Day 7 - Freedom

I went to a funeral today.  Dwight Smith, one of the courtroom security officers at the federal building lost a years' battle with lung cancer this past weekend.  I remember when one of the other CSO's told me about his cancer and the prognocis and others told me that he had elected to forego treatment.  I was terribly nervous about the first conversation I would have with Dwight after hearing the news.  I shouldn't have been, he certainly wasn't phased.  I found the words after a few days to tell him how sorry I was to hear about his cancer (that word alone carries a weight on the tongue that makes it hard to say) and that he was in my prayers.  I was caught off guard (although I shouldn't have been) by how calm and measured his response was.  He simply told me that he appreciated it, but that he trusted his maker.  He then spent the next few minutes waiting to open up the courtroom for a hearing telling me that he knew where he was going a long time ago and that he was alright with his future.  His outlook was beyond encouraging.  It was incredibly uplifting and a powerful testament to the comfort a relationship with Christ can give you in the face of true difficulty.  I was incredibly humbled by Dwight's courage and quite strength. 

Today and everyday I am thankful...

71. For God's covenant of Grace that has redeemed me.  As unnatural as death is, I find immeasurable comfort in freedom from death knowing that it doesn't have control over me.  Jesus has paid the ransom for my soul that was condemned and is now free. 

Jeremiah 31:31-34. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Matthew 20:28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 1 Corinthians 11:25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Hebrews 9:15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

72. For Dwight Smith and his humbling trust in the Lord

73. For my co-workers who are such positive and encouraging people to work with.

74.  For having the BCS National Championship Game on DVR - yep, I'm watching it as I type.

75. For a video baby monitor so I can watch JC sleep. 

76.  That Holt requests the Midnight ride of Paul Revere as a bedtime story

77.  That Harper Ann lets me rock her and sing to her at night, but tells me when she is ready to lie down in her bed and go to sleep on her own.

78. For Wireless internet

79. For Holt's teachers at Hayes Cooper who love him so much

80. For Elvis