Twenty-two years...

Tomorrow marks 22 years since Jason and Lindsay went home to be with Jesus.

I don't know what I can say that I haven't already said, but when I think about Jason and Lindsay, I think about their legacy. Their life stories were beautiful! They were kind, compassionate, funny, driven, selfless, humble, adventurous, and so much more... and they each truly had a servant's heart and loved the Lord. Their lives honored Jesus! They intentionally chose to live for Christ, and not for earthly things. Is that something that we can all say? What will our legacy be? How will people remember us? In this day and age, with so much pulling for our attention... distracting us from our faith and trying to draw us into earthly/sinful things... how can we persevere to push all of that distraction aside and live for Christ?

God has an answer:

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
~1 Corinthians 10:13

(Side note: That is a verse that is commonly misinterpreted as God not giving us more than we can handle, but it is in reference to temptation. God sometimes does allow us to go through difficult times that we cannot handle on our own... but we can if we let Him carry us through it.)

It is foolish to try to have one foot in heaven and one foot in the world. We have to choose. We cannot move forward and have a meaningful relationship with Christ if we keep choosing sin. It won't always be easy. In fact, once we make the decision to follow Christ or rededicate ourselves to following Him, satan often goes into overdrive to pull us back into sin. But God is merciful:

"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the Truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
~1 John 1:5-9

Therefore, we need to be discerning, and to not listen to those who take God's Word out of context. That is something that is very common in our society. Sin (and the consequences of it) are flippantly dismissed by many who take random Bible verses and change the context to fit their own agenda or societal views. That is dangerous and blasphemous.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
~Galatians 6:7-8 (referencing God's Holy Spirit)

Remember these things:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
~Matthew 7:13-14

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"
~Mark 8:36

So, again... what will your legacy be? What will you be remembered for? Did you live your life in a way that honored Christ, influenced others with your faith, and led to your eternity in heaven? (After all, Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven!) Or did you live your life to worldly/societal standards? It's a lot to think about but it is very important. Jason and Lindsay were not famous and they never strived to be... but they are remembered for the way they loved Jesus and their story still continues to lead people to Christ and eternal life. I can't think of a legacy more powerful than that! All glory to God!

"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
~John 14:6

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
~John 3:16

Jason's 48th Birthday!

Today is Jason's 48th Birthday!

I feel like I say much of the same thing every year so I'm going to keep this simple, but I can't let the day pass without acknowledging him. I am guessing birthdays aren't celebrated in heaven, because time doesn't exist there like it does here. So, this side of heaven, we will still remember his birthday and his remarkable life. My mind floods with my memories of him. I wish I could show videos of my memories. You would see a funny and very energetic little boy who absolutely loved being outside and playing and he was always on the move. You would see a boy who loved his family and Jesus with his whole heart. You would see someone who loved to laugh. You would see a sweet kid who was a joy to be around. I absolutely treasure my memories of him! I know he meant so much to so many people, who all have their own memories that they cherish. He was special. His life mattered and it still does! I find so much peace in knowing that he and Lindsay are safe in heaven, with Jesus, and with others who have gone before us. There's no better place to be.

In the meantime, while we are still here on earth, faith in Jesus is what guides us. A friend of mine wrote this one day and I love these words:

God really can and does hold you in His constant care and even brings new life and light from the darkest, painful places.
He really is all any of us ever needs.
His mercies are new every morning.
His goodness and grace unlimited.
His peace, His promises, His redemption plan so secure.
His love never fails.

Amen!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday Jason! You will never be forgotten!

Lindsay's 44th Birthday!

Lindsay - Summer 2004 ♥

Today, Lindsay would have turned 44 years old. She passed away at age 22 (almost 23) so that is crazy to think about. She certainly made a huge impact on the world though! How she lived is now her legacy. She loved Jesus and served Him in the most unique of ways. How many people do you know who set aside all material things to actively share the beauty of God's creation with kids? She and Jason were two peas in a pod in that way and, most definitely, brought together by God. As difficult as it is to say this, I am happy that they are together and that they have been all this time. I wish with all of my heart that she and Jason were still here, but God decided to bring them home. He did not cause the crime that took their lives, but He allowed it to happen. Their time here was finished. And now Lindsay and Jason are together in heaven... more alive than ever... and with every day that passes, the time gets closer when we will all get to see them again. There will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more goodbyes! It is because of Jesus that we have even the hope of a forever reunion:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

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"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." ~Ephesians 2:8-9

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"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." ~Revelation 21:4

Thank you, Lindsay, for your quiet strength, your humble heart, and your love for people and for Jesus! You set a beautiful example of what faith "lived out loud" looks like. You lived out God's plan for your life, following Him where He led you. You saw His beauty reflected in Creation. You looked for Him and you lived for Him and your legacy honors Jesus. That is as beautiful as it gets.

Please pray for her family today. I'm sure September 9 is never easy.

♥ Happy 44th Birthday Lindsay! ♥

Twenty-one years...

Jason and Lindsay's last day ♥

It is surreal to think that it has been 21 years since Jason and Lindsay entered into heaven! The whole thing is surreal. I wish so much that this had never happened. I wish so much that I never had reason to write a blog like this, but I am honored to.

Something that Lindsay wrote in the public journal on that beach (only minutes to hours before she and Jason died) has stuck with me all these years. She had just watched a beautiful sunset and wrote this:

"The sun is going down in the horizon and all I see is the beams shining on the cliff face and I know that God is awesome. I look around and I see His creation all around me."

If you have ever seen a truly spectacular sunset, you know what she meant! Whether you acknowledge God or not as the Creator of such a breathtaking, dynamic sight... that IS His handiwork and just a glimpse of the unimaginable glory of heaven! We KNOW that God is awesome! So the next time you stop and see a beautiful sunset or night sky or any view of nature that takes your breath away, remember that God is awesome! He created that view for you! And the next time you stop to acknowledge the people in your life who you love and cherish the most, remember that God is awesome! We are here for a reason and God is at work in your life for a purpose! When you see God reflected in the beauty of nature, that is Him reminding you that He is there. He never leaves us! And if you find yourself in a situation of unfathomable grief, He will always be there to carry you through it. God is NOT the author of death or tragedy! He is the giver of LIFE, both on earth and eternal! God truly is all around us and that is a great comfort. We are not alone! I love that, despite the terrible actions that led to it, Jason and Lindsay saw God's full magnificence, face-to-face, only minutes to hours after seeing Him reflected in that sunset! What their killer meant for evil, God immediately used for good! Jason and Lindsay have left a legacy of true faith and true servant's hearts for the Lord. I know He welcomed them home with open arms! I am so, so grateful for what Christ did for us to allow us to spend eternity with Him and our loved ones! We are blessed beyond measure!

I know that God is awesome!!!

Jason and Lindsay, you will NEVER be forgotten! What a blessing it will be to see you again!

Jason's 47th Birthday!

Jason on the whitewater, Summer 2004 ♥

Today is Jason's 47th Birthday! This is his 21st birthday that has passed with him being in heaven. Time is flying by! But every year... every day really... is another day closer to entering heaven ourselves and seeing him again.

Life is fragile and fleeting. None of us know how long we will have here... but we can know where we are going and we should not fear! If you have accepted Christ, you are saved through the gift of His sacrifice on the cross, and you are assured an eternity in heaven! Salvation through Christ does not mean you will have an easy life here, or even a long life, but you do have assurance and peace in your heart that you know the end of the story and it is beautiful! There is hope because of Jesus! And when we reach heaven, there is no more pain and suffering. There is an eternity of peace and joy beyond our wildest imagination, and enjoying fellowship with Christ Himself, forever.

Jason only had 26 short years here but he lived out his faith authentically. He and Lindsay both served Jesus. They chose Him over worldly things. I feel so blessed to have shared so many wonderful years with Jason in our childhood. Those memories are precious to me! Those memories used to be so painful, when the grief of his tragic death was raw and profound, but now they are beautiful again. Sometimes I would give anything to go back and re-live even just one of those days... but time only moves forward.

Jason's mom shared a sweet note and poem in his memory:

This is Jason's 47th birthday. God loaned him to us for 26 years, which to us was a very short time. Because Jason accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord, God's comfort to us has always been the promise to be with him again, to hug him, to talk with him, to share in the adventures in heaven with him and to worship our Holy Father with him. There is no greater comfort.
Happy Birthday in Heaven,
Mom

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"When God Comforted Me," by Colleen Mclean:

From heaven he was delivered
As a baby unto you,
When God said to me softly
I'm trusting you to do
Everything that's needed
To nurture and to love.
He's your little angel
Sent from me above.

You see... spirits cannot be
Held, hugged, or kissed.
The body that was his vessel
Is what you'll surely miss,
But his spirit that I shared with you
On that one special day,
That is what I promise
To never take away.

So he is back in heaven now
The earth was not his place.
He taught you all he could
About dignity and grace,
So as you grieve and weep
To see him once again,
I promise he's waiting here
When you get to heaven.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday Jason! You will never be forgotten!

Lindsay's 43rd Birthday!

Lindsay on the whitewater, Summer 2004 ♥

Today, Lindsay would have turned 43 years old. Her 21st birthday since she passed, and she was only 22 when she died. She was so young! She had her whole life with Jason ahead of her. It truly breaks my heart that they were robbed of their lives together. But I have learned that God views death differently than we do. Lindsay and Jason are more alive now than they were before, which is hard to understand, but very comforting! The Cutshalls and the Allens have lived through the unfathomable, but their faith... the same faith that Lindsay and Jason also held... is unwavering! They have turned tragedy into triumph, by the grace of God... and countless lives have been changed! Lindsay and Jason did not die in vain!

I didn't know Lindsay. Everything I know about her, I have learned from her family and others who knew her. I did get to meet her once and she was a sweetheart. Very soft-spoken and kind. I saw the love she had for Jason and it was adorable. She and Jason were remarkably compatible... both having the same interests and the same love for Jesus! I am so glad their last hours together here were watching a beautiful sunset after such a fun day together! Only a couple of hours later, they met Jesus face-to-face. Lindsay, wise beyond her years, earlier in life had written this in a journal:

"I greatly desire to have many crowns to give my God when I get to heaven. Nothing on earth matters in light of eternity. It is so easy to get caught up in the things of the world and forget what really matters. How amazing that we have forever to spend with Christ! The more we worship and spend our lives for Christ on earth, the better we can serve Him in heaven. I sometimes think of myself as a pilgrim in a foreign land traveling through life. We are here temporarily. I should be less materialistic and give more to God. Don't waste time!"

She already had her heart focused on heaven. Jesus was her focus! Her purpose here was to serve Him, worship Him, and prepare herself for heaven. She was the real deal! She was a light. She was a city on a hill. She exemplified this verse:

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)

Please pray for Lindsay's family today! I can only imagine how hard it is to experience another year without her.

♥ Happy 43rd Birthday Lindsay! ♥