I just attended the funeral of a neighborhood lady yesterday. I have known this lady since I was eleven years old. I would consider her mostly an acquaintance over the years, not someone that I saw on a regular basis. She always seemed friendly enough, but I wouldn’t have known about her walk with the Lord — not the walk that the pastor shared yesterday.
After participating in the Internet Cafe chat the other day and then attending a funeral, it really has me wondering what people will say about me when I go home to heaven (after 90 years of living on earth).
I don’t think anyone in my family would have a clue or even understand my passion for the Lord. I think I was even called “Crazy Aunt Beth” by a nephew — though I’m not sure how I earned that name. But I can’t help but wonder if it had to do with my extravagant love for Jesus (or maybe because I wouldn’t allow him to bring certain things into my house when he spent the night). I was a Jesus Freak when it wasn’t “cool” (ha). I once had a woman who had gone to church her entire life tell me, “Sometimes people can talk about the Lord too much” … yep, she said that to me. I think this is the same person who said I was too religious (uh no, it is called a relationship). She loves to talk about those whom her affections rest, so why shouldn’t I? Better yet — WHO IS MORE DESERVING of our praise and adoration?
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
I can’t help myself! God is always in my thoughts and heart.
My own sweet Daddy and I had a discussion a few years ago about a Charismatic television evangelist and when my Dad found out that I had gone to see this man he said, “I thought Peggy was the only crazy one in our family.” Lovely, eh? Well so be it — I’ll be a fool for my Lord.
I was the Charismatic lady desiring MORE! I wasn’t satisfied with hearing about “the good ol’ days when Jesus healed the sick” — I wanted to meet the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! I wasn’t happy hearing sweet little sermons that danced through nostalgic fields of clover, instead I wanted to hear an ON TIME WORD from my Lord.
I am still the woman hungering for MORE. I want people to experience the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If people only knew Him and only experienced Him. He isn’t a God way up in heaven who doesn’t touch us with His power today. He is very much the same God of the universe who poured out His Spirit on His people in the bible.
I think that scares some believers and they would much rather stay in a safe environment where they are in control.
Even in Spirit-filled churches — people are concerned about scaring off “seekers” or visitors. Where in the bible did Jesus hold back out of “fear” of offending someone? The miracles and signs BROUGHT people to Him. Have you ever read of anyone running away and screaming, “NO! DON’T HEAL ME JESUS!” It is crazy I tell you!
Ok, I have totally gone off course with my original subject … what will people say about me when I go home, but THIS is who I am. I am in love with my Maker. I am hungry for more of Him. I want others who haven’t experienced Him fully TO DESIRE MORE in their relationship. I don’t want anyone to settle for what “man” tells you (or the denomination you are under), but look into the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you all things.
I could go on and on with this. I keep forgetting that I’m not just chatting with my friends and you are actually having to READ my ramblings. Sorry!
I pray this has stirred at least one person’s curiosity to dig deeper, to knock on the door, to seek, and TO FIND!
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
If any of you watched the Lakeland Outpouring, you know this young lady, Catherine Mullins, worships with TOTAL ABANDON! She is precious.
Sorry for the loss of your neighbor.
I can relate to much of your message. I shared a message once on living a significant life verses a successful one as when we live significantly in Christ then we are successful.
What people will say is so based on how we lived and so may we live in a manner that represents that we are true followers of Jesus Christ and that we indeed LOVE HIM DEARLY and are grateful for HIS LOVE.
Blessings and peace!
Thank you for this post.
This is something I have thought about myself. What will people say about me when I am gone? I pray that I am living my life in such a way to show my Precious Savior. Otherwise, what is the point?
Thanks for making us stop and think as usual my friend! You never cease to point us to the Lord and for that I am forever grateful!
It’s so true. There was a man at our church who died unexpectedly at the young age of 54. He was one of those men that always had an encouraging word fory you, and always, always turned to conversation toward the Lord. You had no choice but to catch some of his fire. Anyway, at his funeral, you really got to see even more of his character by the way people spoke of him. Even his non Christian employees had the highest regards for him. It was amazing!!! We can all picture him having the biggest smile in heaven, worshipping the Lord!!
What a thought provoking post Beth. Thank you. I too wonder what will be said of me after I am gone. Lots to think about. i hope that it is all good and that they will speak of my love for the Lord.
Hugs,
mimi
Dear Beth,
I love your post and I feel the say way. I want everyone to KNOW that I love God and am saved by His Son Christ Jesus. I do not always know HOW to share this with my neighbors and people I meet. May God help us, bless us with His Holy Spirit and show us His way.
I love your heart for Him.
♥ Hope
What a great post! Definately thought provoking. Thank you for sharing.
I enjoyed that post, Beth. Reminds me of what I go through with my family ~
As my pastor is just finishing a series “30 Days to Live”, I’m pondering the same thing. The sermon this week, really hit me as he pondered what will be said at our funerals. What will be said at mine? I’m sure my mom would be the one to share stuff for the pastor to speak on. Yet, does she know the real me..does she see the full picture of my heart.
I know what you mean about the negative connotation of speaking too much about God. I’ve been inhibited in many conversations with family/friends who aren’t believers and resisted giving God credit as we conversed…particularly if something say if shared by the other person and my heart screams…God did that, God took care of that, God helped you, etc. Just to plant that seed…yet I don’t want to be pushy. It’s a fine line and I think I’m better but not where I want. I remember when my stepdaughter (not my s-d now and not my s-d at the time) came over to my house (that’d be her dad’s girlfriends house at the time—before we married). It was her first time there and she was only 15. She told her dad I had a lot of crosses. I pondered this while I was shopping recently in Hobby Lobby. I was going to purchase another item with a cross on it. I didn’t (for a few reasons). My point being that her comment with a negative twist still played in my mind.
Enough rambling.
Love,
Paula
We had received the most wonderful gift, we have no other choice but to desire to share that “special Gift”.
I wish we are working together. Knowing you’re a great prayer intercessor, I would rather work with no one else but “crazy sister Beth!”…lol… 🙂
Love and blessings to you sister.
Beth~
This post was like a shot in the arm…a good shot! I, too, wonder what people will say when I’m nothing more than a memory. Will they remember me as someone who loved people and who tried her very best to share her love for Christ with others in the way she spoke and lived day to day? I truly hope and pray that will be the case, but only time will tell. You know, when you become a Christian, you have the right, privelege and obligation to share God’s promises with others.
I LOVE that you are always on fire for the Lord! And so does He! Isn’t that what we were made to do??
Many blessings-
Amanda
I think we all wonder that! Your post reminded me of an old Amy Grant song where she’s talking about loving to be on the mountain top but needing to come down sometimes to the people in the valley below, so that they can learn about Jesus too.
You are very real, and that’s what I love about you. You don’t stay on the mountain top, you come down and are just “real.”
What a beautiful post (sniff) I can relate to you, some relatives actually told me I was being "too religious" and you know what… I took it as a compliment, we weren't put on earth to dwell on makeup and weight loss… we're here to serve the Lord, so you have your priorities straight!! <3 Love ya!
Beth, Sorry for your loss… You have the most awesome blog. You can feel God thru your play list. Yes I have a CAS bumper sticker and always wonder who that beautiful baby was now I know: )
Your weight loss is truly amazing!! How are you losing your weight. I have about 10 pds I would really liked to get off. And Yes I will check you out often!!
Amen! Praise God for your words today!
Blessings,
Bren
I love that you are comfortable with who you are and hurray that you love Jesus and share like you do!!!!
I hope that people sing the same praises about me at my funeral that the minister did at your neighbor’s funeral. I just pray that no one is surprised by it.
You know Beth, I think we’d be more useful in this life if we did focus more on heaven. Hmm …I think I wrote about that the other day. But I come from a background where some of my family didn’t like outward displays of emotion when it came to things of God and yet would think nothing of getting very emotional at a sports event.
My personality is probably more subdued so I’m not a jumping up and down person. I don’t mind others who do but sometimes I get distracted in worshipping when someone is really going wild (if you know what I mean).
But I have my own way of worshipping too. And I love the Lord more than anything or anyone and often I can’t keep quiet. My nieces know that too and every time they come to visit me their parents always send them with Sunday clothes for church. And they knew we’d pray and sing.
Beth, you can’t keep what’s inside of you secret and why should you? I love you that way and so does the Lord.
I think that people will talk about your compassion for God’s people. That’s something that really sticks out for me. You have such a compassion for other people to know Jesus, which obviously comes from your love of the Lord. As I’m sitting here typing this, I’m thinking about years and years (and years and years) down the road and how people will remember you for your compassion, and that people will be talking about that. I can even hear you, Beth, saying “but what about my love for Jesus?!?!” And Jesus answering, “People saw your love for Me in your compassion for others.” I’m sure there is so much more that you do and that you are that other people see that only comes from your walk with Him. That’s just what sticks out to me now.
You are so right about Jesus not being worried about who He offended. Certainly calling someone a hypocrite is an offense!! And while people did run to Him, there were some who didn’t want to give things up for Him (I’m thinking of the man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to get into heaven, walking away after Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow Him). Jesus let him go. If they didn’t want His message, He didn’t force them. People called Him names and talked bad to Him (besides the Pharisees, I’m sure) but He just kept on preaching, teaching, healing, loving anyone wanted to receive what He offered. We just need to learn what He knew – that it’s all about doing the Father’s Will and letting THAT satisfy us. It’s so easy to say, and so difficult to do.
While reading your blog, I kept thinking “Amen!.. Amen! .. Amen!” Loved it!!! Go girl!!
I love this Beth! I feel the same way, and feel like others think that same thing about me! My older boys will make fun of my music (especially Misty!) 🙂 but that’s okay!!
I can relate to your post in more ways than one. My family doesn’t quite understand how important my relationship with God is to me.
Sometimes I often think about what people would say about me when I am gone, but then I think more about what my Father in heaven would say when I arrive.
Just to hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…..” will probably give a good idea about what is being said about me on earth.
Stay Bles and Stay Strong!!
Beth, so sorry for your loss. Always hungering for more of the Lord is awesome. That is part of my journey to freedom, to grow closer to my creator. Thank you for sharing dear one. Blessings!
Beth, I love this post and my spirit bears witness with yours, my friend!!!
I just can’t help but talk about Jesus–I want Him to be my Everything! I’ve had people say that I talk about God too much (but that specific person only said it b/c the Holy Spirit is working overtime on her heart!) I am not ashamed of my Jesus!!
Love you!
Ok, I don’t know if I already commented or not–this might be a repeat!
My spirit testifies with yours, Beth!! I can’t talk about Jesus ENOUGH–I want Him to be my Everything! I’ve had someone in my family say that I all I do is talk about God, God this, God that…but I wasn’t offended at all b/c I knew the Holy Spirit was working overtime on her heart and I long to see her know the love of Jesus! I am not ashamed of the Gospel and I pray that I will proclaim it boldly as I should (in the words of the apostle Paul)!!
There’s a biiiig difference between talking the talk and walking the walk, isn’t there?!
This is an awesome post, Beth. King David sought the Lord with his whole heart, dancing and leaping before him. And when Michal berated him, he stated, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”Keep on praising Him, keep on asking, seeking, and knocking…no apologies!
Love you
Since I only know you through your beautiful writing, I’d say yes, I know. But I’m betting if I met you in person, I’d see Jesus in you. Great post, Beth!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for reading about foster parenting. I didn't want it to be a sad story, but I guess it is. I didn't want to discourage people because foster parenting is such an awesome thing to do. It's not for everyone, but I sure admire those who do it. Remember my story took place in the late 60's to 70's. Things have changed (I hope). Also I was a selfish preteen & teen then so my perspective is different than my own parents might be. Yes, I do wonder where some of them are & how they are, but I only know that one went to a local politician & I saw her with the family in a magazine once after about 4 years.
Be encouraged that there are foster parents who love it. Take care
Beth,
Such an awesome post….you are always inspiring in what you have to say….and I love the fact that you love Jesus like you do!! And even through you blog one gets that message!!
Blessings, my friend!
~Beth
Bless you for this powerful post, sorry for the loss of your neigbor.
I think I can uderstand where you are coming from. My friends all thought I was weird. The second the name Jesus was brought up I was all ears… nothing else mattered. I’ve kind of lost a bit of that, unfortunetly, and I need to get it back.
I laughed at your “Dont heal me, Jesus”. Hahaha