Just a little lighthearted thoughts for a Monday.
Enjoy.
Monday Musings
Just a little lighthearted thoughts for a Monday.
Enjoy.
strength
Grief .. Part 563
The journey of grief seems so long, so treacherous, and so methodical.
If you dwell too much on the journey, you’ll wander along the creek side, lost.
Never stopping for a drink.
The water continues to flow along the path, and it is for your refreshing, your renewal.
For the journey is hard, and it’s not meant for eternity.
Stay alert and remain vigilant in the middle of the walk.
Stay revived and maintain the elements to survive.
Grief is like a thief if you’ll allow him to be.
He will steal days, years, even hours and minutes
He will steal joy and peace, prosperity and comfort.
Don’t let him stay too long, or he will even steal your sanity.
You can’t shut him out; for then, he will only come back with gained force.
But don’t open the gate wide to welcome; for he will consume all territory that is lonely.
Fortify the good within and remain watchful.
Maintain the gates with prayer, steadfastness and faith.
Let him walk through, but swing open the back door with a celebration and fanfare.
For he will always peek through the windows and the trellises, but he cannot set up to abide.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
Psalm 42
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
1 Samuel 16:1
Grief … Part 495
Grief can be like a bull in the field.
He looks all nice and cozy, chewing his cud, minding his own business.
But don’t get too close, or you’ll feel his horns.
That bull goes about his day, grazing, watching, or just lazing around.
But you get into his sight, and he’s liable to gorge you.
That bull has a family, or maybe he’s a loner.
Leave him alone.
Don’t prod him.
Don’t prick him.
And certainly, don’t pet him.
He’s there to do his thing, and he will come and go as he pleases.
Just keep your eyes on him.
Never let him out of your peripheral view.
For that is when he will sneak up for the kill.
And you’ll be fortunate to survive the pounding.
Let him roam.
And keep your vision clear.
Learn from every encounter but try not to remain.
He will move on down the pasture when it’s time; although, he will always be there.
Just let him roam further and further.
But never let him out of your sight.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 3-7
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12:7
Grief … Part 294
It seems funny to give a title to grief as if I am numbering sheets of paper, but yet, how else do you list it?
Grief is evasive and yet, it is so invasive.
Grief is like a cool, summer rain, and yet, it’s like a torrential tsunami that barrels in with no warning.
Grief is both bittersweet and just plain sour.
And when grief comes by new forms and methods consistently over the years, it gets hard to dissect the good in the pain.
Just hold on.
And pray.
A lot.
We were not made for this world.
We were not made for this grief, and that’s why it’s so foreign. That’s why it’s so hard.
We were made for an eternal world, and we will be there before we know it.
He’s coming back soon.
Just hold on and be ready.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
Your Tribe
There’s not a whole lot to add to this statement.
Just know your tribe and embrace them.
You may not all be exactly the same,
But if you’re going in the same direction,
And your focus is similar,
And your destination is the same,
You will get there together,
And you’ll be stronger and better for it.
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 1:1-2
Keep Climbing
No matter where you are in the climb, keep climbing.
If you’re just starting out, keep climbing.
If you’re half way there, keep climbing.
If you’ve reached the top, either climb your way down and back up again,
Or find another mountain to conquer.
Just keep climbing and never give up.
Do not remember the former things,
Isaiah 43:18
Nor consider the things of old.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5-6
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Whimsical Wednesday (Reblog)
[…a little reblog that spoke to my heart again. I pray it will speak to yours, too.]
Somedays, it just doesn’t feel so whimsical The rain pours down like an avalanche The bills pile up, threatening to bust the dam The kids get sick, …
Whimsical Wednesday
When It Rains, It Pours
[…a little reblog from a writing quite a while ago. Hope it blesses you…]
Sometimes, when it rains, it pours… Yesterday, I talked to a gentleman whose mom passed away last week. Just a few days prior to this news, his wife…
When It Rains, It Pours
Let Your Heart Grieve A While Longer
Sometimes, things just don’t turn out as they should.
Sometimes, dreams are stolen, hearts are broken, and everyone is left desolate.
Sometimes, life just sucks, and there’s not a lot of change you can bring.
Don’t shut off the pain.
Don’t hurry up the emotion.
And certainly, don’t act as if it never happened.
Just grieve a while longer.
Just let the tears roll down into a river.
Walk out to the shoreline and breathe a little deeper.
Step out on that mountain and sigh a little louder.
There are no rules that should confine.
There are no restrictions that should bind.
There are no expectations that should be resigned.
Just let the grief roll on until it’s run its course.
Just let the pain push through until its done.
Let your heart grieve a little while longer until it heals.
Let your soul exhale a little wider until it can stand.
And when the healing comes and the strength returns, stand tall and begin to run again.
And it will come.
Someday soon.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Jeremiah 17:14
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
Jeremiah 30:17
When Your Heart Fails to Grieve
A grieving heart can be suffocating, almost to the point of death.
But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s like the winter storm that brought in the ice and hail.
The ice forms the piercing icicles, and the hail forms the impaling snowballs.
A grieving heart can walk through the snow, feeling the cold, bracing for the darkness of the forest.
But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s as if the soul is plunged into the abyss among the trees.
The mist rises, the shadows deepens, and the trail is never to be found again.
A grieving heart can be broken, wandering, and flailing to find it’s way.
But if the heart fails to grieve, all the wolves in hiding come out to feast.
All the demons once held at bay come forward to claim their spoils.
Lay down your shield. Lay aside your dagger.
Let the River run through your heart as the tears flow freely.
The pain may be earth shaking, but yet to feel no pain, is to sever the only hope that remains.
Blessed are those who mourn,
Matthew 5:4
For they shall be comforted.
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26
the grizzle grist mill 