life, death, and faith

Ecclesiastes 3 1:22

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ...

I was recently informed that a dear friend of mine passed away. So many have passed away in this last month. My heart hurts for the families as they grieve. My heart hurts because this is such sad news. As I have a slide show of pictures going through my head of all the great memories my friend and I have had, I cant help but feel a tug at my heart and a comforting feeling all at the same time. I know that he is gone, I cannot change that. But I am so comforted by the fact that I had the pleasure of knowing him and having such great memories. Boo was such a great friend when i was in high school. He was always so kind and so full of energy. I never seen him without a smile on his face. Highschool went by...I married....he married and we both had kids and we just lost touch. Now i wish that I had taken the time out of my busy schedule to say "Hi". My heart hurts for his wife, his children, and his mother. I cannot imagine losing my husband, father, or child. Their lives were turned upside down in the matter of minutes. I never want to say that "i wish i would have" anymore. My children will know that I love them every second of the day. My parents will know that i love them every day! My husband will know that he is the love of my life every single moment. My friends will know how much I love them and appreciate them. I will not take this life for granted. My God will know that I serve him with a steadfast heart!

Thessalonians 4:13-17

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.        

Amen, to those verses. I know that I will be reunited again with all of my lost loved ones. I have hope that comes from my Lord. He is my comforter. He will lighten my heavy heart.

Phillipians 1:3
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,