What's the Backdrop of Your Life?
2/14/2018
Today is Sterling's fourth HOMECOMING anniversary in heaven! We will remember him by rejoicing over the magnificent masterpiece he was for us to love, teach, inspire, and pour out passionately over daily in this life. He, however, gave each of those back to us beyond measure. Cherished gifts of the heart, mind, and spirit that lives on in us as we miss him physically. We celebrate the Master Creator who loved us enough to bestow us the favor and reward of one who forever changed us as individuals, parents, siblings, and as a family. Sterling impacted our lives by engaging intentionally, living passionately and loving unconditionally. He lived out his relationship with the Trinity well.
So today, our family comes before the throne room of heaven bringing broken praises of thanksgiving to sing out in worship to our Father for the gift of Sterling and all that he did in him and all that He is continuing to do through him for eternity.
Our finiteness cannot comprehend the infinite plans, but we choose to partner with our God to see Him honored, praised and glorified. Our Father has been Faithful and True as He has carried us continuously through the brokenness providing kisses of blessings along this journey.
As I was heart holding tender moments and praising God for the exquisitely radiant gift He
gave us in Sterling, He reminded me of His perfect creation in each of us:
"You (God) formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother's womb. I thank you for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place; carefully, skillfully, shaping me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I'd ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me, was already recorded in your book (Psalm 139: 13-16)."
These words watered my aching soul afresh as my Father traced His fingerprints around Sterling and my heart etching and intertwining them with eternal love. He carefully crafted us individually yet corporately knowing the perfect plan from beginning to continuum.
As much as I miss Sterling and the passionate personality he exuded in our daily lives, I rejoice that He is safely HOME with our Father. He is experiencing all the benefits and treasures promised because of Jesus' sacrificial love. And the story is not over as we know God uses all things for His glory and Sterling's life continues to be a conduit to be used for God's eternal work.
Because Sterling believed and responded to God's pursuits, he was able to experience the reality of being an heir, forgiven, and redeemed here, and now he shares in the eternal inheritance with the Trinity. All he encountered spiritually and relationally was ushered with him into heaven's presence. His spirit man remains strong with significance, and strength as he stands among the cloud of witnesses. As I was reminiscing over this, I felt grieved for those who have never heard the Father's voice, seen Him or experienced His love, grace, forgiveness, redemption, and presence in their lives.
This life is about God preparing us for our eternal home with Him. "His purposes go beyond time and into eternity (Blackaby)." If we are unaware God created us for eternity, we are investing our time and resources in the wrong things. We will have missed a truly significant, meaningful, and fruitful life relationally with the Trinity as well as with others around us.
"What is it about the next world that we can focus on?:
our Father is in heaven (Matthew 6:9)
our Savior is in heaven (Hebrews 9:24);
our home is in heaven (John 14:2-4);
our name is in heaven (Luke 10:20);
our life is in heaven (Colossians 3:1-3);
our heart is in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21);
our inheritance is in heaven (I Peter 1:3-5);
and our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). If you stop and think about it, as Christians, everything that gives us our identity is not of this world." CS Lewis
In the Psalm passage, he graciously informs us of His sovereignty as He discloses "our days are numbered." In creating us, He placed eternity in our hearts, and as much as one may try to fill it with other things, there is only one who can and will satisfy that place altogether. God, woos and waits to receive all who will respond to Him and takes residence occupying with His presence. Through this act, He further displays His artistry in us as He shapes and molds the fabric of our flawed vessels. With that said, it is essential to view your life through the lens of eternity as your backdrop. We were created to have an intimate ongoing relationship with the Trinity. God has provided His promises ensuring we will live beyond the experiences of this life when we surrender over and abide relationally with the Trinity.
Sweet ones, as a believer in Jesus, our lives should be a sharp contrast to the rest of the world and if it's not, we need to ask, "why not?" Take the time and evaluate where you are with your Heavenly Father. And if you don't know Him, then pray and ask Him to reside within you showing you all the secret things of the Trinity. Get ready, because there is no high like the Most High.
I so love, appreciate, and praise God for each one of you! Thank you for your ongoing encouragement, support and outpouring of love these past four years. We endure our grieving with assured hope as it whispers over us the incredible finale that lays before us.
With Love,