Ian's Inheritance and Ours

Thank you Lord that by the gift and power of Your grace lavished through Your Son Jesus, Ian lives even though he died. Thank you that Ian is now experiencing the living hope provided through the resurrection of Jesus, where faith becomes sight to what no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined - the eternal blessings You have prepared for those who love You. Thank you that today Ian fully experiences the inheritance of a son of God, a joint heir with Jesus, an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, unfading and reserved in heaven for Ian and all your children who were sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit as a down payment of this promised inheritance and are being conformed into Your image Jesus through Your action in the midst of life, and even its suffering. Ian was not just chosen and predestined by You to this inheritance, but called, justified and now glorified in Your very presence where he is eternally safe in Your hands, experiencing the fullness of Your presence and glorious character. Ian is, as all believers are, part of Your eternal inheritance, Your eternal family, Your eternal plan summing up all things under one head, Jesus. Ian's experience is that of all the saints of old and will be the experience of all believers yet to be united in Your presence. The question is when in Your plan do we join Ian. I am ready ...

Faith, connecting the now to eternity:

Heb. 11:1, 6

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He is and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 

Mark 9:24

Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

I get this father's response - seeing the situation that his boy is in, the audacity of Jesus' promises, and the limitations of my faith. My faith is limited only until it is set upon the limitless One. But that is a challenge for people such as myself ... I miss my music man!

Eternal facts for weary faith to rest upon:

John 10:27-30

[Jesus said] "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Fathers hand. The Father and I are one.” 

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live a even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

Ephesians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as hechose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:13-14

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)- when you believed in Christ - you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of Gods own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Galatians 4:5-7

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “ Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

Romans 8:14-18

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God's children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) - if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.

Romans 8:28-31

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God's power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Ephesians 1:18-20

- since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened - so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms...

Ephesians 1:4-6

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will - to the praise of the glory of his grace a that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.

Ephesians 1:9-10

He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ - the things in heaven and the things on earth. 

In all my sorrows, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

In all my victories, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

Than any comfort, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

More than all riches, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

Our souls declaring, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

Our song eternal, Jesus is better - make my heart believe 

(AustinStone Worship)

Thanks to Matt Carter, Pastor at the Austin Stone for wisdom and messages on this topic

I want you to know his name!

Every parent brings to their children their identity, their name, their background - for better or worse. Indeed, having kids initially feels like an extension of these things - they now bear my image, to a degree, my personality, to another, and of course my name. This changes as children grow up. The circle of friends and acquaintances that parents associate with usually shrinks with regards to former, non-child having, people and expands and centers on people - parents and families - that share this defining factor: we have children. In this new circle, it is interesting how parents of strong individual identity and qualification become more and more associated with their children. No longer you are [insert your name!] with a degree after your name, but [your name] , [your kid’s name] Mommy or Daddy. This transition becomes more pronounced as your children enter and leave kindergarden, up through high school and beyond. You are, to a large part of your world, simply the mother or father of another. Although we are often driven by people recognizing us, accepting us, knowing us - as parents, that the primary association and identity is with your children is just fine. Indeed, a parent puffs up when he/she is referred to with relation to their children - even those with struggles - for they are a living extension of their parents. We want our children to go forth, be known and take joy and pride in them. We look forward to their lives to grow and eclipse our own.

God seemed to know this. His Son was born in obscurity, yet He sent the heavenly chorus to sing and announce His birth to those who would listen. He revealed the mystery of the child to faithful followers who blessed Jesus as an infant. After living 30 or so years "behind the scenes", Jesus burst forth at His baptism in full fledged ministry. God rejoiced over His Son and showered His Spirit upon Him as He proclaimed, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This statement did not just herald the Son's dual role as Servant and King, but was the expression of the Father's heart toward His Son. This word "Beloved" is used in both the Gospels and Epistles of Jesus. Indeed, every child needs to hear this cry of joy over them by their parents. To say, "This is Danny, my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." "This is Caylea, my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased." "This is Ian, my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Regardless of performance, attitude or outcome, parents are or need to be rejoicing over their children. "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:17.

God also proclaimed His joy for His Son as Jesus approached the cross and sought that God's Name would be glorified. After Jesus' passion and resurrection God promised that Jesus' Name is not just understood by Him and believers, but by all people of all times. That at the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Indeed, praise to our kids, remembering our kids, acknowledging our kids is the highest form of joy and glory for a parent. 

I now understand why there are so many gold plaques - I used to think they were just born of hubris (and sometimes thye may be) but often it is parents, families who have lost someone special and they do not want people to forget the name of their beloved. I know that Danny and Caylea will continue to establish their names. I will see their influence and impact expand and rejoice over this. But I am fearful that people will forget Ian's name. That they will move on. I cannot. I know that it is normal and healthy for Ian's friends to move on, for nephews and nieces to grow up and have their memories of Ian grow dim. It is natural to find other relationships, not live in grief, to grow and find other identity. I did when Scotty died. Why not Ian’s friends and family? Well in this case it is my son!! I don't want his name, influence, value and presence to go away or grow dim.

I will not have new pictures of Ian. I take great joy in those I have. I desire intensely to hear new stories about Ian as I did this last week in College Station. Stories of joy, laughter and ice cream; stories of gummy worms and Doritos for dinner; stories of friendship, working out, love and giving. I am so proud of all my kids. They give such joy to my heart. I know they bless people they meet and know. I want Ian to continue to bless his friends, his family, even strangers. 

I want you to know his name!

Stone

Meditations on the Castle at Guimarães

Hard and cold, 

Brought forth from the earth, 

Brittle, abrupt, angular shape

Breaking as it falls

To pieces

Shaped and cut, 

Supporting great form

Soaring great heights, of extreme mass

Stability is

Foundation

Carved and set

Yielding supple forms

Beauty from pick and hammer

Dreams reflected in 

Hardened form

Cracked and worn

Old as earth around

Repurposed, reused, relocated

Transformed into new 

Living on

Eroded

Every mark removed 

Each memorial torn down

Formless and littered

On the ground

Dust we are

To dust we return

Time washes away memory

Love and loss mingle

In grief

Breath and dreams

Used to build and mold

Only to break, waste away

Is life with the stone

Or the stars?

Living Stone

Bright Morning Star

Life is unyielding as the stone

Unreached as the sky

Forlorn?

Living Hope

In the Master's hands

Molded into masterpieces

Becoming living stones

Build upon Another

An eternal home