I took a fairly long prayer walk in the community this morning. I needed to purchase some supplies for the church, so I walked to the store. While walking, I prayed for my family, the church family and our community. While at the store, I heard good news about a store worker’s son whom I was praying for. On the return walk, I enjoyed more talking and listening to Jesus.
I decided to walk through Union Cemetery partly because I saw it on the news last night. Thieves had taken bronze markers which were on the graves of those who served in the military. The high value of metals is the assumed reason for the thefts. A generous business owner in the community is providing the funding to purchase new markers to replace the ones stolen. During the interview by the reporter, the business owner told that he felt he had been given much and wanted to pass it on.
Even on a beautiful summer morning, walking through a cemetery changes your perspective. It reminds us that we are not here forever.
I am thankful for the spiritual leaders in our community who helped make a special place in the cemetery for those babies that were never born or lived very briefly. There is a large grave stone which reads, “In remembrance of those who were never born.” Babies that miscarried, were aborted, or made such a brief appearance that there was not a service or burial can be grieved for and remembered. Parents have placed gravestones with one date on it, their child’s name, and sometimes a verse or note of love. One family comes on the anniversary of their daughter’s/sister’s birthday and releases balloons into the sky. They wonder what she is experiencing in heaven with Jesus and they look forward to a wonder filled reunion.
There are lots of questions and mystery about life on the other side of eternity that a walk through a cemetery arouses.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NLT)
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tell me about your perspective from a recent walk through a cemetery.
Comment Here:
I decided to walk through Union Cemetery partly because I saw it on the news last night. Thieves had taken bronze markers which were on the graves of those who served in the military. The high value of metals is the assumed reason for the thefts. A generous business owner in the community is providing the funding to purchase new markers to replace the ones stolen. During the interview by the reporter, the business owner told that he felt he had been given much and wanted to pass it on.
Even on a beautiful summer morning, walking through a cemetery changes your perspective. It reminds us that we are not here forever.
I am thankful for the spiritual leaders in our community who helped make a special place in the cemetery for those babies that were never born or lived very briefly. There is a large grave stone which reads, “In remembrance of those who were never born.” Babies that miscarried, were aborted, or made such a brief appearance that there was not a service or burial can be grieved for and remembered. Parents have placed gravestones with one date on it, their child’s name, and sometimes a verse or note of love. One family comes on the anniversary of their daughter’s/sister’s birthday and releases balloons into the sky. They wonder what she is experiencing in heaven with Jesus and they look forward to a wonder filled reunion.
There are lots of questions and mystery about life on the other side of eternity that a walk through a cemetery arouses.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NLT)
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tell me about your perspective from a recent walk through a cemetery.
Comment Here:
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