Hi again
You have started a flood of thoughts in me. I hope they'll lift you up and all who read this post.
As to those who appear to know the answers to Why disasters happen (and boy do they come out of the closet after such an event) I never know who to believe so I wil just put that question on the shelf too.
I notice the order of the events -- I think this is fascinating:
Ecclesiastes 3
1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;. . .
7
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.I notice in those verses that it is a "season" and a "time" not an "eternity"; but in times of war it sure feels like it, doesn't it! Whew~
But I also notice the order of these things and that it all
ends in
peace. (And there was a
great calm.)
Matthew 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.I know that Job repented because he realized he didn't know why these things were taking place, but that didn't mean God wouldn't reveal these things to him / us. Like Ray, Job's repentance was only the precursor to God opening up Job's eyes to
fully understand.
Luke 12:2 --
There is nothing so covered that will not be revealed, or hid that will not be known[/i].
Like Kat said maybe death is not as horrible as we think it is. I remember when my mother-in-law was dying, the hospice nurse told us what to expect. She said after awhile God takes over. He must. After a time her breathing got further apart and then it just stopped. Not too bad.
I'm sorry, Judy. I've never seen anyone close to me actually die. That must have been very, very difficult.
....I forget sometimes the magnitude of God. I wish I could experience His majesty again like I once did for a few seconds, boy will that keep you in line.
I do remember when my nephew Jesse was dying (he was 16 and had cystic fibrosis), it was extremely humbling for me. I knew that will be me one day. And I thought of Ray and how he said to someone, "Free will yourself out of
that." I was like frozen with fear and in awe. And I was devastated when he actually died. As for me, the whole experience made me so angry (not completely like Job's wife angry, but dangerously
close.) I was just smoldering. I thought, man, God! You are weird! Why this disease? Why Jesse? WHY! (Ya know? I was freaked out.)
Isaiah 42:3:
A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth.
Matthew 12:20
A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory.(After Jesse died, my sister told me this story about Jesse when he was two: After a strong earthquake in Big Bear, my sister was rocking him to sleep, but she was really shaky after the quake (7.4 on the Richter and she was on top of the epicenter), and every creek and little rattle would make her jumpy. She was telling me how Jesse detected how nervous she was, and Jesse (two years old, barely able to form a sentence) looks up at Patty and clear as DAY said to her: "
Jesus is here and He will pick you up.")
No questions asked there let me tell you.
And now, my flooded thoughts are now of when Jesus said, ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. I ran a search on Biblegateway for the word "knock" and this what came up. It's interesting in that my search starts out with scripture in Solomon where "Beloved" (Christ) is knocking and the search ends with Him knocking. I just think that is fascinating. I never noticed that before. (Have I lost you yet? Wake up, Wake up!
haha)
Song of Solomon 5:2
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved [Christ] that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.And yet, we are told by Christ to knock.
Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:Matthew 7:8
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.Luke 11:9
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.Luke 11:10
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.But I believe it is the Lord knocking (or working in us to will to ask, seek, and knock):
Luke 12:36
And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.And a friendly old bartender I worked with said to me after the death of a close relative, "God giveth and God taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." True humility.
That's true!
Ecc. 3:10
God gives to humanity an experience of evil to humble him by it. (CLV)
But again, I notice the order of this verse:
Deu. 32:39
I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: - and that's the order of it. ( Death is swallowed UP in victory.)
1 Corinthians 13:12
(Amp) For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [ by God].John 17:3
And this is life eonian [that life we're seeking], that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Love to you and yours, Judy! (I have a sister named Judy!)
Gina