"18 Again" and Remembering my Father

It rained today...

The storm clouds rolled in...
thunder rumbled, through the deep black billowing clouds...The wind began to lift the leaves... and a few gave way to take their resting place in the soil...
As the rain began to gently fall in the summer breeze..I quietly thought of my father..

Thirty-one years ago today, he left this earth for a 'land that is fairer than day'. He surprised us by leaving so suddenly.

I remember the day so clearly...

I was a fresh-faced student in a small  Bible college in Tennessee . Our college president..called me out of class.
I remember following him down a long hallway, trailing behind his long steady strides....and then descending slowly and deliberately down a circular marble staircase....
He never spoke a word.
Even though, he seemed to walk gently...I was apprehensive, I didn't understand...

And then he told me,.. my mama wanted to speak with me,... 
something was dreadfully wrong....as he handed me the telephone, my fears were confirmed,
I knew...in my heart...I knew,....it was either one of two people.
I was right in that,....It was my dad...In one moment of time, my life changed in an instant.

So many memories still cling to the corners of my mind,...while others are fading and as elusive as the leaves blowing in the wind...

Now, I am older ...
Now I remember ...bits and pieces of the person I once was....

Of the person I still am....of the person I have become...
I am thankful for my father...
I am thankful that I had eighteen years with him.
I am thankful He knew Jesus as his Savior.

The dark clouds that once enveloped me have given way to sunshine...
For now I know,.... in the same amount of time it took my life to change,... my father's life changed in an instant as well...He moved ever so quickly from this life unto glory...

I rest well tonight..knowing that one day, I will see him again...


1 Corinthians 15:51,52
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed , in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."

'A Shadow of Eternity'

Revelation 22:1-2, 17
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life.... 
And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'
And let him who hears say, 'Come!' 
And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Isn't it funny, that on a hot, hot day...only water will satisfy...Anything that is sugared down, just doesn't quench our thirst...in fact, it only leaves us thirstier!!

As I came across this scripture...I felt amazingly refreshed after reading it..
Sometimes, we forget that this life is but a shadow...of eternity. We get caught up in the players and the scenes as they unfold..into some real drama !! We forget that there is but one author to the play...

We forget that he is willing and able to 'rewrite' our story when we need it most...

He has 'carefully' written out your life,....

Jeremiah 29:11-14a
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity."

When you decide to take of the water freely.. the ending will astound you... 
Decide today...to release your story to the One who has written your name upon His heart. You can trust Him with the ending...

He is the amazing 'author and finisher of your faith'. (Hebrews 12:2)