Forgotten Memories

Recently, my brother passed away. The sad thing is that I was writing a fictional autobiography based on true stories I had heard different members of the family share. I had finally come to the place where I was going to share a story about him, but alas, he will not be around to read it. As a matter of fact, he can’t even help me to get the details straight, because his memory has been taken away. Because…

Line 8: Any love he possessed, any hatred he had; any fond memories of you he had as a lad...

They are all ‘Forgotten Memories’. The slate has been wiped clean, for now. Everything is on hold, until he is once again awakened, by the ‘trumpet of the Lord’.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first...” I Thessalonians 4:16

Until then, “…The memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

           

At this time, it does not matter whether my brother was holding a grudge toward me or someone else; it doesn’t matter if he had been heartbroken over losing his wife; it doesn’t matter if he was planning to run for president of the USA or was encouraging people not to vote; for him nothing matters anymore. His love, his hatred, his ambitions, his envy is now gone. Finished! Complete! Stick a fork in it – done!

Despite how much I might want to believe that he is happy and reunited with his wife; it is not true. Despite how much fun I’ll have writing about his shenanigans, and how I'd like to believe that he will be looking over my shoulder laughing and slapping his thigh, as I embellish what he did; it still is not true. He is sleeping in Jesus, because he was a Christian. However, beyond that and the fact that I am preparing to see him again, when Jesus comes, I can have no hope.

“Now” is the only time that matters! Now, while you are alive, the things that you do can be accepted by God, but once you’re dead, the books on you will close!

 ^“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.” Ecclesiastes 9:7

Therefore, please don’t let anyone deceive you; let no one convince you that you can talk to a loved one or that he or she will be involved in any activities of the living -  it is not true! My heart goes out to you for your loss. However, the communication ties between you and your deceased loved one has now ended. May the Lord have mercy on your soul and comfort you in this your time of sorrow.

All Scriptures are taken from the KJV – King James Version Bible

# # #

Notice: This is copyrighted material and is intended for the sole use of this author. No part of this material may be reproduced in written, digital form, without the written consent of its originator.

First placed on the Internet on 11/18/2016

More: The Death Poem

Honored or Shamed

I’m the proud mother of three beautiful professional women. I’m grateful to be able to say, that we all have a pretty good relationship with each other. It seems that almost daily, one of us will begin a text string and before the day is over, every one of us has chimed in to give our opinion, grant some good advice, offer a prayer or give praise for something which has happened in one of our lives, during the day. It is absolutely wonderful! I don’t ever want to think of a time, when this will not be the case. But because life is so uncertain, it could be the case any day.  And since, I am the eldest, and we are talking about one’s offspring in this next line. It is they who may well have to deal with this line.

Line 7: His sons come to honor and others to shame, but never again will he call out their name. – Job 14:21

Wow! Each of my daughters has a college degree; two have reached the Master’s level; one has two Master’s degrees. They each have come to honor, however, I’ve been there to celebrate and praise God with them. But should I die, before either of them reach the Doctoral stage; I’ll not know anything about it. As a matter of fact, I am the only sibling in my family that has acquired a college education. However, neither of my parents was alive to see or celebrate it with me.  Why? Because they died before I graduated college, and the dead know nothing!

I came to honor; thankfully, none of us came to shame; but, again, had it happened, my parents would not have known. And Job 14:21 confirms it, by saying, “His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.”

Therefore, whatsoever we do in our lifetime, let us be sure that God is honored. Let us stay close to our loved ones and friends, showing them love and respect, while they are yet alive; for once they are deceased, for them, the party stops!

I encourage you to share some love today, with someone you earnestly care about. It should do both of you well.

All Scriptures are taken from the KJV – King James Version Bible

# # #

Notice: This is copyrighted material and is intended for the sole use of this author. No part of this material may be reproduced in written, digital form, without the written consent of its originator.

First placed on the Internet 11/16/2016

More: Death Poem or Lessons About God

Who's There?

As a child, I distinctly remember not liking horror shows, or any kind of scary movie. They gave me nightmares; the only reason I stayed around to watch them, while at home, was because the family was engaged in viewing them, and I was too afraid to leave and be alone in my room. I still don’t like them; to me they smack of occultism. However, as an adult, I better understand what is going on in the movies, as well as, in real life.

Today, in many movies and musical videos, the implication of and even the real duplication of depicting someone as being alive, after they are dead, is too prominent. It has confused the masses. Michael Jackson’s Thriller video is a prime example of what I’m addressing. There is just no such thing as the “walking dead” or “zombies”.

Many people would have you believe that the soul is immortal (we’ve addressed that earlier) and that their dead loved ones can re-appear and talk to them, or the living in general. But it’s just not so! That is why the next line in the poem is so very powerful.

Line 6: Moreover, all the thoughts perish and man is no more, and never ever will he return to his door. – Job 7:9-10

First, the Psalmist states, “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalms 146:4

The Psalmist is saying that whatever the dead person was thinking about before he died, it died with him. The dead cannot think, reason or surmise anymore.

Also, the following scriptures add to the evidence by saying, “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope…” Ecclesiastes 9:4

As long as you are alive, there is hope for you; your life still has meaning.

“…For a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Why is a living dog, better than a dead lion? Because the dog is alive; it can still function and enjoy life, despite how miserably it might have to live. However, that’s it for the lion! None of its former prey need ever fear it again! Why? Because, it’s dead!

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing.” Ecclesiastes 9:5 ( first part) The dead are in an unconscious state; totally unaware of anything.

“…Neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”  Ecclesiastes 9:5 (last part)

Their memory is worse than amnesia. It no longer exists. The data has been erased! It is blank. They cannot find their way home anymore. I’m so sorry for those of you who believe that they can.

”Moses, the author of the book of Job declares, “As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house; neither shall his place know him anymore.” Job 7:9-10

Therefore, please do not be fooled by ‘spirits’ that might appear to you and say that they are people whom you have known in the past. It is not true! “…They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world…” Revelation 16:14.  These are deceptive spirits of the devil. Don’t be fooled!

It is so important that you understand the truths of theses scriptures; because failure to understand, could place you in some precarious situations. It could even cost you your ultimate spiritual salvation.

All Scriptures are taken from the KJV – King James Version Bible

# # #

Notice: This is copyrighted material and is intended for the sole use of this author. No part of this material may be reproduced in written, digital form, without the written consent of its originator.

First placed on the Internet on 11/14/2016

More: The Death Poem