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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)

Getting trapped in the here and now

It happens all the time. Something goes wrong and then a little while later something else goes wrong. And before long you start to feel overwhelmed by the battle you are in. If only we could see how it all turns out in the end.

As I’m writing this, it is the night before I start heading to Denton for our 2024 AWM Hope™ Conference. My phone has been blowing up all day. One obstacle after another. The AWM team is feeling the heat. Flat tires, sick kids, our worship leader and one of the other speakers have both come down with laryngitis. The struggle is real. I didn’t even tell the team two nights ago a tornado popped up in the middle of the night. It leveled a business completely to the ground – less than five miles from my house.

All day today, I have had to capture my thoughts. Thoughts of fear can creep in as we get ready for a conference. This time last year, just a couple of days before the conference, my sweet adopted mom passed away. I made it to see the family, honor her, and was able to get back to the conference. But I got back just moments before we started. And then there are the memories of the first conference we held in Denton. Getting there the night before, sitting down to dinner with the team. We were so full of excitement and joy only to get a call while we were eating that my father had passed away and I had to leave immediately. Two immediate family members were gone right as the conference began. I have caught myself wondering this year, who will die this time.

Remembering to look up

We often talk about how grief can come in waves and sometimes it is all we can do to survive one wave before the next one comes crashing down on us. Over time the waves seem to be not quite as intense and not quite as frequent. But I found myself getting trapped in always waiting for the next wave. Fortunately, God had already surrounded me with the body of Christ. I was loved so well during those first incredibly difficult years. One of the things I am most grateful for is they continued to encourage me to look up. To look at what God was doing from an eternal perspective.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)

It can be so hard in the midst of such overwhelming pain to believe God can work ALL things together for good, EVEN the death of our husbands. We can’t always see what the end result will be, but we have faith that He is true to His word. His word tells us their is victory over death.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV)

We may not SEE how it ends but we KNOW how it ends

My mantra through out my journey has been “God, I want every possible blessing!” At first that prayer was because the pain was so great I wanted the blessings to be “so great”! And truth be told, I wanted to receive those blessings. I wanted God to “make it up” to me, so to speak, for allowing me to go through so much pain. Like a little child I wanted a reward for making it through it.

As I have drawn closer to God in my journey, I realize He is my reward! My eternal life is not something I will get one day when I go to heaven. We receive our eternal life the moment we believe Christ is who He says He is. At that moment our old life is put to death and we receive a resurrected life in Christ! And it changes everything! Because of Christ we are victorious in the here and now and forever more!

So I am happy to report the AWM Hope™ Conference was a beautiful success! God showed up and His daughters were loved and encouraged! Community was built with Christ as the Head of the Body. God made His presence known. The Holy Spirit comforted us and helped us heal. All the pieces were woven together for good! The participants and the AWM team received rest and peace. Our burdens are lighter! But most importantly, through His Spirit, God was glorified!

Wait what? You said you were writing this before the conference. Yes. But even though I haven’t seen how it ends, I know how it ends! God is faithful!