His Sheep

Jesus said:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

(John 10)

Remembering...

Remembering one year ago tonight...

So many thoughts... We sorrow, yet not without hope...

So much to be thankful for... So many precious memories...

Jesus said:

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?
(John 11)

You can read more about our loving Shepherd and living Savior at: www.jonatorres.com

These words are true and faithful!

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

(Revelation 21)

Jesus put an end to the agony of death!

Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

(Acts 2)

Answering a 5-year-old's metaphysical questions

“Mommy?”

“Hmmm?”

“Why is Jona dying?”

She was sitting across the table from me, eating an evening snack. I looked across the laptop screen and met the big, blue eyes – wide-open with the question. In a frank and very calm manner, the little voice had captured the cry of all our hearts...

“Well, Punkin, we often don’t know why God is doing what He’s doing...” Her question had caught me off-guard. I bit my lip, thinking...

“In reality, we’re all dying...”

“We’re all dying?!” The always-big eyes got even bigger – and very serious.

“It’s because of sin – and that’s why Jesus had to die on the cross...”


And that’s as far as I got with this post on April 10, 2011 – exactly one year ago tonight. Hospice care, sleep deprivation, caring for a five-month-old, and many other demands kept me from getting back to writing any more.

There are many angles to the story, but the main answer is the one I discussed with my five-year-old that night and many, many times since that night; it’s the answer I wished I’d had time and energy to articulate on this blog that night. But, almost one year later, JM summarized that answer (“God's Story – and Yours”) on www.jonatorres.com.

We invite you to read it, believe it, and rejoice in it!

Do you believe this?

Jesus said:

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11)