Friday's Faith - My Heart's Home ~Angie Bennett Prince

Friday's Faith

My Heart's Home

~Angie Bennett Prince

There are times when we need to step back from life and allow ourselves the time to grieve. There's nothing wrong or crazy or unnatural about that. After losing a child, society wants to push us back into the regular routine of life only days after going through the trauma of child loss. We're told we should be brave, not cry, get busy, do "normal things" -- but rarely does anyone say "Take all the time you need to cry. Take time to grasp hold of what has happened. Take time to externalize some of the pain you're holding in." We can only fake it so long until we finally have to stop and deal with the grief. Child loss is a life-changing, traumatic happening that can't just be swept under the rug. The pain touches every area of our lives -- even the way we breathe.

~Silent Grief - Child Loss Support

~~~~~

In my distress of a very stressful week this week, God gave me a poem of comfort that was the balm that carried me through this week. May it minister to your heart, dear grieving mother and grieving father.

My Heart's Home

He will shield you with His wings,

O troubled mother without child,

For in Heav'n today she sings,

No more by Vile One is beguiled!

Under My wings, you will find shelter

Despite the evil thrown your way

in the death that Satan dealt her,

For I AM the Truth, the Life, the Way.

Within the shadow of the Almighty

By the might of My own hand,

Your own battles I am fighting;

Rest My child, and take My hand.

I AM your Refuge, and your Safety,

Your Protector, and your Shield.

Neither slow nor none too hasty

My Word of Truth, My Sword I wield.

I AM your Sanctuary and your Rescue,

Fully acquainted with your grief;

Though the Vile One will test you,

I will always provide Relief.

Rest your head upon My feathers,

Enjoy the comfort under My wing.

My heart, to yours, ever tethers;

I will lift your heart to sing.

Lie down in My green pastures;

Allow Me to restore your soul;

I'll empower for what I ask you,

So My tasks won't take a toll.

Lean on Me, not understanding;

Trust My Way, and not your own,

For I AM never too demanding;

I AM your Rest, and your heart's Home.

Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.

~Psalm 57:1, World English Bible

Pictures, thanks to Google Images
Poem - My Heart's Home - Angie Bennett Prince - March 12, 2013

Tuesday’s Trust - “Biblical” Lemons

Tuesday’s Trust

“Biblical” Lemons

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
~ Mother Teresa

How many of you know this “saying” is NOT biblical? So let’s just strike through it right now!

“God will never give you any more than you can handle.”

Strike it through because this saying is SO WRONG!

How many of us grieving parents think that the death of our child is something we “can handle”?! And yet, it is definitely in our lap to deal with.

In my opinion,

this assumption that we can handle anything on our own is the biggest deception!

As God clearly stipulates,

“NOT by might nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,” says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6 NIV (highlights mine)

And as Paul correctly states,

I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me…

~Philippians 4:13 NKJV (highlights mine)

If I were to walk into and through this grief over the loss of my precious child in my own strength alone, it would be the blueprint for disaster. As it is,

I feel I am holding-onto-my-mind-only-by-a-thread. It is ONLY by GOD’s grace and ONLY by HIS power that I make it through any given day with ANY semblance of peace OR sanity!

It is like grief’s vulnerability opens me up to any and all of Satan’s attacks, and only by God’s close sheltering AND guidance can I “man-up” to deal with The Great Deceiver.

Wednesday's Woe - My Fears in the Dead of Night

Wednesday's Woe

What Do I Do With

My Fears in the Dead of Night?

If You can clothe my child in a robe of light,

You can care for me in the dead of night...

Of all Your creation, we hold Your passion;

Your heart, Your fire, in us You did fashion!

Heart to heart, Fire to fire, speak to me Lord;

Your pow'r o'ercomes the Fowler's evil hoard—

Your children made from Your image will take

Your hand in ours; Your child You'll n'er forsake...

Give us Your faith, Your vision~sustenance—

E'er does Your passionate Love hover on us!

Poem - What Do I Do With My Fears in the Dead of Night? - Angie Bennett Prince - 12/2/09

Monday’s Mourning Ministry - Held

Held

Monday’s Mourning Ministry

Searching the Bible on Behalf of us Bereaved Parents

as we Grieve Our Great Loss...

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us

with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8:26

At one time my heart was sad
and my spirit was bitter.
I didn't have any sense. I didn't know anything.
I acted like a wild animal toward You.
But I am always with You.
You hold me by my right hand.
You give me wise advice to guide me.
And when I die, You will take me away
into the glory of heaven.

Psalm 73:21-24 NIRV

On my bed I remember You;

I think of You

through the watches of the night.

Because You are my help,

I sing in the shadow of Your wings.

My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

Held

Though He brings grief,

He will show compassion,

so great is His unfailing love.

For He does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to the children of men.

Lamentations 3:32-33

"The eternal God is your refuge,

and underneath

are the everlasting arms...."

Deuteronomy 33:27

***

Tomorrow, we will begin to examine scriptures that talk further about this fallen world we live in that includes the death of each of us; though we continue to live in such a fallen world until God creates "a new heaven and a new earth," we will see that our God is a God of love who brings life to us and does not cause death:

Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life....

2 Samuel 14:14

(Jesus said,) "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."

John 10:10

All Scriptures NIV, except Psalm 73:21-24 is New International Reader's Version

Picture: http://picturesofjesus4you.com/448.html "My Savior and Friend" by Jean Keaton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-hJ87ApWtw

Monday's Mourning Ministry - Then Came the Morning!

Monday's Mourning Ministry

The Compassionate Friends/USA

http://bit.ly/8Dosa

I joined The Compassionate Friends/USA Facebook group this past week! (See website address above.) Compassionate Friends is a group of people who have in common the death of one or more of their own children; it is a place for grieving parents who best understand one another's pain to go to find comfort, compassion, and understanding amidst our terrible grief.

This week, I have done less blogging as I have been spending time writing to new friends I have met there. Several of these new friends have begun to follow my blog, and I welcome you! May God use my words to touch your pain and to surround you with His healing presence.

To my Compassionate Friends:

May He cover you with His feathers, and under His wings may you find refuge.

*******

Searching the Bible on Behalf of us Bereaved Parents as we Grieve Our Great Loss…

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord,

“He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God in whom I trust.”

He will cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91:1,2,4

**********************

Then Came the Morning!

Then Came the Morning!

Lyrics

They all walked away, with nothing to say;

They'd just lost their dearest friend.

And all that He said, now He was dead,

So this was the way it would end.

The dreams they had dreamed,

Were not what they seemed,

Now He was dead and gone.

The garden, the jail,

The hammer, the nail,

How could a night be so long?

(chorus)

Then came the morning,

Night turned into day.

The stone was rolled away,

Hope rose with the dawn.

Then came the morning,

Shadows vanished before the sun.

Death had lost and Life had won,

For morning had come!

The angel, the star,

The kings from afar;

The wedding,

The water, the wine…

And now it was done,

They'd taken her son,

Wasted before His time.

She knew it was true,

Because she'd watched him die too,

She'd heard them call Him just a man.

Oh, but deep in her heart,

She knew from the start,

Somehow her Son would live again!

Then came the morning,

Night turned into day.

The stone was rolled away,

Hope rose with the dawn.

Then came the morning,

Shadows vanished before the sun.

Death had lost and Life had won,

For morning had come!

Death had lost and Life had won,

For morning had come!

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

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him.

I Corinthians 15:19-23 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in Heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

I Peter 1:3-6 NIV

The Compassionate Friends/USA: http://bit.ly/8Dosa Also www.compassionatefriends.org

All Scriptures are from the New International Version of The Holy Bible

Then Came The Morning Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/