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Monday's Mourning Ministry
You Hold Me Now
~Hillsong
~
Your Flame in My Heart
In perusing some grief-book reviews today, I noticed that on the cover of one of the grief books was a note by a woman author who had written, evidently, about the importance of being "positive" in life. Tommy nor I felt very positive when we took her online "test" today...and apparently flunked it! But, surely, circumstances are to be considered! I was an incredibly "positive" person before my baby was killed! But really, do I expect to be majorly "positive" now? I think not. Not when my heart has been blasted out of its walls and pulverized.
I am so glad I had written the following poem yesterday, along with reading God's Word which reassures me that He, of all beings, knows how painful and sorrowful life on this earth can be. Scripture even reminds us Jesus "was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."
Instead of chastising me for not being "positive," He exposes quite the opposite in His Word, that all discipline (rigors and obstacles that a loving father allows to come his child's way) is PAINFUL! His own Son only could bear the pain and shame of His persecution by the "joy" held out before Him.
Nancy Guthrie, author and grieving mother, asks in her devotional book, The One Year Book of Hope:
"What joy could Jesus see that enabled Him to endure the pain and agony of the Cross?"
She surmises that along with the joy of His resurrection's breaking the power of sin and death forever, and anticipating the joy of reunion with His Father, that part of His joy that carried Him through was that
"your face was on His mind, and He was full of joy that the price was now paid so you could spend eternity with Him."
And I would add,
~And the faces of our children were emblazoned in His heart as He knew that He was dying to save them...
Yes, this life is painful. But it seems that's all a part of it, part of the life of one who is a follower of Christ, living in a sin-filled, broken world...
*****
Your Flame in My Heart
You kept a flame glowing in my heart
Your Spirit's love would impart
To give me hope midst my despair;
Strength in my weakness showed Your care.
You ever know a parent's pain
When a child in the ground is lain...
You kept that flame burning bright
Though rains would come, threat'ning its light.
Even now my heavy heart
Looks for You to strength impart...
Child-to-mother dependency ~
You gently rain transcendency:
"The picture is much bigger child
Than Satan's work that on you piled;
That is only half the picture
Working out My Kingdom's venture.
"Look ahead with faith's eyes to see~
I'll reveal with transparency
The work I want to do in you
To bless your child, and see you through.
"You're a part of the Master's plan;
You, each together, hold My hand.
Heed My word, and answer My call;
I'll work through adversities ~ all."
*****
(Moses) persevered because He saw Him who is invisible...
(And there were many more) whose weakness was turned to strength, and who became powerful in battle...
There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword...
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as children? It says,
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His child."
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their parents? If you are not disciplined--and everyone undergoes discipline--then you are not legitimate children at all. Moreover we have had human parents who disciplined us and we respected them for it.
How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
Our parents disciplined us for a little while as they though best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for our feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
~Hebrews 11:27b,34b,36b-37a,39-40 and Hebrews 12:1-13 (TNIV) (highlights and pronoun capitalizations of God's name, mine.)
*****
(Jesus said to His disciples,)
"In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me...Because I am going to the Father."
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask Him about this, so He said to them,
"Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?
"I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come, but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."
~John 16:17b,19-22
*****
You Hold Me Now
~Hillsong United
On that day when I see,
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face,
There surrounded by Your grace
All my fears swept away
In the light of Your embrace
Where Your love is all I need
And forever I am free
Where the streets are made of gold
In the presence healed and whole
Let the songs of Heaven rise to You alone
No weeping,
No hurt or pain,
No suffering
You hold me now,
You hold me now
No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding,
You hold me now
You hold me now
In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails
Where Your name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of your name
I believe for the day
Where the wars will finally cease
And all creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to You alone
No weeping,
No hurt or pain,
No suffering
You hold me now,
You hold me now
No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding,
You hold me now
You hold me now
You hold me now,
You hold me now
For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name
For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name
For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name
For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name
No weeping,
No hurt or pain,
No suffering
You hold me now,
You hold me now
No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding,
You hold me now
You hold me now
No weeping,
No hurt or pain,
No suffering
You hold me now,
You hold me now
No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding,
You hold me now
You hold me now
No weeping,
No hurt or pain,
No suffering
You hold me now,
You hold me now
No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding,
You hold me now
You hold me now
picture: flame in my heart - http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/flames.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC3LnXsDkas&feature=related
Poem - Your Flame in My Heart - Angie Bennett Prince - 4/30/2011
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