Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
Psalm 116:15
Considering the pain I felt at her death, it seems odd that I only met Rebecca Lee once. There are some people who are so sweet and sincere that they find that secret path deep into your heart as soon as you get to know them. Becky was one such person.
The first time she was surrounded by people of God, the holy Ghost fell on her, even though she had never been taught about the way of the Spirit. She just belonged to God, and as soon as she learned of the baptism of the holy Ghost and met people who had it, she received it.
I was not there that night, when Becky was born again. I had to wait until her next visit to NC, in May of this year, to get to meet her. When I did, I well understood how it was that the saints here had fallen so deeply in love with her the first time she came. She had planned to make another trip to be with us at the beach this summer, but God decided otherwise, and she died yesterday, the end of her life-long struggle with Cystic Fibrosis. Everyone around here felt as if we had lost a life-long friend, or even more accurately, a very dear family member. As I said, considering the pain I felt at her death, it seems odd that I only met Becky once.
It isn’t often in life that we are blessed to meet a person like Becky. Now, all we can do is (1) live according to the will of God so that we will be permitted to see and love Becky again, and (2) take advantage of the opportunity we have now to love the ones who are still here with us.
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From Brother Damien this morning:
Pastor John
As it was, yesterday afternoon, I checked my email barely a minute after you sent the email saying that Becky had died about ten minutes previous. I had prayed that day that whatever happened would be quick, that God would do something. I told Kay, and then we waited. Afterwards, I sat on the front porch listening to the storm to the east. No rain, just lots of thunder. I really felt God in the sound – He chooses everything: here not there, this way not that way, this one and not that one.
I have not had many people around me die thus far in my life, and I believe I know where all of them are now. Becky is the first person I know that I am certain is now with the Lord. What love God has shown us these past four months through her! Thinking of her being with the Lord did something to me as I talked with Kay about it. For the first time, I felt just a part of what you feel when you talk about having “more over there than here.” It produced a greater desire for that reward; somehow it became more real, and there was a greater desire to be ready when the time comes.
It felt so good to realize that it was all over for Becky. Now, she is with the Lord, already experiencing freedom from all of this life on earth. If we are right with the Lord, all we have to do is die, and then we are with him. That is all that matters.
Damien