Dear Friend,

You’ve been on my heart and mind (and prayers) for some time now, and I’m so sorry for taking so long to write to you. I’ve never been very good at consoling people when they’re sick or hurting; to be honest, I’m not very good at congratulating people when something great has happened either…I guess I should really work on my people skills.

However, I couldn’t let another day go by without taking some time to write to you. You know, the Bible in James 4:14 says that we don’t know what will happen tomorrow and that our lives are like mists that last for only a little while. This makes me think about how when you spray perfume or air freshener around a room, that vapor can be seen hovering in the air for such a short while, it leaves a scent, but then soon after, it’s gone. For the Bible to use this analogy to describe our lives says a lot about how short our lives are in relation to how long eternity is. We don’t know what will happen today or tomorrow. We don’t know how our lives will change for the better or for the worse; but one thing is for sure, we are here one day, and gone the next. Many people don’t get a chance to prepare to leave this world; they’re taken away in the blink of an eye, through an accident, medical emergency, or criminal activity. Not that having time to prepare makes it any easier…or does it?

I’ve heard stories of great men and women of faith, who were so confident in where they were headed after their passing, that they had what the Bible calls, peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Do you have such peace? While this world may be full of evil, hurting, pain, and sickness, I can honestly say that I have this peace. It’s a peace that comes from my knowledge and relationship with Christ as my personal Savior. I’m not trying to scare you, preach to you, or offend you (although, the offense is certainly worth the risk), but I would never forgive myself if I never shared this precious gift that I’ve been given with you, dear friend.

A lot of people are under the impression that all it takes to go to heaven is to be a “good person.” Yet, the definition of a “good person” is different from person to person. Sometimes we talk about something terrible someone has done, then we say, “but they’re a good person” or “they have a good heart.” According to the Bible there was only one perfectly good person, Jesus, God’s Son. So in reality, He’s the standard by which we should be comparing ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I know I’ve fallen extremely short of that mark. In fact, the Bible says in Romans 3:23 what we’ve all sinned and fallen short!

However, there is a God who created this world from nothing, who shaped you in your mother’s womb, who knows the number of hairs on your head, and sees into the very depths of your soul. The Bible says He knows you better than you know yourself (Jeremiah 17:10). When He originally shaped this world, He didn’t desire it to be full of death, sickness, and decay; but full of life and love! The thing is, love comes from the ability to choose and so we were given free will and the opportunity to make choices, right or wrong. Hence sin (and death, sickness, etc.) entered the world through mankind’s bad choices. But God, being all-knowing and all-powerful, had a solution to this before time even began, before He ever shaped the earth, or placed you in your mother’s arms. He sent His perfect Son to this earth in the form of a man, to carry the weight of all humanity’s sin on His back. He pinned that sin to a cross where He died, and rose again three days later—destroying the curse of sin/death for all time! He opened the doors of heaven to all those who believe this and receive Christ into their hearts, offering us the chance to spend an eternity with Him. I know you can’t hear my voice, but when I say how excited and overwhelming this is for me to think about and share, you should understand that my heart feels like it’s going to explode.

I don’t know you very well, perhaps, you’ve already accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, Friend, and greatest Hope; but if you haven’t, you’ve been given an opportunity that many don’t have…time. No matter how great or small, time is a gift. I’ll continue to pray for complete healing in your life—because I know I serve a God who is capable of the miraculous—but I don’t know God’s will, mind, or purposes, and can’t see what will happen in the future;  but I will most certainly continue to pray that you have the opportunity to make peace with Him. I pray that you’ll recognize the sins and failures in your own life, as I once did, and accept what He did for you on the cross. He loved you enough to send His one and only child to this earth to be crucified on a cross for you, so that He can have a relationship with you; as a mother, I’m sure that strikes a chord with you.

Lord, I pray over my friend. I pray that You please watch over her, bring healing to her body, peace to her mind, and life to her spirit. I pray that she come to the understanding and realization of who You are and all that You’ve done for her. I pray that no matter what may come in her life, whether miraculous healing or the sleep of death, she has the opportunity to accept You into her life. You are great and mighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, and Your ways are far above our own. We may not understand the things that happen to us in this life, but we can trust that You are sovereign and in control at all times of all things, and You alone know what is best. I also pray over her family. Her children and husband need Your peace and comfort over their lives. I lift them up to You and ask that You envelop them with Your love and compassion; give them strength and encouragement; and most importantly, the opportunity, in their own time, to come into relationship with You. I love You and thank You, Father. In Jesus’ precious, holy Name, amen. 

If/when you’re ready…

Accept that you’re a sinner and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Believe in Jesus.

Confess that Jesus is your Lord.

Love & God Bless,

Angelica