Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado
There is something magical about sunrises and sunsets. Photographers often refer to the light of both as the magic hours.
"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!" Psalm 113:3 English Standard Version
I have often been privileged to be with a families as their loved ones die. This is one of the greatest joys of being a pastor, walking with the saints of God, and their families, as they die. Yes there are tears. Yes there is pain beyond pain, but there is also joy. There is laughter and stories.
There is life in the face of death because of Jesus' death and his risen life.
A year ago I visited a man in hospice care. Only once were we able to carry on a conversation. We talked about his faith, his hopes and his pain of saying goodbye. We shared Scripture. We prayed. Earlier he had received Communion. The sun was setting but the name of the Lord was praised.
Shortly after this man died, our grandson, Nolan, was baptized into Christ. We celebrated Nolan's new birth Febraury 9, 2014. The sun rose on our grandson and the name of the Lord was praised.
But here's the point: Yes beginnings and endings have a special quality to them, yet it's what happens in the intervening years that matters most.
God receives our praise not only at birth and death but also in the daily grind of the in between time.
"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!" Psalm 113:3 English Standard Version
I have often been privileged to be with a families as their loved ones die. This is one of the greatest joys of being a pastor, walking with the saints of God, and their families, as they die. Yes there are tears. Yes there is pain beyond pain, but there is also joy. There is laughter and stories.
There is life in the face of death because of Jesus' death and his risen life.
A year ago I visited a man in hospice care. Only once were we able to carry on a conversation. We talked about his faith, his hopes and his pain of saying goodbye. We shared Scripture. We prayed. Earlier he had received Communion. The sun was setting but the name of the Lord was praised.
Shortly after this man died, our grandson, Nolan, was baptized into Christ. We celebrated Nolan's new birth Febraury 9, 2014. The sun rose on our grandson and the name of the Lord was praised.
But here's the point: Yes beginnings and endings have a special quality to them, yet it's what happens in the intervening years that matters most.
God receives our praise not only at birth and death but also in the daily grind of the in between time.
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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes broadcast at the ib network on Sundays at 8:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 8:30 pm MST (www.ibnetwork.us). You can also listen to the show on the ib network on Tunin Radio.
(Click on picture to enlarge.)
Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
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