No More Mourning

  

"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

Death is not a fun thing for we humans here left behind. We grieve the unexplainable loss of babies, children, teens, young mothers and any death at all for that matter. No one likes to say goodbye and know they can not longer humanly talk with their loved ones. War takes soldiers. Old age takes our grandparents. So many things happen in life to have it cut short. The thing is for the believer it is not a sad thing but is a 'home going'.  Once they have left earth they are present with the Lord.(See 2 Corinthians 5:8). 

Only God knows a person's heart. Once a person has asked Jesus into their heart they will be in heaven with Him when their time on this earth is over. Children and babies will be there with Him as they have not reached the age of asking Christ to be Lord of their life. Heaven will be glorious and no man could even begin to describe how awesome it is. Even Hollywood can not fathom how wonderful it is.

Just imagine what awaits you in the heavenly kingdom and don't fear death unless that is that you don't know Jesus as savior. Now is the time to make sure He is Lord of your life. 

PRAYER: I look forward to your heavenly kingdom when I leave this temporary home. While I am here use me Lord for your purposes to spread your love and joy to others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

What Do You Say?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Sometimes things happen in life to friends or family and there are not words to know how to respond or bring comfort. Recently a longtime friend of mine had the unspeakable happen which there's no need to elaborate on as God knows. In this time of her enormous grief and confusion what can you do to help? Flowers, cookie bouquet, note, phone call? Grief,tragedy,and pain are all part of life and can make us stronger. That makes some angry especially if they have lost a close friend in an accident or in war. Only time and prayer help the healing process.

Grief and trouble are all part of life. In the newly released Hollywood movie,"God's Not Dead" ,an atheist college professor has been hurt in the past and hates God and tries to get his students to do likewise. This movie is a must see in my humble opinion. I have seen it three times already.

What are you struggling to deal with in your own life?Run to God,not away from Him. 

PRAYER: Lord I love you. Forgive me if I have ever been mad or blamed you for my grief. In Jesus' name. Amen.

OUR PRECIOUS FRIENDS

Yesterday morning upon awakening I checked my text messages and received one from son Matt letting me know one of my dear friends had died Sunday from multiple myloma. I had only found out she was sick on November 10th. This precious friend I had not seen since 1996 when our family visited them in Colorado. Now she is with Jesus and she was not even 60 yet. Just goes to show you how brief life is. Treasure your friends. Tell them you love them. If you are close make time for them. Keep in touch by letters and cards, not just email forwards.Pick up the phone and call. Ask forgiveness if you hurt them.

This particular friend Luana, I knew when our children were all pre schoolers back in Ilinois She too was a military wife. We shared many happy times over General Foods International Coffee "celebrating the moments of our lives". After 1990 we did not stay in touch as well as the military moved both of our families but I always held a fond place in my heart for her. Their family was always one of the 'special ones' to us though. I am saddened as they deal with unexpected grief but rejoicing she is in heaven.

No one likes to say goodbye forever to a loved one or friend. It hurts. Grief hurts. But for the believer there is joy in knowing we will be reunited in heaven one day. None of us expects to die young but sometimes it does happen. God has a way of healing hurts and wounds we feel but sometimes it takes time.

Matthew 5:4(NIV) says 'Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted."

Romans 8:18(NIV) says 'For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.'

Phillipians 1:22-24(ESV) says 'But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.'

Psalm 116:15(NIV) says 'Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.'

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I pray for those who are hurting from the recent death of a family member or friend. I pray for friends to surround those hurting and be there with a hug and a prayer. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Click on link for song in Luana Killam memory.

http://youtu.be/Ped1jYLFtkA

HIGH FIVE

The "high five" sign or "give me five" or "thumbs up" seems to be the universal language of goodness, happiness, or congratulations. My foreign readers will have to let me know if it is used in the country they reside in. When you say hi often you say "Give me five"!

tami

This "giving of five" is done when people feel joyful or happy. Do you feel joy or happiness in your life? Joy should not be dependent upon what is going on in your life but deep down you can experience the joy of the Lord no matter what is happening around you. "Now Becky don't be ridiculous! You are saying people in Moore, Oklahoma who have lost loved ones can actually have joy?"

Scripture says in Nehemiah 8:10 'Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Is The Lord your strength? Do you or can you feel His presence? When you get a moment read the entire chapter of John 15. Verse 11 says 'These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.'

Joy comes from God. You need to meditate on His word and His love for you. Do not allow your circumstances or people to rob you of joy. Joy could also stand for an acronym which is "Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last". Think of that for a moment. If you did concentrate and put Jesus first each day you would have a much better chance for maintaining your joy.

PRAYER:Lord I thank you that in you is found true joy. I know the enemy tries to defeat me daily and steal my joy. I will not allow things to spoil the joy of the Lord.Comfort those who are grieving today and bring them joy in their sadness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link and worship God in praise and song.

http://youtu.be/ibPUbKW5Sak

THE GRIEVING SPIRIT

Today I changed my original topic I had planned in order to honor one of my dear college friends and sorority sister Jill whose husband died unexpectedly Christmas Eve at the age of 58. This is a memorial to him, Billy, and hopefully will help others grieving a recent loss of a loved one or a continuing grief or wound that will not heal. Billy's earthly pain is gone and any suffering he had on Earth and in heaven he is promised 'no more tears, no more pain, and a heavenly body.' His children and wife hurt right now in a big way. Words will not really help them now, but the love,prayers and support of friends will ease their pain somewhat.

 Death is going to come for all of us. We can not escape it, but we never know when or what age. My younger son lost about 8 friends, 3 of which I knew, between the ages of 17 and his 26th birthday. The death of a child, baby, or young person is especially difficult. Death of anyone at any age is sad and leaves a gaping unexplained hole even though as people get up in years you expect it more. An aunt of mine also died on Christmas Eve this year and she was in her 90's and my husbands' mom died several years ago on Christmas Eve as well and she was well up in years. Still she is missed. My husband said she went home to celebrate Jesus birthday with him. Parents should never have to bury children, but it happens. By the way, God is not the one to blame although many grieving people sure get angry at Him.

In the big scheme of things nothing else is important in the world when death knocks on your door. You realize your priorities and they may change. Funerals even bring people together at times as strange as that sounds. God can use all things bad or good in life for His ultimate purposes.

Hebrews 9:27 says " it is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment." Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us " there is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot." 1 Corinthians 15:55 says "where oh death is your victory and where oh death is your sting?"

 I have known of cases where people go to doctor for something routine and something goes wrong. Do not blame the doctors. People always want someone to pin blame on a person to 'get back' at someone, be it God or a human. Sometimes things just happen and there is no explanation. Our time here on this earth is relatively short.James 4:14 says "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." Be sure to not let a day go by where you do not tell your spouse you love them  and stop the quarrels and learn to forgive. Try to forgive those who hurt you as you may not get another chance. Life is indeed short. Too short to stay mad and hopeless. No one is promised tomorrow. We all will die be it from cancer, accidents, old age, natural causes, illness, or however. It is unavoidable. Do not sit and worry about it but live life to the fullest and make sure you know Jesus as your savior so you can spend eternity with Him.

One of my favorite Bible verses concerning death does not come from the traditional Psalm 23 you hear read at funerals but it is found in Psalm 116:15 and it says "Precious in the site of the Lord is the death of his saints". Maybe someone deeply grieving is not ready to give up their loved one but God calls it precious. Give God your grief and pain. Jesus suffered the ultimate death on the cross but rose again. Those who die in Christ we will see again in God's heavenly kingdom. Death is not the end.

We will all go to a final resting place. If you know Jesus it is heaven. Isaiah 14:3 says "When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve". It is time for rest from the work on earth. Do not dread it but embrace it as your reward for a life well served. Death is not fun for those left behind grieving so we need to stay close to God and believe in the promise of seeing our loved ones again in glory. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING life."

Pray for this family today as they lay Billy to rest. One day we will be reunited in heaven.

PRAYER: Do you know if the Lord called you home today you are ready to meet Him? I did not say " are you baptized or are you a church member" but have you asked Jesus to be Lord of your life? We do not know the day nor hour He will return to take us home. Do not be mad at Him. He uses all things for ultimate good. Do not use that verse in Romans 8:28 to comfort any one with a loss, at least not now. Lord help me reach out to those who grieve and just be their friend and pray for them. Give me a heart of compassion for those hurting. Give me the right words to say. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on the link below to listen to a comforting song.
http://youtu.be/MN59zfhAjnI

 NOTE:May I heartily  recommend a  book by my friend Kathe Wunnenburg who has experienced the death of children. It is called 'Grieving the Loss of a Loved One'. Check Amazon to order it.

Also the book entitled 'A Twentieth Century Miracle' by Jerry Parrick which is now out of print is a true account about a man who died and came back to life only to serve the Lord. My grandma had me read it years ago.