RECEIVE OUR SPIRIT-O LORD-IN LIFE-AND IN DEATH

RECEIVE OUR SPIRIT-O LORD-IN LIFE- AND IN DEATH Today we CELEBRATE The life and death of Saint Stephen- The first CHRISTIAN martyr After Christ As Stephen Was being stoned to death He CRIED OUT, “Lord Jesus-receive my spirit” Acts 7:59 In today's world-we HAVE To offer our SPIRIT to God All through life too As Christians We PRAY for a beautiful death The way Stephen died-being brutally killed Doesn't fit our description Of a beautiful death But-in fact-was- Because HIS FAITH Remained strong And sometimes Having STRONG FAITH in life Makes the DIFFERENCE Between living and dying As I found out WHEN I prayed for life IF it be God's will RECEIVE our spirit-in life- Dear Lord And receive our spirit In death “Into your hands- I commit my spirit DELIVER ME Lord My faithful God” Psalm 31:5 “I will give them An UNDIVIDED HEART And put a new spirit In them I will remove from Their heart of stone And give them A heart of flesh” Ezekiel 11:19 “Watch and PRAY So that you Will NOT fall into temptation The spirit is willing But the FLESH is weak” Matthew 26:41 WE would all-like to imagine Passing away WHEN we are quite elderly Surrounded by Our LOVING FAMILY MEMBERS My mom was like that She was only 75-but she died At HOME-with the IRISH MUSIC playing TWO of her children present PRAYING FOR HER- She was beautiful IN LIFE- And beautiful in death She even PICKED her own readings And music for her funeral But we are NOT All that fortunate Our SAVIOR Jesus and Saint Stephen Were murdered And people EVERY day Of all ages Die of heart attacks-cancer- Automobile accidents, etc., etc., etc., Dear Lord-we PRAY That you RECEIVE our spirits In life-daily And at the hour of our death WHENEVER that may be And that you be-AS PLEASED- With our SPIRIT- As you were with Saint Stephen's In Jesus' name, Robert P. Wallman 12-25-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Terence Hegarty