The Next Steps: Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

The title of this post refers to that journey I asked you to take with me back in November. That seems like a lifetime ago, and for Ian I guess it was. That may have been a little bitterness coming out, but before you worry too much, let me assure you that my bitterness, if there truly be any, is towards death and sin and all that stands opposed to the decrees of God. This world isn't as it should be. Thank our Lord that death itself has been defeated. Oh, how I long for the day when I will see all the promise of the Cross fulfilled.

Well, the time has come for the next steps in this journey. This weekend, Friday-Monday, will bring our final earthly farewell to Ian. His memorial service will be Saturday, February 4th at 11 a.m. at Covenant Reformed Church in Sacramento. All who can attend are welcome. There will be a reception at the church after. We will have a visitation on Monday, February 6th at 12 p.m. at Galt Funeral Home (Galt, CA) followed by a burial about 1 p.m. at Galt Cemetery.

Please especially be praying for us all this weekend. I can feel the weight of it all bearing down on me. It has been like Goliath taunting the Israelites from a distance. Pray that I would be like David and take up my meager means and face the false strongman Death with faith that my pebbles will fly true and sure with the power of my Strongman.

31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  -Romans 8:31-39 (Go read the rest of the chapter too)

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.  -Psalm 23

17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.   - Isaiah 65:17-25