AS ONE ENDS, ANOTHER BEGINS

So, I guess I really need to tell you that I wrote this post only a few days after Reece and Shauna had their beautiful little baby girl. So, here goes:

As one ends, another begins.

Over the last 18 hours I have experienced the death of a dearly loved one, my Great Uncle Dave, and have also experienced the birth of one of my best friend's beautiful baby girl. My Great Uncle Dave was a man full of life, love, and laughter, and he always had a joke or quip to lighten your heart. He lived a full life fathering wonderful children, grandfathering their children, and great-grandfathering their children as well. As I look back on a life that has been lived to the fullest, one lived in love and dedication to family and friends, I start to think about what life is supposed to look like. When a loved one passes, it seems like those effected by the loss always take a step back and reflect on what life is all about. Though Dave is gone here on earth, I, as a christian, have the comfort of knowing he believed in the almighty saving grace that was manifested through Christ's love for us and in his obedience in death on a cross. It's interesting to think that death can lead to life, isn't it?
When we think about life our minds most likely go to thinking about living, breathing, walking, talking, smelling, touching, and whatever else is tangible in our time here on earth. I think how my friend's little girl is going to be experiencing all of this for the first time over the next several years, from the breathing, crying, and bumbling around, to her first words, and steps, and experiencing the wonders of rain and sunshine, wind and calm, seeing a majestic rainbow for the first time, and standing in awe of an electrical storm, and then she'll start asking the inevitable questions, "how?" and "why?" By the grace of God her parents, who are believers, will be able to point her to His power in the storm, and His wisdom in gravity when she falls down while learning to walk, and His knowledge of what it takes for the cycle of life to happen through breath and rain, and they will be able to explain why the rainbow exists and God's promise in that rainbow. And by the grace of God, if it be His will, she will come to understand, and know, what and who God really is. And if if be God's will, she will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ's death on the cross for her.
In my reflection of these two events and Easter so fresh on my mind, I can't help but notice the underlying theme: We can have a new life if we surrender ourselves to God's will and recognize that God has given us new life in Jesus Christ. Just like newborn babes we can experience the wonder and awe of God's love and provision for us through His creation! As our old life, where we were dead in our sin, fades away, we are given new life by simply believing that Christ died for our sins. (Eph 2:1-10)
Lyrics to a song written by David Crowder read as follows:
Are we left here on our own? Can you feel when your last breath is gone?
Night is weighing heavy now, Be quiet and wait, For a voice that will say:
Come awake from sleep arise, You were dead become alive
Wake up wake up, Open your eyes
Climb from your grave, Into the light. Bring us back to life.
You are not the only one, Who feels like the only one.
Night soon will be lifted friend, Just be quiet and wait for a voice that will say:
Come awake from sleep arise, You were dead become alive
Wake up wake up, Open your eyes
Climb from your grave, Into the light. Bring us back to life.
Rise rise to life to life, Shine Light will shine, Love will rise, Light will shine,
Shine shine shine, He's shining on us now
Experience the new wonders that God desires to show you about Himself this month!