Here's an interesting twist on death. I remember being challenged with this thought soon after Sarah Ellen (my wife) died. I have always been taught and believed with all of my heart that God has a plan for me. He does for everyone. I believe that true joy is discovered when we find His plan and channel our lives towards fulfilling that plan. Sometimes those are very universal ideals--worship, service, love, etc. But for everyone, there are very specific plans as well--writing a book, planting a church, mentoring a child. God's desire is that every one of us surrender ourselves to the plan that He has given us.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Here's what I had never thought of. God did not create Sarah to complete me or bring me joy. That's something only He could do. He did, however, create Sarah to fulfill His plan. What does that mean? God didn't create Sarah for me. He created her for Him. And He created me for Him. At the end of our lives what we have done for Him will determine whether or not we have brought Him glory. Did Sarah honor God with the way that she loved me and cared for our children? You bet. Was that a part of her purpose? Probably so. But Sarah's life brought glory to God. She loved for God. She worked for God. She served for God. And, at the end, her death brought Him great glory. Sarah had been God's gift to me...but she had always been His.

What are you doing with your life?