casualties are never casual

I've been wrestling with some things over the past couple months. It has been an intensive process - of which I may never fully reconcile my over-analytical brain. It is the age old question of life, death, healing, and God.
hahaha...where do I start on that one!!???!!!

God has been bringing me to a new level of revelation.
A level of trust.
A level of understanding.
A place where I need to stop trying to figure it out - and just be a part of whatever He is doing.
He has been teaching me the reality of living for him in both the physical and spiritual realm.

For the past 10 months I have been contending for the healing of a woman diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Because my God is big enough.
He is into the impossible.
He is a healer.

She passed away.

Did God change?
When she took her last breath, did He fail me?
Did He make a mistake?
Miss the memo?

Death is always an interesting level to find perspective.
The lions were crouching at the door...discouragement, defeat, frustration...ready to devour my faith with confusion and lies.
But as I felt the coldness of death - the powerful promises of a Sovereign God were strengthening my spirit. It's in these moments of not understanding that we need to hold onto the things we know. The truths that have been embedded into our souls. The firm foundation that we stand on. It's in these dark moments that we need to find refuge in the shadow of the Almighty...

He is a loving Father.
He is a healer.
He always turns to good the intended evil.
He works in His ways...not ours.
He is accomplishing greater things than we could ever hope for or imagine.

You see, when we give our lives to God, we are essentially giving Him the access to use it in whatever capacity He needs. We are volunteering for His kingdom. We are enlisting in a battle...a battle not fought on the wisdom of this world. We get so caught up in figuring out and helping God plan how best to be effective, that we forget our suggestions cannot grasp the complete and perfect plan of timeless and eternal God.

In every battle there will be casualties. Every war costs a life.
Some are called to bear weapons of prayer or ministry...
Some are called to the frontlines of sacrifice - giving up an earthly life so that through their death, some will receive a heavenly life.
I have personally felt the eternal beauty that comes from mortal ashes...

But there is nothing casual about the lives held within His command. The Creator of life takes life seriously. He gave His own life for it, and asks us to trust him with ours so that He may accomplish something greater in and through us than we could ever imagine.
He is precise.
He is tactical.
His timing is perfect.
No one is taken too soon.
Each life has purpose.
Each death has purpose.
We may not always see the eternal plans etched in a life - but we need to trust in the hand that holds it, and in wisdom has taken it.

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later...with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. Romans 8

God does not ask of us a sacrifice He has not already made.
The battle for our souls was ultimately won on a cross.
When you pray for the salvation of a friend or family member,
are you ready to let Him use your life to accomplish that?
When you desire to see change in the world,
are you willing to surrender it all to see it transpire?

Even if it means going to the ends of the earth...
Or the end of the street...
That we may love the unloveable.
Touch the untouchable.

Even if it means sickness deteriorates our physical bodies...
or tragedy robs us of our loved ones...

Are we willing to be obedient...humbling ourselves to the point of death
that we may accomplish heaven on earth
and fill the sky with His glory?

When you gave your life to Jesus...did you give it all away?

Really?

Thank-you Joy...for a battle well fought.
For a faith well lived.
For your song of worship that continues to echo in this city.
For the love you so richly distributed to your family and friends.
We celebrate what God has done in and through your life.
We grieve the space in our hearts.
Heaven rejoices in your faithful servanthood
and welcomes you to an eternity of worshipping your faithful God.
For really...what can we do but sing His praise?!!!