As of 8:00 a.m. on this December 29th, 2016 there appears to be a list of 56 celebrity deaths that affected American culture over the years.  Most were known to me.  Some were aged and like all man kind they were destined to die sooner than later.  Others were young and they appeared to have full lives before them.  But one year ago, December 29, 2015 they each were here living, breathing functioning human beings.

I did not anticipate writing in my blog today about death.  This morning as I read the news, the Face Book feeds of friends who are mourning Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynold deaths, a mother/daughter passing just a day apart I have been thinking.  I have been thinking about life and about death for it comes to each of us.  I have lost several dear friends to death this year.    They were not celebrities who made the news but they were awesome special loved people. For me the news is not so grim, their time on earth is over but now they are in eternity, with The Lord.

As I look over the list of Who's Who, who have died in 2016, it is vast and it is profound as to the people that were impacted by a life or their lives.  We read of their accomplishments, their careers, their politics, their lifestyles, their.......  But for each person on 'the list', it is over here on earth.

Death makes each of us sad. I am sad for my friends are no longer part of my day to day life.  I am also sad by the mean quips from those who did not like a certain 'celebrity' and their deaths evoked ugly verbiage that served no purpose but to expose the ugly heart of the one speaking those words.

Death is not a period.  Death here on earth is a comma that leads us into eternity.  Many do not believe that there is one.  I for one do and most people if given time to reflect on their lives as they watch their lives ebb away get serious about eternity.  To have only this life and have nothing else, it is a bleak at best.

We may not like 'religion' I totally get that.  Religion is mans idea.  However, God and a relationship with Him our creator is His idea and not one to be messed with.  Your eternity rests on this fact!

My blog is not one read by many, if anyone.  However, as I write, I know that should I die now or tomorrow or ?, that I will be with God.   I just celebrated Christmas, the beginning of God making known to us humans that He desires to have a relationship with us forever.   Choosing to be a Christ follower is not a popular one.  People around the world are being murdered and tortured for this choice.   My life style choice, love for The Lord and announcing Jesus Christ as my savior (eternity outcome) are destained by many and mocked daily on social media, news and various forums of people saying what they think.   I can live with this.  I cannot die without this conviction!

I have made this choice because God drew us to Himself as He showed to me/us/you that we need Him to save us from our self destruction. Take note of how, many of our 'celebrities' actually died. Our decaying bodies alone and our inability to prolong a quality life should tell us that we are not in control!

If God were not real, personally involved in my life then I am one crazy old lady.  However, I know I am right and will die with my earthly death sentence, comma ushering me into Heaven.  I had to choose to accept God's terms but oh the peace that comes with that choice is amazing!

I did not want to make this blog any longer than it is.  I am going give a link to a passage of Scripture from a translation of the Bible, called the Message, it is just a bit easier to read in today's English.
The author, Paul, went to his earthly death by decapitation.  He could have renounced Jesus and His message and 'lived'  but because Paul knew it to be truth, he did not deny his belief.  Jesus changes lives.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015&version=MSG    

As I close I would love to know if you have read this blog, this passage of Scripture and what you have decided to do with it. 

December 27th

Today,  an Iconic personality died.  Carrie Fisher, known best at Princess Lea in Star Wars.  60!  A heart attack!  A heart attack on a plane as she was flying home!   Another singer of fame died this week, George Michael's, singer/song writer, rumors speculate it was a drug overdose of some kind. He was 53.  

As Americans we are not a culture that handles death well.  We are certain that there will be something that will prolong our lives or fix whatever is bothering us.  We are certain there is doctor, or  essential oil or food group to consume or to avoid that will make all things right again.  We tend to run from one fad to another to find that illusive 'fountain of youth' or perhaps better stated 'fountain of life'.   

My blog for this year is titled Route 66-The Sixty Sixth year.  As I type this, it is surreal, 66! I am 66, when did that happen?  I am still me with that 'old' number now assigned to my name, my drivers license, my now Medicare Card...I actually have a Medicare Card...Yikes, those are for people who are old!

One day I too will die.  Tonight?  Tomorrow?  30 years from now?  If we stop long enough to ponder those thoughts of life and death and what do our lives consist of it is sobering.  Did my tiny footprint on the earth make any difference at all?   I am not a 'star' whose face will be seen in movies for years to come.  I did not write music or make recordings for people to know my voice in the days ahead. 

Carrie Fisher's days were numbered by God.  Michael George's days were know by God as well.  If his death was due to some sort of abuse, it was not God's doing but He did know that he caused his days to be shortened by those choices.  My days too are numbered.   I am certain that I have more days behind me than I do ahead of me.  

"The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." Psalm 90:10 (Bible) 

A quote that fits very well into this blog focus is this: 

"If you live every day as if it were your last, some day you will be right and those previous days would be rich and probably amazing." 

I am going to close this blog asking you to think about 'you'.  What is your relationship with God   Oh, not a religion.  Religions are of man.  God, the creator of life!  Seek Him while you can, He desires to be found.  Neither you nor I can know when our last day on earth will be but we can know that our last day on earth can be our first day with the Lord.  

I debated about sharing the rest of the Psalm I pulled from above, as I close out these thoughts.  I am going to end with these words from the Bible.   Carrie Fisher and Michael George did not know that this New Years was not going to include them.  You and I do not know that information either.  But eternity is important.    Embracing the gift of life is too.  

"So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
 Let the favor^[ of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!"  Psalm 90:12-17

Christmas Eve Reflections

I have not blogged for months!  The Route 66 theme still works for me until May when the calendar shoots me into another year.   My Christmas eve morning is so very quiet and I am going to say peaceful.  In years past it would be crazy and chaotic, while I ratcheted up towards Christmas eve night and Christmas day.

The morning is so quite I can pull up my blog, write and reflect.  I love to write and reflect on all that life brings to me.  Every one should at the very least make notes of life events!  If we do not, we forget that we do have lives, in big or small ways we do influence and affect people!  

My blog silence is not due to lack of activities but the emotions that fuel my writing.

I have traveled the world this year, amazing and always blessed to realize all of the opportunities I have been given.  I have experienced and walked with the poorest of the poor.  I have feasted with those who appear to have it all.  The jetting around the world with back to back trips did suck a bit of life and energy out of me.  Hmmm?  However, I am gearing up to pack my bags again in 2017!!!!

As sit here quietly reflecting, I realize I have friends who have left earth since last Christmas Eve. They have left holes in the lives of their loved ones and friends.  Christmas will be sad, for their families and their friends (me),  as they are gone.   We will each leave one day and I ponder how vast of a hole will my life leave, have I made a positive difference in the lives of those I care about?

It is Christmas Eve morning.  Most of my 'to-do' lists are complete for this day.  Later,  I will go to church and focus on the whole reason we have this crazy, messy, awesome, delightful, over the top, busy, unrealistic holiday.  Christ's coming to earth as a baby!  Christ becoming like His creation to rescue us from the pit of hell, that we all, without being rescued,  propel ourselves towards.  

The account is a miracle and one of faith I hold to tightly.   It is one leap of faith to believe the Bible is God's message and word to mankind.  For some of you reading this, who scoff at the very thought of reading it, I challenge you to refute it!  Take the task on and decide for yourself the truth of it or not.  Do not allow others to do your thinking!!!!!   I can only share that God is real, He transformed and transforms my life.  Apart from Him nothing makes any sense or has meaning.  He is not a religion to me or a crutch but the very essence of life.  I am growing old and I will die and I will spend eternity, whole, new and with this Christ I celebrate today and tomorrow!

In Jesus' journey here on earth He shares the message below!  How abundant is your life?  Should you be one of my friends whose life ends yet this year, what does eternity hold for you?  

I hope your Christmas is more than Merry.  I pray it is one of humble, awestruck, awe that you have been gifted the forgiveness of the messes in your lives and eternity with the creator!