I just met her last Sunday and I’m not sure I’ll see her again this side of heaven, but she’s changed my life forever.
Ever meet anyone like that?
Someone brave. Someone extremely humble, but confident in God’s plan for her life. Someone who’s on a mission and wants to make the most of her days. I’m not even sure she set out to inspire everyone around her. She just does.
Even while she’s dying.
She held a garage sale recently and affectionately named it her “Going-to-Heaven Garage Sale.” As quiet tears rolled down the faces surrounding me, she smiled and continued on to explain the real purpose behind her visit to our Sunday school class that morning.
{Wait… Heaven. Oh, can you even begin to imagine it?}
A new ministry would get off the ground – one that she helped to inspire through her own suffering. A ministry that will provide knowledge, encouragement, practical support, and relationship for those on their own cancer journeys – from those who have already been there. Love will reign over all, and Jesus will be the foundation for their hope. And while there’s still time she’s making her rounds… because she doesn’t want to miss a single opportunity to speak life – both in her living, and in her dying.
She doesn’t want to leave a legacy that bears her name. She wants to leave behind more of Jesus while she can.
Hearing her talk took my breath away. I’ve spent seasons of my life trying to avoid suffering at all cost, yet I hung onto her carefully constructed sentences that told me that Jesus is more beautiful to her in this very place.
I couldn’t stand it, so I tracked down her number and called her this week. I just wanted to hear more of her voice. To soak in her wisdom. To stop wasting my days desperately holding onto the temporary when I could know more of the beauty of Christ in the hard here and now. To ask her how she got to this place of sweet surrender.
Run to God’s Word. Look for opportunities to see God at work. Pray, expecting to hear from heaven. Tell about God’s faithfulness. Commit to the process, knowing that He who started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…
We crave happy. He craves holy.
We run after stuff. He wants us to run after Him.
Jesus, draw me close
Closer, Lord, to You.
Let the world around me fade away.Jesus, draw me close;
Closer, Lord, to You.
For I desire to worship and obey.
Time is not on her side, but God is. And He is better. He just is, and she’s walking so closely with him that she can already taste it.
When did we start expecting so much from this world?
Rejoice!
Because Jesus is better. Now, and for all of eternity.
And while there’s still time she’s making her rounds, because she doesn’t want to miss a single opportunity to speak life…
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will
should commit themselves to their faithful Creator
and continue to do good.” ~ 1 Peter 4:19
Suffering is real. But child of God, it’s not the end.
Jesus, help me to leave behind more of You…
At His feet,
*LET’S TALK: What are you holding onto?
Wow…..this is the most beautiful post I”ve read in a LONG time!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! Thank you for sharing your heart! xox
Dani, So glad that you were blessed. Thank you for stopping by to let us know!
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
Whitney, this was soooo good! ❤️
I struggle daily fighting against the sweet seduction of comfort, convenience, and compromise. But our God is better, He is greater than any of that! Thank you for this!
Sweet Terria, Your posts encourage & bless our community on a daily basis. Thank you for being open with your struggles too.
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
There’s that perspective thing again. Oh how I crave that immersion in Christ. That feeling of being closer to him than anything here on this earth. But like gravity, earth life has its own pull, and I confess it wins more than I want it to.
Thank you for this post and the reminder to keep running to Him!
I agree Rita… perspective! It smacked me in the face today!
Rita, I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit that helps to fight in this daily struggle. Thank you for sharing openly with us!
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
Wow this person your talking about will live on and on in the memories of every person! Just by your sharing this we can’t count how many people will share this story and carry it in their heart! Thank you for sharing! I want to be like her!
Patti, Doesn’t she have a precious testimony? I want to be like her too! Thank you for leaving an encouraging comment here!
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
What am I holding on to? Good question. I’m trying to wrap my mind around that question. I think I’m holding on to comfort, and I think I cling tighter to my fears at times than I do to Christ. Too fearful to share the Gospel, to step out of my comfort zone, to do something I know I can’t in my own strength.
Please forgive me Father! Help me to cling to You!
Jnel, Beautifully said. This week’s study has definitely been an encouragement to trust God in our sufferings, but I agree that sometimes our comfort is a bigger enemy. Thank you for posting this thought-provoking comment.
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
Love this post Whitney. God bless you for running after that sweet women and chasing her so that you could learn more, so we in turn could lean more. This world is filled to the brim with temporary things and yet God offers eternal love and blessings to us daily:) I’m going to try and remember to label that what is temporary so I can detour myself toward that what is alive and heaven bound. Jesus❤️
Yes, like Jnel, I find that for some mind-baffling reason, it’s fear that I’m holding on to. I find that fear of failure, fear of man, and fear of the enemy wrap around me so tightly, that sometimes I can’t breathe, let alone, live the life that God has called me to live! I find that I don’t use my God-given spiritual gifts to serve others because of fear. But I’m so tired. Tired of allowing that fear to hold onto me. Tired of allowing that fear to keep me from serving my Abba Father the way I so desire to. Tired of not fulfilling God’s plan for my life. I desire to step out upon the waters and walk toward Him, with full confidence that He will never fail me!
http://youtu.be/FBJJJkiRukY
This really touched me. I’ve had multiple illnesses and bad experiences in my life. I now live with a rare illness that has no cure and that could potentially kill me. Just last night I was moved to tears, begging God that my pain and suffering would not be in vain. I wanted them to be able to help someone else. I was worried that my request was selfish, but God assured me that it was not. I want my emotional and physical scars of the emotional and physical pains that I have suffered in my life to bring glory to God. I would love it if my nieces and nephews would never have to suffer, but I know that won’t happen. I want God to be able to heal others through me, through my prayers. Wouldn’t it be great if we could lay hands on people and heal them? I want these symptoms, these decades-old emotional pains, these new diagnoses to be put to good use in His Kingdom. I’m not worried about me. In fact I forget to pray for healing and restoration for myself most of the time. I just want to be useful to Him. That is what makes my heart react.
That was breathtakingly beautiful.
My new blog
http://redeemedforeever.blogspot.com/?m=1
Beautiful Whitney! Reminds me I’m holding on to useless, petty things. Love…suffering is real but its not the end.
This was beautiful! Thought provoking, mind changing. Thank you, Whitney.
Loving the study of Peter! Look forward to many more of your studies.