Whitney Houston

There are certain people that grace the earth with gifts that seem other worldly. Some have natural gifts, some supernatural, and some are graced with a measure of both.

Whitney Houston was undoubtedly blessed... with both.

In a sound bite world, at a time when it's all about 'what have you for me lately', it's easy to forget the Whitney that many of us grew up with.

Whitney Houston did not sing from her talent, she sang from her soul, and you can learn what you need to know about her by just listening to her sing. It wouldn't be suitable to recap all of her achievements in this space (you can read them here), but who could imagine a mere singer burning our nation's anthem into the national conscience? Whitney did that.

Watching Whitney's service today reminded me ever again of God's unfailing love for His own. Whitney Houston was flesh and blood, a human being just like the rest of us. And just like us, her life wasn't perfect, but she believed in a perfect God. A man may stand on the sideline and judge her, but God lives in the innermost place and knows the unknowable. And that's all that matters.

All who knew her testified of her love for God and her boldness to make Him known. It's painfully apparent that loving God doesn't mean you get it all 'right', but, as His Word says, even if we are faithless at times, He remains faithful, for He is love. Love always hopes, always trusts, always endures. His love never fails.

I pray you'll consider this when you look at your own life. And, when they gather to celebrate your life I pray the ones that love you will focus on the good and leave the rest eternally unspoken, just as God does.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
   slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
   He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
For he knows how we are formed,
   he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14