Tuesday's Trust - Where to Find Peace?

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Tuesday's Trust

Where to Find Peace?

That in Me ye might have peace.

~John 16:33

These words have brought peace to me this morning. Sometimes our circumstances are so peaceful, that without knowing it we slip into finding our peace in them. Then something happens to disturb them and our peace is disturbed. Sometimes those about us are so dear that our hearts rest in them, and this is good, but it is not enough, for what if one, in whose love we trust, should disappoint us?

Our Lord did not say, These things [the things of Ch. 16] I have spoken unto you, that in your circumstances ye might have peace; or, These things I have spoken unto you that in the love of others ye might have peace; but He did say, "These things" --things of wonder, joy, sorrow, preparation-- "I have spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace." (John 15:20)

. . . Is there any surprise of grief that our dear Lord has not foreseen?

Is there any wound to love that His love has not suffered?

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace."

~from Edges of His Ways, by Amy Carmichael

*****

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

~John 16:33

Monday's Mourning Ministry - 'Tis the Day Before Your Birthday... / I Will Carry You ~Michael W. Smith

Monday's Mourning Ministry

'Tis the Day Before Your Birthday...

I Will Carry You

~Michael W. Smith

Tis the Day Before Your Birthday...

'Tis the day before your birthday ~

My heart is feeling flat

Heaviness descends upon my heart, to weigh

It down, upon the ground,

Gripping it with a vice,

That throws me to the mat.

Fifth birthday without you--Pain, the price

I must pay till I am Homeward bound...

Sadly now, I walk through each and ev'ry day,

My heart yearning for you with such a grievous sound,

That communicates in such a way

As to cut through the Heav'ns, until God is found

To grab up this, His baby girl, help me find my way,

Through the pain, and outward bound,

Ministering to other precious grievers found.

Walking with pain day by day, I learn

To walk on through with Jesus, even as my heart does yearn,

Loving one another, for our grief, too oft, the world does spurn.

Holy Spirit, be Thou near us through each and ev'ry turn!

*****

Pat, Don't you think 'the passage of time' is what all literature is really about?

...It's all about the dance.

~Teacher Gene Norris to Pat Conroy, as Pat remembers in My Reading Life

*****

I Will Carry You

~Michael W. Smith

Sometimes I wonder if my beating heart has a reason

The thought of breathing only takes my breath away

I've spent so many nights wrestling with this feeling

Do I have the strength to make it through the day

But I was never meant

To walk this road alone

I can always trust you

When you say

(Chorus)

"I will carry you,

Be your strength

And pull you through

Reach for me

And take my hand

We will pray

And we will stand

In a world

Crying out for peace

Let your heart be strong

For when I am weak

You will carry me."

Sometimes you wonder if the road you're on has a reason

It's hard to go on when you just don't know

We can shoulder all the weight of life between us

Until the fear of what we cannot see is gone

'Cause we were never meant

To walk this road alone

We are bound together

When we say

I will carry you (I will carry you)

Be your strength

And pull you through

Reach for me (Reach for me, Reach for me)

And take my hand

We will pray

And we will stand

In a world

Crying out for peace (Crying out for peace)

Let your heart be strong

For when I am weak

You will carry me

Repeat Chorus

Poem - 'Tis the Day Before Your Birthday - Angie Bennett Prince - 3/27/11, for 3/28/2011

Monday's Mourning Ministry - I Will Carry You ~Todd and Angie Smith and Selah

Monday's Mourning Ministry

I Will Carry You

~Todd and Angie Smith

and

Selah

Below is the sweet, inspired song written by Angie Smith as she was carrying her child still, even as she was finding out her child would not live for very long, if at all, once she was born. Heartbreaking yet hope-filled story of Angie and Todd and baby Audrey Caroline follows the song below. Thank you to Todd and Angie for sharing your story.

I Will Carry You

(Audrey's Song)

Selah

There were photographs I wanted to take

Things I wanted to show you

Sing sweet lullabies

Wipe your teary eyes

Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not

Truth is I'm barely hanging on

There's a greater story

Written long before me

Because He loves you like this

I will carry you

while your heart beats here

Long beyond the empty cradle

through the coming years

I will carry you

all my life

I will praise the One who's chosen me

to carry you

Such a short time,

such a long road

All this madness

but I know

that the silence

has brought me to His voice

and He said,

"I've shown her photographs of time beginning

Walked her through the parted sea

Angel lullabies

No more teary eyes

Who could love her like this?

I will carry you

While your heart beats here

Long beyond the empty cradle

Through the coming years

I will carry you

All your life

I will praise the One who's chosen me

to carry you

Testimony of

Todd and Angie Smith

I Will Carry You:

The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

~Psalm 147: 3

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~Romans 15:13

song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2CnUtVY35o&feature=channel

story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRl6Z9kqifc&NR=1

book: I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy