If you’ve ever questioned whether this world is under a curse, visit a children’s hospital. We once took our son there because he had terrible stomach pain. He recovered, but other parents couldn’t say the same for their kids. I’ll never forget walking down the hallway and seeing a father collapse into a loved one’s arms, weeping. His child’s suffering was too much to bear.
Jesus arrived in Bethany to find his dear friends, Martha and Mary, mourning the death of their brother Lazarus much like the father I saw in that hallway. When Lazarus became sick, they sent word to Jesus. They had believed he could heal Lazarus, but then, it was “too late.”
Many view death as just a natural part of life. But in John 11, we see that death angered Jesus. To him, death was unnatural because people were created for eternal fellowship with God. Sin put this world under a curse, and Jesus graciously came to reverse it.
Amid the mourning, Jesus makes this audacious claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25). It’s one thing to say it, another to prove it. So he did. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, everyone was shocked. He had authority over death.
As miraculous as Lazarus’s resurrection was, this was just the beginning. Over a week later, Martha would be running to another cave tomb looking for Jesus’s body, only to find Him gone. Death could not hold Him.
Friends, Jesus is the resurrection—not “sort of” or “maybe,” but truly and fully. His death and resurrection mean our sins have been paid for, the sting of death has been removed, and our future is secured. When we say, “The best is yet to come,” we’re not being optimistic—we’re speaking the truth. And this isn’t just a future hope; it’s a reality we can apply daily.
For example, as Paul suffered horrible trials, he said, “Indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…He will deliver us” (2Corinthians 1:9–10). We can also proactively trust God with our current suffering, persecution, and uncertainties because He is the one who raises the dead. We can also proactively live for God’s glory because the Bible says Jesus’s resurrection power is at work in us!
It’s amazing to think about, but Lazarus was the opening act. And He will raise us too. We all have a beginning, but in Jesus, we will have no end. Take heart, for the risen One will raise His beloved on that final day.
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118 thoughts on "The Resurrection and the Life"
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Good reflections to ponder. ❤
Just listened to a sermon on John 11 and want to share. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Mary wept and Jesus wept. But the Bible uses two different words for “wept”. Mary’s weeping (klaiō) can be translated as a deep sobbing but Jesus’ weeping (dakryō) is translated as a more of a silent, deeply moved crying possibly even moved by the anger of injustice. Death was never part of God’s original plan for us. He knows we weren’t originally made to experience death of a loved one. What an amazing God we have who not only came as man to grieve with us but then conquers death for us just a few days later.
Jesus is with you in your grief but it also is a sweet comfort knowing he is angry at death to. One day He will wipe away all our tears and there will be no more mourning or heavy hearts but for now, He’s with you in sorrow. ♥️
Thank you for sharing!
Michelle, you do not know what an answered prayer it was that you shared this. I had just said to my 12 year old son that I have never under why Jesus wept. After He had just explained to Mary and Martha’s that He is the Resurrection and the Life; why now cry? But this makes so much sense and puts it into perspective for me. I love it!
This devotional really touched me. With all the cuts happening most people don’t know that the one of the “wasteful” programs to lose its funding was the pediatric brain tumor consortium. I am devastated over this and I know this isn’t the point of the reading today but I am struggling with all the brokenness in our world , this being one prime example.
Lots to think about. I just keep coming back to we don’t deserve this grace. The world is a mess. Unkindness, selfishness, anger and evil everywhere. How is God so merciful so loving so forgiving. I’m in awe. And yet still just feel so undeserving when I look around me. I believe >> I feel so blessed so loved but undeserving.
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Should Christians fear death? This question popped up in my head today. It choked me up. Again, the topic of fear shows up today, and yesterday. Fear is the one of the biggest snares for a Christian on the pilgrimage journey to the celestial city. Our Lord Jesus has conquered death at the cross, that we can bear His mark of the victory on ourselves, the blood has paid it all. So death is a doorway for us, not the end. We change address. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8. This is a great hope. I listened to people’s testimonies of going to heavens (while in a coma, or in hospital, how their soul travels through the roof of their house and they got to visit heavens, and upon being revived in the hospital, they came back to earth due to having unfinished missions God has assigned)- very fascinating and my hope is renewed. Every heaven testimony tends to describe similar things, a place full of life, beauty, joy and peace. I love flowers and plants very much. And one time I heard a lady describing that in heaven, flowers don’t die, they are alive and the petals move when you touch them, and so beautiful. Mind blowing. Truly a place unlike the earth, where I have to plant new seeds in a tray every winter. The Lord is so merciful, Jesus gave us some hints at this truth, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” Matthew 16:28. There is a generation that will escape death and will witness the return of the Son of Man. What a privilege to be chosen for such a generation, for such a time. There will be a transfiguring of the body, from mortal to immortal, “Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:51–52. “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” John 11:26. He also said, “I go to prepare a place for you… and I will come again and receive you unto myself”-John 14:3. What merciful God we serve. Be encouraged dear pilgrims. Keep your lamps burning brightly in these dark times wise virgins of God. Manage our oil well– the fuel that is given by the Holy Spirit through continual surrender, obedience, faith and fellowship. Keep watch and stay spiritually awake. Though He tarries, “The Lord is not slow… but patient, not wanting anyone to perish” 2 Peter 3:9. I am so very touched by your stories today and incredibly thankful for the amazing updates that are shared. Be blessed dear sisters.
AMEN (heart)
I am currently near the end of Jennifer Rothschild’s study, Heaven. Great references, Mercy! Thanks as always for putting this all together! ❤
Oh Mercy, this is beautiful! I have tears in my eyes reading it.
Hugs and love sisters.
Loved this teaching. I thought of The Chosen and the details of emotion, belief each person brought to this miracle. All to point them and us to the Father.
First time reading and noticing similar words about Jesus: It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
They do a fabulous job on the show to bring this in color to us! We can read through scripture so quick and not stop to really “see” the true story unfolding, so I love that we can have a visual come to life, ha…come to life.
All the comments today have lifted me. I love the comfort and hope we have from the story of Lazarus, and knowing that Jesus truly is the resurrection and the life.
I have two praise updates today:
I went for my annual eye exam yesterday. Many, many times over the years, I came out of that annual exam scheduled for surgery. Holes in the retina of both eyes that required laser surgery to close. A torn retina. A surgery to replace the vitreous that was leaking. Optic nerve neuritis that left me partially blind for two years. BUT GOD … when I was told I would not get the vision back, gave it back to me two years later in a way that even my surgeon said was a miracle. Yesterday’s report was that I have healthy eyes – vision that is corrected to nearly 20/20 in BOTH eyes with glasses. Praise God for His miraculous healing that I get to share with my eye team every time they look at my left eye and say I shouldn’t be able to see!
AND, Amanda had an appointment with her oncologist yesterday. He told her she is currently cancer free! She is going on a litany of maintenance drugs for the next two to seven plus years, all with, as she puts it, “not so fun” side effects. But she maintains her positive attitude and faith that God will see her through. She shared a wonderful testimony on FB today of how God has worked through this entire journey, from giving her a dream that she had breast cancer which sent her to the doctor months ahead of her scheduled mammogram, to giving her a sense of His peace during the rough times of treatment. She thanked everyone who prayed for her and helped her and her family. I add my thanks and gratitude to all of you who have prayed diligently for her during this year.
I looked up the side effects of all the meds she’ll be on, and they can be really bad. I’m praying that God will continue to bless her with minimal side effects, strength to endure, and continued cancer free living.
Wow, praise the Lord for His goodness. Look at what God has done. Prayers work.
Wow, Wow!! Amazing!! Love the healing miracles of our Jesus!!
Celebrating God’s goodness and kindness to you and Amanda
Teresa, what a powerful praise – for you and Amanda! Thanks so much for sharing that and how we can be praying in the future! ❤
Amen!
So so good Beverly!
Thank you Jesus! Lazarus was the opening act. And He will raise us too. We have have a beginning, but in Jesus, we will have no end. Take heart, for the risen One will raise His beloved on that final day.
Jesus’ death paid for sin, but His resurrection proved that payment was accepted and that He conquered death. The resurrection is God’s stamp of approval – it means Jesus truly defeated sin and death. Without it, we’d have no assurance of forgiveness or eternal life.
I continued reading in 1 Corinthians. Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours!! The last enemy to be abolished is death. Fir Gid gas out everything under his feet. Death will be the last enemy to be destroyed – and death is indeed our enemy. A foreign invader in this world, death is out of place and unwelcome. This is why we mourn at a funeral – because funerals were never meant to be. But the hope of the christian life is not only life after death; it is much more than that. Jesus promised His followers eternal life, but He also spoke of a new life that starts here and now. It is life with God, and it is eternal because God is eternal. Life is not easy, but we can be joyful no matter what happens, because GOD IS WITH US!! He is the resurrection and THE LIFE!!
Thank you Father for your perfect plan, for your word that we have to draw close to you each day, for the game plan that we need for every hard thing that comes our way. It is all laid out for us in your Word! So thankful. You hold the Victory Jesus! No matter how dark the days feel or how dark the world feels, We have YOU! Have a blessed day She’s!
*For God has put everything under His feet.
Oh the opening of this devotional made my stomach go tight. I am so familiar with children’s hospitals. I remember hearing a mother crying out in grief as she held her child for the last time. I thought that will be me some day.
BUT GOD
He carried me through a horrific trial. He promised that I could lean into Him. He healed my son in Heaven. The best is yet to come. Being reunited with my son when I go home to my Father.
Traci GENDRON ♥️
I thought of you as I wrote.. with you on spirit, sister..♥️
Bless you Traci!
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Hugs dear Traci ♥️
Love and hugs, Traci! ❤❤❤
Two things I learned today…
-When Mary wept, the Greek word used means to wail loudly. In “Jesus wept”, the Greek word indicates a quiet weeping, “Jesus was moved but not out of control.”
-“He was troubled” the meaning is that Jesus was not so much sad as He was angry. Angry at the evil one for all the havoc, destruction and power of the evil one.
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We need to be more angry at Satan, the evil one, and angry over the havoc and destruction he creates…not angry at the sinner, but angry at the one who leads him into sin.
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The one who believes in me will live – hallelujah! Death has lost it’s sting because of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Because He lives, I too will live and each one of us who have received His saving grace.
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The song that came to mind this morning, Because He Lives by Bill & Gloria Gaither…
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God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he brings;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
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Be blessed today dear sisters! ❤️
We need to be angry at Satan not the sinner. That statement helped me! And I love this song.
Sharon, this is one of my favorite Gaither songs..
Thanks for the reminder..
Much love my dears.. ♥️
So true Sharon. We get mad at the wrong thing! Our battle is not with flesh and blood but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil.
Amen, satan is the culprit operating behind.
Yes, so good SJG!! And another song to add to my “hymns” playlist that I had forgotten!
Thanks, Sharon, for mentioning Because He Lives. I had thought of it, too, but forgot to share it. My mom’s favorite hymn. ❤
I can still hear my mom singing it, funny I sound just like her!
The fact that God inspired John to add Jesus wept! We get a glimpse of the Father’s heart! So beautiful!
Praying for all!
All the little things we can skip over!
So very true, Cheryl.. 2 words and yet.. very powerful indeed..♥️
I think Jesus was moved to weep when he saw the impact death had on Mary and Martha. He felt and saw firsthand the grief we feel when our loved ones die. He was so moved by that grief that He wept. He truly knows and feels our grief, so He is able to bring great comfort to us.
He is the resurrection and the life, indeed! ❤️ (BTW… Thank you for doing that, Jesus!)
I wonder what was weighing so heavily on Thomas’s heart…[John 11:16 Then Thomas (called “Twin”) said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go too so that we may die with him.”].
GM My Friends/She’s!
This is such a powerful account today, and the devotional was really good too. To BELIEVE with every fiber is hard, and sometimes it takes seeing to believe. When we see a flat out miracle, no rhyme or reason, no other way but a BUT GOD moment–then we can know. But what if you haven’t seen that? Are we looking? The miracles are in fact all around us, big and small. We just have to get our skeptical minds out of the way.
John is a book of miracles, a book of love, and a story in the whole that is imperative to each and everyone’s daily life and living, and after life! It changes everything! It gives momentum and fire, and eagerness to go…and tell. Our life is fleeting, and could happen any moment. We will be raised from death, and that is a sigh of relief- if you are a believer. But to know that friends and loved ones could die before they come to Christ is devastating, so we must pray for them. God will give them chances, and if the seeds are there, they will grow and bloom. Jesus weeps for them. But he gives us to be the hands and feet, and a voice, a representative for him. Don’t shun that important role off.
We had a huge, double in size group of ladies yesterday at our jail ministry!! The Butterflies are transforming, shining their light! They are making a difference to those around them!! Praise God! When half the pod comes to worship Jesus, it changes the atmosphere of a dark place! Please continue your prayers for me in this ministry that is my heart!! My Joy!
If any of you feel the tug that this would be something for you, reach out to me on FB group of how easy it is to get involved! If you have a county jail then they need you! (they just may not know that yet!lol) YOU can raise people from death to life!! (in the authority of Jesus!)
I think of the song “Rise Up” by Cain!
Come on and rise up, take a breath, you’re alive now
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
You’re brand new, the power of death couldn’t hold you
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
Rise up, rise up, rise up
Out from the grave like Lazarus
When He said your name, the thing that filled your veins
Was more than blood, it’s the kind of love that washes sin away
Now the door is open wide and the stones been rolled aside
The old is gone, the Light has come, so
Such a perfect song! Can’t believe I didn’t think of it! Thanks for the reminder. ☺
I love your heart sweet Rhonda!
I know you love seeing those butterflies come to Christ! ❤️ (Wish I could insert that butterfly emoji!)
Praise God for your jail ministry Rhonda and that it is multiplying!
Praising God for your heart Rhonda.. what a blesding ypu are to the butterflies..♥️
Praise God!! Double in size!
Praying Rhonda. What an amazing journey that God has put you on to witness, and us to second hand witness through your stories.
(HEART) to all of you!!
To borrow one of your thoughts: All if your testing has become a tremendous and sharable testimony! Gid bless your ministries! ❤
I found it interesting that Martha, the sister who was too busy fulfilling her hostess duties to sit at Jesus’ feet was the sister who left all those gathered in her home to rush out to meet Jesus. I am pondering that this morning.
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I just love Daniel 12:3-
“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”
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RHONDA J – I listened to Fire in My Bones by John Fracker. Is that the song you meant? It is a cool song! There are several with similar names so I am not sure. Thanks! ❤
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
I didn’t make that connection about Martha. Wow!
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No, it’s by the Gospel Groove Girls!!
Did you listen to the “Rough Side of the Mountain?” (I might have got the title wrong) Its by a Rev. FC Barnes!
And thank you for sharing the part of Martha…now rushing to Jesus! That’s good!
I just listened to the song by Fracker!! It’s really good too!!!
Got me clapping this morning and praising on the porch!
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I did listen to the Gospel Groove Girls version, too. I figured it was one of those two. I will check out the Rough Side if the Mountain, too. ❤☺❤
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I wonder if Martha had been affected by what she saw jesus do for her brother.
Do you wonder, Cee-Gee, whether she rushed out for clarification because believed Jesus was who He said He was.?? The thing is when you know you know, you can’t un- know it..
Intriguing?
Love you sister..♥️
More to ponder, Tina! Thanks for that! ❤
Love you back, Tina! Love to all of you sisters! ❤
“We all have a beginning, but in Jesus, we will have no end.”
Praise the Lord for the hope of heaven❤️
I loved this as well and just read it to my daughter.
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Amen.♥️
Amen
He came so we might have life more abundantly. John 10:10
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Isn’t it wild how even the disciples STILL didn’t get it- after all they witnessed? I had to laugh a bit at v 14-15 in the Lazurus story when Jesus put his metaphors plainly so they WOULD get it. How often are we like that. Not fully listening and processing and pondering what is actually being said because we are moving thru our days so quickly. We think and react to the shallow and are so literal we miss so much.
I know right?
So true.
John 11 shows me how Jesus responds personally to different kinds of people:
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To the disciples: with patience and purpose.
To Martha: with truth and revelation.
To Mary: with empathy and shared sorrow.
To the crowd: with power that invites belief.
To His enemies: with quiet sovereignty.
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To each, Jesus reveals both His humanity-He weeps, loves, feels deeply….
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and His divinity-He commands death itself!
Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. When I cannot see what you are doing, teach me to trust your heart. When I grieve, remind me that you weep with me. And when I stand before things that feel lifeless and hopeless, speak your word of life to me again.
That is good, Kimberly! Thank you!
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So insightful…so true.
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So good.
Beautiful Kimberly, just beautiful ♥️
He is exactly what we need. Thank you for this.
Thank you Jesus for being the resurrection and life. What peace it brings.
“I am the Resurrection and the Life”…do you believe this?? What we do with this tells us where we are going someday…to eternity with Jesus or eternity in hell. I pray that every one who sees this today does know Jesus as their Resurrector and their Life! Only.He can save us and bring us one day to the Father, where we will live forever!
Amen❤️
For me, I know the power of Jesus over life and death is true, yet it’s complicated, difficult to comprehend and painful to accept. The sisters believed Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and had the power to heal. But even they, good friends of his, had a hard time understanding His power over the grave and after 4 days. There’s a song that says when He’s 4 days late, He’s right on time …. A reminder that we aren’t privy to God’s plan for everything and even when there’s pain, His plan for us is perfect.
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When loss comes, especially I’ve lost someone who was far too young (in my opinion), I’ve asked God, are You sure?? Yet, His word says yes, He’s known our days since always.
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Praying through yesterday’s requests ❤️
Thank you for sharing your thoughts ❤️
“A reminder that we aren’t privy to God’s plan for everything and even when there’s pain, His plan for us is perfect.” ❤
Wise words again, sister! Thank you! ❤
I wasn’t familiar with the song so I listened to it just now. Powerful! I never realized how much Karen Peck sounds like Dolly Parton.
“we aren’t privy to God’s plan for everything and even when there’s pain, His plan for us is perfect.”
Thank you for this Searching. ❤️
Searching, what truth you speak, His plan for each of us is perfect, just hard to fathom, sometimes ♥️♥️
So true searching. It is so hard to wrap our minds around.
The miracle of life that sealed His own death.
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“One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish’.”
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Caiaphas, you were so close to the truth but your love of this world kept you blind to it.
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Yet Jesus came for even Caiaphas, if he would have just believed.
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KIMBERLY Z – I was glad to see your comment yesterday. Happy belated birthday ❤️
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SANDI – continuing to pray for your husband and you!
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Hope you all have a blessed day
Kelly, how is your husband doing? I felt lead to pray over him last night as I was lifting up SRT requests! Not sure if he has some decision making coming up or not, but I pray he has discernment to know what God is calling him to do if he does.
Thanks for asking. He is working on fixing up our previous residence for sale. Once that is off our plate he will be getting a resume together and start looking for work.
Caiaphas has had NO idea of the truth in that statement!
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I, like Tina love John 11:25 – because He lives, we can also live. We can trust God ‘with our current suffering, persecution and uncertainties because He is the one who raises the dead’! (And isn’t it heart warming that Jesus declared this to a grieving woman!) Let’s live for God’s glory today and everyday because of His resurrection power at work in us!
Brings to mind the hymn “He Lives!” He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me, and talks with me…along life’s narrow way!
My life in Christ, truly began when a couple of weeks after Julee died, God very graciously showed me where she was… running through a meadow, happy and healed, shouting words I never thought I’d hear from her.. ‘I’m okay. I’m happy. I’m alright..’
Julee gave her life to Jesus some days before she died, John 11:25 always warms my heart..
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live..” I raise a Hallelujah as well as an AMEN for that!
Julee was not resurrected this side of heaven, but she was/is with the LORD, this I know to be true with every fibre of my being.. I got to see her one last time, running, smiling, happy, the prayer and hope in my everyday prayer when she was here.
Tears freely fall down my cheeks, not just at the memories, but at the goodness of God, I have an ache, but there is a joy, because I know I will see her again, someday, when I am called home..
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BUT GOD..
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He did not abandon me, in my distress and my awefulness to Him, accusing, and disrespecting Him at the altar in the little church, where I would sit daily, asking the why questions..
My sins, accusations and confrontational disrespect, even those have been covered and paid for by Jesus. In the forgiving, I was allowed to see Julee happy in a vision.
Jesus’ resurrection power was not only for Julee, I also received as I believed, had faith and carried a Hope in my heart..
I still carry that hope..
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Thank you Jesus. Thank you..
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Amen..
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Happy Thursday my dears.. lifting all requests up to Him who hears sees and knows.. He is not sleeping, He is working all things for good..
Much love, hugs and prayers..♥️♥️♥️
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Always such a beautiful testimony to hear sweet Tina!
Such tender, beautiful words you’ve shared ❤️❤️❤️
LOVE you sweet Tina!!
Beautiful, Tina!
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Amen to your beautiful testimony Tina, and for the glory you give to our Father. Much love, hugs and prayers right back to you! ❤️
Oh Tina as I read this the tears fall freely. I so understand. I got to see Tanner about an hour after his death. We were leaving the hotel and I felt Tanner on my right side. He looked at me with a big smile and said, “mom I’m okay.” It was a gift. The best gift God could have given me after so much suffering. I was allowed that gift 3 times. Tanner died at 33. I feel there are so many connections. I pray for you. I love you sweet Tina.
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Beautiful and so real.. your testimony is powerful!
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Hugs and love to you sweet Tina. What a gift you are to us.♥️♥️♥️
“We all have a beginning, but in Jesus, we will have no end. Take heart, for the risen One will raise His beloved on that final day.”
Amen and amen. ❤️
Thank you for this beautiful devotion today Beverly.