Tuesday's Trust - Out of the Ashes

Tuesday's Trust

Out of the Ashes

How Grief Can Be Compared to Alcoholism

Quotes from Mary Karr's book, Lit:

(Mary Karr's AA sponsor said to her,)

"Somebody who's crossed the line and craves liquor like you do and wants to keep drinking is like a pickle who wants to be a cucumber again. You can't. It's over."

I say,

I am a child-loss mother who wants to be whole again—family intact—no child dead. I can't. It's over. But God has left me alive for His purpose. May He fulfill His purpose in me as I fling myself into His lap, in total dependence on Him—and on that note He agrees, but also assures me, He will never leave me nor forsake me.

God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid...

~Hebrews 13:5-6

Mary's sponsor:

"Ninety meetings in ninety days she says and coming here is really chemo. It's not a luxury. It's not a help. It's what stands between you and going insane or winding up in the boneyard."

And I say,

Ninety meetings in ninety days with You Lord, face–to–face, one–on–one...

Our goal? Not to be "adult" in the way we approach life...but to be vulnerable as a child!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

He called a little child and had him stand among them.

And He said:

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

~Matthew 18:1-4

Mary's sponsor:

"You might find sober people who don't pray, but all the happy ones have some kind of regular meditative or spiritual practice."

Mary Karr:

"Life is a blessed aberration, a gift, and death isn't my business yet."

"You were saved for something," (Mary's sponsor) says. "Don't die before finding out what."

Mary's sponsor:

"At this point in your life, you don't know how not to drink yet. No alcoholic does. It takes training."

And I say,

"At this point in my life, I don't know 'how' to move forward and live 'life' despite grief. No child-loss griever does. It takes training. One-day-at-a-time. By the One who gives Life."

Mary:

"I have a disease. It's progressive and fatal."

I say,

"I've lost a child. I'll never see her again this side of Heaven. But somehow, I'm to live a life..."

***

Out of the Ashes

Angie Bennett Prince

Out of the ashes of death did you rise...

The Savior came through—Love lifted you up

God of the Universe attended your cries,

Reached down to His child, to His heart drew you up.

Before time began, the Master had a plan.

Before time began, He carved you into His hand.

And now you're with Him. He lifted you up.

Your heart is at peace. You drink from Love's cup.

Out of the ashes of death will I rise.

The love of the Savior does lift me up.

God of the Universe attends my cries,

Reaches down to my heart, and lifts me up.

Before time began, the Master had a plan.

Before time began, He'd carved me into His hand.

And now He is here. He keeps lifting me up.

He holds me close ev'n when I feel like giving up...

That same loving pow'r that drew you out of the ashes

Is the same loving pow'r that sees my heart when it crashes.

Neither of us could pull up or out on our own,

But He is our God; He watches out for His own.

We could not make it alone in such strife.

But He is our God; where there's death, He brings life.

He is the God of resurrection,

He implants His power, Life's insurrection!

O'er death, He wins the final victory,

We're each His child—He holds us tenderly...

Out of the ashes of death do we rise.

The love of our Savior e'er lifts us up...

***

"The LORD has forsaken me,

the Lord has forgotten me."

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child she has borne?

Though she may forget,

I will not forget you!

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are ever before me."

~Isaiah 49:14-16

***

(Push play to hear music.)

Out of My Bondage, Sorrow, and Night

William T. Sleeper / Jeff Redd, alt.

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,

Jesus, I come, Jesus I come.

Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my sickness into Thy health,

Out of my need and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,

Out of distress to jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy blessed will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Out of despair to raptures above,

Upward I rise on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the joy and light of Thy Home,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into Thy peaceful, sheltering fold,

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

***

Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O Lord.

~Psalm 130:1

I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.

~Psalm 6:6 (New Living Translation)

Pictures: http://picturesofjesus4you.com/ and

http://www.lostseed.com/extras/free-graphics/jesus-pictures.php

Quotes: Mary Karr from her book, Lit, pp. 216, 216, 217, 218, 209, 216

Poem: Out of the Ashes - Angie Bennett Prince - 5/10/10

Hymn: Jesus, I Come to Thee, or Out of My Bondage, Sorrow, and Night, words by William T. Sleeper- p. 401, Hymns for the Family of God

Scripture: www.biblegateway.com