A good friend passed away suddenly yesterday. He and his wife were visiting his sister in West Virginia when he had a massive heart attack. The paramedics tried to revive him but within minutes he was gone. With no warning his family was devastated by grief and sadness, mourning the loss of their husband, their brother, their son, their father and their uncle. I am still in shock and will miss my friend terribly.
As I type these sentences I am reminded that we all have an expiration date. The medical problems that I have been whining about for the past few weeks are now put into perspective as I grieve the loss of my friend. Nobody but God Almighty knows the number of our days. In Job 14:15 he writes “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
Pastor and author, Paul Tripp, writes a weekly devotional called Wednesday’s Word and today’s letter is entitled “3 Ways To Live By Faith When Life Makes No Sense At all”. Mr. Tripp gave three principals that apply to us all:
1. We are being strengthened. “God will send difficult, unexpected and unwanted trials into our lives to produce in us what could have never been produced otherwise.”
2. We Aren’t Supposed To Figure Life Out. “When God sends confusing trials into our lives or asks us to obey mystifying commands, he won’t always tell us why.”
3. We Need To Rely On Promises And Commands. “When life doesn’t make any sense at all, these two things are enough for us to live by faith.”
You can download his app by searching Paul Tripp on your smartphone.
Whether I have two years or twenty left on this earth, I must live every day I have left to its fullest. In James 4:14 the brother of Jesus said “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” Every one of us squanders time doing things that don’t generate value in our lives or to the lives of the people around us. Do you agree and if so, what will you do about it? As for myself, I have surrendered my life to the Lord and will spend what time I have left glorifying Him.
Randy, you have expressed so well the thoughts and feelings many of us are having as we reel under the news of FRAN’ s passing. Non of us is guaranteed a certain amount of time. Each day we should live intentionally with purpose.Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Karen. Fran was a good friend and I’ll miss him terribly
I have been struck these last few days with the same sense of perspective Randy. I will lay my life at Christ’s feet and pray for his help to use every moment for His glory and other’s good.
Amen brother!
Randy, thank you for your amazing perspective…I needed that especially when we are faced with the trials of this life this side of heaven. Fran will be missed by all of us. He was a wonderful man and we were blessed to have known him. My heart aches for Eileen. Let’s all live with grace and forgiveness..life is too short?love you Randy☝️
Amen sister! I’m reminded that as we age, we will all have to endure more loss. Glad to bring life with you!
Oh Randy, what a shock for us all who loved Fran. I admire your prospective on the trials you face. I really needed to hear the words you shared of Paul Tripp. This life is full of trials and challenges…I am grateful for people like you in my life to speak truth and inspiration. I love you brother???
The older I get the more I realize we need each other. I love you too.
Thank you for sharing your heart and your wisdom as I am trying to determine whether my path needs to change or if I should continue and be thankful for the road layed out for me. You are a Godly example to many and I’m grateful for you and Mary.
Thanks for the three reminders in your blog today. You are ministering to me in dealing with YOUR diagnosis. I’ve downloaded the app!
Thank you- a gentle reminder of how to live each day. Glory to God ✨