“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  

2 Corinthians 5:17

 My sister-in-law Denise passed away last week.  She left her home on earth to be with her Lord and Savior in her forever home in heaven.  Denise wasn’t always a believer.  Her parents took her to church and taught her to be good, but she never heard the good news of a Savior who died for her and would live with her personally forever.  During her college years, Denise fell away from attending church and became an atheist.  She said she didn’t believe in God and saw no need for Him in her life.  A teaching job brought her to a small town in Michigan where she met and married my brother-in-law.

Our family was concerned about their spiritual beliefs and prayed for them.  Time passed, they subsequently had two children, moved 300 miles away, and after a few years were divorced.   It was at this low point in Denise’ life when a neighbor became to speak to her about the Lord.   She was a friendly lady who occasionally babysat for the children.  Denise told her she wasn’t interested in God or reading the Bible because it contained too many errors, inconsistencies and discrepancies.  Her friend challenged her to find these “discrepancies.”  Denise began reading the Bible to prove her neighbor wrong.  As she read it, she realized the truth of scripture.  The person of Jesus Christ became real to her and she accepted Him as her Lord and Savior.  Denise’ life changed!  What was abhorrent to her before, now became her life!  She began attending church with her neighbor and taking her children.  They also accepted Christ!

I saw Denise a few years later and was astonished at the change in her! She had a light in her eyes and a look of peace on her face.  Her whole countenance was different!  If was very evident a huge change had taken place!  She was pleased and eager to talk about what Christ had done in her life.  What a blessing she became!  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come,” 2 Cor. 5:17.

 Her daughter wrote and told us of her passing and mentioned of the love and devotion she had for her children.  She had a sacrificial love for her family and put their desires above her own.  In 2011, she wrote a letter and gave it to her pastor.  It was an outline of her funeral, complete with songs to be played.  She wrote, “Please let everyone know how much the Lord meant in my life.  When I was born again, I experienced this beautiful freedom of being ‘in Christ.’  It held me together through many hard times and losses (my brother, my parents, and my son).  It brought me JOY that never left me!”  What a blessing to know she’s HOME with the Lord!  Her memorial was a celebration of her time on earth and brought honor to God’s great name.

“Away from the body and at home with the Lord,”  2 Corinthians 5:8.  Hallelujah!!

Your friend, Jean