Are You Who You Want To Be?

This has been the tagline on my dear sweet friends email for a long time.  My sweet friend Julie has a contagious smile.  She has an incredible personality, loves the Lord and life.  She has been an inspiration to me in so many ways.  She has battled cancer fiercely for the  past 10 months and went home to be with the Lord today.

I sit here full of sorrow and tears for the things that I will miss in my dear friend.  I regret not spending more time with her these last several months, not talking as much, so many things.  I serve and love my sovereign Lord and know that this was His plan to take her home to himself but oh how I struggle.   I am grateful God allowed our paths to cross but deeply sorrowful because I will miss her.  My heart aches for Regan.  There are so many friends that have so many stories to tell him of his mother's wonderful and love and compassion for others.  Her strength and resolve was incredible.  She personified Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She lived life intentionally.  I truly believe Julie was who she wanted to be....and who God wanted her to be.  2 Corinthians 5:7-9 says, Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  My precious friend, though she was young, fulfilled the purpose God had for her life which pleased Him and brought her home where she now rejoices.  She is having her best party ever tonight....and she was a great party planner and hostess!

2 Timothy 4:8 says, Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  Julie received her crown today; I can only imagine how many jewels were placed on it.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31

Praise God sweet Jewels no longer suffers and is not in pain but oh how we mourn the loss of such an angel on earth.  Heaven is singing praises to receive such an incredible woman today.

Continue to pray for her son Regan and the family.  And remember, "Are you who you want to be?"--if you aren't make changes and start today.  We are never promised a tomorrow.  James 4:14  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.