I am so excited. I signed up to lead a small group at CFC-Middleton— “Journeying Through Grief.” Ministry to the dying and grieving is where my heart beats.
When our heart is made new in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes in and takes out those old “unredeemed” desires and gives us new ones. That is the promise Psalm 37:4 secures. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” [NLT]
When I look back on my life, especially the Before Christ (BC) part, I can see where God began to “expose” me to that future desire. I was 8 when my favorite aunt died and I attended her funeral, 9 when my grandfather died. I was 16, with a brand-new driver’s license when I was recruited to take my next-door neighbor to his radiation appointments for lung cancer.
God continued that emphasis in my life After Christ (AC). Eventually, He led me to Hospice and carrying a pager for the local hospital when the Chaplain was off duty.
Sometimes I ask God “Why? Why this?” His response has always been, “Why not this?”
I love this ministry, even while hating death—this last enemy to be done away with.
I also rejoice in another promise. This one secured in Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.” [HCSB]
Amen & Amen!
