Monday's Mourning Ministry - Does Jesus Care?

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Does Jesus Care?

~George Beverley Shea and Guy Penrod

We are bereaved.

We are broken.

We are inconsolable.

We are like Rachel 

weeping for her children...

and 

refusing 

to 

be 

comforted.*

Thus says the LORD, 

"A voice is heard in Ramah, 

Lamentation and bitter weeping. 

Rachel is weeping for her children; 

She refuses to be comforted for her children, 

Because they are no more." 

(Jeremiah 31:15 NASB)

We are like Hagar in the wilderness:

"Do You see me God? 

Do You see me 

in this 

wilderness of despair 

with 

no 

hope 

apart 

from 

You?"

(Genesis 16:13)*

In the brokenness of our hearts, 

we wonder 

if God sees, 

if God hears, 

if God has forgotten, 

if God has abandoned us? 

We ask ourselves, 

Does God really care about me? 

Does Jesus care?

And God says to us

as He

said 

to 

Hagar

for the Lord Has heard your painful groans...

Genesis 16:11 (Net Bible)

Does Jesus Care?

~George Beverley Shea and Guy Penrod

1. Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
   Too deeply for mirth or song,
   As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
   And the way grows weary and long?
   • Refrain:
     Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
     His heart is touched with my grief;
     When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
     I know my Savior cares.
   • 
     
2. Does Jesus care when my way is dark
   With a nameless dread and fear?
   As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
   Does He care enough to be near?
3. Refrain:

   Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

   His heart is touched with my grief;

   When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

   I know my Savior cares.
4. 
   
5. Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
   To resist some temptation strong;
   When for my deep grief there is no relief,
   Though my tears flow all the night long?
6. Refrain:

   Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

   His heart is touched with my grief;

   When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

   I know my Savior cares.
7. 
   
8. Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
   To the dearest on earth to me,
   And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
   Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
9. Refrain:

   Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

   His heart is touched with my grief;

   When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

   I know my Savior cares.

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

~~~

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

           He rescues those whose spirits are crushed." 

~Psalm 34:18, New Living Translation

Grief Picture: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/63683782205419268/

* Quotes from The Inconsolable by Julie Jones written in memory of her son, Kyle Christopher Jones

NASB: New American Standard Bible

Net Bible: New English Translation of the Bible

Does Jesus Care Lyrics by Frank E. Graeff, 1901

Song, Does Jesus Care on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kheJYjttzY4

♫ Monday's Mourning Ministry ~ You Were Always On My Mind

Monday's Mourning Ministry

You Were Always On My Mind

Coming to the end of Merry Katherine's birthday month, Tommy and I were listening to a variety of music in an attempt to bring some peace and comfort to our hearts. The music was entertaining and even comforting. But then we began listening to this song "You Were Always On Our Mind," written and sung by Willie Nelson in his poignant voice.

Both hearts melting into a pile, we fell into each other's arms and cried and cried... and cried some more; it was if our crying could not stop.

It has been 9 1/2 years after losing our baby girl, yet we are still thrown back to Square. One. 

We each cried so hard.

I had scheduled clients for the following day thinking that that date should be well past Merry Katherine's birthday date and that I should be in a fairly stable place to help others by then...

Well, I calculated wrong. . .

My eyes were so swollen they would barely open. Needless to say, I cancelled clients for the next day...

I am doing better today but of course, even as I write and post this song for you, I am crying again!

~~~

You Were Always On My Mind

~Willie Nelson

Maybe I didn't love you

Quite as often as I could have

Maybe I didn't treat you

Quite as good as I should have...

If I made you feel second best

Girl I'm sorry I was blind

But you were always on my mind.

You were always on my mind.

Maybe I didn't hold you

All those lonely, lonely times

And I guess I never told you

I'm so happy that you're mine

Little things I should have said and done

I just never took the time

But you were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

Tell me,

Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died

And give me 

Give me one more chance to keep you satisfied

I'll keep you satisfied

(Musical Interlude)

Little things I should have said and done

I just never took the time

But you were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

~~~

We parents, I think, do the very best we can by our children, but of course, there are always some things we think we could have done better when we look from hindsight. So the poignant words of this song pierce the very center of my heart and soul as I ever long to do more and more to nurture my baby.

It would be so nice if we could peer into Heaven and see the incredible peace on our beloved one's face, but that is where we need the Lord's help to live by faith...

Sweet blessings to each of you...as you grieve your precious child. May our Lord bind every wound of your hurting heart day by day by painful day...

~~~

This Scripture is our comfort, for it assures us that our broken hearts are very important to God... so important He sent Jesus to rescue us, to save our crushed spirits, and to bind and heal our brokenness:

A portion of our Lord's words found in Luke 4:18 KJV as He was indicating that His coming to earth was for the very purpose of fulfilling of the prophecy He quoted from Isaiah 61:1: 

"He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted."

Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV

Old Testament

King James Version

1)The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; (H)e hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2)To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3)To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

 

New Testament (over 400 years later)

Luke 4:18-21 KJV (Jesus speaking)
18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because (H)e hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; (H)e hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

20And (H)e closed the book, and (H)e gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on (H)im.

21And (H)e began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

{Highlights and some capitalizations, mine}

Thank You God, and Thank You Jesus that You sacrificed everything out of love for us and out of love for each and every one of our precious "babies."

https://youtu.be/R7f189Z0v0Y

Pictures, thanks to Bing Images

Monday's Mourning Ministry - I Can't Turn You Loose ~Otis Redding (with revised Lyrics for Grieving Parents)

Monday's Mourning Ministry

I Can't Turn You Loose

~Otis Redding

(with revised lyrics for 

grieving parents)

I Can't Turn You Loose

~Otis Redding

(with Lyrics revised for a Grieving Parent)

I can't turn you a loose now

If I do, I'm gonna lose my mind

Honey, I can't never turn you a loose now

If I do, I'm gonna lose my mind

I can't turn you a loose for nobody

'Cause I love you baby, yes I do now

I'm a cry in', shaking mama (papa), I told ya

Honey, baby girl, I love you

Gotta baby, I gotta do it baby, why don't I~ 

I'm gonna give you all the love that you want

I gotta, gotta, gotta

Keep on a, a cryin' baby

Never, never gonna turn you loose

Keep on a, keep on a holding on

Gotta gotta

I can't turn you a loose now

Our love was the sweetest, sweetest thing, ooo

I'll never, never turn you a loose

Because of the sweetest love you bring me

I said I can't turn you a loose for nobody baby

I love you baby, yes I do!

Baby, I'm a cryin', shaking mama (papa), I love ya

I'm always gonna love you!

Honest baby I'm gonna do it baby why don't I

I'm gonna give ya all the love that you want

Gotta, gotta, gotta

Keep, keep on holding on

Never gonna turn you loose now

Never gonna lose you baby

I, I got to…

I can't turn you a loose

Never, I'm never gonna turn you a loose

I'm gonna keep holding on, can't turn you a loose

Gonna keep a grip on you

I can't turn you loose

Early in the morning

And I love to hold ya

I can't turn you loose

Never gonna turn ya (loose)

Gotta keep on holding

Hold on to me baby

Gotta, gotta, gotta

Grief Video found at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xEvsJtrl60

Monday's Mourning Ministry - O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go ~David Phelps / Grief Writings from ~Megan Devine

I have feared grief,

I have hated it, 

I have looked into its eyes, 

and I have cursed it. 

And, 

after many years in the darkness, 

I've made peace with grief. 

Now I know, 

with certainty, 

that 

what is contained in my heart 

is 

bigger than grief.

Death is not the victor.

Love is.

Monday's Mourning Ministry

O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go

~David Phelps

and

Grief Writings from ~Megan Devine

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go  

~David Phelps

O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine's blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,

That Morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

O Love that wilt not let me go

~~~~

Bound By... Pain and Love

My heart is where

Joy and Sorrow

Dance

Forever bound

By the music 

Of pain

And love

~Tanya Lord

Grief Video:
http://youtu.be/kfigyNAmRx8

Graphics:

grief. sorrow. and healing.

Jill Wysong Hobbs

Death is not the victor

~Pinterest

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/548665167075071858/

Grieving

Anne Gorman

Bound by Pain and Love

~Pinterest

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/533746993310775120/

Monday's Mourning Ministry - Broken Hallelujah ~The Afters

Why Jesus came…

To grant those who mourn in Zion, 

Giving them a garland instead of ashes, 

The oil of gladness instead of mourning, 

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. 

So they will be called oaks of righteousness, 

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 

~Isaiah 61:3

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Broken Hallelujah

~The Afters

Broken Hallelujah

The Afters

I can barely stand right now.

Everything is crashing down,

And I wonder where You are.

I try to find the words to pray.

I don't always know what to say,

But You're the one that can hear my heart.

And even though I don't know what Your plan is,

I know You make beauty from these ashes.

I've seen joy and I've seen pain.

And on my knees, I call Your name.

"Here's my broken hallelujah."

With nothing left to hold onto,

I raise these empty hands to You.

Here's my broken 

Here's my broken

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah,

Here's my broken

Hallelujah.

You know the things that have brought me here.

You know the story of every tear.

‘Cause You've been here from the very start.

And even though I don't know what your plan is,

I know You make beauty from these ashes.

I've seen joy and I've seen pain.

And on my knees, I call Your name.

Here's my broken Hallelujah.

With nothing left to hold onto,

I raise these empty hands to You.

Here's my broken 

Here's my broken

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah,

Here's my broken

Hallelujah.

When all is taken away, 

don't let my heart be changed.

Let me always sing, 

Hallelujah.

And when I feel afraid, 

don't let my hope be erased

Let me always sing 

(Let me always sing)

Let me always sing, 

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah,

I will always sing

Hallelujah,

I will always always sing

Hallelujah.

(Here's my broken)

Here's my broken

Hallelujah"

Hallelujah,

I will always sing

Hallelujah,

I will always sing

Hallelujah,

Here's my broken

Here's my broken

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah,

Hallelujah.

~~~~~

Context

The Year of the Lord's Favor

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me 
To bring good news to the afflicted; 
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 
To proclaim liberty to captives 
And freedom to prisoners; 
2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD 
And the day of vengeance of our God; 
To comfort all who mourn, 
3To grant those who mourn in Zion, 
Giving them a garland instead of ashes, 
The oil of gladness instead of mourning, 
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. 
So they will be called oaks of righteousness, 
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 
4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, 
They will raise up the former devastations; 
And they will repair the ruined cities, 
The desolations of many generations.

~Isaiah 61:1-4

~~~

17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 

18"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

20And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21And He began to say to them, 

"Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

~Luke 4:17-21 NASB

Graphic, thanks to

My Faith

marilyn ♥

~Pinterest 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/157626055679975647/

http://youtu.be/Fo3DudOzV4k

Monday's Mourning Ministry - My Child's Cries to Her Lord that Night / My Heart is Overwhelmed ~Hillsong Live

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

~C. S. Lewis

Monday's Mourning Ministry

My Child's Cries to Her Lord that Night

My Heart is Overwhelmed

~Hillsong Live

Two days before what was ultimately to be her final day on earth, my 19-year-old daughter Merry Katherine called me. Evidently, my God, in His own inimitable way, had "spoken" to my child in her pain. He had a heart of mercy toward her and her struggles. Her heart had been so torn in her latter days on this earth as she sought to find her way through the morass of her confusion as to the direction she wanted to go. 

God's heart melted toward her, and He led her to call me...

Two days later, she had come back by the house for some of her things, and while she was here, she recorded some music on c.d.s that she wanted to take with her on her trip to the beach with friends for which she would be leaving later that evening. I later found on her desk-top computer here at home the songs which she had taken the time to record on that day, and they were songs of her heart's cry to her LORD. (These were some of the same songs that had been so significant to her in her earlier teens when she had been struggling, and God had met her so sweetly amidst her struggles.) These were the very songs she took with her on what was to be the fatal night that would take her life...

When I heard the following song on YouTube last week, it was as if I could hear what must have been her new cries to her LORD on that fateful night when He rescued her from her demise by taking her into His loving embrace. Her heart was at rest, finally at rest from all her struggles, and she could see clearly with her new eyes…  I would imagine these lyrics are very similar to the heart feelings flowing from her to her God on that night...

My Heart Is Overwhelmed

~Hillsong Live

(What I imagine was Merry Katherine's "song" to Jesus)

Perfect in love

Lord, You came to earth

To rescue me

You took my place upon that cross

The stains that held me back

Were washed away

You made me whole

Your love has set

The broken captives free

Your love released

The chains once binding me

I'm found in grace

In love's embrace

My heart is overwhelmed

I stand redeemed

Your Spirit now alive within my heart

I walk with you all of my days

I shall live to glorify You God

Hear my soul rejoice

Your love has set

The broken captives free

Your love released the chains once binding me

I'm found in grace

In love's embrace

My heart is overwhelmed

Sings my soul of how

Your love has set me free

Sings my heart of how

Your mercy rescued me

Hear my cry of endless love

To my Savior and to my King

My heart is overwhelmed

Sings my soul of how

Your love has set me free

Sings my heart of how

Your mercy rescued me

Hear my cry of endless love

To my Savior and to my King

My heart is overwhelmed

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbbtmmUw490

Monday's Mourning Ministry - Walk On the Water ~Britt Nicole

Relying on God has to begin all over again 
every day as if nothing had yet been done.

~C. S. Lewis

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Walk On the Water

~Britt Nicole

Walk On the Water

~Britt Nicole 

You look around 

It's staring back at you 

Another wave of doubt 

Will it pull you under 

You wonder 

What if I'm overtaken?

What if I never make it?

What if no one's there? 

Will you hear my prayer? 

When you take that first step 

Into the unknown 

He won't let you go 

[Chorus:]

So what are you waiting for? 

What do you have to lose? 

Your insecurities try to hold to you 

You know you're made for more 

So don't be afraid to move 

Your faith is all 

it takes in you 

You can walk on the water too 

So get out 

And let your fear fall to the ground 

No time to waste 

Don't wait 

Don't you turn around and miss out 

Everything you were made for 

O I know you're not sure 

So you play it safe 

You try to run away 

When you take that first step 

Into the unknown 

O my God won't let you go 

So what are you waiting for? 

What do you have to lose? 

Your insecurities try to hold to you 

You know you're made for more 

So don't be afraid to move 

Your faith is all 

it takes in you 

You can walk on the water too 

[Bridge:]

(Step Out) 

Even when a storm hits 

(Step Out) 

Even when you're broken 

(Step Out) 

Even when your heart is telling you, telling you to give up 

(Step Out) 

When your hope is stolen 

(Step Out) 

You can't see where you're going 

You don't have to be afraid 

No no no

So what are you waiting for? 

La la la la la...

What are you waiting for? 

What do you have to lose? 

Your insecurities try to hold to you 

You know you're made for more 

So don't be afraid to move 

Your faith is all 

it takes in you 

You can walk on the water

Walk on the water too

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

You can walk on

Yeah yeah yeah

You can walk on the water too

Quote ― C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

Video: http://youtu.be/Wddc8UzNiG8

Monday's Mourning Ministry - You Won't Let Go ~Michael W. Smith

Monday's Mourning Ministry

You Won't Let Go

~Michael W. Smith

Based on the following Scripture, Michael W. Smith has written a new song, "You Won't Let Go":

God's Promise is Certain

13For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU."  15And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

~Hebrews 6:13-20

~~~

You Won't Let Go

~Michael W. Smith

No shadow comes without the light making a way
No raging storm can ever defy one word of faith
My heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the waves

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go

No valley low, changes the truth
So I'm not afraid
You hold me close
You lead me through and light up the way

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go
You won't let go

Neither life, neither death,
The highest high, the deepest depth
Nothing can
Nothing can separate
Neither tears, neither trials
Certain as the sun will rise
Nothing can
Nothing can separate

Neither life, neither death,
The highest high, the deepest depth
Nothing can
Nothing can separate
Neither tears, neither trials
Certain as the sun will rise
Nothing can
Nothing can separate

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go

My heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the waves, always...










Graphic, Thanks to

Christian Music Emily Gibson ~Pinterest 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/142356038196531276/

Video ~ Thanks to

Christian Music Emily Gibson ~Pinterest 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/142356038196531305/

and YouTube:
Grief Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQjRNxx_Ok