Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

I have a pretty busy day, but feel the Lord leading me to post this song - the words are powerful - look to God - look to His plan. It's hard to say it in the midst of grief, but I have come to find the truth and the joy of "nothing on earth compares to the promise I have in You" Jesus. Let His comfort and shelter be your tower of strength today. I encourage you to spend some time praising Him with this song and then go to His Word to be filled today.

I am praying for you.

Nicole

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Remember Surrender

This morning I was getting ready for Bible Study and listening to Sara Groves - a favorite artist of mine. The song Remember Surrender touched my heart. I am a first born, Type A, person who wants to always be in control. And I have to day by day, minute by minute turn that control over to the Lord Jesus - I am not in control. He is. Last night I was studying Colossians and read the following which looks at the Supremacy of Christ:

The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:15-20

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Everything is created by Christ and for Christ. He is in control. I am not. It is my job to surrender my own desire for control - to acknowledge that it is His and His alone. I pray this song touches your heart today and that God's Word is permeating your thoughts as you are reminded to surrender to the Lord today - He is good and faithful. He has a plan for your life - a good plan. He sees the big picture - you can only see but a small piece of that picture. I am praying for you as you are grieving today. Look to His Word - His anchored hope today. Remember to surrender.

Remember Surrender - Sara Groves

Remember Surrender

By Sara Groves

Remember surrender
Remember the rest
Remember that weight lifting off of your chest
And realizing that it's not up to you and it never was

Remember surrender
Remember relief
Remember how tears rolled down both of your cheeks
As the warmth of a heavenly father came closing in

I want to do that again
Why can't I live there
And make my home
In sweet surrender
I want to do so much more than remember

Remember surrender
Remember peace
Remember how soundly you fell fast asleep
In the face of your troubles your future still shone like the morning sun

Remember surrender
Remember that sound
Of all of those voices inside dying down
But one who speaks clearly of helping and healing you deep within

I want to do that again
Why can't I live there
And make my home
In sweet surrender
I want to do so much more than remember
Remember
Oh surrender





Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Made Me Glad

A song that was sung often at our church after our last loss in 2006 was "Made Me Glad" by Darlene Zschech. Here are the lyrics:


I will bless the Lord forever
And I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
And he has set my feet upon a rock

And I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord....

You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in Heaven but you?
There's none I desire beside you
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord....

CHORUS:

You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need

REPEAT CHORUS

You have me glad
And I'll say of the Lord....

REPEAT CHORUS x 2

My very present help in time of need (TO FADE)

You can see a beautiful video to the song here.

Here is some scripture that speaks powerfully to me - it reminds me of God's goodness and that he is my shield and my fortress.

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7


Even in your grieving, I am praying that you are seeing God being your stronghold and your fortress. Dear one, cling to Him – look to His Word. One day your heart will leap for joy – even if it seems impossible today. Just keep reading His Word – even when you don’t feel the hope – Believe it – the feeling will eventually get there. Trust God and who He is. I am praying for you tonight. Dig into His Word - it is healing hope for you today - the true anchored hope.

Nicole





Verses of Comfort and Hope

This list of verses was given to me at a MOPS meeting just after our last loss – God’s timing is perfect – it was the perfect topic for me that week. I pray God’s Word will be healing balm to your grieving heart today. I am praying for you.

Nicole


Verses of Comfort and Hope

(New Living Translation)

Psalm 9:9-10 The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 139: 16-18 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Lamentations 3:19-24 The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 John 4:9-10 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Jesus Wept

It's the shortest verse in the Bible. "Jesus Wept." Have you wept today? There are many reasons we weep and cry. Many moms are weeping today over the baby they did not meet, or the child who went to be with the Lord earlier than they had hoped. Where is hope for them, for you, today? Be assured that Jesus knows what it's like to weep and to cry. "Jesus wept." John 11:35.

In John Chapter 11, we see Jesus coming to the tomb of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Martha and Mary loved Jesus. They had asked him to come and to heal Lazarus. But Lazarus died before Jesus came to Bethany. In fact, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days when Jesus came to the tomb. When Mary meets Jesus, she is weeping (v 33) – my NIV bible says the Greek word used for weeping when Mary wept meant a wailing. Yet, in verse 35, the Greek word for “wept” when Jesus wept means a quiet weeping or shedding tears. Scripture teaches us that Jesus knows the thoughts of those around him ( Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” Luke 5:22; But Jesus knew what they were thinking” Luke 6:8). Jesus not only heard Mary's wailing on the outside, He knew Mary’s heart and what was in her thoughts. He silently wept at her pain. Did you know dear ladies, that Jesus has compassion on your pain and your grieving? He does.

And what does Jesus do out of his compassion? He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43).

There was a time before Lazarus when Jesus had compassion for a grieving family member. In Luke 7:11-17, the story is told of Jesus having compassion on a widow who is in a funeral procession for her only son. Verse 13 says “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don't cry.’” (NIV). The King James version says He “had compassion on her.” The word for compassion which is used here is splagcnivzomai, which is used of Jesus and the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). This compassion is a compassion of action and involvement. It is not just kind words. Jesus cares and He’s got a plan of action. For the widow of Nain, He restored her son’s life – He raise him from the dead. This resurrection also showed Jesus’ compassion and his power over death.

Dear friend, Jesus has compassion on you – He hears and sees your pain. He has a plan for you and for your life. Know that He is a God of compassion and of action. He is good. His plan is good. Jesus wept.” You may be in the midst of your grieving and praying for God to restore life to that precious life lost. Know that Jesus is there having compassion on You. Remember that He bottles up your tears (Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. NLT ). He has a plan. Look to Him.

Please be assured that one day, you too, will find this truth to be clear from the pain He has allowed in your life – I thank Him daily for this truth from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

I am praying for you, dear ladies, as you are grieving.
I pray you are seeing the character of Christ through His Word and are leaning on His Word and on Christ – the true anchored hope.

Friday, April 10, 2009

But Jesus Stayed

Earlier this week I was reading the story of Jesus’ death on the cross to our four year old son. I am loving this preschool Bible entitled The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every story whispers his name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. As I was reading from this Bible, I came across the words “but Jesus stayed.” I have had difficulty this week getting that phrase out of my mind. Here was the Lord who had created the entire world – the entire universe – and He stayed and endured the cross because He loved me - He loved you.

Jesus – who was without sin – let himself be shamed and cursed and flogged and sent to the cross – He gave up His intimate relationship with God the Father while on the cross. He took my punishment for my sin – He took your punishment for your sin. He stayed.

When the Roman soldiers mocked Him and made Him a crown of thorns and put a robe on Him – He stayed. When they whipped him and cursed Him – He stayed. When they nailed Him to the cross, He stayed. He did more than just stay – He said “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) He could have rescued Himself. He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him. He could have made it all stop. But He stayed.

What made Him stay? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. He stayed. He stayed because His love for you and for me was more than the pain. And the pain was pain that you and I cannot even imagine. And yet, He stayed.

I encourage you right now to praise the Lord Jesus for staying – He did it for you. Here is a song that touches my heart – It’s called “At the Cross” – spend some time right now at the cross – pondering that the Lord Jesus stayed on that cross for you – and give Him glory for the power He has over death. Praise Him this Good Friday.


At the Cross by Hillsong

Verse 1:
Oh Lord You’ve searched me,
You know my way;
Even when I fail You,
I know You love me.
Your holy presence
Surrounding me
In every season,
I know You love me;
I know You love me.
 
Chorus: 
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me,
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?
 
Verse 2:
You go before me,
You shield my way,
Your hand upholds me;
I know You love me.
 
Chorus: 
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me,
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?
 
Chorus: 
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me,
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?
 
Bridge: 
You tore-------(torn) the veil 
You made a------(the) way
When You said that it is done x2
 
Verse 3:
And when the earth fades,
Falls from my eyes,
And You stand before me,
I know You love me;
I know You love me.
 
Chorus: 
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me,
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?
 
Chorus: 
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me,
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?
 
Bridge: 
You tore-------(torn) the veil 
You made a------(the) way
When You said that it is done x4

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Holding onto Hope

One of my favorite books to offer to ladies who have a loss is "Holding onto Hope." by Nancy Guthrie (check out her website here). Nancy looks at the book of Job to see how God would have us grieve. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to look deeply at God's Word for healing and for walking the path of grief. Today I found a Joni Erickson Tada show that focussed on Nancy and her husband's losses in two babies who were born with a fatal disorder which causes babies to live less than one year of life. I highly recommend viewing this Joni and Friends show here. When at that website, click on "Episodes and offers" - then scroll down and click on "Holding Onto Hope with David and Nancy Guthrie, then click on "watch full episode" on the left. It's a 28 minute show highlighting how God carried them through very hard trials in their losses. I highly recommend her book. She has other books on her website that interest me - I'm thinking about ordering the "One Year of Hope" Devotional. Make sure to have a box of tissues close when viewing the show. It's very touching and emotional (for me, but I'm a very emotional gal).

If you've got time, I also viewed the Joni and Friends which features the story of Joni Erickson Tada. Her life is such a model of taking a very hard trial and using that trial to bring forth good for others. It's inspiring and challenging to me. Very worth a viewing.

I am praying for you today as you grieve. Remember to take time for yourself and to give yourself little perks. Grieving loss is hard. Do something nice for yourself today. Paint your toe nails. Get that latte you're craving Get a springy new shirt. I'm not telling you to break your budget - just find some little things to perk yourself up.

I'd like to leave you with a scripture to ponder - God's Word is healing balm to a hurting heart. Good night. Nicole

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon
those who search for you.

Psalm 9:9-10

Friday, April 3, 2009

Genesis 22

Good morning dear ladies. I am praying for you this morning. Today I am going to post something I wrote after our 3rd loss, which was in 2005. I pray the writing ministers to your hurting heart today. God's Word is active and alive for you today - May His Word be healing balm to your hurting heart today. If you would like to read the entire Genesis 22 passage online, you may read it here.

I have often marveled at the Biblical account in Genesis 22 of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his beloved, long awaited son, Isaac. As I read it at the time of this writing, I am in the midst of a third pregnancy loss – a third precious baby I will not meet until I get to heaven. In a sense, the third Isaac I’ve had to sacrifice.

As I read Genesis 22, I am amazed that after God’s request, Abraham promptly and immediately obeys – verse three says “Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey.” How quick am I to obey in the hard things in life? Abraham’s example is humbling and challenging to me.

When I look at the great effort Abraham’s obedience took, I am humbled. Abraham himself cut the wood on which his son would be sacrificed (v3). He, Isaac, and two servants (v3) traveled for three days (v4). Obedience was not only an emotional action, it took much physical preparation.

Verse four tells us that Abraham said to his servants to stay with the donkey while he and Isaac go to worship. He tells them “we will worship and then we will come back to you” (my emphasis). Abraham had faith that God would make a way to fulfill His promise to Abraham from Genesis seventeen. Abraham trusted God’s word and obeyed even when God’s request appeared contradictory to God’s promise to Abraham in making a great nation through the line of Isaac. Abraham trusted God’s plan.

I continue reading in Genesis 22 that Abraham built the alter, arranged the wood, and bound his son and lay him on the alter. It overwhelms me with his obedience. He takes out his knife to slay his son. Abraham was fully directed towards total obedience in a very difficult request.

Chapter 22 continues with God sending an angel who exclaims “Abraham! Abraham! Do no lay a hand on Isaac.” Abraham immediately saw God’s purpose in His request in this situation. Although God’s purposes for our trials are usually not immediate, God still requires obedience of me. 1Samuel 15:22-23 says:

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

God sees our hearts and expects a heart of obedience to Him. The act of obedience (perhaps sacrificing) is the action, but God looks at the heart in the action.

As I reflect on my heart and actions, I am convicted of four questions come out of Genesis 22:

  1. Do I immediately obey?
  2. Do I take great effort to obey?
  3. Do I trust in God’s plan, especially when it seems in opposition to my plan? Do I trust in God’s plan when it seems in opposition to what I imagine His plan will be?
  4. Am I prepared to make the hard sacrifice?

The account of Abraham is a humbling, yet healing example for me as I mourn the recent loss of our baby. Romans 8:32 says “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” God gave his Son, Jesus Christ, to give us the hope of eternal life. And as I reflect on that great promise, I am reminded that I have at least three precious children whom I will one day meet in heaven. In the meanwhile, I put aside those earthly hopes and dreams for those children, and I look forward to the day I will meet them in heaven.

November 2005

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Little One

Here is a poem I wrote out of my grief for one of our little ones who went to be with the Lord. I thought I'd share it with you.

Little One

Little one, I long to hold and to see
You've been taken to eternity.

Little one, time will not erase,
How I long to kiss your face.

Little one, as time goes by
And sometimes I just sit and cry,

I look to God - He has a plan
And your name & mine are engraved on His hand.

Little one, I will sit and pray
And ask God to help me through each day.

Little one, you will always be,
A special part of our family.

Little one, I cannot wait
To see you again, at Heaven's gate.

But until then, I will cherish the memory,
Little one, of when you were here with me.

Nicole



I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
Isaiah 49:15-16

The poem was inspired by a drawing by my friend Alice - if you'd like to view this beautiful drawing of hands with Isaiah 49:15-16 Bible verse, you can find it here.





What is Anchored Hope?

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19a

What is this anchored hope of which Hebrews 6:19 speaks? Dear ladies, it is the hope from the Lord Jesus Christ. Each one of us is a sinner who has no hope to live up to God’s standards. The Lord Jesus came down to earth as an infant – He grew to a man – He lived a sinless life and died on a cross for your sins –for my sins. After 3 days, the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. He conquered death. He took on the pain of our sins. When we accept that we are sinners with no hope on our own, and ask the Lord Jesus to take control of our life – to be the center of our life, of our existence – it is then, ladies, that we can look to the hope of the Lord.

When we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior, it does not guarantee a life of ease. No, the hope is that God has a plan for each of us. His plans are not always what we expect them to be. I got caught in the wrong thinking that a miracle conception would have to mean that we were meant to have another child on earth from that pregnancy, and I was wrong. But ladies, our hope has to be in the Lord and in His plan for our lives.

This does not mean that it is aimless to pray for your heart's desire for another baby – to ask the Lord to add a child to your earthly family. God wants to hear your hearts desire. Look to Him and to His plan.

If you want to know more about how to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior, here is a website which explains it beautifully here


Today’s Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for the Lord Jesus - for the hope I can have because of Him. Thank You for Your plan of the cross. Thank you that Jesus has the power over death. Thank You that He is my eternal anchored hope of salvation. Help me to focus on Your plan, God and the hope I have in Jesus. God, please guide me in my grief today. Help me to look to Your plan for my life. Lord, I desire to add a child to our family. I miss my baby. God, please help heal my hurting and help me to look to the hope I have in you. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Dear ladies, I am praying for you today – for you to find joy in your day and to be growing in the Lord. When you find yourself sad, get in God’s Word and see that God is compassionate and will help you through your grief.