"Think not of death as the extinguishing of life,
but rather the snuffing out of a candle because dawn has come."
~ Anonymous
but rather the snuffing out of a candle because dawn has come."
~ Anonymous
While I Have My Being
You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
You hide Your face, they are troubled;
You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust...
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him ...
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
~ Psalms 104:28-29;33,35 (NKJV)
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
~ John 11:25-26 (NKJV)
A speaker recently challenged our audience to write down five aspirations. If you've been hanging around me or my blog at all, you know that my inner Don Quixote is quite given over to the Impossible Dream. I nonetheless hesitated, because I also like to let God lead in the dance through this life.
But we were encouraged to dream big. So I thought about some joys I'd like to be mine. Secret stuff, you know.
Want to hear one? (Won't be a secret after today, I guess.)
With my dying breath, I want to bless the Lord.
Because the Lord has blessed me in ways far beyond my highest imagination, I share the psalmist's resolution: "I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." Every breath He gives me is opportunity for praise—whether I walk through land that is plentiful, where streams of abundance flow (been there); or whether I'm found in the desert place, walking in wilderness (done that).
So I want to die the way I'm living. The manner of death is irrelevant. (Except for dying in my sleep. I don't get my wish if I die in my sleep, so I hope to exclude that one.)
If you think me silly, I really don't mind you laughing. Whether or not I attain this particular quest, I plan to have the last laugh.
Lord, You've indeed blessed me, exceedingly, abundantly, in the knowledge of You. I bless Your name today. I'll bless Your name while I have my being. If I have found favor in Your sight, I ask You to grant my desire to bless Your name with my final breath.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from dannorcott.co.uk
Lovely dream but don't wait, do so anyway as thou it were immanent ;) I know you do. XOXO
ReplyDeleteI am sure God is pleased with your passion for praise! No, it is not silly. I am sure God will honor it,too.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of my grandmother, on her deathbed at age 100, pulled both of my daughters to close to her chest and prayed a blessing over them. I will never forget it, and neither will they. It was like the last thing she wanted to do with her breath.
It's one of the neatest aspirations I've run across, Anne. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are silly. I think you are in love and your love lights a fire in everyone who reads your work!
ReplyDeletePraise God for the way you love Him.
~ Wendy
T. Anne, not sure what you mean by "don't wait." But yes, I bless Him every day, every way, and never enough. "Oh to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be." It is a debt of love I gladly pay.
ReplyDeleteGlynn, it's an aspiration that won't make Forbes, but I'd rather hear from my Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Wendy, I've always loved kindling a roaring fire. I like the idea of being a spiritual pyromaniac. ;D
Brad, I have a lump to my throat and moist eyes to think not only of your grandmother and the great legacy she left, but also that God might honor my prayer to do likewise.
ReplyDeleteI'm honored to have you share this memory here. Thank you.
Hi Anne, I'm visiting from another blog. We have something in common - I was born in 1962 (Jan 27th) and met Jesus in 1986. Small world, huh? I see Jesus is here so I climbed on board.
ReplyDeleteYou're invited to visit me at:
www.heavenlyhumor.blogspot.com
Blessings,
Debby
Wonderful thought to start the work week! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy sweet sister, I do not think you are crazy, I think you are on fire for Jesus, your passion burns brightly. I love you.
ReplyDeleteA truly passionate daughter of God would have this dream while millions more wish they would love to die in their sleep!
ReplyDeleteI have several times recently awakened in the midst of praise. Can't quite explain that, but wonder if perhaps you couldn't still achieve this aspiration despite the excluded cause of death.
ReplyDeleteThat might just be the strangest comment I've yet to leave on a blog.
Deborah Ann, it's nice to see you here again. Yes, it is a small world. ; )
ReplyDeleteRosslyn, I pray your week will be filled with uplifting thoughts.
Denise, sometimes that fire has lots of flame and sometimes hot steady coals, but by His grace I'll stay on fire for Him.
Bible Lover, I am content in however my Lord someday brings me to His full presence.
Lyla, I get shivers up my spine at your words. Not because I find them strange, but thrilling.