Keep Your Fork!

As a young teenager, I remember hearing my dad share a story he once heard that simply reminds us to keep our fork.  Even in recent years, I have heard my dad tell this story on more than one occasion.  The message in it is so simple, yet the meaning behind the message is so profound.  The story tells of a man who was told to “keep his fork,” while attending a dinner on the grounds at church one Sunday.  When he asked why, another church member responded, “For dessert.  The best is yet to come!”

What would the world be like if Christians everywhere held on to this attitude in our everyday existence?  Instead of griping and complaining about every twist and turn our lives may take, what if we simply held on to the promise in God’s Word that the best truly is yet to come?  Just as the man was instructed to keep his fork, we should keep our faith.  The Bible tells us to stand firm in our faith.  Yet we often find ourselves floundering, uncertain of our future, wondering if God can even hear our prayers.

We get caught up in whether or not the new flowers on the communion table match the sanctuary.  We grapple over the choir director’s choices of songs each Sunday and we debate over which deacon should lead the offertory prayer.  From paint colors to upholstery and cleaning products to hymn books, individuals in churches tend to focus on the things that are insignificant.  More important focal points would be whether or not the people of the church were seeking God’s will in every decision they make, not only in the life of the church, but in their own lives as well.

God’s Word says that without faith, it is impossible to please God.  If we micromanage every aspect of the church and never consult the true Head of the church, then it is certain that all efforts to succeed spiritually will fail.  We must put our lives and our ministries in God’s hands.  We must pray and seek His direction.  We cannot throw our fork on the tray every single time, expecting that a new one will be at our disposal.  We also cannot assume that dessert will be served with every meal.  Sometimes, we must delve deeper into the main course first.  In this case, we are talking about spending more time in prayer and less time waiting for the next blessing to ascend.

There will be many times in our lives when God says, wait.  He may not answer our prayers the first or second time we seek His will for our lives.  He may be preparing us in advance for a greater work beyond our imagination.  But whether we see the hand of God move in our lives instantly or years down the road, we must have faith that He is working on our behalf.  Just like the man who was told to keep his fork, he sat in expectation that dessert would be served.  He didn’t complain about the slow service or the fact he would have to eat it with a fork that he had used to eat his main course.  He just sat and waited patiently, with the knowledge that the best truly was on its way.

In Ecclesiastes 7:10, we read that the best is yet to come.  It simply says that it is not wise to ask if the old days were better.  We must focus on the days ahead.  You may be going through a trial that seems insurmountable.  Recently, I learned of an entire family who perished in an accident.  I cannot imagine the grief that their loved ones must be going through.  But even for these individuals, who are overcome with sorrow, I can tell them with a calm assurance that I know the best is yet to come.

God’s will is greater than our own will.  He always knows what is best.  While many things in life cannot be explained in this life, you can rest assured that God works all things together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  One day, we will reach our Heavenly home.  The trials of this life will be a distant memory.  Everything will become as clear as day.  So keep your fork; the best is yet to come!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Land of the Living

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased four sympathy cards for four different families who had lost loved ones.  There’s something a little unnerving and very sad about buying four sympathy cards in the same day.  As I stood there reading the verses in the cards, I wondered how those overly repeated words could possibly have any meaning at such a difficult time in these families’ lives.  Still, I hoped the thoughts and prayers being tucked inside the card would bring some form of comfort to their broken hearts.

That same week, we said goodbye to a family friend who was an elder in our church and first and foremost, a dear man of God.  Earlier this spring, I attended the memorial service for a fourteen year old girl.  Several friends have lost parents and other loved ones in recent months, while others are battling cancer and other illnesses.  And one thing I’ve noticed is that age doesn’t make a difference, ethnic background doesn’t play a part, and socioeconomic status is not a variable either.  No one is immune to death any more than they are immune to life.

Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NIV) says, there is “a time to be born and a time to die.”  As Christians, the Bible tells us that we do not have to grieve as those who have no hope (I Thessalonians 4:13 NIV).  Instead, we should rejoice because the end of our life on this earth is the beginning of something far greater.  For if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, this world is just a waiting room, a temporary resting place, on our journey to our eternal home.  While some people may regard Earth as paradise, others do not find that it fits this description.

My dad often tells a profound story he heard on the radio broadcast of Dr. J. Allen Blair.  A man had lived for the Lord all of his life and was lying upon his death bed.  One of his friends sitting beside him said, “‘Farewell, brother.  I shall never see you again in the land of the living.’”  The dying man said, “‘You will see me again in the land of the living, for I am leaving the land of the dying.’”  You see, this man knew that this world is not a permanent dwelling place.  He knew there was something better waiting on the other side.

In the meantime, we need to enjoy life.  We need to embrace our family more, tell them we love them more, and spend time with them more.  We need to live more fully, laugh more heartily, and love more deeply.  I can tell you from experience, you will never regret an extra kind word spoken.  You will never be able to take too many photographs of someone dear to you.  And you will never feel like you spent too much time with someone you love.  Cherish life and never let a day go by without thanking God for another sunrise, another memory, another breath.

Live life like you are on a trip to somewhere you’ve never been but have always dreamed of going.  Don’t let the trials you face in life steal your joy.  The life we live down here may be full of heartache, sorrow, and despair.  But where we are going is full of jubilation and peace forevermore.  God’s Word tells us that we cannot comprehend what God has in store for us.  It is truly beyond the limits of our imagination.  And one day, when we have fought the good fight and finished our race, we will step through those gates of pearl and enter into the presence of the Lord God Almighty.  This, my friend, is when we will finally realize that we have been living in the land of the dying.  But we’re going to the land with no tears, no pain, and no death.  That’s Heaven.  That’s the Land of the Living.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

One Day, I'll...

Did you ever hear someone say, “One day I will do this, one day I will go there, one day I will (fill in the blank)?”  Many times, we get so caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities we must uphold that we lose sight of the fact that we need to cherish each and every moment.  In this life, we have no guarantees of tomorrow.  Because of this fact, we need to live in the moment.  If we want to vacation with our family, we need to do it.  If we want to live out a lifelong dream of purchasing a motorcycle, boat, or mountain cabin, we need to make it happen.  And if we want to reconcile any differences we may have with our children or other loved ones, we need to mend the broken fences and nurture these relationships, as opposed to neglecting them.  In this world, we cannot put off until tomorrow what we could do today.  Why?  Because we never know how many tomorrows may remain.

Nearly three years ago, I remember talking to my Mom about my future wedding day.  We discussed all of the details in depth, from the tiered wedding cake, complete with a fountain in the middle, to a garden of daisies and roses sprinkled throughout the sanctuary.  She was to be my Matron of Honor.  Everything was going to be perfect.  The only thing I had to do was wait for that special someone to come into my life, in God’s timing.  I knew that “one day” my Mom and I would enjoy sharing my special day together, along with my Dad and new husband.  Little did I know that God had other plans.

Since my Mom went to be with the Lord, I have often talked to my Dad and a couple of close friends about my future wedding day.  At first, I wondered how I could have a wedding without a Mother of the Bride…and without my Matron of Honor.  Since this time, God has shown me that He has a dream for my life.  No matter what trials come, He is in control.  While I do not understand His plan, I know that He will remain faithful.  And He even cares about my wedding day.  In His infinite goodness, He will provide a Matron of Honor and perhaps, a Mother-in-Law of the Bride or other dear friend with whom I can share this special day.  And of course, I am prayerfully trusting God to send that special someone as well!  In spite of the changes that have taken place in my life, I know that “one day” my special day will take place, according to God’s dream for me, not my own.

Often times, we seem to forget that God has a plan for our lives.  We may also ignore the fact that our steps are ordered by the Lord.  Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”  Notice that God gives us the freedom to plan what we will do along life’s journey.  Yet, you cannot omit the second part of the scripture.  God has established our steps.  Our steps have been planned out, before we were even born.  God knows what we should do and when we should do it.  He knows if we will do His will, or follow a treacherous path of our own choosing.  He also knows when we will walk our very last step on this earth.
If you knew that you only had one week left to live on this earth, would you live life differently?  Would you go out and buy things you’ve always wanted, but have put off purchasing?  Would you travel more in seven days than you ever have in your entire life?  Would you say “I love you” more often?  What would really you do?  Take a moment to contemplate the honest answer to this question.  Now, think about the way you currently live your life.  Do you spend your money wisely?  Or do you either waste it on frivolous things or pinch every penny, never to enjoy a luxury now and then?  Do you cherish each moment?  Or do you simply go through the motions of life?  Do you cherish time with your family?  Or do you take them for granted, spending more time with your coworkers, television, or computer?

On countless occasions, I have heard someone who is nearing retirement say, “One day, when I retire, I will go on a cruise.”  Or they may say, “One day, I will rent a motor home and take a road trip out west.”  Or “One day, I will go visit my grandchildren.”  Sadly, I have also seen some of these same individuals develop physical ailments before they retired.  Often times, their health prevented them from experiencing the dreams they had waited their entire life to fulfill.  One dear friend had many dreams, yet she had a heart attack a short time before retirement.  As I sat at her memorial service, I recalled the many things she had planned to do with her husband, children, and grandchildren.  For this sweet friend, “one day” never came.

King Solomon was a very wise individual who gives us advice on enjoying life.  He wrote, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV).  This scripture tells us that even amid the work we must complete in life, we will have joy simply by enjoying life.  He also gives us some insight as to the varying number of days or years we each have on this earth.  He states, “However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all” (Ecclesiastes 11:8 NIV).  Regardless of what things must be done, we need to realize that our days are numbered.  While we do not know how many days of our life remain, we should live each one as though it truly matters.

In this day and age, I know that times are hard.  I know the economy is suffering.  Still, I have seen firsthand that life has no guarantees.  You may save up money to do something or go somewhere “one day,” and that day may never come.  I Timothy 6:17 (NIV) says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”  Don’t wait until you retire, or strike it rich, to do the things you want to do with your family and friends “one day.”  Instead, put your hope in God, and He will provide a way for you to experience the enjoyment of life in the here and now.

Personally, I know that our lives truly are but a vapor, as we read in God’s Word.  James 4:14 (NIV) states, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  Our lives on this earth are only temporary.  There is no guarantee of tomorrow, and we need to ensure that we do not worry about “one day,” but instead cherish today.  I am so grateful to God for giving my Mom, Dad, and I the opportunity to travel and enjoy each other’s company as much as we did.  I would be even more brokenhearted if I was sitting here today, wishing that “one day” had ever come.  Neither my Dad nor I regret any trip we ever took, even if it caused a financial hardship.  And we continue to travel, as much as we can and often as we can.  Why?  Because we can tell you firsthand that waiting until “one day” may be too late.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer