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Blessed are those who Mourn.

9/27/2009

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She was present, but seldom pushy.   She could find thankfulness in anything, but I don't remember a word or expression of grumpiness.   She had received the LIFE of the Father through her submission and surrender to Jesus Christ and through obedience and love for the Word, and even as her body wasted away she was often more ALIVE than others.   The Queen of Snediker.   I choose to use this issue to speak on the life and death of Cythia Abrahams. 

Several members have told me that they still cry every day because they feel so sad that Cythia is no longer with us.   We shall be comforted.   Precious in the sight of the Lord is the life and the death of his daughter, Cythia Abrahams.   That seems crass to mention death and “precious” together in the same sentence, but God gives us that statement in Psalm 116:15.   As we consider her life, and as we think about all that we as a church have been blessed by over the years with the LIFE of God lived out in the life of Cythia, it is only fitting that we should miss that life when God calls her home.   Seriously, it is right and good to tell God that we know and feel that a valuable part of our spiritual family life has been taken away from us, and it makes us sad.   Lay up treasure in heaven.  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   Jesus used that lesson to speak of money, but when we bring that lesson over to God and His church, we do recognize that when a loved one, a person on earth, leaves us a certain part of our hearts feels empty because we were laying up treasure in heaven by loving while we are hear on earth. 

So then we go on to sing a song of celebration.    We have the opportunity in this life to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, so that we can sing and dance with Cythia in heaven, giving expressions of praise and worship towards our blessed Father.   Can you imagine that in the ages to come our Father will  show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.   I wonder what that looks like for Cythia right now.   Is she in a class learning more about the “exceeding riches of His grace”?    Is she experiencing “the exceeding riches of His grace” through her interactions with other saints who have gone before?   Is she speaking directly with Jesus right now?  Those are actually fun questions to ponder, and as we consider heaven God brings comfort.

One more thought.  The purpose God had for Cythia Abrahams on earth is still being revealed in the record of her life and in the lives of those she has touched. What did you learn from her?  How shall you then live?    
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    A Faith That Works

    For the past few years, I have occasionally written articles under the heading "A Faith That Works", for our congregation.  These are mostly related to practical Christianity.  Recently, we have merged them into blog format.   Feel free to read and respond at your discretion.  May God direct you to love Him and to love others!
                        Rich Schwartz

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