Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Tough Journey


We have a friend who seems to have had so many losses. She lost her son after a long illness and then within just a few years her husband. Just recently she lost her father. She is such a shining example of the strength of God in a person. Recently another friend penned these words on her Facebook page. They were so good I wanted to share them with you here.

I cant help but think of the Mercy Me song "I can Only Imagine", or the Bryan Duncan song "You Dont Leave Me Lonely." ..."I know you had to leave us for heaven, its alright. The livin here aint easy without you, but its alright. You dont leave me lonely, no, you leave me longing for you. Jesus keep my longing heart from breaking clean into. Stand by me Lord and help to see me through. Cause my father knows how bad it feels to lose someone, to lose someone like
you."

Desert Song (behind story)

This is a wonderful & powerful testimony and truly illustrates what it means to be a true worshiper of Jesus. The Lord giveth & the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

YouTube VIDEO (behind story) of Desert Song

New Direction

It's been a long time since my last post. A lot has changed since then. We have changed churches and now go to a Church in McKinney Texas. Once More It seems we are surrounded by those who have experienced loss. It is so difficult to see people walk the road of grief. It is our desire to continue to minister to those who walk this road, I'm beginning to sense God's heart to do something for those we know about. I will be seeking God about entering this road of ministry again. I am not as comfortable with this type of ministry as I am with Music ministry, but I know how necessary it is. If you read this pray for wisdom as we move forward in this new phase. We need favor with God and man as we move forward. I think we will be starting sooner than I will be ready, but grief has no time table.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Walking Through the Valley Class Outline

Life After the Loss - Normal Grieving Patterns

  • The tides of grief
  • Different ways people grieve.
  • Dealing with special days.
  • What fills the empty void?
The Power of Community
  • How to support those in grief.
  • If your in grief, the importance of staying connected.
  • Church – How necessary.
  • Others reaction to your grief.
Sensitivity to Others Who are also Grieving
  • They lost someone special too.
  • Encouraging others who have felt the same loss.
Lessons Learned in the House of Mourning
  • What’s really important – What is eternal & what is temporal
  • Redeeming the time.
Guilt and RegretDealing with it
  • We weren’t perfect and neither were they
  • The What If’s.
  • Forgiving yourself.
  • The Sovereignty of God.
  • Don’t get caught in the downward spiral.
  • You still have a life and relationships which need you.

Relationships after the Loss

  • Loss of a Child - Marriage after the Loss
  • Commitment to keep
  • Understanding & accepting different grieving patterns
  • How long should we grieve
  • Guarding your heart
  • Loss of a Spouse or Marriage
  • Loss of a Parent

Wallking Through the Valley Grief Recovery Class

It has been a while since my last entry. Tonight my wife and I start teaching a grief recovery class at our church. I believe it is a new step in the process of grieving. I've learned in the past that the teacher always learns more than the student. I'm sure we will learn as much from those attending the class as they will from us teaching it. It is my intent to try and document the subject matter covered in each class so that those attending the class can review the material later in their home. I hope if you are not attending the class that the information I present will also be helpful for you. May God Bless you as you walk through your Valley, whatever that may be.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Precious in the sight of the Lord

It was with sadness I heard today of a friends passing. Of everyone I have known Debbie was one of the most righteous. I have to ask, why God do you always seem to take the sweetest & the most precious from us at an early age.

Precious in the site of the LORD Is the death of his
Godly ones. Psalm 116:15 NASB
I believe often God looks down on the earth, he surveys those that are his. He finds the choicest of fruit, and he says, you are ready for harvest. Come to me, you are mine. Surely that is what God said of Debbie. God said, come here, you are mine. I see your fruit, your life is full of fruitfulness & grace. It's time to come home. You have run the course, you have done well thou good & faithful servant. Come to me. Debbie was a wonderful wife and mother. She spent a life time in ministry. She was the daughter of Missionaries, her brother a Pastor, her husband a Pastor and Missionary, herself a gifted musician, singer & anointed worshipper. More than all these good things it was her heart that distinguished her. She had the kind of heart the father seeks after. God thank you for a life well lived, an inspiration to us all. She was a true Worshipper. Debbie we will miss you.

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
John 4:23 NASB

Saturday, November 17, 2007

The Simplicity of a Child


A friend sent me this precious Radio call in from a child. I wanted to add this to my Blog because it so clearly shows how our Lord empathizes with our grief. If our grief like this child's is over a pet or if like us you have lost the one closest to you. God understands our sorrow. It is for this he sent his son.

http://www.ksbj.org/eblogs/morningShow/