There Is Life After A Death

INTRODUCTION

This is not a normal book. If you want a stuffy, prim and proper book this is not it. I’m not preaching or teaching but I’m sharing from my heart. I’m having a conversation with you. In chapter 12 you’ll learn how miraculously this book came about…it’s very exciting.

Let’s start with the title:

“There is LIFE After A DEATH”

Let’s unpack what that means. This is not just about physical death(s) but other losses as well; life plans, jobs, health, family, divorce, finances, dreams, weight, your youth, unspeakable losses just to highlight a few.

“Learning from and Leaning into Life’s Losses (including weight loss)”

We WILL have losses in this life. It’s up to you to decide how you are going to look at them and what you are going to do with those losses.

Here’s proof from the Bible that we will have trouble:

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4 New International Version)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:1-2 New International Version)

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (I Peter 4:12-13 New International Version)

It's not the problem that is the problem (loss). It’s how we respond to the problem.

Let’s look at a potato, egg and coffee beans. If we put each of these into boiling water (the problem/loss) there are three different outcomes. The potato went in strong and came out soft. The egg went in weak and came out strong but the coffee actually changed the water for the better. Think on that for a little bit…

I’m going to share with you my story of losses. We ALL have our own stories to tell. It’s our history but really, it’s “HIS”tory. Only God knows why He chose me to share my story. I’m not writing this to say “oh look at me” but to give glory to God for what He’s brought me through.

Right before I started writing this book in January of 2022, I was watching a Christmas movie. The storyline included a woman who was writing her first book, Dah, me too. The speaker at the writer’s conference stated that she was going to do an analogy between writing a book and a Christmas tree. With a Christmas tree next to her, she stated what each element represented:

LIGHTS – this was representative of the plot in the book. The events that held the book together.

ORNAMENTS – This depicted the character(s) in the story and the concepts giving the tree personality.

ANGEL on the top – As the author, you oversee the development of the book and bring it all together.

GIFTS under the tree – This is what each person who reads the book takes away from what the author has created.

I give you the gift of this book but in order to enjoy it, you have to open the gift and use it. I pray this gift to you from me will be something special straight from the Father’s heart to touch and change your life.

A little explanation of how this book is going to play out.

Many, many years ago I came across a statement by Charles Swindoll:

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” 1

1 Charles R. Swindoll Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/charles_r_swindoll_389215

PS

Instead of using the word “trials” I will use the word opportunities as I share what happened in my life to encourage you to learn from and lean into your losses, ultimately realizing that it’s all for our good and for His glory!!!

These “opportunities” are the hammer and chisel that God uses to shape us into the image of God.

PPS

I have collected sayings, stories and songs throughout my life. These will be appropriately “sprinkled” throughout the book to help solidify what I am sharing with you, encourage you and plant truth deep in your heart. (NOTE: there are appendixes for those saying, stories and songs I couldn’t “sprinkle”) I can only give you the gift of this book and the words I’ve written, but YOU MUST receive it and let it go deep into the soil of your soul. This is a seed that you must care for and nurture so it can grow and develop in your life. Then you will be able to say:

These losses (opportunities to trust) whatever they may be, are for my good (during the hard times you draw closer to God) and by His grace and mercy (God’s help) will be for His Glory.

This book is very straight forward. I tell it like it is. This is what God’s word says and this is how I applied it.

There is a lot of information in the book. You might want to continue to use it as a reference or read it a chapter at a time and then apply the “Takeaway(s)”

If, for whatever reason you decide you don’t want to read this book (are you sure?), then at least read the “Takeaway(s)” at the end of the chapters. You’ll get a glimpse of the process that led me to where I am today.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a professional. The words in this book, come from my experience and what I perceive God is telling me. It is your responsibility to evaluate them for yourself.