Christianity Oasis Forum

by **cimi** » Sun May 28, 2017 5:21 pm

SUNDAY MAY 28

*Rapture*

NOT ONE SPARROW

TODAY’S READING
Matthew 10:28-22
____________________________________________________
Precious in the
sight of the LORD is
the death of his
fafithful servants.
Psalm 116:35
___________________________________________________
My mother, so dignified and proper her entire life, now lay in a hospice bed, held captive by debilitating age. Struggling for breath, her declining condition contradicted the gorgeous spring day that danced invitingly on the other side of the windowpane.

All the emotional preparation in the world cannot sufficiently brace us for the stark reality of goodbye. Death is such an indignity! I thought.

I diverted my gaze to the birdfeeder outside the window. A grosbeak flitted close to help itslef to some seed. Instantly a familiar phrase popped into my mind:

“Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it’ (MATT. 10:29 NLT). Jesus had said that to His disciples as He gave them marching orders for a mission to Judea, but the principle applies to all of us. “You are worth more than many sparrows,” He told them (v.31).

My mom stirred and opened her eyes. Reaching back to her childhood, she used a Dutch term of endearment for her own mother and declared, “Muti’s dead!”

“Yes,” my wife agreed. “She’s with Jesus now.” Uncertain, Mom continued. “And Joyce and Jim?” she questioned of her sister and brother. “Yes, they’re with Jesus too,” said my wife. “But we’ll be with them soon!”

“It’s hard to wait,” Mom said quietly. ___Time Gustafson

**Heavenly Father, this life can be so hard and painful. But YOU!...
You are right there with us, loving us, keeping us, holding us! And YOU
promise never to leave us or forsake us.
__________________________________________________________________
Death is the last shadow before heaven’s dawn.
*harp*