…And you will be given a new name
by the LORD’s own mouth.
…And I will give to each one a white stone,
and on the stone will be engraved a new name
that no one understands except the one who receives it.
Blessings of A New Name Given By The LORD
Monthly Archives: November 2020
God Knows
I never set out to become personally knowledgeable on grief—no one in her right mind would. Rather, it was a crash course thrust on me when my husband, Dan, was killed on his way to work in 2011. And I’m only an expert on my own grief. I’d provided a fair amount of professional grief counseling over the years, but I’d not been the griever; and believe you me, they’re two entirely different roles.
Before I forget to say it: NEVER EVER tell a griever that you know how they feel. Because. You. DON’T. And if they’re like me, I hope they’ll quickly tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Random things I know:
The worst part of grief is knowing that something has been forever changed. The person you love (and your love doesn’t stop when they die) is never coming back to live in this world; but it’s complicated and hard work to get your heart and head to the same place on that immovable fact. Losing your spouse makes you an automatic member of a club that nobody wants to join.
Grieving is pretty much a solitary walk with or without God, as you so choose. It’s wonderful to have the loving support of family and friends, but no one else really understands the walk except the griever and God. For myself, I cannot even imagine how non-believers navigate it.
I know my first instinct, as a woman and helper, is to want to “fix it” for someone else; but it can’t be “fixed”. God will bring healing, but it takes a long time; and grief is exhausting—mentally, physically and emotionally.
Crying is NOT a bad thing. God gave it to us to help us cleanse our emotions. Tears were right under the surface for a very long time for me. I, and Richard for his Beth, sometimes cry even now; the difference is that we can do it together and for each other. Time is a wonderful buffer, but the heart will always hold tender spots.
God knows our every hurt; and until he walks us Home to be with him forever, he’ll keep holding our hand. And that’s the truth.
Blessings of Knowing That God Will Fulfill every Promise
No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set;
your moon will not go down.
For the LORD will be your everlasting light.
Your days of mourning will come to an end.
Blessings of The Only One Who Can Step Into Time and History
Our courts oppose the righteous,
and justice is nowhere to be found.
Truth stumbles in the streets
and honesty has been outlawed.
Yes, truth is gone,
and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.
The LORD looked and was displeased
to find there was no justice.
He was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So he himself stepped in to save them…
Blessings of Embracing Who We Are In Relation To God
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Blessings of Surrounding Yourself With Scripture
Fear not…Don’t be afraid…
For the LORD has called you back from your grief…
…the mountains may move and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain…
…I will rebuild you with precious jewels…
…You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near.
…no weapon turned against you will succeed…
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the LORD, have spoken!
Isaiah 54:4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17
Blessings of Choosing To Walk God’s Paths
…”I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow.
Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.
Blessings of the Only One Who Has Never Been Surprised
Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
Blessings of Knowing That God Will Work Through Whomever He Chooses
…”I am the LORD, who made all things.
I alone stretched out the heavens.
Who was with me when I made the earth?
I expose the false prophets as liars
and make fools of fortune-tellers…
But I carry out the predictions of my prophets!…
When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’
he will certainly do as I say.
He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’;
he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”
I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose,
and I will guide his actions…
I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
Blessings of Not Wasting Your Opportunity To Be Free
I have swept away your sins like a cloud.
I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.
Oh, return to me,
for I have paid the price to set you free.
