My beautiful mama, Annette Keller, went home to be with Jesus on October 27, 2011 at 12:45am. Thank you for the incredible love & prayers poured out on her behalf, and ours. He is still God, and He is still good. We know that my mom fought valiantly, that Christ already won, & that this world is not our home. This is an excerpt from one of her Bible study journals near her bedside, which I shared at her memorial service last week:
"The proper attitude in meeting adversity is to count it all joy, which is not an emotional reaction but a deliberate, intelligent appraisal of the situation from God's perspective, viewing trials as a means of moral and spiritual growth. We do not rejoice in the trials themselves, but in their possible results. Testing carries the idea of proving genuineness. Trials serve as a discipline to purge faith of dross, stripping away what is false. Patience is not a passive resignation to adverse circumstances, but a positive steadfastness that bravely endures." (from one of the last entries of Annette Keller's study journal; appears to be a quote by Jack Hayford, anyone know the actual source??)
I think one of the things I learned most from my mom was about giving praise in all circumstances - not the kind of praise you FEEL like giving in the moment - but the kind of praise that you know an all-powerful, completely capable, merciful, just, healing, holy, sovereign, awesome God is absolutly worthy of in SPITE of your circumstances. It is when we offer up praise in the midst of our trials that our God is the kind of God that can shake the earth, bring healing, and open jail doors - but ultimately, whom is most glorified in those moments when we choose to trust Him and worship Him in spite of what we see.
Just as my mom held my hand through divorce and I held her hand through seventh months of horrific cancer treatments and ultimately her homecoming to be with Jesus, this kind of sacrifice of praise was always evident in how she lived her life, loved others, loved God...and worshipped. I only hope that it will always be as evident in mine.
I love these verses from 2 Corinthians that remind us that we're just "passing through." Mom was just passing through, we're all just passing through...and one day we'll all go home to be with him together. What a glorious day that will be. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." Amen & Amen!
2 Corinthians 5 (The Message)
1-5For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.
6-8That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
9-10But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.
11-14That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.
14-15Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
