A Crazy, Holy Grace
The author's knows what it means to deal with pain, grief, and grace from a child after his father committed suicide. He shares that God is near even when He is silent.
The author's best writings covering such topic as loss of a loved one.
Loss/death will come to all of us, but we are not alone. God's holy healing grace is always present and available if we are quiet enough to receive it.
Through the gates of pain we enter into joy.
It seems that pain and death are on the rise, lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce, ready or not. Our lives are filled with freak accidents, cancer, and the steady decay of time. Stories of destruction and pain come at us from everywhere - our news, TV shows, movies, and social media sites - because fear and death seem to sell.
Simply put, suffering is universal.
We all have different ways of dealing with our pain, depending on what day it happens to be and how we happen to be feeling.
The author's mother had not only the suicide of his father but two other unsuccessful marriages. She lived to be a great age, and in many ways she remained a valuable person.
The author shares there could be a hundred and six other ways we have of coping with pain.
You don't have to talk about pain, but you have to live out of your pain.
Through the gates of pain we enter into joy.
God says He is with us on our journeys. He says he has been with us since each of our journeys began. Listen for God.
It is to choose to believe that the truth of our story is contained in Jesus's story, which is a love story. Jesus's story is the truth about who we are and who the God is who Jesus says loves us.
"And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the the way, and when you rise."
Frederick Buechner is the author of more than 30 books and has been important source of inspiration and learning for many readers. He has been awarded honorary degrees from institutions institutions including Yale University and Virginia Theological Seminary.
Showing posts with label Joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joy. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Sunday - God's Love Manifest - John 15:1-17 - 3/19/17
The grapevine is a profilic plant: a single vine bears many grapes. In the Old Testament grapes symbolized Israel's fruitfulness in doing God's work on the earth. In the Passover meal, the fruit of the vine symbolized, God's goodness to His people.
Christ is the vine, & God is the husbandman who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all who claim to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers who by their living union with followers are as good as dead & will be cut off & cast aside.
Jesus makes a distinction between two kinds of pruning (1) separating & (2) cutting back branches. Fruitful branches are cut back to promote growth. God must sometimes discipline us to strength our character & faith. But branches that don't bear fruit are cut off at the trunk, because not only are they worthless, they often infect the rest of the tree.
Prayer, joy, & soul-winning are also fruit.
Abiding in Christ means (1) believing he is God's Son (2) receiving Him as Saviour (3) doing what God says (4) continuing in faith (5) & relating to the community of believers. Christ's body Jesus says to only live a truly good life is to stay close to him, like a branch attached to the vine. Apart from him our efforts are unfruitful.
When a vine bears "much fruit," God is glorified, for daily He sent the sunshine & rain to make the crops grow, & constantly be nurtured each tiny plant & prepared to blossomed. What a moment of glory for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the barns, safe & ready for use! This farming picture shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him & begin to "bear much fruit" in their lives.
Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily keeps us levelheaded no matter how high or low our circumstances.
We are to love one another as Jesus loved us, & He loved us enough to give His life for us. Give all the love you can, & then try to give a little more.
Jesus made the first choice --- to love & to die for us; to offer us eternal life. We make the next choice --- to accept or reject His offer. Without His choice, we would have no choice.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale Publishing House, Inc., Wheaton, IL
Christ is the vine, & God is the husbandman who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all who claim to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers who by their living union with followers are as good as dead & will be cut off & cast aside.
Jesus makes a distinction between two kinds of pruning (1) separating & (2) cutting back branches. Fruitful branches are cut back to promote growth. God must sometimes discipline us to strength our character & faith. But branches that don't bear fruit are cut off at the trunk, because not only are they worthless, they often infect the rest of the tree.
Prayer, joy, & soul-winning are also fruit.
Abiding in Christ means (1) believing he is God's Son (2) receiving Him as Saviour (3) doing what God says (4) continuing in faith (5) & relating to the community of believers. Christ's body Jesus says to only live a truly good life is to stay close to him, like a branch attached to the vine. Apart from him our efforts are unfruitful.
When a vine bears "much fruit," God is glorified, for daily He sent the sunshine & rain to make the crops grow, & constantly be nurtured each tiny plant & prepared to blossomed. What a moment of glory for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the barns, safe & ready for use! This farming picture shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him & begin to "bear much fruit" in their lives.
Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily keeps us levelheaded no matter how high or low our circumstances.
We are to love one another as Jesus loved us, & He loved us enough to give His life for us. Give all the love you can, & then try to give a little more.
Jesus made the first choice --- to love & to die for us; to offer us eternal life. We make the next choice --- to accept or reject His offer. Without His choice, we would have no choice.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale Publishing House, Inc., Wheaton, IL
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Thursday - Joy & Wish for Perfect Harmony - Psalm/Tehillim 104:31-35 - 1/19/17
The Lord's glory is eternal.
Psalm 104:31 ... (Reference scripture: Genesis 1:31 ...) And God saw everything that he had made, & behold, it was very good. And the evening & the morning were the sixth day.
Psalm 104:32 ... (Reference scriptures: Habakkuk 3:10 & Psalm 144:5 ... ) The mountains saw thee, & they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, & lifted up his hands on high.
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, & come down: touch the mountains, & they shall smoke.
Psalm 104:33 ... (Reference scripture: Psalm 146:2 ...) While I live, will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Psalm 104:34 ... My meditation of him shall be saved: I will be glad in the LORD.
Psalm 104:35 ... (Reference scriptures: Proverbs 2:22 & Psalm 104:1 ...) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, & the transgressors shall be (plucked up) rooted out of it.
(An exhortation to bless the LORD for his mighty power, & wonderful providence.) BLESS the LORD O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour & majesty:
Reference scriptures used from The KJV Bible, SouthWestern Co., Nashville, TN
Psalm 104:31 ... (Reference scripture: Genesis 1:31 ...) And God saw everything that he had made, & behold, it was very good. And the evening & the morning were the sixth day.
Psalm 104:32 ... (Reference scriptures: Habakkuk 3:10 & Psalm 144:5 ... ) The mountains saw thee, & they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, & lifted up his hands on high.
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, & come down: touch the mountains, & they shall smoke.
Psalm 104:33 ... (Reference scripture: Psalm 146:2 ...) While I live, will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Psalm 104:34 ... My meditation of him shall be saved: I will be glad in the LORD.
Psalm 104:35 ... (Reference scriptures: Proverbs 2:22 & Psalm 104:1 ...) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, & the transgressors shall be (plucked up) rooted out of it.
(An exhortation to bless the LORD for his mighty power, & wonderful providence.) BLESS the LORD O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour & majesty:
Reference scriptures used from The KJV Bible, SouthWestern Co., Nashville, TN
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Letter From God: Book Review 2002 - 2004
Excerpts from a Book I Reviewed between 2002 - 2004...
By: Angela Watkins
Let us pray for all leaders, presidents and kings where we may lead a peaceable and quiet life.
On a serious note make sure you do know who your Heavenly Father is.....
By: Angela Doreathy Glass Watkins Bring every big and little thing to God in prayer for help, advice, or sharing your joy! Our Heavenly Father loves us. Sharing a note from a book I have reviewed.
Shared by Angela Doreathy Glass Watkins
Letter From God .....
My Precious Daughter,
I can't wait to hear from you! You are the joy of My heart! I created you to have fellowship with Me, and I love your company when you pray to Me.
You are so important to Me that I want you to bring every big and little thing to Me for help, advice, or sharing your joy! I am always available.
Prayer is the way you reach Me. Whether it's an arrow prayer or a lengthy one, I welcome all.
Don't worry if you continue to take back your worries. I am patiently waiting for you to turn them back over to Me again and again,.
I know that you'll grow stronger each time you focus on Me. I'm confident that My Spirit will continue to work in you to learn this challenging surrender, so don't think I'm upset or unhappy with you. I'll never stop drawing you into My loving embrace.
My daughter, you are valuable and precious to Me. Talk to Me often. Relate your worries to Me.
I stand ready to respond and take your burdens.
I love you.
Your Heavenly Father
This review was shared from "Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries" Finding Peace In All Kinds of Weather By Kathy Collard Miller. She has appeared on the 700 Club and other radio and television programs and has spoken in five countries besides the United States.
Angela Doreathy Glass Watkins
By: Angela Watkins
Let us pray for all leaders, presidents and kings where we may lead a peaceable and quiet life.
On a serious note make sure you do know who your Heavenly Father is.....
By: Angela Doreathy Glass Watkins Bring every big and little thing to God in prayer for help, advice, or sharing your joy! Our Heavenly Father loves us. Sharing a note from a book I have reviewed.
Shared by Angela Doreathy Glass Watkins
Letter From God .....
My Precious Daughter,
I can't wait to hear from you! You are the joy of My heart! I created you to have fellowship with Me, and I love your company when you pray to Me.
You are so important to Me that I want you to bring every big and little thing to Me for help, advice, or sharing your joy! I am always available.
Prayer is the way you reach Me. Whether it's an arrow prayer or a lengthy one, I welcome all.
Don't worry if you continue to take back your worries. I am patiently waiting for you to turn them back over to Me again and again,.
I know that you'll grow stronger each time you focus on Me. I'm confident that My Spirit will continue to work in you to learn this challenging surrender, so don't think I'm upset or unhappy with you. I'll never stop drawing you into My loving embrace.
My daughter, you are valuable and precious to Me. Talk to Me often. Relate your worries to Me.
I stand ready to respond and take your burdens.
I love you.
Your Heavenly Father
This review was shared from "Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries" Finding Peace In All Kinds of Weather By Kathy Collard Miller. She has appeared on the 700 Club and other radio and television programs and has spoken in five countries besides the United States.
Angela Doreathy Glass Watkins
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Nothing Is Going To Be The Same ... 6/23/2013
Sunday School Lesson . Heaven . prophet Isaiah . Eschatology/Last Things . Last Judgment . New Heavens & New Earth . Peace . Old Age . God . Prayer . Universal Peace . Other Nations . Gentiles . Jesus Christ . Joy . Faith
The Sunday School Lesson for June 23, 2013 is shared from Isaiah 65:17-21, 23-25 (Devotional Reading Isaiah 42:1-9).
Isaiah 58-66, the restoration of Zion, the felicity of the Israelites admitted to be its citizens,and the condemnation and overthrow of the enemies of Jehovah.
The destiny of faithful and faithless Jews (Isaiah 65:1-25).
Isaiah 65:17-18
Verses 17,18 ... External Nature; The Heavens; Old & New Heavens
Verse 17 ... Eschatology/Last Things; The Last Judgment; The New Heavens & the New Earth
Verse 18 ... 'glad' & 'rejoice" ... Real 'peace' will only come via of Jesus/Yeshua
(Psalm/Tehillim 137 - Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book)
Isaiah 65:19-21
Verse 19 ... External Nature; The Heavens; Old & New Heavens
Verses 20,21 ... The Outward Man; The Body In Old Age; Promised
Verse 20 ... for the child shall die an old man; but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.
(Genesis 5:5; 9:29; 11:10-32; 25:7; 50:26)
Isaiah 65:23-25
Verse 23 ... Works Of God; God's Providence In Moral Discipline; Their Children Blessed
Verse 24 ... God Knows Our Needs & Answers Prayer
Verse 24 ... Duties To God; Prayer; Efficacy of Prayer, God Promises to Hear Prayer
Verse 25 ... Eschatology/Last Things; The Millennium; Universal Peace
Millennium .. period of 1,000 years
Isaiah 42:1-9
God's Servant: his mission (Isaiah 42:1-4)
The ministry of deliverance (Isaiah 42:5-9)
Isaiah 42:1-9
Verses 1,4 ... Other Nations; The Conversion of The Gentiles; General Predictions
Verses 2,3 ... Jesus Christ; Prophecies Concerning Christ; Meekness
Verse 5 ... Works Of God; Creation; Mammals & Man
Verses 6,7 ... Jesus Christ; Prophecies Concerning Christ; Figurative Prophecies, Light .... Jesus Christ; Christ's Humanity; Christ Compared with the Father, In Dignity
Verse 8 ... God; Anthropormorphic & Anthropopathic Representatives Of God; Seeks His Own Glory
Anthropormorphic ... attribution of a human form
Anthropopathic ... having human feelings
Verse 9 ... God; Attributes Of God As Person,Foreknowledge
Monday - June 17, 2013 - The Handiwork of God - Psalm/Tehillim 19:1-6
Psalm/Tehillim 19 ... Didactic Psalms: Showing the excellence of God's law
Didactic .. Instruct
Tuesday - June 18, 2013 - The Guidance of God - Psalm/Tehillim 19:7-14
Psalm/Tehillim 19:7 ... Everlasting Life & Heaven Promised
Psalm/Tehillim 19:8,11 ... The Upright Are Blessed & Prospered (Prosperity means different things to different individuals)
Wednesday - June 19, 2013 - No One Is Righteous - Romans 3:9-20
Romans 1:8-11:35 ... practical Christian duties. Written in the spring of 58 A.D. from Corinth, during a stay of three months in Greece, by the apostle Paul.
The failure of the world (Romans 1:18b-3:20)
The Gospel For The World: The Righteous - By - Faith Shall Live (Romans 1:18b-8:39)
Thursday - June 20, 2013 - Sin, Death, Sacrifice, & Salvation - Romans 5:6-14
The joys of faith-righteousness (Romans 5:1-11)
Shall live the righteous (Romans 5:12-8:39)
Friday - June 21, 2013 - New Things Springing Forth - Isaiah 42:1-9
Saturday - June 22, 2013 - God Makes All Things New - Revelation 21:1-7
The New Heaven & New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8)
The vision of final triumph (Revelation 17:1-22:5)
Revelation main theme, "I come quickly," & its objective is to awaken in the believer the response, "Amen: come, Lord Jesus."
Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible, Zondervan Commentary, The International Teacher's Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, Reader's Digest Oxford Complete WordFinder & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary
The Sunday School Lesson for June 23, 2013 is shared from Isaiah 65:17-21, 23-25 (Devotional Reading Isaiah 42:1-9).
Isaiah 58-66, the restoration of Zion, the felicity of the Israelites admitted to be its citizens,and the condemnation and overthrow of the enemies of Jehovah.
The destiny of faithful and faithless Jews (Isaiah 65:1-25).
Isaiah 65:17-18
Verses 17,18 ... External Nature; The Heavens; Old & New Heavens
Verse 17 ... Eschatology/Last Things; The Last Judgment; The New Heavens & the New Earth
Verse 18 ... 'glad' & 'rejoice" ... Real 'peace' will only come via of Jesus/Yeshua
(Psalm/Tehillim 137 - Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book)
Isaiah 65:19-21
Verse 19 ... External Nature; The Heavens; Old & New Heavens
Verses 20,21 ... The Outward Man; The Body In Old Age; Promised
Verse 20 ... for the child shall die an old man; but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.
(Genesis 5:5; 9:29; 11:10-32; 25:7; 50:26)
Isaiah 65:23-25
Verse 23 ... Works Of God; God's Providence In Moral Discipline; Their Children Blessed
Verse 24 ... God Knows Our Needs & Answers Prayer
Verse 24 ... Duties To God; Prayer; Efficacy of Prayer, God Promises to Hear Prayer
Verse 25 ... Eschatology/Last Things; The Millennium; Universal Peace
Millennium .. period of 1,000 years
Isaiah 42:1-9
God's Servant: his mission (Isaiah 42:1-4)
The ministry of deliverance (Isaiah 42:5-9)
Isaiah 42:1-9
Verses 1,4 ... Other Nations; The Conversion of The Gentiles; General Predictions
Verses 2,3 ... Jesus Christ; Prophecies Concerning Christ; Meekness
Verse 5 ... Works Of God; Creation; Mammals & Man
Verses 6,7 ... Jesus Christ; Prophecies Concerning Christ; Figurative Prophecies, Light .... Jesus Christ; Christ's Humanity; Christ Compared with the Father, In Dignity
Verse 8 ... God; Anthropormorphic & Anthropopathic Representatives Of God; Seeks His Own Glory
Anthropormorphic ... attribution of a human form
Anthropopathic ... having human feelings
Verse 9 ... God; Attributes Of God As Person,Foreknowledge
Monday - June 17, 2013 - The Handiwork of God - Psalm/Tehillim 19:1-6
Psalm/Tehillim 19 ... Didactic Psalms: Showing the excellence of God's law
Didactic .. Instruct
Tuesday - June 18, 2013 - The Guidance of God - Psalm/Tehillim 19:7-14
Psalm/Tehillim 19:7 ... Everlasting Life & Heaven Promised
Psalm/Tehillim 19:8,11 ... The Upright Are Blessed & Prospered (Prosperity means different things to different individuals)
Wednesday - June 19, 2013 - No One Is Righteous - Romans 3:9-20
Romans 1:8-11:35 ... practical Christian duties. Written in the spring of 58 A.D. from Corinth, during a stay of three months in Greece, by the apostle Paul.
The failure of the world (Romans 1:18b-3:20)
The Gospel For The World: The Righteous - By - Faith Shall Live (Romans 1:18b-8:39)
Thursday - June 20, 2013 - Sin, Death, Sacrifice, & Salvation - Romans 5:6-14
The joys of faith-righteousness (Romans 5:1-11)
Shall live the righteous (Romans 5:12-8:39)
Friday - June 21, 2013 - New Things Springing Forth - Isaiah 42:1-9
Saturday - June 22, 2013 - God Makes All Things New - Revelation 21:1-7
The New Heaven & New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8)
The vision of final triumph (Revelation 17:1-22:5)
Revelation main theme, "I come quickly," & its objective is to awaken in the believer the response, "Amen: come, Lord Jesus."
Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible, Zondervan Commentary, The International Teacher's Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, Reader's Digest Oxford Complete WordFinder & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary
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