God's voicemails.

God sends us messages.  Voicemails if you will.  As if to say, "Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't reach you today, but when you get this message, I'll be here to chat."

I've been neglecting to respond to God's voicemails lately, but I feel like all of His messages to me just came through and now, it's time to chat.

God's message to me is coming through death of all things.

Let me explain.

I have been bombarded lately it seems by numerous accounts of sudden deaths of distant relatives, tragic stories of disease taking over bodies, critical accidents and suicides. 

Death is not natural.  Yes, we are born into life and when our bodies fail us their is a natural cycle of exiting the earth now,  but it was not supposed to be that way.  Because of our sin and the fall of Adam and Eve, we are sentenced to feel the unnatural and overpowering despair that slips into our lives when witnessing and being surrounded by death.  Death is all around us and it's not natural.

Paul shares with us in 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:8 :

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

There it is my friends.  We are not home. We are not HOME.  It's so hard to ponder the idea of going through something so tragic to achieve something so wonderful and perfect--Home.

When someone I know is in the Lord ("In the Lord"-- what a silly phrase--wanna know what it means? Ask me!) and passes away while we are left here on earth in sadness and loss, I always wonder and try to picture what they are doing at Heaven's gate.  Are they shy and timid in the midst of God's presence?  Are they jumping for joy? Perhaps dancing a happy jig?  Maybe an immediate embrace with the Son of God to introduce them to their new Home.

Frankly, it gives me goosebumps, puts a lump in my throat and makes me giddy---because being on earth and dying is not natural.  Heaven is natural.  Being home with Jesus, kicking back and eating some awesome food is natural.  Dare I say I am excited to die?  Of course I am human and struggle with thoughts of leaving loved ones and my child behind and have internal selfish fits trying to hold on to those close to me who are clearly headed home.  But when God leaves you a voicemail, you gotta listen.

God's message to me is clear and now after so many voicemails it seems like a shout, and he sayin, "You aren't Home yet, so don't act like it! What are you doing on earth that is helping your preparation for Home?"  What am I doing?  Am I doing anything?  Am I doing enough?  What does He want me to do?

I got God's digits---I can hit him up anytime and chat.  And I do.  It's just those darn messages I miss sometimes---I'm a imperfect model.  God's got a perfect one waiting for me at Home though.  Awesome? Um, yes!

God has been using death and things related to reveal that life here on earth is not natural, nor guaranteed.  Not tomorrow, not tonight, not in two minutes. Not to act like I am home.  Rejoice in life and know that it is temporary and live it loving one another and sharing the good news. Nothing else matters.  NOTHING.  I know where I am going if death finds me, but how am I using that gift?  Am I keeping it to myself or am I sharing?  God has given me instructions and multiple voicemails--who am I to neglect them.

God is good news my friends!  He reaches us sometimes through the craziest ways and if he wants you to get the message, he WILL get your attention.  Sometimes death is God's way of redirecting me how to live while I am visiting earth.

If you are new to faith, wonder about some of the cheesy/weird jargon I used,  kickin' the tires of the whole God thing or out right opposed to Jesus and the Bible, I'd love to talk to you and share with you some pretty powerful stories of how God has revealed himself to me if you're interested---no bull and no pressure, but anytime you have questions or even want to vent, drop me an email. (P.S. Not and expert or anything--just love Jesus and He's taught me a thing or two.)


Do you have any voicemails?