The death of a believer

“Death, for the believer, is no tragedy.  And for the believer to die well–to live and die aiming to glorify God, confident that God will make good on all his promises–this is a thing of great beauty.”–Nancy Guthrie

“Only when you know how to die can you know how to live.”–J. I. Packer

From O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ” (1 Corinthians 15:54–57, ESV)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life. . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ” (Romans 8:38–39, ESV)

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The gift of a praying mother

Reflecting on the story of Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit (Mark 7) I was reminded that. . . .

This daughter had a precious gift—a praying mother. And where there is a praying mother there is hope. You can’t give your children new hearts. You can give them a Christian upbringing, you can show them the way, but you cannot give them a will to choose Christ and a heart to love God. But there is one thing you can do—pray! Pray for conversion of wayward sons, pray for the conversion of young daughters. Such prayers are heard on high and will often bring down God’s blessing. Don’t forget to pray for your children.

My wife’s mother is with the Lord. But one thing that really impressed me about her and something that her children truly miss about their mom is that she prayed for them. She earnestly prayed for them. And because of her prayers each one today is walking with God.

Oh, the gift of a praying mother! Oh, the blessing of a father who prays earnestly for his children.

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