When I married Tom I found myself attending a lot of weddings and funerals. I called the florist today to order a funeral arrangement and remarked how I’ve had to call them 5 times in the past 6 weeks. The response was that they have been inundated with funerals lately. Attending 5 funerals in the last 6 weeks myself keeps me ever mindful of how quick life is, and how we have absolutely no control over when our time in this earthen vessel is up. But only for our body made of clay, our spirit lives on… The bible says that for believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. When we close our eyes on this side of heaven, we open them to be with Jesus. That’s a hope and promise for those who believe!

I often use the circle of control with my mental health clients challenging them to describe what they can control, what they can influence, and what they can’t control. When it comes to death we can’t control when. Sometimes there is warning and time to get right with God, other times it comes like a thief in the night. What we can control is this… A healthy life style, spending quality time and making memories with those we love, forgiving others, and THE MOST IMPORTANT is buying our boarding pass to Heaven. Acts 2:38 tells us how to do that… “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins and you will receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit.” You see as my husband often quotes at the end of a funeral service; “Physical death is merely the Grand Central Station of a weary traveler passing from this life to the next.” Friends there are two trains running to take you to your eternal destination … one takes you to heaven, the other to hell.

A funeral director recently told me that there is a visible difference in funerals of Christians vs. those who do not believe. Christians are upset, but have the hope of seeing their loved one in heaven again someday. There is the peace that settles on the believers, the one that passes all understanding. In contrast, those who don’t believe are distraught and feel hopeless as if that’s just the end.

So many people work so hard to leave their children land, money, a business – but if you don’t make the decision to follow Jesus, you are leaving them with no hope. They stand by the casket broken and shattered with no hope to see you again one day in that beautiful tomorrow.

If you haven’t given your life to Christ I encourage you to consider it. Not only for your soul – but it is the best legacy you will ever leave those you love.

If you live in the Hillsboro area and need to talk to someone about God’s will for our lives – or the plan of salvation – Tom and I are here and will gladly meet with you! We can answer questions or have that baptistry hot in a matter of minutes anytime day or night.