a Vapor.

Eccl. 7: 1-2  "A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a  house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." 

Praise the Lord that he 'is close to the brokenhearted and that he saves the crushed in spirit' (ps. 34:18). We have found ourselves this week leaning on God's promise that he is 'not a God of confusion but of peace." (1 cor. 14:33). 

2010 has webbed its way of attacks and attempts of defeat. We have witnessed so much opposition of the enemy's hand amidst life here and there. Yesterday, we attended a memorial service of a missionary friend here in Kenya- a man devoted to the service of our Father- 33yo found dead in his home by his wife- natural causes. A time that much questioning before the Lord unfolds in all of our hearts who knew him. To look upon the face of a 26yo widower and ask the Lord his purpose of calling his son home at such a young age? but, we remain assured in God's promises and trust in His power to save those of us who find ourselves crushed in spirit. 

Pray for the grieving process of all those who are left behind to mourn his departure from this world. A strengthening moment was that he spent his life here investing in different slums of this area. The kids gathered before everyone and spoke of how God used his presence to impact their lives- a powerful depiction of our purpose here in this Earth. It is so true that as James 4:14 proclaims, our life is truly a Vapor- here for a short while and gone tomorrow. 

Times like these forces us to examine the efforts of our own life- the ways in which we spend our time and our heart's extensions. It is so vital that we daily put life into perspective, examining our own responsibility to action- how are we being spoken to by the Spirit and are we responding out of that leading? Are fears impacting our current season of life and we find ourselves not acting in God's leading bc of them? Where do our priorities lie? Are they of this world or from the heart of our Father? 

This world is filled with pain, but the hope remains that we serve a Conquerer, Defender, and Comforter amidst any hardship here. God is still in control and even though hardships face us, we have a home awaiting us- Yesterday, they spoke about his "homegoing"- This world is not our home as believers. Its not meant to be 'easy'- we have not reached our place of resting yet and let us not live our lives as we are in that place.