Hello Precious Ones!
As I have studied through "Lord Where Are You When Bad Things Happen?" I have prayed and asked the Lord to keep me focused on each of you. What is it that will help you on your journey of grief and also what will equip us to help other's who are suddenly thrust upon this unwelcome path?
Chapter Six holds the one necessary key to abundant life, daily, moment by moment, abundant, joyful life, irregardless of our tragic circumstances. It is the "one thing" that is needed - it is the "one thing" that has carried me and it will carry you.
"Mom, Let's be Mary's today!" I can still hear Melissa's excitement in her voice.
Chapter Six of "Lord Where Are You When Bad Things Happen?" begins with the story of Mary and Martha. I'm sure most of you are familiar with these two sisters. Mary loved to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His Word while Martha was "distracted with much serving" and complained to Jesus about her sister. "And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:41-42
"But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part" This phrase has an immediateness to it and it literally means "One thing is a necessity NOW! Mary chose for herself to be a partaker of it, that which is good, useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy and excellent!"
Very clearly this one necessary thing was to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His word. This and nothing less, this and nothing more. Mary knew how much her Savior loved her and she responded with adoration and complete devotion. The world around her disappeared as she looked into His face and listened to His Word. Her love for Him made her a willing learner who delighted in His presence and in His precepts.
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
As I have studied through "Lord Where Are You When Bad Things Happen?" I have prayed and asked the Lord to keep me focused on each of you. What is it that will help you on your journey of grief and also what will equip us to help other's who are suddenly thrust upon this unwelcome path?
Chapter Six holds the one necessary key to abundant life, daily, moment by moment, abundant, joyful life, irregardless of our tragic circumstances. It is the "one thing" that is needed - it is the "one thing" that has carried me and it will carry you.
"Mom, Let's be Mary's today!" I can still hear Melissa's excitement in her voice.
Chapter Six of "Lord Where Are You When Bad Things Happen?" begins with the story of Mary and Martha. I'm sure most of you are familiar with these two sisters. Mary loved to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His Word while Martha was "distracted with much serving" and complained to Jesus about her sister. "And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:41-42
"But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part" This phrase has an immediateness to it and it literally means "One thing is a necessity NOW! Mary chose for herself to be a partaker of it, that which is good, useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy and excellent!"
Very clearly this one necessary thing was to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His word. This and nothing less, this and nothing more. Mary knew how much her Savior loved her and she responded with adoration and complete devotion. The world around her disappeared as she looked into His face and listened to His Word. Her love for Him made her a willing learner who delighted in His presence and in His precepts.
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
This is the one thing that has carried me through my darkest valleys - it is the one thing that has given lasting strength, peace and fullness of joy. It is the one thing that continues to add excitement and passion for my life. It is the only thing that is needed and it is needed NOW for each of us. Melissa was able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death with beauty and glory because of her intimate walk with Christ. During the worst of her suffering I would hear her whisper, "Jesus" with love and adoration in her voice and I knew she was seated at His feet - Her favorite place to be. It was a habit in her life - it was and is a habit in my life and it is the ONLY thing needed.
Dearly beloved, remember that Jesus said, "But one thing is needed." Sitting at His feet, listening to His Word is all you need to make it through this life. He is always waiting for you and is willing to listen to your every care, every doubt or every fear. You can ask Him the tough questions as Habakkuk did and He will comfort your soul. Make spending time with Him your number one priority. Many times in our desperate need for help we run to every solution except Christ. Possibly you have tried Grief Share, Compassionate Friends or other grief helps or support groups to get you through. All of these may be good and helpful but do not let them take the place of sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to His Word. The solution for us is JESUS and the solution to the dear mom's we will be led to serve is JESUS.
This last week I spent some time with my son-in-law, Jeremy. I am continually blown away at God's amazing work in his life since Melissa's death. Last Tuesday he stepped out on the main stage at the Del Mar Fair and began to sing "Give Me Jesus." Just Jeremy, his keyboard and thousands singing, "you can have all this world, just give me Jesus." It was so powerful. Jesus, just give me Jesus! It's what has powerfully gotten Jeremy through the tragedy of his wife's death, it's what continues to carry me through and it is what will not only sustain you but will give you an abundant life! As Mary chose for herself to be a partaker of that which is good, useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy and excellent, so can we!
Let's be Mary's today!
Dearly beloved, remember that Jesus said, "But one thing is needed." Sitting at His feet, listening to His Word is all you need to make it through this life. He is always waiting for you and is willing to listen to your every care, every doubt or every fear. You can ask Him the tough questions as Habakkuk did and He will comfort your soul. Make spending time with Him your number one priority. Many times in our desperate need for help we run to every solution except Christ. Possibly you have tried Grief Share, Compassionate Friends or other grief helps or support groups to get you through. All of these may be good and helpful but do not let them take the place of sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to His Word. The solution for us is JESUS and the solution to the dear mom's we will be led to serve is JESUS.
This last week I spent some time with my son-in-law, Jeremy. I am continually blown away at God's amazing work in his life since Melissa's death. Last Tuesday he stepped out on the main stage at the Del Mar Fair and began to sing "Give Me Jesus." Just Jeremy, his keyboard and thousands singing, "you can have all this world, just give me Jesus." It was so powerful. Jesus, just give me Jesus! It's what has powerfully gotten Jeremy through the tragedy of his wife's death, it's what continues to carry me through and it is what will not only sustain you but will give you an abundant life! As Mary chose for herself to be a partaker of that which is good, useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy and excellent, so can we!
Let's be Mary's today!
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