not the end.

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 4 Comments

It doesn’t end there.

We don’t allow ourselves to get derailed “just because”.

There is more. Much more!

The Christian faith gives us hope. Hope of new life. Eternal life.

That means life continues on.

It means seeing our loved one again.

God made us to see beyond today. He is the one who put hope in our heart.

We hope for many, many things, don’t we?

But do we hope beyond life here on earth?

Very few of us do. Life keeps us very focused on temporal things. We get distracted. We think about here and now.

Getting derailed makes us stop thinking beyond today and what is waiting for us.

There is light at the end.

sunset-after-the-storm

Photo credit: fireboat895 via Foter.com / CC BY

eternal life.

July 22, 2015July 18, 2015 by Kathleen Moulton

Life does not end here on earth.

Just because we do not see beyond what we do not fully understand, does not mean life will not continue on when life ends on earth.

Photo credit: VinothChandar / Foter / CC BY

I am inspired by men and women who lived throughout the centuries who had an understanding of knowing life was not just about here and now. They lived with an assurance of eternal life. They carried pain with strength and dignity. They believed in something greater than themselves.

How about you?

easter.

April 5, 2015April 5, 2015 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 3 Comments

Whether it is called Easter or Resurrection Sunday, this is the day for Christians to celebrate the day when Jesus was resurrected from the dead.

The tomb was empty.

Why is this significant?

God took the form of a man and dwelt among humanity to save us from the consequences of sin: eternal death and eternal separation from God.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You don’t clean up before coming to God. He takes you as you are. He died for your sin before you were born.

You don’t have eternal life through doing good things. It is a gift.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The old covenant, the Law, could not save, only reveal to us what sin is.

The new covenant, Grace, saves, and wipes the slate clean.

Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world. His death and resurrection broke the power of sin over our lives.

What does he want?

Our love.

Photo credit: Art4TheGlryOfGod / Foter / CC BY-ND

focus.

March 11, 2015March 11, 2015 by Kathleen Moulton

It’s understandably easy to focus on all that goes wrong in our lives. Especially when one thing after another goes wrong. Especially when you know you’ve worked really hard at something, only to have it taken away.

We all have moments like this in life. It’s important, especially these days with social networking (e.g Facebook, Twitter) where everyone has a platform and an audience, to not compare yourself with others. Because that snapshot of their day is not indicative of them being better off than you.

Let me say it again: that snapshot of their day is not indicative of them being better off than you.

Where is your focus? You get to choose, you know.

Focus begins with those moments throughout the day that give us a smile or a memory. You know, the little things.

When I see a new bird show up at the feeder, this makes me happy. I can have so much on my mind, and yet, this little bird makes time stop and all is well.

When the colors begin to pop up through the last traces of melted snow, this makes me happy.

All of us are surrounded by creation and we are wired to respond. Summer nights watching the dotted flashes of orange glow in the meadow, the pitter-patter of rain lulling us off to sleep, and do we ever get tired of looking at sunsets?

Focusing on the beauty is not denying the existence of ugliness. It’s choosing to believe the beauty is there for a reason. Otherwise God would not have put it there.

It gives us hope. It helps us trust.

And it’s the true snapshot of eternal life with God.