The Phil Files

Donna and I are supposed to be at the lake with our small group enjoying a relaxing time, a little fishing, seeing newborn colts, and having a happy time. Instead, our small group spent the day in a little bitty town in the panhandle of Texas for a funeral.

While we attended this funeral, Ricky — another brother from church — was having a funeral for his dad who died on Ricky’s birthday. Before we left early this morning, we found that Mac, a precious bear of a man and good friend from the place I preached for 22 years, passed from this life to glory yesterday. I’m thankful that every bad Friday has been trumped by the glorious truth of every Sunday:

• God’s love is stonger than death.
• Jesus’ grace led him to the Cross and his power demonstrated by the empty tomb loosed Satan’s death-grip on us.
• The Holy Spirit lives in us to help us find God’s grace and Jesus’ power in our daily lives.

Death is still a messy and painful intruder that can rip apart our personal world. Yet God made sure his grace was felt and Jesus made sure his power was shown and the Spirit presence helped us find God’s blessings in the middle of life’s grief.

The funeral for Lavoe Thacker was a blessing. She lived and died a godly lady. The church building in the little town was not only packed, but more than a hundred people also sat out in 90 degree heat where they couldn’t hear a word, so they could honor this Christian lady. (This in a town of less than 250!) We love John and his wife Jana, so it was a blessing to see why they loved and respected John’s mother so much. While death and cancer remain our great enemies, they cannot steal the life of the real person — only the life of their physical body. The legacy, the memory, the example, and the spirit of God’s people endure long after their physical body is gone!

Also a special blessing was the birth of Jesse Levi Jones. Words cannot express my thanks and praise to the Lord for giving our church family, and especially the Jones family, this precious gift. A year ago we were all devastated by the events in this family’s life. Now we sit in wonder at what grace has brought to our door. But it’s late and one of our Heartlight writers and good friends has said it far better than I, so I point you to her blog and her message about Friday’s and Sunday’s and the mystery of it all. Thanks Sarah for saying it so well.

I’m glad this Friday is over. I will rest this Sabbath day and look for the glory of Resurrection Sunday. Until then, I praise my Abba Father for not letting the evil one steal way the joy of Easter. Even on a day when death has held so much influence, the gift of a child, the company of friends, and the witness of a life well-lived remind me of God’s enduring grace and Jesus’ triumphant gift.