A few days ago I had a dear friend who passed away.  I am sad that I will not be able to see her again on earth yet rejoice that one day we will be reunited in heaven. 

I met Deb, my friend, 10 years ago when she walked into a Bible study we were doing called “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat,” by John Ortberg.  Well, Deb got out of the boat and never stopped walking on water in her faith until she reached her savior Jesus’ arms in heaven.  One of the first questions she asked me was “Do you think this Jesus thing really works?”  She said she went to church and knew that Jesus was her savior, but didn’t really see where that was working for her.  Sure she may have had some fire insurance not to go to hell, but where was peace in the midst of chaos, joy in the midst of pain, and strength in our weakest moments.  She was hungry and desperate for real change.  I told her Jesus was the only way and the way we see a difference is when we seek Him with our whole hearts.  One of the ways we do that I told her was through Bible study.  She agreed to join us and for the next 10 years she never stopped learning. It was a beautiful thing to watch as her faith grew and her peace intensified.  Once she found comfort and real life in personally knowing Jesus and what He had for her, she was on a mission that her family and friends would know the truth about Him too. 

When I went to her home to prepare to speak at her funeral, I found not one Bible but many written in and all sorts of devotionals and scriptures everywhere.  In fact there was something about Jesus in every room of her home.  I knew if she had something to say to us, it would be in her Bible.  Because she had leukemia, I thought I would find a ton of scriptures on healing, but that’s not what I found.  Instead, everywhere I looked she was claiming the promises that her family and friends would know Jesus.  In typical Deb fashion, life was not about her, but her love for others. 

In the back of her Bible I found a letter she had written to her family that was so comforting to all of us.  In Deb’s words:

         “These last few years I have lived my life as a believer—walking daily with God—what peace that has brought—what miracles I have witnessed, prayers that have been answered, giving my life to God and knowing that He is in control—how secure I am—no more concern for material things of this world—what peace there is in that.

I pray for you daily and even though you may not see it—God is drawing you to Him—follow His will—find peace—true love, joy, happiness.”

You will find all of these things as well when you seek Him with your whole heart. God is faithful and true to His promises and will do it not only for you but also for your family. Won’t you trust Him today and give Him complete control of your life?