REAL VICTORY

LORD
yesterday was a very hard day. A nite spent praying till 5amish in the morning and at 10:30am I got the call that I hoped and prayed would bring good news. But it didn't. My uncle had died.

I am reminded of that song, blessed be your name...these words:
you give and take away, you give and take away
my heart will choose to say LORD blessed be your name.

That's what my family was feeling yesterday. Last night we all got together at my uncle's house. We had prayers and as we sang songs giving you the glory I could hear the grief in my aunties voices. It broke my heart, LORD. I was sad for the loss of my uncle, but also for the loss to my family.

We have lost 3 uncles in the last 18 months. My uncle's unveilling is next weekend, now we have to fit a funeral in between for yet another uncle. Some of my cousins are wondering why we have lost so many, is our family cursed, have we done something wrong. I asked you this yesterday. Is it something we have done?

But I realised that my first uncle, died in his early 70s which is a good life. So it's only the last two who have died early - in their 50s. Uncle Richard, who just died, has been sick all his life. He had a hole in his heart. They didn't expect him to last to his 20s, so he has lived a good life. Uncle Robert, had luekemia.

I don't think there is a pattern there. But if I'm wrong LORD than please show me.

I hate sickness, LORD. I hate that it's such an effective weapon for Satan. That he could cause so much suffering to my uncle. But i know that his real target is not our bodies. His real target is our spirits, to force us to give up and believe his lies.

Through you, Lord Jesus, our spirits are soaring on wings like eagles. That though we suffer in body our spirits are victorious because he cannot take these from us. These are ours to give.

Like my aunties and one uncle of two left, we can still sing you praises even tho our hearts break and our minds do not understand, we can still believe that you know what you are doing, that you will bring so much good from this for those of us who believe and love you.

My uncle experienced something that you Lord experienced. Today on Good Friday, as we remember when you suffered physically for us, I know my uncle had a taste of that. He was someone who relied on his strength, who always put on a brave face. But 4 months in and out of hospital, as his body started to shut down and he felt such pain that he couldn't hide it, he knew what it meant to suffer.

You let some of us know what it's like to put our lives on the line, to suffer such physical pain that we welcome going home to you. My uncle experienced what it was like to be you. Not all of us are called to do this. Some of us are not mentally or spiritually strong enough to cope. But my uncle went through so much and he kept fighting. He fought a good fight and i know he will be celebrating his victory in heaven with you.

He will be with my Dad and his brothers and sisters, his parents...he will be with you LORD. His reward for going through and not giving up. Even when he felt hopeless, he didn't stop believing. That's what Satan can't touch...that's what we hold in our hands.

LORD, our family is mourning now. Help us to draw near to you so you will draw near to us. Like zella said in her prayer, you are our comforter. When I lost my Dad, only you understood my pain and despair. I ask that you be with my cousins and aunty. Pour your love on them LORD because they seriously need your loving protection.

Help us LORD, to support and love them. Give each of my aunties spirit's of wisdom LORD, so they can think of them first. Help us to work together to give my uncle an awesome sending off. Help us to be peacemakers LORD.

I am upset that Satan stole my uncle from me. But that was only physically.

Today we celebrate your painful death on a cross. It sounds weird to celebrate such a horrific day. But you took this day and made it something good for all those who believe in you for those who have been called according to your purpose. Like the Israelites who were protected by the blood of a sacrificial lamb during passover. We are protected by your blood Lord Jesus, our sacrificial lamb. We are marked with your blood Lord which gives us eternal life access to our promise land.

Blood is something people feel icky about. But it's how you made us, LORD, it's what gives us life, pumps through our bodies, keeps us alive. Your son's blood is exactly that. It's what gives us life. You suffered and sacrificed your blood for us. Without it, we would not have the final victory.

Satan took my uncle's body, but he could not take away his salvation, which you purchased. He could not remove the mark of your blood on his spirit. He tried to steal it but my uncle still believed. My uncle now has eternal life with you. This is greater than 56 years here. He has millions, trillions, of years with you, the author of love, his Creator, his Saviour. Satan can no longer touch him, or cause him pain.

That's real victory. That's Jesus' victory won over 2,000 years ago for us, his followers. That's the real victory we celebate every year at Easter. We know Jesus lives. That he overcame death and sits at your right hand, Father. We know that his suffering, his pain, wasn't the end of the story. He lives and so does my uncle.

And we will meet again in eterntiy.

Thank you LORD. You will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

amene