The Sweep of Life! – Emily's Snippets

The sweep of our lives from birth to death holds many experiences that transform our lives and our thinking as we move along. It is not until we learn to read that our understanding begins that our lives are not happen-chance. Our lives have a purpose as planned before God created the world.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:3-4.

Did we know God chose us then? Did we know God was there when we were conceived? For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14.

From the moment we learned our first prayer, and heard Bible stories from the Bible, we understood what Our Lord God IS to us. When I was four years old, I looked out the window as the rain came down, and I wanted to play outside. My Mother asked me, why didn’t I pray and ask God? I prayed, and the rain stopped. That began my learning about the God Who answers prayer. My Dad, a gifted storyteller, told my brothers and me Bible stories when we were young. I learned about this El Shaddai, Almighty God who is ‘all-sufficient’ and ‘all-bountiful’.

It was much later I understood the beauty and wonder of a Lord God who sings over me. The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17.

Now, understanding more clearly what His Presence means, developing a daily relationship with Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. In love, He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6.

Obedience, Humility, and Love become the means to desiring holy living. You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:14. How do we please the Son of God? And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in Him. And by this, we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. I John 5:22-24.

Many years ago, Mother taught me the old song, Goin’ Home! This song came to mean a lot to me, The Sampler, Home Sweet Home, could be Home, Sweet Heaven. Goin’ home, Goin’ home, I’m a goin’ home. Quiet like, some still day, I’m just going’ home. It’s not far, just close by, Through an open door. Work all done, care laid by, Goin’ to grieve no more. Mother’s there, ‘spectin’ me, Father’s waitin’ too. William Fisher.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3. This Jesus promised as well. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27. Is it any wonder that I praise Him?

When we are finally with the Lord, what a reunion it will be! Mother, suffering from Pulmonary Fibrosis, could not attend the family reunion. Her nephew and niece came to visit to take a video of her to share at the reunion. Mother prepared with questions her siblings and cousins could answer for her.

These are the questions:

1. Did you learn anything in particular from our Grandparents?

2. What do you remember about Mana’s use of psychology? I remember Mama asking Eli if he wanted to sweep the sidewalk or wash the dishes.

3. What was your favorite food Mama cooked? I loved Mama’s pure cream pie.

4. What are the smells about the storm cellar you remember where foods were kept?

5. What part of your heritage do you appreciate the most?

6. We are getting older and think more about eternal things. No staying true to Him is a detour in our Christian walk. What do you want to hand over to your great-grandchildren?

The last question became a deep desire for me. The part of my heritage I appreciate most is the faithfulness to the Lord of my Grandparents and parents. Generation to Generation His love endures and grows.

This is a temporary world we live in, and God’s love is forever. On the Lord’s Day, the praise team sang the lyrics to ‘Reckless Love!” And I wonder, in this time, do I love like Jesus loved, forgiving as I go. Jesus doesn’t call us to anger, hate, and grudges.

And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:23-24.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13.

     Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
     You have been so, so good to me
     Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
    You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God…

Reckless Love Lyrics – Culver, Asbury, Jackson -Bethel Music Publishing

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