Promises.  Some are kept.  Some are not.  BUT when the Heavenly Father makes a promise it will be kept – it is true – you can take it to the bank.

Today, the Word starts out with words for you to hang on to:  I PROMISE THAT I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU HELPLESS OR ABANDON YOU AS ORPHANS – I will come back for you!

Plain. Simple. True.

He will return.

In life – in time – people make promises.  But it is not possible to keep all of them.  People die.  People leave.  People abandon.  People abuse.  People hate.  And then promises are broken.

Not everyone breaks a promise willingly.

When my father died over 3 years ago, his intentions were to never leave my mother behind.  He was a soldier and was gone a lot throughout the early parts of their marriage.  But he always came back.  Then in the latter years, my mom was sick, and my father faithfully took care of her for years – because he loved her.  He was her main caregiver for a long time.

Sometimes, we can’t keep a promise.  So my father laid in bed and waited to die.  Hospice.  He realized that he could not keep that promise.  You see, he had always planned on the fact that she would leave first.  But that was not God’s plans.

My mom died this week – almost 3 1/2 years after he left – after he went to the Heavenly Father.  It was long years for my mom to wait.  But she was able to stay in her home with 24-hour care.  It wasn’t the same as my dad watching over her – but he saw that she was taken care of until the day that they would meet again.  That day was this past Monday!  I can not even begin to imagine the celebration!  Going into the arms of Jesus and then into the arms of the love of your life – almost 70 years of marriage!  Then to meet up with loved ones who had gone before her.  Yes!  It was a celebration.

Now to our Scripture:

“I promise that I will never leave you helpless or abandon you as orphans—I will come back to you! Soon I will leave this world and they will see me no longer, but you will see me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too. So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you. Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love you in return and will manifest my life within you.” – John 14:18-21 (TPT)

Take these treasured words and hold them close to your heart.  Jesus promised that He would never leave you.  He promised that He is coming back for you.

Look deeper into these words and find more hidden treasures.  I love the word “passionately” loved.  And then He makes himself known to you.

It just doesn’t get any better than this!  Savor.  Cherish.  Believe.  Rejoice.  For one day, there will be the biggest celebration ever!  Nothing on earth will be able to compete with it!  Wait for it!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

I pray that you will find peace and comfort and joy in these words of Jesus.  No matter what the world throws at us – remember – as God’s children, we will not be left behind!