KEEP ON LIVING UNTIL YOU DIE!!

By Helen Jesze, 19^th May 2023

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

1 Corinthians 15:53-55 KJV

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

Romans 14:8 NIV

Last Saturday, on 13th May, we held a joint celebration of George’s life and my 80th birthday. 90 people came from near and far, among them family members, and we had a wonderful time. From Agape Christian Faith Center, Ramstein, Germany came our earlier pastor Bishop J. Alan Neal and his wife, First Lady Wanda, to give a tribute and bring the ministry of the Word.

Four missionaries from Eastern European Outreach Intl. (Oosteuropa Zending) came from Holland. George and I had been trustees with them since 1999, and I am still working together with them. From Switzerland came my nephew and his wife to bring a tribute and sing and play the guitar.

There was wonderfully uplifting praise and worship, duets, a flute solo, a slide-show and commentary depicting George’s life and ministry, tributes brought in person and by video- clips from pastors and friends, and tributes read by Dr. Timothy and my daughter, Lizzy.

My senior pastor Andy Dilnot led the event and brought a short Word about the Apostle Paul saying:

“If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Philippians 2:17

likening George’s ministry of fulltime service as a life poured out and offered to the Lord.

There was a delicious buffet meal and so many worked to make it a special day, showing me so much love and kindness. It was a very big THANK YOU to every one!

But let me tell you why I have chosen this title! Bishop Neal told us he had recently been preaching on a series about Life after Death in his church, and this theme went very well with our Life Celebration. He had often preached in Sri Lanka, and when in the terrible Tsunami hit that area in December 2004, 600 out of one 1000 strong church were drowned, most of whom had found the Lord in his crusades and outreaches.

He immediately flew over to be with them at this terrible time, and described the huge efforts to bury the many bodies quickly, in the hot climate. More than 30,000 people were dead or missing and everywhere were shallow graves. Being a Colonel in the US Military for many years and having fought in many battles, the smell of Death was nothing new to him, but here the stench was overpowering.

Bishop was devastated and wondered what he could possibly say to all the survivors and friends there, who were looking to him for a word from the Lord. He rang Wanda, and asked, “What can I say to them?” After a minute, Wanda replied, “Tell them: We’ll keep on living until we die!”

Those were strange but very wise words, meaning: You are all still alive. You have not died yet. Take that life which God has given you and continue to live it for Him.

How well that applied to our Life Celebration! George had fought the good fight and had now gone on to be with the Lord, but we are still here! God has not finished with us yet. He still has a purpose for every one of us, for you and me personally, and we shall live until we die, or until that day when Jesus comes in The Rapture and takes us all to be with Himself!

THERE IS ALWAYS A TOMORROW WITH JESUS! ALWAYS A NEW SUNRISE, A NEW HOPE! GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU – YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO HIM! WE USED TO SING THE SONG: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, AND I KNOW HE WATCHES ME! IT’S TRUE —

HE’S WATCHING YOU TODAY!