What Divides Us

The only thing that alienates us from one another is the same thing that alienates us from God: sin. The color of our skin, along with whether we are male or female, extroverted or introverted, artistic or technically inclined - all these wonderful characteristics that are wrapped up in our person - are qualities given to us by our Creator, and He deemed them good! 

We should be wary of reinforcing a narrative that points to a different dividing line than sin, for the solution can never be attainable. Instead, this narrative will only lay on new burdens, build new walls and drive wedges between us. Jesus Christ made peace and reconciliation attainable through his death on a cross. He did not give his life on our behalf for us to then turn around and retreat to opposing camps separated by a deep, precipitous chasm that no one can cross. 

No. Rather his word says in Ephesians 2:14-15 "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace."

In Christ we can experience the beginning of this reconciliation between sinners as we seek to love as He has loved us and practice forgiveness and giving grace. But even so, this peace will not be perfect until Jesus returns to make all things right. At that time, those of us who are in Christ, who long with all our hearts for that day, will witness and partake in this wonderous prophecy:

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" Revelation 7:9-10

In Christ alone rests my hope for the restoration of all things. Soli Deo Gloria.

Joy in My Sorrow

A letter to a friend who has gone to be with Jesus.

Dear, darling Erica,

Oh my sweet friend and beloved sister in Christ. I am grieved beyond comprehension at hearing of your early departure to be with our Savior, Jesus, who you love so much, yet I rejoice in your homecoming because I know there's nowhere else you'd rather be. You were such a forgiving and kind, tenderhearted friend to me. Truly, you loved everyone with the love of Christ, your heart so pure, genuine and full of compassion. I am tremendously blessed to know you, dear friend. So thankful for all our talks we had heart to heart. All the times we spent together talking about Jesus and what it means to live a life truly surrendered to him. Your earnest desire to honor, love and serve Jesus was the deep cry of your heart and it propelled you forward in all you did. You always wanted to share God's love with everyone and I know how often you have gone to the Lord interceding for your friends, classmates and coworkers, praying that they would come to know Jesus. You also shared God’s love and the power of the gospel with the nations, in Haiti, Nicaragua and more recently and closest to your heart, in Mongolia. Your faithfulness and selflessness both challenge and encourage me to press on and continue running this race with endurance. You have joined the great cloud of witnesses! How awesome is that?

Sweet Erica, I am going to miss you always. I can just see your smiling face and feel your hugs; hear your voice, as though you were still here. I can't believe you're gone. I love you so much. I look forward to giving you the biggest hug ever and I look forward to thanking you for being the generous, selfless, wonderful friend that you have been to me. I can't wait to sing praises with you again, and play guitar together, except this time in the radiant light of our God, instead of sitting in a warm patch of sunshine on our living room floor. Your life is a treasure, and mine is boundlessly blessed to have not only crossed paths with yours, but to also have been intermingled with yours. I am forever grateful to my loving Father God for bringing you into my life. A ray of bright, pure light, a dazzling beauty of a woman, the fragrant aroma of Jesus. Your testimony will forever inspire me, Erica; your life, light, and love I will always remember with great gladness! I have only loved you imperfectly, but I know one day I will be able to love you purely and without fault, and I shall know you far more deeply and richly than I already do. Oh happy, happy, glorious day!

So in the meantime dear friend which I pray passes in the blink of an eye, enjoy all the amazing celebrations at your homecoming! I hope we're housemates again in the place our Father is preparing for us. Maybe you're already there checking it out. I'm sure there's an open pasture beyond where beautiful horses come to graze, and even some funny, stubborn goats, hehe. See you later, precious friend. I can't wait!

Love always, your sister in Christ,

Heather

        

Erica with one of her favorite study buddies, Keebler, in the house we shared with our other dear friend, Britt, on Magnolia Lane in Blacksburg, Virginia.

   

 

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Proverbs 4:18

Erica’s obituary can be found here.

Our Portion in Life

Psalm 16:6 "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."

What lot has God dealt you in life? Do you accept the portion you are given and say that it is sufficient? Or simply adequate? Do you shake your fist at God and ask "Why am I not given more?"

When you look at your family, your relationships, your home, your bank account, your possessions and your job, do you delight in the abundance of provisions you have? Or do you see a lack, an absence, an unsatisfactory sufficiency? What if we are all widows with only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar? Cannot God cause what we have to stretch, multiply and fulfill all our needs? Do we declare His provisions contemptible, or do we train our eyes to see the rich, gracious and ample nature of all that we have in Christ?