Blog My Sojourn Live

²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Philippians 1:21-22

 

I went to Paula Lithander’s memorial service today.  I didn’t get to know Paula, only by association with her husband.  Today I go to know her—yes, I got to know her very well indeed.

 

I thought all day today after the service about an interesting part of the video in which Paula spoke of her faith journey.  How transparent she was of how she as a young girl came to Christ—for the obvious—fear of eternity in hell.  The part I so enjoyed of her video was the truth that her life after the acceptance of Christ became much more about how she lived her life by faith.  How her faith prior to her cancer treatment was beginning to take on a “new” aspect. 

 

Yes, Paula was telling all of us—the value of living by faith with purpose.  Her purpose became more and more of serving people, telling others of a relationship with Christ and the value that He brings to life.  This will forever prove the point--- that as one grows in faith in Christ—it has an incredible affect on the way we live—which ultimately points to the way in which we die.  Is it all about us, or all about others?  Paula’s life and death answers that question beautifully!

 

Oh I have never faced cancer or death—but I do know that the past 4 years has brought me to this place—

That even if heaven were not promised—I would still follow Christ period.  The why to that statement can be found in the way I live my life.  Not for getting to heaven, not for trophies, not for accolades, not out of guilt or because I was told to...  No—I follow Christ—because He is Christ and there is none other that brings meaning to this life.

 

The Apostle Paul and Paula both got it—while living here on this earth—there is much to do.  The what to do is what most people don’t really get.  Paula got it—I’m getting it.

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted at: 09:43 PM | Add Comment |

2 Comments

Dave Crumley said...

I think you really said a mouthful from the heart Don. You wrote "I follow Christ, because he is Christ." There is no better way to say it!! Dave Crumley

Posted August 19, 2009 12:16 PM | Reply to this comment

Don said...

Thank you! Rock on my brother

Posted August 19, 2009 02:05 PM | Reply to this comment

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