When my focus becomes more on me than on Jesus, and the reality feels overwhelming, I feel lost. I stumble and fall with little strength to pull myself up. Thankfully, though, it is here I am reminded I have a Savior who is greater, and unlike the ever-changing "seasons," he is steady and true.
We love you Warren Austin Barfield with every fiber of our being. We stretch our necks as far as they can stretch - Looking up toward that eastern sky - Listening for the sound of the trumpet - Until that day, Dear Jesus, help us to be steadfast, immovable and always looking for ways to make much of YOUR NAME!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace
David longed for it more than anything, Moses understood without it, the journey ahead would be impossible, and Mary experienced it at the very feet of Jesus -
And each day the beautiful mess of grief and great loss becomes the very thing that opens my eyes to the unexplainable joy of Jesus.
No matter how loud the silence. The blankness. The unanswered prayers. The wondering if He hears us at all...go back under the faucet. Get there, whether you feel like it or not. Recall His faithfulness. Preach to yourself what you know, because you've experienced it and seen His goodness.
We Believe. We Believe Jesus is better. We Believe all His promises are true. We believe God sent his one and only son to earth. We Believe he was crucified and died. We Believe he rose again. We Believe He will return. We Believe the best is yet to come.
This Believe Sign has been placed in our yard now for 5 Christmases. It is more than just a Christmas decoration we pull down out of the attic. After Warren died I had a lot of questions, but God had one for me too... "Do you believe?" .....He does not drop us in the middle of a trial and whisper "good luck" leaving us to figure a way out on our own. Even when it seems there is nothing but darkness and uncertainty pulling us under. When the silence seems to say we are all alone. He is present, He is holding us & He is working. Breakthrough is coming. We need only to believe. But what does that look like?
Grace was sitting, legs crossed, on the kitchen counter. As I turned around, spoke one word, I felt my lip quiver and as hard as I tried I couldn't keep the tears from falling. I could tell her eyes were watery too and I stepped in close. The heaviness of the moment, that I had unsuccessfully tried to avoid, brought a silence and a mutual understanding that bringing up "tomorrow", no matter how hard we try, is just really, really, tough.
I miss this freckled face boy every day...and my heart aches as he would have turned 17 on March 23rd Warren went to heaven on…
Grieving With hope 