You may be wondering why I titled this blog post-"So, why are you still here?" My sweet friend Kim Baker Schrandt died from breast cancer last Wednesday at the age of 35 (I believe)....I haven't spoken to Kim since college but I knew her. I knew her love for Jesus, her smile and love of life, her love of family and friends. She was a woman of faith and knew what she believed! She was the epitomy of health. Young & beautiful with 5 children. I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news....Although, I have another dear friend who I talk to quite often who spoke to Kim every day. Jodi would keep me up to date on Kim. Last summer Kim gave her testimony at her mother's church about how God had healed her from breast cancer. I believe she was diagnosed 2 years ago but didn't have any symptoms and just after the birth of her 5th child, she started getting sick and by the time she found out what it was, it was too late....Jodi told me of how Kim never even mentioned the cancer. She had faith in God and that was that!!! I admire Kim for her faith and her love for Jesus. She could've easily taken chemo or radiation and the result could've been the same,different, or she could've done what she did! She made a decision to trust God and put her faith in Him. She had the kind of relationship with Jesus Christ, that was a two way street...she would talk to him and He would speak to her! How many people just go through the motions and would not even think twice about going to the doctor. It might not even be a thought to believe for God's healing. Not even a question. Is our God a personal God that has a specific plan for our lives? Or do we even know Him or what He has for us personally! The day after Kim passed, I got a call from Jodi and we were believing for Kim, that God could even raise her from the dead! Not for our benefit, but for His! He wants the glory and the honor in everything we do! This topic is debatable-but life is not debatable. Do you feel good about the choices your making for Jesus Christ every day? If you came down with a disease that left you with no hope- what would you do? Is God in control? Do we trust that? What an unbelievable thing, to die knowing you were leaving this earth while putting 100% faith in Jesus Christ! Do you believe that if God wanted her to be here, she still would be?! We all have convictions-but do we live by them? Who am I to question your convictions-but if YOU don't live by your convictions, what are you living for? I want to be the type of person who lives by my convictions and those come from the Word of God. We all know right from wrong- but life is about more than that! We each have a purpose! As a christian, that purpose is HUGE-we never know how we will affect others for Jesus Christ by the way we live our lives....And Kim Baker has shown me that her love for Jesus was not a show- She loved him with her life! Thank You Kim!!!
