“Angel at my door”, from L.Willows, (God’s plan, power of God, Eternity)

I heard the knock. Walking to the door, I was certain of who would be on the other side. This was the appointment that I spent days preparing my home for; fresh painting.  Everything had been emptied and the furniture was moved to the center. I was living in temporary chaos, not so easy for this orderly heart.

Opening the door.

I thought it was the painters. The moment of transformation finally arrived! I opened the door. Instead of a crew with paint, I saw a friend; one of the managers of the building. Her name is Angel. Surprised but pleased I welcomed her in. She gently explained that there was a mistaken double booking for the painters today and asked if would I mind waiting until tomorrow morning. I watched her gaze at the almost vacant room, and peer into the next where everything was stacked temporarily.

“Yes,” I smiled, and said, “that is no problem at all- don’t worry. I can wait. I am getting used to this!” I knew her a bit like a friend and could feel that she did not want to disappoint me. Then I looked into her kind face and knew that there was more. (Angel, is it ok if I write about this? You are such a special woman.)

A room, ready to be transformed.

I asked. She did not seem alright to me. Then my friend shared what was really going on. I understand her gaze at the almost vacant room now for the first time. Angel told me that her dear grandfather who has been ill for several years has just been accepted into hospice care in his home. She and the rest of their deeply loving family are watching over him. He is a beloved man, a Godly man that inspired and gave spiritual hope, wisdom, and encouragement to many. He is a deacon of his church. We know that the Lord loves him; his life must have touched countless others. It can be so difficult to say goodbye, even if we know that our dear one is going to God.

It is a door that they go through before we do. We trust and we believe. Faith and prayers carry our own hearts to them and give the strength to walk near them. The Heavenlies are not far.

By God, for God, because of God.

The Kingdom of God is here, near. As we live for and with Jesus Christ, we connect to the love that beholds and protects all believers who exist in Eternity with Him.

 John 10:9 –“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

The transformation that I was waiting for in my worldly home was intercepted by a knock that reminded me of an important truth. I thought that the chaos and the tearing down of things before me were enough. I threw out so much. I kept thinking, “simplify, simplify”.

When Angel entered, I was reminded that real transformation involved giving up my “plan” every hour, every day and becoming new with God.  That means constantly dying to self and being reborn in Christ.

Maybe I thought that I did that yesterday (somewhat) but today was a new day. I was going to be challenged again. This is the real world and life is filled with the unexpected; always. I witnessed her courage in the face of a great trial and realized that we all need to remain close to God all the time.

Galatians 2:20 -“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Because He died for us, we die for Him; He lives in us by faith.

God sweeps through with His power and will. We stand back and aside. We allow Him to be the way, the way that we live and walk. We open the door to Him and say, “You are everything”. I do desire that my home receives ‘fresh paint’. It is really my heart and my life that needs to be swept by His Spirit. Every hour, every day- until I am with Him.

I am so grateful that my friend came to the door this morning. I believe that God sent her to give me news about staying close to Him; that we need to live “close to God, all the time”. We make plans, but He makes The Plan. 

I am praying about her beloved grandfather, that she and her family are strengthened by their deep belief in Jesus Christ, comforted by Him as they courageously walk this. We all face mortality. I pray that we are with God, living in Eternity in His Kingdom together.

Romans 8:38-39 -“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And nothing can ever separate us from HIM.

©2020 Linda Willows