Tuesday's Trust - Living in a "House of Mourning" ~Tommy and Angie Prince

Tuesday's Trust

Living in a "House of Mourning"

~Tommy and Angie Prince

Everything the world is about is the push to "recover," hurry up and "get through" the grief and trauma of your loss. The world looks at the "good life" as

• being prosperous,
• having an abundance of possessions,
• seeking pleasure,
• pursuing happiness, and
• seeking self-sufficiency...

Then, you read along in Ecclesiastes, and God turns everything upside down.

"Let Me Grieve!" was my poem in last week's Friday's Faith. When I read scripture, God says this mourning is beneficial, not detrimental as many would have me think. So, for those of us in grief, if you are looking for meaning in your time of grief, read Ecclesiastes 7:1-4.

It's not that we want to be in the "house of mourning"; we didn't want to be in the "house of mourning." We didn't ask to be in the "house of mourning," but we were visited by a horrendous loss~the loss of our 19-year-old daughter in a car crash, and NOW -- now, we are residents in a "house of mourning."

And the strange thing is, Ecclesiastes says being in this "house of mourning" is a good thing, and that "sorrow" is better than "laughter"! So should we hurry up and get over this good thing? We don't know. We are just grieving our loss, attempting to manage our trauma, and learning to trust our God at a much deeper level... And somehow He comes alongside, ministers to us, and reminds us of what is most important about life. For that, we do count ourselves blessed.

A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of death better than the day of birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

because a sad face is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

~Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

Pictures thanks to Fotosearch.com

Tuesday's Trust - Religious Rain Dance

Tuesday's Trust

Religious Rain Dance

Tommy's Journal Entry From a Year Ago

Last night I talked to Angie about how when she mentioned yesterday about praying for something, my immediate thought was, “It won’t do any good to pray for that.”

One of the biggest changes in me after Merry Katherine was killed was my ‘prayer life.’ I now only pray for comfort from God and that’s all.

The agony and turmoil I went through for months right up to the time she was killed is not something I care to go through again. So, why try, it won’t do any good.

My whole belief and faith in what I was taught and thought about God has been shot all to hell.

I feel as though I was duped all these years into being able to pray for specifics and eventually my prayers would be answered.

I realize now so much of the Western version of Christianity is mixed in with paganism.

• If we pray hard enough,

• If we shout loud enough,

• If we sing long enough,

• If we give money enough,

God will be moved to grant us our ‘favor.’

All that is, is unadulterated paganism.

The underlying assumption is if ‘I’ do something like participate in a religious ritual or do the things I’ve already mentioned, this will be pleasing to God and He will be moved.

That is NOT the Gospel you dumb-a**es.

God moves because he deeply loves us in Jesus not because we do something or don’t do something.

You are going to get f**ked over no matter what you do.

It’s called ‘suffering’ and the New Testament is just loaded with it. The problem is no one is teaching the most obvious aspect of the Gospel.

The beauty of it is that God is there in the suffering.

So take the pressure off and stop the religious rain dance and bask in Him.

Western Christianity thrives on false formulas that need to be spoken or acted on in some way.

• Say these words;
• Raise your hand...I see that hand;
• Come down front;
• Eat this;
• Don’t eat that;
• Have you read your Bible everyday;
• Study the lesson;
• Be on time!”

All of the aforementioned activities are nothing but Tribal Behaviors.

Some big preacher chief and denominational council get together once a year and declare to the tribe the old and new tribal rituals that must be followed or you will be in deep doo doo:

• Don’t follow God;

• Follow the formulas.

According to the big preacher chiefs, we are to be disciples of the formulas not to be disciples of Jesus.

You think this might be the reason you can’t really tell a ‘Christian’ from a ‘Non-Christian’ in our culture?

The only thing Jesus told his followers to do was to

‘Love on each other like I've loved on you.’

That’s it.

direction photo: photo: http://www.funny-games.biz/pictures/501-oneway.html

Friday's Faith - My Child's Lifeline to Me: The Cord

Friday's Faith

My Child's Lifeline to Me

The Cord

We are connected,

My child and I, by

An invisible cord

Not seen by the eye.

It's not like the cord

That connects us 'til birth

This cord can't be seen

By any on Earth.

This cord does it's work

Right from the start.

It binds us together

Attached to my heart.

I know that it's there

Though no one can see

The invisible cord

From my child to me.

The strength of this cord

Is hard to describe.

It can't be destroyed,

It can't be denied.

It's stronger than any cord

Man could create;

It withstands the test,

Can hold any weight.

And though you are gone,

Though you're not here with me,

The cord is still there

But no one can see.

It pulls at my heart

I am bruised...I am sore,

But this cord is my lifeline

As never before.

I am thankful that God

Connects us this way

A mother and child...

Death can't take it away!

Author Unknown

******

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...

~Hebrews 12:1a NIV

(Jesus replied,) "But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

~Matthew 22:31-33 NIV

(Jesus replied,) "...and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive."

~Luke 20:36-38 NIV

(Jesus answered,) I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

If a man eats of this bread, he will live forever...

John 6:47-51a NIV

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies."

John 11:25 NIV

Holy Scripture - NIV - New International Version

graphic from photobucket.com:

http://s917.photobucket.com/albums/ad19/lom_2009/Decorated%20images/?action=view&current=heart-quote-1.gif

Little Lamb, Who Saved Thee?

Little Lamb, Who Saved Thee?

Today, I discovered that John Piper had included William Blake's wonderful poem, "Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?" in today's blog post:

Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?

November 29, 2009 | By: John Piper | Category: Commentary

William Blake was born yesterday, 1757. One of his most famous poems is one of my favorites. It’s a good launch into Advent.

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed,

By the stream and o’er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?





Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee,

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee. 



He is called by thy name, 


For He calls Himself a Lamb. 


He is meek, and He is mild;


He became a little child. 


I a child, and thou a lamb, 


We are called by His name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

******

In John Piper's comments, I wrote the following:

Thank you for reminding us of William Blake's wonderful poem; it is one of my favorites. 3 years ago, I lost my 19-year-old daughter; ever since, my Lord has led me to process through the immense grief by writing poetry. After discovering William Blake's poem, I wrote a sequel to it. I would love to share it with you and your readers:

Little Lamb, Who Saved Thee?

Little Lamb, who saved thee?

Dost thou know who saved thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed,

By His living waters lead,

Gave thee clothing of bright white!

To sing His love ‘nd bring delight,

Gave to thee Sweet Spirit’s voice—

Heaven’s angels all rejoice!

Little Lamb, who saved thee?

Dost thou know who saved thee?

Little lamb, I’ll tell thee.

Little lamb, I’ll tell thee.

‘Twas Love Himself who saved thee!

Love’s own Lamb saved little lamb:

God sent down His only Son,

Th’ cruel cross to die upon,

T’ save your soul from Satan’s wrath;

O what Love our dear God hath!

Little lamb, God loves thee!

Little lamb, God loves thee!

Poem - Little Lamb, Who Saved Thee? - Angie Bennett Prince - 7/31/08, revised 11/29/09

Monday’s Mourning Ministry — It Is Well with My Soul

Monday’s Mourning Ministry

It Is Well with My Soul

It Is Well with My Soul: 29 years ago, 1980, this beautiful, soul-felt song was played at my brother Buddy's funeral. The congregation sang; my sisters and I cried all the way through it... My brother was only 38 years old when he died from cancer, leaving behind his loving wife of 16 years and his precious 14-year-old son Curt who needed his daddy, his football coach, his discipler in Christ. Buddy was my oldest brother, my parents' oldest child.

24 years later, 2004, this song was played once again, this time at my father's funeral, our congregation singing of our daddy's beautiful soul that faithfully touched our church family, our community, his beloved wife of 65 years, and each of us, his children, so faithfully and so deeply.

2 years later, 2006…My only daughter, Merry Katherine, who deeply loved her Lord, often belting out songs of praise to Him in the privacy of her room was killed in a crash along with two of her friends as they were on their way to the beach. We played this sweet song at her funeral knowing that after such a sudden death, she was actually in the presence of her Lord, now singing her soul-felt praises to Him, but now, face-to-face. Merry Katherine is our youngest child and my parents' youngest grandchild.

******

Singer Wintley Phipps shared these words God put on his heart on another occasion before singing this song:

It is in the quiet crucible of your personal private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you’ve been through…

And so, Horatio Gates Spafford (1873) was given this blessed song that has ministered to my entire family’s heart as well as millions of others through the years.

And now, I want to share this song with you. Take note of the song's poignant history as Sonya Isaacs shares the circumstances in which it had been written.

How timely for us grieving parents to hear a fellow sufferer, a fellow struggler, share the words of his heart with us. Despite his greatest heart-ache amidst a parent’s worst nightmare, even so Horatio Spafford could write and sing these words from his heart,

“Even so, it is well with my soul…”

It is Well With My Soul

The Isaacs

******

I learned this weekend that another singer, one of our own contemporary Christian artists, Steven Curtis Chapman has written and sung the songs of a father’s own heart-felt agony over the loss of his baby girl on a new album called "Beauty Will Rise":

Singer Copes With His Daughter's Death

Posted Friday 13 November 04:30 PM By: PopEater Staff

Christian music singer Steven Curtis Chapman is still coping with the death of his adopted daughter, 5-year-old Maria, who was accidentally struck in the family's driveway by one of her brothers who was returning home in his truck in May 2008.

Chapman, who has been singing Christian music for more than 20 years, told CNN that he felt like he was in a black hole and faced with a God he had not known before. Everything he thought about God was different, he said, and he began to wrestle with his beliefs.

An investigation called the tragedy an accident and no charges were filed. Maria was rushed to the hospital in Nashville, but died of her injuries there. The accident occurred on May 21, 2008 at Chapman's home in Franklin, Tennessee. Maria had been playing behind the family's home when she ran towards her brother's truck and was struck.

Chapman's wife, Mary Beth, told him they had to accept her destiny. "It was after a few minutes that my wife, with her hand on my shoulder, said, 'I really think we are supposed to let her go for now,'" Chapman said to CNN.

In the days after Maria's death, the whole family -- Chapman, his wife, their two sons, their daughter and two other adopted daughters -- grieved together. Chapman couldn't imagine his life without his daughter.

He recalls the instant connection he had when he met her in her native China while she was an infant. He and his wife had already adopted two children from there, and weren't looking for another. But Maria "touched a special place in my heart," and he called his wife just to tell her about the baby girl. "I can't put it into words, but I've picked up a lot of little orphan boys and girls over the years," he said. "I've never had anything happen to my heart like what happened when I held this little girl in my arms for a few minutes."

Although Chapman doubted he would want to write and sing again, he slowly put his fears and hopes into music. Even though he didn't plan on doing an album, songwriting was helping him heal. "Songs are really cathartic for me," he said, "because they force me to put my feelings and thoughts into a capsule and say, 'There it is.' "

The raw, emotional journey he recorded will now be his 19th album, entitled 'Beauty Will Rise.' The album is his personal testament to Maria's life and the overwhelming belief that they will be together again one day, he said.

With his raw emotions splattered across the album, Chapman said, "It just felt like that's honest. This is life going on. It's the day-to-day pain, just walking the journey."

When asked by CNN what song he thought would be Maria's favorite, Chapman paused for a while. Then he thought of the title track, "Beauty Will Rise." "She likes loud, she liked it fast," he said, the smile returning to his voice. "She likes the one with all the energy and the one she could bounce in the car to."

******

I am looking forward to hearing Steven Curtis Chapman’s upcoming album, written from the depths of the pain of yet another fellow strugger in the agony of grief over the loss of his child. You may want to follow him on Twitter as I do: @StevenCurtis

Steven Curtis Chapman story: http://bit.ly/2N2I7d

It Is Well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaar6Ij55ig

Clouds Picture - Let there be light by Christolakis http://bit.ly/11pFHR