fully processed it. Maybe I am just selfishly wallowing in my own self-pity or focused on only my feelings.
This morning I heard Andrea share her testimony at Centre Pointe Christian Fellowship. "Faith is believing God is God even when our circumstances deny it." Do I have that faith? God is God. The way in which Lyn died was and is still hard to take.
God is Sovereign. God is perfect Love. God gives us His best. I have knowledge of these truths. But my life does not exemplify them. I am not living a life of that kind of faith. I fear I am measuring God by my circumstances. Please, Lord, don't let me continue like this.

Two weeks ...
It's been two weeks since my sister, Lyn Colyer, passed away ... moved on to a better place ... whatever you call it, she has died from this life here on earth. And, yes, she's in a better place ... she had found peace with God through Jesus Christ ... and because of that she is promised to be forever at peace, forever filled with joy, forever relaxed, forever carefree, ... it is such a better place.
So ... why is there still this sort of "squishy" spot in my heart that still causes tears? Why are there still some thoughts that pass through my brain that come out my eyes?

"You will .... comfort me once again" [Psalm 71:21a]

"The Lord your God iswith you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing." [Zephaniah 3:17]

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and time to refrain,
a time to search and time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.