He is Worthy of All Our Praise

Another year of New Beginnings - and a New Normal for our lives. 

After years of caring for my mother with severe Dementia, the Lord chose to take her to Himself just before Christmas. Her tired 97 year old body was able to see Jesus face to face and celebrate His birth with Him in Heaven.  What a better place to be than with Him. As our world and nation become more filled with evil from day to day, more and more I realize the truth written by the author of the "Faith Chapter of Hebrews 11" that many in the past "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were persuaded of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

I find myself feeling more like a pilgrim and a stranger on the earth, for this earth is not my true home. I too look for the one to come where we will be forever in the presence of our loving Savior and all our loved ones who have gone before us. I do not entertain a "death wish", but look forward to the wonderful things that Jesus has been preparing for us for the past two thousand years.

It was a joy to be a part of the Holiday Service of Remembrance last month where the lives of so many of our loved ones were honored. Pastor Dan Burton cited Jeremiah 8:22, "Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" He spoke of various ways of achieving healing for our grief.

• A spirit of Gratitude or Thanksgiving.  We can receive God's healing from our grief much sooner when we can focus with gratitude on what we had, rather than on our loss.
• Talking and sharing our feelings with open hands and hearts. We were not meant to hold all our feelings of grief inside, but allow them to be brought to the light where the Lord can heal us.
• Shed tears when we need to.  Jesus wept, and understands all of our grief and sorrows.
• Touching - Reaching out to others. There is always someone else we can reach out to love and encourage. As we encourage others, the Lord is able to minister to our needs as well.
• Trust in God and Prayer. When Mary was given the message by the angel of the coming birth of Jesus, Mary simply said, "Be it unto me according to Your Word." (Luke 1:38)

Let us allow the Healing Balm of the Lord and His Word to bring comfort and healing to our tired grieving bodies and emotions. He is always with us, even when we feel most alone. His word assures us He will never ever leave or forsake us, and He is our ever present help in time of trouble. 

I pray those of you who are able will join us at the Calvary Prayer Room this next Thursday, January 12, at 6:30 PM so we may be able to stand with and pray for and with gratitude in our hearts love and encourage each other as we meet for the first time this new year of 2012.

With my love and prayers to all,
Dee