Happy Birthday in Heaven, Sweet Sister of the Heart

Happy Birthday in Heaven,

Sweet Sister of the Heart

In Memory of

Ethel Kowal

and 

her daughter,

Carissa

My dearest Ethel, 

I have been away from Facebook  for quite awhile so when I came to your site today to wish you a happy birthday, I was stunned and so deeply saddened to see that you, my dear sister of the heart, are no longer with us on this earth. What a huge loss to all of us who knew you! You were such a faithful friend to "hold my hand" over these years as we shared the deep pain over the loss of our precious 19-year-old daughters. You always seemed to have just the right words to say to ease my broken heart. Thank you for your kindness and love.  And just as we "virtually" shared a friendship across the continent when you were here, thanks to our Lord, I trust our friendship continues on even now ~ across the heavens...

Tommy and I are praying for your precious Dennis and Tara left on this earth; I know they love and miss you so very much. We will all miss your tender love Ethel, but we rejoice to know we will someday join that "great cloud of witnesses" and be reunited with one another in the eternal peace of His love. 

Happy Birthday dear sister of the heart. Know that we love and miss you so. Today, in your memory, and in thankfulness for yours and Carissa's eternal salvation, I play for you what you shared with me as being one of Carissa's favorite songs, "Mighty to Save" by Hillsong (this also was a favorite of my Merry Katherine's!). ~Sweet blessings to you~

Enjoy holding your precious baby girl (((Carissa))) close to your heart today on your birthday in Heaven dear (((Ethel))) as you both bask in the love and sweet peace of our Heavenly Father... 

I remember your once writing to me, as you were longing for your Carissa,

"Oh to hear that sweet voice again and see that charismatic smile!"

~ What a blessing to know dear Ethel, thanks to the love and grace of our Lord, that now you surely can! 

Mighty to Save

~Hillsong

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me...

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Savior,
The hope of nations...

[Chorus:]
Savior ~ He can move the mountains;
My God is mighty to save!
He is mighty to save!
Forever Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave!
Jesus conquered the grave!

(music interlude)

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures...
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender
(I surrender)

    Savior ~ He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave;
Jesus conquered the grave!

Savior ~ He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave;
Jesus conquered the grave!



Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Savior ~ He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave;
Jesus conquered the grave!

Savior ~ He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave;
Jesus conquered the grave!



Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King ~ Jesus!

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King!

Happy Birthday in Heaven picture, thanks to google.com

Picture of Ethel and Carissa, thanks to another precious sister of the heart, Melody Robinson-Hill

Monday's Mourning Ministry - Jesus Whispers Peace ~George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows / Portrait: 'Prince of Peace' ~Akiane

Akiane's view of the "Prince of Peace" ~

painted when she was only 9 years old

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Jesus Whispers Peace

~George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows

at a Billy Graham Crusade

There is a name to me so dear,

Like sweetest music to my ear,

For when my heart is troubled, filled with fear,

Jesus whispers peace.

When grief seems more than I can bear

My soul weighed down with heavy care

And I am sorely tempted to despair

Jesus whispers peace.

O that the world might hear Him speak

The word of comfort that men seek

To all the lowly and to the meek,

Jesus whispers peace.

The most important thing in this world is faith, because without faith, you cannot communicate with God.

~Akiane

Portrait: "Prince of Peace," painted by 9-year-old Akiane (pronounced Ah-key-ah-nuh)

http://youtu.be/bzcjg1hxNsM

Tuesday’s Trust - I Looked for Comfort…

Tuesday’s Trust

I Looked for Comfort…

Tweet for Twitter this week:

Grief's such a bear-it weakens all life’s coping mechanisms & exacerbates any "crack" u might have in any parts of ur heart/soul/foundation.

Last week was a horrendous one for us. It was frightening and debilitating as we both felt the hyper-vigilance and hyper-startle reactions that often come with grief. I did cry out to God a great deal for His intervention in the crisis, intervention that He did graciously provide…

But I was so frozen and so numb, that I did notice I could not seem to sit before Him with His Word in hand to meditate and ponder His perspective. I think I was too agitated to rest in Him.

But, when I finally meditated this weekend, I pictured Him lovingly cradling me in His arms, effectively taking me straight out of earth’s frantic anxieties into His arms in Heaven and into what really matters for all eternity… His comfort was overwhelmingly sweet as His love cradled me, and my wounded heart. The tears came, and then a smile, as I began to notice that His peace that passes understanding effectively was saturating my body, soul and spirit with His calm…

This poem addresses my frenetic searching for relief this week while forgetting it only comes when I am sweetly ensconced in my Lord’s loving presence and embrace.

******

I looked for comfort

and did not realize I need Him, my Comforter…

I looked for peace

and did not realize I need Him, my Prince of Peace.

I looked for quiet

and did not realize HE IS my still water to walk by,

my green pastures in which to lie down.

I looked for healing

and did not realize I need Him—HE IS my Great Physician.

Apart from Him, I can do nothing;

Apart from Him, nothing can satisfy.

HE is my Comfort, my Peace, my Quiet, my Healing.

To come into His arms and be cradled is to be loved—

His love brings me Comfort, Peace, Quiet, and Healing…

He is my Living Water who quenches the raging fires of Grief.

He is my Comforter who brings me sweet Relief…

******

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

For his unfailing love toward those who fear Him
 is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
 The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
 For He knows how weak we are; 
He remembers we are only dust.


Psalm 103:11,13-14

My child, be attentive to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4:20-22

Love is the path Picture http://twitpic.com/gbmde by Marcome

Girl being comforted,Boy with bear pictures: http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/comfort.html

http://picturesofjesus4you.com/images/suffer_children.jpg
httpn://picturesofjesus4you.com/images/lost_lamb_parson.jpg

Pinaus Lake in British Columbia - www.Kathika.com

Widows Tears in Yosemite National Park in California - www.Kathika.com

Poem - I Looked for Comfort... - Angie Bennett Prince - 11/16/09