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

Tuesday's Trust - "Be Alive to All that is Good"

"We are not afraid of the future. 

We are afraid of the past repeating itself.

"Loss, took my future and left me looking over my shoulder to see if what happened could happen again. Could more be taken from me?"

~Benjamin Allen

Tuesday's Trust

"Be Alive to All that is Good"

"And He personally bore our sins in his own body on the cross, so that we might be dead to sin and be alive to all that is good."

1 Peter 2:24a (J. B. Phillips translation)

~~~

Death has happened. It has colored all that we think and do now.

Our family is getting together today; our son Nathan who is living in Georgia is bringing his new girlfriend to Tennessee so that we might meet her and get to know her a little bit. Tommy and I, our other son Rollin, his wife Stephanie, and their baby girl Ellie are all going to meet him in a town about sixty miles away from here.

When Tommy mentioned to me that he might rent a van so that we could all travel together… what was my first thought? Horror of horror, it was,

"If something happened, and we are all riding together, it could knock out Nathan's whole family in one fell swoop!"

Oh my. PTSD rears its ugly head again. But, yes, we are different now; we know All Too Well that Death happens.

And yet, I am reading 1 Peter 2:24a, that our Savior Jesus bore death on the cross, "so that we might be dead to sin and be alive to all that is good." 

Lord, please help me "be alive to all that is good" today, to celebrate life, to celebrate new relationships, to know that God conquered death that we all might live again ~ that Satan, despite his devastation, NEVER has the last word on God's children. Help me Lord to bask in Your love, not dwell on Satan's destruction. 

If I dwell on the wrong thing, I will miss too much (and consume myself with worry) for my Lord *destroyed evil, death, destruction  ~all heaped on us by Satan ~ so that His children may instead "be alive to all that is good…" 

*(to be ultimately consummated)

God is Love. May His perfect love cast out all fear in my heart... 

(That is definitely something that only an Almighty God can do!)

~Angie Prince, written 5/25/2014

"I see life differently through the lens of loss. When someone walks out the door, a thought sometimes comes, 'Will that be the last time I see them?'"

~Benjamin Allen

Graphics, thanks to grieving husband/father, Benjamin Allen / FB:

https://www.facebook.com/TheAfterloss/photos/a.450467991747451.1073741828.447234425404141/505851066209143/?type=1&permPage=1

https://www.facebook.com/TheAfterloss/photos/a.450467991747451.1073741828.447234425404141/506281719499411/?type=1&permPage=1

Tuesday's Trust - God Hears Our Heart's Cry

Tuesday's Trust

God Hears Our Heart's Cry

When the ache is deep and the words won't come...


God hears our heart's cry. He does our praying in and for us making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.

~~~

26

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;

 for we do not know how to pray as we should, 

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us 

with groanings too deep for words; 


~Romans 8:26, New American Standard version,
The Holy Bible








~Thanks to Vicky Pratt on Pinterest 
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/565553665677221398/

Blessed International Bereaved Mothers Day ~ Sunday May 4th 2014

Blessed International Bereaved Mothers Day 

~ Sunday, May 4th 2014

Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod (to protect) and Your staff (to guide), they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

International Bereaved Mother's Day

~by Angie Yingst

"International Bereaved Mothers Day, I'm sending my love out to all the women of this world who hold some, if not all of their children in their hearts and to those who yearn just to conceive a child. May you find peace and hold onto hope always. Please feel welcome to share this amazing poem written by the beautiful Angie Yingst for our special day."

With love,

CarlyMarie xxx

~~~

CarlyMarie

April 10, 2013  

"This month over at Still Standing Magazine I wrote about how broken Mother's Day is and how I believe we can heal the day by using our voices in a peaceful, loving and meaningful way. To read the full artical click on this link http://stillstandingmag.com/2013/04/healing-mothers-day/Thank you to all the beautiful women who shared their hearts with me last week on the subject. This article is in honour of you xx You can find more information at International Bereaved Mothers Day "

~CarlyMarie Dudley

~~~

Point to ponder…

"Anna Jarvis officially founded the traditional Mother’s Day to honour her own mother Ann who experienced the death of 7 of her children. This day was created in honour of a bereaved mother! "

~Carly Marie, founder of International Bereaved Mother's Day

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

For CarlieMarie Dudley's full article,
http://stillstandingmag.com/2013/04/healing-mothers-day/

Tuesday's Trust ~ Tender Blues

Tuesday's Trust

Tender Blues

   

Out of the depths of the blue, blue grief

Rises my lovely baby girl,

Seeing her smile brings sweet relief

Lifting my burden-filled world.

How to compute the happiness There

And commute it down to this earth?

How to not fixate on her death

Rather, to celebrate her birth?

Out of the depths of the blue, blue grief

Where her loss has become my cross,

How do I stand against the devilish thief

With his crushing albatross?

How do I live amidst death's curse

Though my Lord conquered hers with His,

Yet the view from this earth still glowers worse

When my grief and my sorrow hits.

I cry out my grief in my Savior's arms

He receives me with His tenderness

My passionate feelings rouse no alarms

That His abounding Love would need to redress.

My Savior Himself knows all grief feels grim

So He holds me close to His heart

After all, the Love for my child was giv'n by Him

So tenderly right from the start.

His love toward me, so kind, so sweet

Amidst such deep pain in this mommy's heart

Serves as a catalyst as I weep

To soothe the wounds as I fall apart.

Out of the depths of my blue, blue grief,

My Savior faithfully comes to bring me relief.

Our tears borne from love are no threat to our LORD

He blesses them with comfort, His Love's reward.

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Poem ~ Tender Blues ~ Angie Bennett Prince ~ April 22, 2014

Top picture, lotus: Thanks to

~inspiring art  Kiki Breet  on Pinterest

Bottom picture with Scripture: Thanks to 

~Isabelle Efstathiou, Facebook

Tuesday's Trust - Gone... But Still Alive... - Part Three

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. 

~Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Translation)

Tuesday's Trust

Gone... But Still Alive...

Part Three

What is life like for our children who have gone before us to Heaven?

Two weeks ago:

Tuesday's Trust - Gone... But Still Alive... - Part Two

 as I mentioned, in his book, Heaven, written in 2004, Randy Alcorn describes a "temporary" place into which we go before we are called into the New Heaven and the New Earth which is the final culmination of God's victory over Satan. This "temporary" Heaven into which we believe our (deceased) children have entered, Alcorn calls "the intermediate Heaven." In his book, he describes his rationale for this interpretation of Scripture:

"I've made these observations on the intermediate Heaven based on only three verses (Revelation 6:9-11). Unless there is some reason to believe that the realities of this passage apply only to one group of martyrs and to no one else in Heaven --- and I see no such indication --- then we should assume that what is true of them is also true of our loved ones already there, and will be true of us when we die."

The following are the next seven (7) of Alcorn's observations for what he thinks are true of this "intermediate Heaven":

• 8) The believers martyred for His name, ask God to intervene on Earth and to act on their behalf: "How long . . . until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (v. 10)

• 9) Those in Heaven are free to ask God questions, which means they have an audience with God. It also means they need to learn. In (the intermediate) Heaven, people desire understanding and pursue it.

• 10) People in the intermediate Heaven know what's happening on Earth (v. 10). The martyrs know enough to realize that those who killed them have not yet been judged.

• 11) Heaven dwellers have a deep concern for justice and retribution (v. 10). When we go to Heaven, we won't adopt a passive disinterest in what happens on the earth. On the contrary, our concerns will be more passionate and our thirst for justice greater. Neither God nor we will be satisfied until his enemies are judged, our bodies raised, sin and Satan defeated, Earth restored, and Christ exalted over all.

• 12) The martyrs clearly remember their lives on Earth (v. 10). They even remember that they were murdered. 

• 13) The martyrs in Heaven pray for judgment on their persecutors who are still at work hurting others. They are acting in solidarity with, and in effect interceding for, the suffering saints on Earth. This suggests that saints in Heaven are both seeing and praying for saints on Earth.

• 14) Those in Heaven see God's attributes ("Sovereign . . . holy and true") in a way that makes His judgment of sin more understandable.

To be continued.









Picture, thanks to ~Dee Flores of ~Christian Pictures, found in Pinterest 

Tuesday's Trust - Gone... But Still Alive... - Part Two

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. 

~Hebrews 4:16 NLT

Tuesday's Trust

Gone... But Still Alive...

Part Two

Two Earthly Views of the People Who Are Now in Heaven… 

First, from Charles Spurgeon:

June 29 Morning Charles Spurgeon devotional:

Morning

"Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Let us not imagine that the soul sleeps in insensibility. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise," is the whisper of Christ to every dying saint. They "sleep in Jesus," but their souls are before the throne of God, praising him day and night in his temple, singing hallelujahs to him who washed them from their sins in his blood. 

The body sleeps in its lonely bed of earth, beneath the coverlet of grass. But what is this sleep? The idea connected with sleep is "rest," and that is the thought which the Spirit of God would convey to us. Sleep makes each night a Sabbath for the day. Sleep shuts fast the door of the soul, and bids all intruders tarry for a while, that the life within may enter its summer garden of ease. The toil-worn believer quietly sleeps, as does the weary child when it slumbers on its mother's breast. 

Oh! happy they who die in the Lord; they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. Their quiet repose shall never be broken until God shall rouse them to give them their full reward. Guarded by angel watchers, curtained by eternal mysteries, they sleep on, the inheritors of glory, till the fulness of time shall bring the fulness of redemption. What an awaking shall be theirs! 

They were laid in their last resting place, weary and worn, but such they shall not rise. They went to their rest with the furrowed brow, and the wasted features, but they wake up in beauty and glory. The shrivelled seed, so destitute of form and comeliness, rises from the dust a beauteous flower. The winter of the grave gives way to the spring of redemption and the summer of glory. Blessed is death, since it, through the divine power, disrobes us of this work-day garment, to clothe us with the wedding garment of incorruption. Blessed are those who "sleep in Jesus."

~~~~~~~

Second, from Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven:

21 Observations Alcorn Makes of the Heaven to which God's children have been called:

(before the Final Rapture and Culmination of all God's Promises to Remove Sin's Curse from Mankind…

 (We will cover only seven (7) of these twenty-one (21) observations today.)

From Revelation 6:9-11 [These verses directly refer to those martyred for Christ's name, but Alcorn believes it also applies to all our loved ones who have gone on to Heaven.

• 1) When they died on Earth, they relocated to Heaven (Revelation 6:9).

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

~Revelation 6:9 (New International Version)

• 2) There is continuity between our identity on Earth and our identity in Heaven. They are now "righteous men made perfect" (Hebrews 12:23).

 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

~Hebrews 12:23 (New International Version)

• 3) People in Heaven will be remembered for their lives on Earth (Revelation 6:9).

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

~Revelation 6:9 (New International Version)

• 4) "They called out" (Revelation 6:10) which means they are able to express themselves audibly. This could suggest they exist in physical form, with vocal cords or other tangible means to express themselves.

They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

~Revelation 6:10 (New International Version)

• 5) They can raise their voices (Revelation 6:10). This indicates they are rational, communicative, and emotional---even passionate--- beings, like people on Earth.

They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

~Revelation 6:10 (New International Version)

• 6) They called out in "a loud voice," not "loud voices." Individuals speaking with one voice indicate that Heaven is a place of unity and shared perspective.

They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

~Revelation 6:10 (New International Version)

• 7) They are fully conscious, rational, and aware of each other, God, and the situation on Earth.

They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

~Revelation 6:10 (New International Version)

~~~~~~~

May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth.

~Psalm 115:15 (New International Version)

Contents, thanks to Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening Devotionals, and to Randy Alcorn from his book, Heaven

Tuesday's Trust - Gone... But Still Alive..., Part One

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. 

~Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Translation)

Tuesday's Trust

Gone... But Still Alive...

Where are our children now? What is it like in Heaven? Who is in Heaven? God plainly spells it out in His Scripture found in Hebrews 12:22-24:

• But you have come to Mount Zion, to the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem.

• You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

• To the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in Heaven.

• You have come to God, the Judge of all,

• To the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

• To Jesus the Mediator of a New Covenant, and

• To the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

~Hebrews 12:22-24

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Pictures, thanks to
~Hers To Treasure
~Angela Starkey via pinterest via "3:16 To Heaven"
~Angela Starkey via pinterest via "3:16 To Heaven"
~Angela Starkey via pinterest via "3:16 To Heaven"~Greg Olson, artist

~Angela Starkey via pinterest via "3:16 To Heaven"~ "In the Arms of His Love - Greg Olsen"
~Angela Starkey via pinterest via "3:16 To Heaven"

Tuesday's Trust - May the Lord Shepherd You in Your Grief

Tuesday's Trust 

May the Lord Shepherd You in Your Grief

Psalm 23 contains some of the most-quoted verses in the Bible. Often they are used at funerals, perhaps even at your child’s funeral. 

After attending the conference this last weekend and attending a workshop by Linda Stirling, I feel that the Lord is challenging me to share my thoughts with you, just as Linda shared her thoughts with so many of us. 

For the next seven days, I will share a portion of Psalm 23. My challenge to you is to read the words, mull over them, let them roll around in your mind and make their way down to your heart. In doing so, the Lord will simultaneously do what He does best…. Shepherd your pain and heal your wounds.

Here we go, are you ready?

The Lord is My Shepherd. 

This picture encapsulates what I imagine when I think of Jesus as my Shepherd. I am safe in His arms. I am loved in His arms. I am held and cherished. All of me. Every inch. Every ounce. Every beauty. Every moment of ugliness. Every joy. Every sorrow. And as this lamb smiles, the Shepherd smiles greater still as He loves, adores, cherishes and cares for me.

Take some time today. Think about your Shepherd.

~2012: Love and Loss

~~~

~~~

~~~

Psalm 23 contains some of the most-quoted verses in the Bible. Often they are used at funerals, perhaps even at your child’s funeral. 

After attending the conference this last weekend and attending a workshop by Linda Stirling, I feel that the Lord is challenging me to share my thoughts with you, just as Linda shared her thoughts with so many of us. 

For the next seven days, I will share a portion of Psalm 23. My challenge to you is to read the words, mull over them, let them roll around in your mind and make their way down to your heart. In doing so, the Lord will simultaneously do what He does best…. Shepherd your pain and heal your wounds.

Here we go, are you ready?

The Lord is My Shepherd. 

This picture encapsulates what I imagine when I think of Jesus as my Shepherd. I am safe in His arms. I am loved in His arms. I am held and cherished. All of me. Every inch. Every ounce. Every beauty. Every moment of ugliness. Every joy. Every sorrow. And as this lamb smiles, the Shepherd smiles greater still as He loves, adores, cherishes and cares for me.

Take some time today. Think about your Shepherd.

~2012: Love and Loss

~~~

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

~Psalm 23:1

~~~

Day Three of Psalm 23: My Shepherd Restores My Soul Restoration comes one moment at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time. Restoration comes as we release our pain to the One who longs to relieve us of our pain.  He has restored my soul. And although it has been 23 years since I've seen my daughter, and gentle tears sometimes fall, I can say that He has done what I never imagined possible. Trust Him...

~2012: Love and Loss 

~~~

Day Four of Psalm 23: My Shepherd Guides Me

Jesus wants to guide us through our grief. He knows the Valley of the Shadow of Death is filled with twists and turns. Obstacles and troubles. Pain and sorrow.

He wants to use His staff to guide us when we don't know what to do. He wants to use His staff to prod us when we feel like we can't get out of bed or to take the next step.

Even more importantly, He wants to guide us with His love. Will you let Him today?

~2012: Love and Loss 

~~~

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

~Psalm 23:2

~~~

Day Five of Psalm 23: My Shepherd Leads Me to Still Waters

Water is life. We were nurtured in water before we were born. Our Lord wants to nurture us in water. Near water. 

Water gives life. It provides what we need to survive. Our Lord wants to be that water for us. 

Water brings peace. Our Lord wants to take our surging emotions and bring us to a place of calm serenity. He closes the emotional sea behind the doors of still water.

~2012: Love and Loss

~~~

Day Six of Psalm 23: My Shepherd Walks with Me

He walks with me through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He is with us when we face death. He is with us after the loss. He is with us through the deep darkness. He is with us when we emerge into the light.

~2012: Love and Loss

~~~

Day Seven of Psalm 23: My Shepherd Pursues Me

How thankful I am that I am not alone in my grief. The Lord sees me. The Lord loves me. The Lord pursues me. He comes down to where I am and says, "I am here. I am with you. I will not leave your side." 

There is no greater joy in knowing that I matter that much to Him. That my child mattered that much to Him.

~2012: Love and Loss

~~~~

He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

~Psalm 23:3

~~~

Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I wilt fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

~Psalm 23:4

~~~

~~~

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemy; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

~Psalm 23: 4-5

Graphics, thanks to ~2012: Love and Loss, and ~Hers to Treasure