strong…til the end

1 Corinthians 1:8

He will also strengthen you to the end…

I began a new book today.  From Job – the mourning father to Pauls first letter to the Corinthians.   Fresh year.  Fresh start to it. 

I peered deeply into God’s powerful strong hands while I watched Jean pass through the veil. He did keep His promise.  He carried her. To the very end. 

So I start a new chapter of the rest of my life of sorts today. Don’t we have the opportunity to do that every day? Why not I wonder. ?Whatever happened to “forgetting what lies behind, pressing forward to what lies ahead?  

 I realized the proverbial first year had dropped off the calendar  for me  when my iphone showed 4:23 a.m. 3/18/2015. 

Gratefully I had toasted this new year in well by closing out the worst 12 months of my life with a salmon/salad/and David Arthur dinner with Patrick and Lindsey Largen.  (P&L).

Most readers will not know  P&L.  They were youngsters (probably 21ish) when we met.  Patrick slept on Kirk’s couch at a KSU college apartment.  Messy.  And Lindsey was in love with messy, gifted Patrick.  He was hopelessly (and thankfully) in love with sweet Lindsey too.  Makes for a good story at 21.  These two have followed after Jesus wholeheartedly from 21 to 37. Now raising two beautiful children, they are pouring into the souls of others.  I’m grateful to be a member of their “poured into” club.   Life has turned our roles upside down.  And I’m still smiling this morning, as I ponder their counsel. 

 You see P&L led worship at Jean’s memorial service a year ago.  They have cried and prayed and hoped and knelt beside me this past year.  So as we shared stories, laughed, cried, and prayed again last night, they were giving me hope that He will strengthen me to the very end too.  They have been able to overcome their own grief,  the loss of Jean, to hold out steady hands. Strengthening hands.  He’s used people,  to bridge the gap when my faith has drooped.  O thank God He didn’t leave me alone.  He gave me P&L’s and many more friends this past year to hold on to. I start year 2 grateful.