Mourning into Joy

It’s Christmas again!

A time of celebration, love, family, friends and giving!

 

For those of you who are journeying through the death of a loved one and not looking forward to Christmas without them, let me attempt to encourage you with this…

 christmas blog

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ.

 

The birth of Christ was God in human form coming to live life with us mere humans. He spent his time living a life overflowing with love and compassion – an example for us all.

His perfect life lead him to be the perfect sacrifice for ALL of our sins and wrongdoings making a way for us to have a personal relationship with the Holy God. His totally undeserved and horrific death on the cross, standing in our place and taking on himself the inevitable consequences of our sin, is our salvation.

Then three days later he rose from the dead! Unbelievable and amazing, I know, but He is God! Jesus conquered the power death had over us.

With Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, we now have a way to eternal life after we cease to exist in this one.

For me personally not only does this mean I have eternal life in heaven when I die, but that my late husband Mark is already there. Mark is there because he believed that Jesus came, died and rose, and because Mark accepted Jesus as the only way to eternal life and made Jesus Lord over his life.

 

The Bible promises for those who have mourned:

mourning to joy

I have decided to really celebrate Christmas – the birth of my Saviour King, Jesus.

 

Because His coming means the man I loved is in heaven. Without His coming there would be no hope, but with his coming there is hope, hope and more hope, both in this life and in eternity!

 And that truly does turn my mourning into joy!

 Christmas – Jesus’ birth has given me joy in the most unexpected place – it has given me joy in my grief.

 My prayer is that during this season you find comfort, joy and hope in this too.

Merry Christmas!

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God Shouts

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

― C.S. Lewis

 

What did I discover about God when he shouted in my pain?

 

  • Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate you from my love (Romans 8:31-39)

 

  • Give me every single worry because I care for you (1 Peter 5:7)

 

  • You can’t imagine what I have prepared for you because you love me (1 Corinthians 2:9)

 

  • I will work this situation into something good (Romans 8:28)

 

  • I will give you a hope despite this illness (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

  • I am good and my faithful love endures forever (Psalm 136)

 

  • Nothing is out of my sight, I see everything that you are going through (Hebrews 4:13)

 

  • I am the Lord your God and I say don’t fear I am with you and will never ever leave you (Isaiah 41:13)

 

  • I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26)

 

These are just a few of the things God shouted to me during my pain and the Almighty God shouts the very same thing to you in yours.

 

Stop and listen.  Hear and take comfort.  This is for you!