Tuesday's Trust - God Enters and Companions Our Suffering… and A Poem About Her Suffering...

Tuesday's Trust

God Enters and Companions Our Suffering…

and 

A Poem About Her Suffering...

Suffering is a huge, unavoidable element in the human condition. To be human is to suffer. No one gets an exemption. It comes as no surprise then to find that our Holy Scriptures, immersed as they are in the human condition, provide extensive witness to suffering…

Lamentations, written out of the exile experience, provides the community of faith with a form and vocabulary for dealing with loss and pain…

Neither explaining nor offering a program for the elimination of suffering, Lamentations keeps company with the extensive biblical witness that gives dignity to suffering by insisting that God enters our suffering and is companion to our suffering.

"She cries herself to sleep at night,

tears soaking her pillow.

No one's left among her lovers to sit and hold her hand.

Her friends have all dumped her."

~from Lamentations 1

~Introduction to Lamentations, found in one version of The Message by Eugene Peterson, page 1474,

Verse from Lamentations 1, page 1475.

~~~

And later that night, rather in the wee hours of this morning, I wrote a poem, along with many, many tears to lament her suffering…

Poem: On Grappling with her Suffering that Night…

Her fall was astounding;

there was none to comfort her.

~Lamentations 1:9b

What?! On the night that you fell,

That fatal night (once Satan was through),

But before he sounded Death's knell,

There was none there to comfort you?!

Years spent with us, wiping your tears,

Feeling your pain, crying with you,

But in that bleak night's terrorizing fears,

No mommy or daddy there to comfort you?

How can this be? It's just not right:

We were not there to comfort your fright.

And then our God enters my plight…

But I trust God was there,

Holding you close, caressing your hair;

My baby girl, your Father was there!

He took you Home; He rescued you;

He held you close that whole night through;

He wiped your tears, poured out His love…

Ev'n as He does now for us… since you went Above.

Where would we go? What would we do?

If we did not know our God did rescue you?

Held in God's arms, sleep well now my child;

Since He holds us too, we'll join you in a while

When all tears shall cease underneath God's sweet smile…

Poem - On Grappling With Her Suffering that Night - Angie Bennett Prince - 08/27/2012, 2:00 a.m.

“Christ was in agony in prayer, Luke 22:44. Many when they pray are rather in lethargy, than in an agony. When they are about the world they are all fire; when they are at prayer, they are all ice.”

~Thomas Watson

Picture, thanks to Daily Scripture e-cards
Quote, from Heartlight's Quotemeal

Monday's Mourning Ministry - Healing Rain ~Michael W. Smith

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Healing Rain

~Michael W. Smith

Healing Rain

~Michael W. Smith

Healing rain is coming down 

It's coming nearer to this old town 

Rich and poor, weak and strong 

It's bringing mercy, it won't be long

Healing rain is coming down 

It's coming closer to the lost and found 

Tears of joy, and tears of shame 

Are washed forever in Jesus' name

Healing rain, it comes with fire 

So let it fall and take us higher 

Healing rain, I'm not afraid 

To be washed in Heaven's rain

Lift your heads, let us return 

To the mercy seat where time began 

And in your eyes, I see the pain 

Come soak this dry heart with healing rain

And only You, the Son of man 

Can take a leper and let him stand 

So lift your hands, they can be held 

By someone greater, the great I Am

Healing rain, it comes with fire 

So let it fall and take us higher 

Healing rain, I'm not afraid 

To be washed in Heaven's rain

To be washed in Heaven's rain...

Healing rain is falling down 

Healing rain is falling down 

I'm not afraid 

I'm not afraid...

Healing rain is falling down 

Healing rain is falling down 

I'm not afraid 

I'm not afraid...

Healing rain is falling down 

Healing rain is falling down 

I'm not afraid 

I'm not afraid...

Healing rain is falling down 

Healing rain is falling down 

I'm not afraid 

I'm not afraid...

Picture, thanks to Google Images

Video: http://youtu.be/Bo1bjTOFbZA

Friday's Faith - "My Father's Love" ~by Grieving Mother, Wendy

Friday's Faith

"My Father's Love"

~by Grieving Mother, Wendy

Wendy, another grieving mother, lovingly agreed for me to share one of her recent blog posts with you all! Wendy lost her precious daughter Ashley in July of 2009 in a tragic boating accident; little Ashley had just turned eleven years old the week before... In her post from her own grief blog, "Flowers for Momma," posted near Valentine's Day, Wendy provides a great example of a grieving mother catching a glimpse of our Heavenly Father's heart breaking for us as He watches us, His children, amidst our own angst as we grieve our child.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012

My Father's Love

Valentine's Day is two days away. I remember the way Ashley prepared for this day, carefully designing cards for the one's she loved, wording and rewording until she said it just right, cutting and pasting, trying her hardest to capture the vastness of her love and squish it onto a single card. She paged through magazines and browsed the card racks at stores trying to get ideas for the perfect cards. She would often beg me to let her buy a card from the store (she thought they did a better job), but mommy never relented, a card must be homemade, those were the best a little girl could give. As the day approached, Ashley was disgusted that this day did not deserve "a day off" status, like other holidays! Valentine's Day was a favorite for Ashley. It was the designated day for proclaiming our love for others! For Ashley, every day was valentine's day. She told me every day how much she loved me...that she loved me sooooo much, that in all the world, she would only pick me to be her mommy. Love. Ashley understood Love. She didn't just say how much she loved others, she showed them, every day!

Every year, I also spend an afternoon cutting and pasting as I make valentines for my children. I reflect on my love for each one of them as I make their cards. Although I begin with blank paper, I am amazed that I end up with a unique card designed with love for each one. Today, as I cut and paste, I can't help but to reflect on the lesson of love that my heavenly father has given given me a glimpse of this year.

Dear Ashley,

You taught me so much about love. Before you, I knew what it was like to be loved by my parents. I knew what it was like to love and be loved by my friends, my siblings, my family. I knew the love of my husband, and I knew that God loved me. When you came into my life, I began to know the love that pours from my soul, from the depths of my heart into the tiny life of my child, my flesh and blood. I never knew a love like this until you were born. I wondered how it was possible to love someone so much! What is more, you loved me back even more than I could fathom. Even though I was filled with flaws, you loved me anyway. I thanked God that He would give you a love for me despite who I am.

I loved you more and more. How could it be possible that the love I had for you the day you were born could possibly grow bigger, deeper, wider? As I loved you, I was showing you God's love. You loved God. As you grew, you loved Him more. The more you knew Him, the more you loved him. You would always tell me how much you loved me, and then you would say "but I love God the most." You pointed me back to God.

My heart and soul bleed as I ache for you. I so desperately want to hear those words again. I want to tell you how much I love you. You are gone. But, God remains. I can't always feel him. In the darkness I have wondered about His love. I could not understand. When I held you, in my joy, I knew God's love. How then, do I know God's love in my pain? God can't reveal to me the fullness of his love at first glance. His love grows bigger and deeper and wider as I walk with him.

A few weeks ago my heart was torn as I faced a very large mountain. God gave me the strength I needed to make it that day. Then, when I was fully poured out, I saw that I had only climbed the foothill to the mountain. For the first time in over two years, one of your siblings began to wail for you. The screams of death resounded from this house once again. I had no energy to face this mountain that day. There was no acceptance of my comfort. As I was forced to sit still and helplessly wait, I began to understand a glimpse of another aspect of love. God's love, in pain. My heart bled in agony as I listened. I longed to fix the pain. I wanted to take it far away, to wrap my child in my arms and remove the storm. But, as the storm violently surrounded me, patience filled my soul. I waited. I knew that my child needed to walk through it. I knew that my child would be stronger on the other side. I knew that although it was horrible, my child needed this in order to heal. I had to wait. I would walk my child through.

My eyes began to open and my heart wept as I felt my Father's love for me. I knew that his heart hurts when I am in pain. I knew that he patiently waits for me to walk through the storms, because he knows where I will be when I come through them. He knows that I need to face them, to endure them. He knows that each storm I walk through is making me stronger. He loves me in my pain. He understands.

God chose to show us love through the simple relationship between a parent and a child. I am also his child. He loves me the way He loves his son. God has given me the chance to understand the love a mother has for her children as I hold them in my arms. He as given me the chance to love my child through the searing pain of death, and he is showing me a glimpse of what it is like to love my child in pain and suffering.

God's love is deep, and wide, and high....and I will not see it fully until I am with him. Although I knew that God does not delight in our suffering, it was not until I loved my child through their suffering that I could even remotely understand that He is love even in the storm.

Happy Valentine's Day, my sweet girl!
love,
Mommy

Thank you Wendy for sharing your heart, and the Father's heart, with us all...

Picture: http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/jesus-with-children-0401.jpg

Tuesday's Trust - We are Weak but He is Strong…

Tuesday's Trust

We are Weak but He is Strong…

10/10/2011

31 years ago today, my mother and father lost their oldest child: my brother Buddy lost his life to cancer on 10-10-1980 at the age of 38. My parents, (like I as of 8/2/2006), had to learn to live with the death of their child for the rest of their earthly existence…

Trauma throws us to the ground, some to ground zero. With Child-loss, most of us feel we are thrown below ground zero. It takes years to rebuild, restore, regroup, just to get up to ground zero!

Meanwhile in such a weakened state, can we believe the words of the little song most of us were taught in church as wee children?

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak, but He is strong!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me,

For the Bible tells me so!

I write this poem as I process my cries before the Lord tonight:

In my weakness, Thou art strong;

Hold me Jesus in Your arms!

Protect me from the mean and wrong;

Soothe me now midst Satan's harms.

Child-Loss is the worst of crimes ~

Seeing evil befall our child

Renders us to our weakest times,

Seeing our little one defiled…

Amidst such evil, help us know,

You were there, quick to rescue!

Though evil befell, You loved so,

You drew our little one up to You.

We're left behind, raw and weak,

But You come along beside;

To our tender souls You speak

As we are Your wounded bride.

Thank You our child is in Your arms

Rescued from vile enemy;

Carry us now in those same arms,

Safe in You for all eternity.

Soothed by You, we rest in Thee.

Picture: http://picturesofjesus4you.com/gallery1drawings.html

Poem - In My Weakness, Thou Art Strong! - Angie Bennett Prince - 10/10/2011

Friday's Faith - For This is the New You

Friday's Faith

For This is the New You

Even Jesus didn't hang out with those who hated Him. He had the discernment to know who was who. He sought out the broken, the open, the humble, the seeking. He told His disciples to do the same thing. He openly scorned the merely religious that had no love in their hearts, for they did not reflect the Heavenly Father*, and so He told them - even though they thought they would one day enter into the kingdom of Heaven, they would ultimately risk hearing, "I never knew you."**

He instructed His disciples to go out to the people, and whoever receives you, pour out your blessing, and whoever rejects you, wipe the dust off your feet and move on.

It seems there will be many people we love but who are unable to love us, and worse, even unable to just respect us.

At the end of His life, Jesus cried out over His people as He looked out over Jerusalem, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I longed to gather you under my wing as a mother hen gathers her chicks, but you would not have it." He openly cried out His angst over their hardness of heart, and so will we, but we do not have to "hang" with these people who are blatantly disrespectful, hurtful, clueless, sanctimonious, and judging.

He only turned Himself over to them once, though highly reluctant to, and sweating drops of blood over it, but it was only because His Father wanted Him to, and He knew there was no other way to carry out His Father's will to pay for our sins that we may be His and come to live with Him some day.

After our child's death, we are not the same. We are different.

Jesus was different than what the people expected. Jesus came and showed a whole new way. He did and said things that drove the merely religious people berserk. He knew what was important and carried out the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law which He instructed them, kills, and was only a shadow pointing to the true realities in Heaven.

We have been touched in a way that we know what is important. Jesus knew what was important; Everything He did was out of love. We have suffered, and we know the path of the suffering and have a heart for them. Our hearts go out to one another's out of love. So did Jesus' heart. He came to bind up the broken-hearted. He still binds the hearts of the brokenhearted, for He ever binds our hearts, and calls us unto Him to hide in the safety of His love, under His wing (the same wing the merely-religious rejected).

Thank You Lord for Your tender mercies. Hide us in the shadow of Your wing and heal our battered and broken hearts. Thank You that You tell us we are blessed even though... and especially so... we cry.

"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted."

~Matthew 5:4

*"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."

He went on to say,

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven."

**

Jesus speaking,

"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!'"

When Jesus sent His disciples out to share His message with them, He instructed His disciples,

"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

~Matthew 10:11-15

He went on, letting them know He knew the evil they were up against:

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. But be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues."

~Matthew 10:16-17

He went on to instruct them how to handle the nay-sayers and those who would harass them:

"When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another."

~Matthew 10:23a

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36

At that time Jesus said,

"I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things (the secret spiritual things of God) from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure."

~Matthew 11:25-26

Then He kindly spoke to people like us that are weary and burdened down...

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

~Matthew 11:28-30

Now, watch how Jesus went about doing what He was called to do, but those around Him were always telling Him He was doing it wrong, yet Jesus followed the spirit of the law and was not bound by the conventions men thought He should be bound to:

In Matthew 12:

"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."

He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that One greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

~Matthew 12:1-8

Later, after Jesus healed on the Sabbath, the legalistic Pharisees became outraged! The Scriptures reveal that after Jesus healed on the Sabbath, "the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."

~Matthew 12:14

And what did Jesus do? Did He hang with these men who had no respect for Him? No!

"Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place."

~Matthew 12:15

But even for these men who were a part of His chosen people, He had great love. In His last days, this was the cry from His heart:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, ow often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

~ Jesus, crying out in Luke 13:34

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.... He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge...

~Psalm 91:1-2,4a

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who assail me...

~Psalm 17:8

In Luke 4, Jesus quotes the Scripture from Isaiah 61:1-3, saying for this very reason, He came:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on Me,

because the Lord has anointed Me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to bind up

the brokenhearted

too proclaim freedom for the captives

and release for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn

and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on the a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of

righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of His

splendor."

Thank you to grieving mother, Melody Hill, for sharing today's picture with me.

Tuesday's Trust - God Taketh... and Giveth...

Merry Katherine Prince and Merry Elizabeth Prince

Tuesday's Trust

God Taketh... and Giveth...

Two days ago, our first grandbaby was born--a girl!

Today, five years ago, we buried our only baby girl;

Yesterday, five years ago, we had her funeral...

grieving she'd left our world.

But today we met our grandbaby who carries the name of our baby girl!

God works in mysterious ways as He gives and takes away...

Thank You that in all our lives You show Your loving way,

For though my baby had to leave me, she lives in Heaven with you today,

And our grandbaby left Heaven, and we were blessed to meet her today!

God who giveth, and taketh away...

You blessed these children with life ~

both with life, and one now with Life,

ever moving in Your Own loving way...

May we lift Your Name with Thanksgiving each and ev'ry remaining day!

Poem - God Taketh... and Giveth... - Angie Bennett Prince - August 7, 2011

Monday's Mourning Ministry - I Have Been There ~Mark Schultz

Monday's Mourning Ministry

I Have Been There

~Mark Schultz

In a room without a view
A new mother smiles and holds the tiny fingers
Of her brand new baby girl.
Her husband takes her by the hand,
So unsure about the future and no money:
Can they make it in this world?
And they pray, "Lord all we have to give is love!"
Then they heard a gentle voice,
Like an echo from above...

"Oh I have been there
I know what fear is all about -
Yes, I have been there
And I'm standing with you now!
I have been there
And I came to build a bridge oh so this road could
Lead you home -
Oh I have been there!"

He’d been a pastor twenty years,
But tonight he sits alone and brokenhearted
In the corner of the church.
He’s tried to change a fallen world
With his words and with his wisdom,
But it seems like it is only getting worse!
And he cries,
"Oh Lord I just don’t understand!"
And then he felt the hand of grace,
And he heard a voice that said,

"I have been there
I know what pain is all about -
Yes, I have been there
And I'm standing with you now!
I have been there,
And I came to build to a bridge oh so
This road could lead you home -
Oh I have been there!"

An older man up on a hill
Holding flowers but he can’t hold back the tears...
Oh he has come to say goodbye
He thinks about the life she lived,
Thinks about how hard it’s been
To live without her,
Sixty years right by his side -
And he cries,
"Oh Lord I loved her 'til the end!"
Then he heard a gentle voice say,
"You'll see her once again!"

"I have been there
I know what sorrow's all about -
Yes, I have been there,
And I'm standing with you now!
I have been there,
And I came to build a bridge
Oh so this road could lead her Home!
The road could lead her Home -
Oh I have been there!"

"You know I overcame the cross
Yes I have been there,
So her life would not be lost!
I have been there,
And I came to build a bridge
Oh so this road could lead you Home!
The road could lead you Home -
Oh I have been there!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp6hWbSxTvk

http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/mark-schultz/i-have-been-there.html

Monday’s Mourning Ministry - Held

Held

Monday’s Mourning Ministry

Searching the Bible on Behalf of us Bereaved Parents

as we Grieve Our Great Loss...

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us

with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8:26

At one time my heart was sad
and my spirit was bitter.
I didn't have any sense. I didn't know anything.
I acted like a wild animal toward You.
But I am always with You.
You hold me by my right hand.
You give me wise advice to guide me.
And when I die, You will take me away
into the glory of heaven.

Psalm 73:21-24 NIRV

On my bed I remember You;

I think of You

through the watches of the night.

Because You are my help,

I sing in the shadow of Your wings.

My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

Held

Though He brings grief,

He will show compassion,

so great is His unfailing love.

For He does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to the children of men.

Lamentations 3:32-33

"The eternal God is your refuge,

and underneath

are the everlasting arms...."

Deuteronomy 33:27

***

Tomorrow, we will begin to examine scriptures that talk further about this fallen world we live in that includes the death of each of us; though we continue to live in such a fallen world until God creates "a new heaven and a new earth," we will see that our God is a God of love who brings life to us and does not cause death:

Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life....

2 Samuel 14:14

(Jesus said,) "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."

John 10:10

All Scriptures NIV, except Psalm 73:21-24 is New International Reader's Version

Picture: http://picturesofjesus4you.com/448.html "My Savior and Friend" by Jean Keaton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-hJ87ApWtw