Death is not Dying

I recently watched this amazing video and want to pass it on to as many people as possible.
Rachel Barkey of Vancouver BC is dying of cancer. She is a wife and mother of 2 young children. This past March she shared her journey and heart and passion at a presentation in Vancouver.
Her testimony is very powerful and challenges us to know God and trust Him through the valleys and pain . The video is about 55 minutes in length . Find a time when you can watch this uninterrupted.

http://deathisnotdying.com/eventvideo/

Longing for Home

Ever since our daughter Lisa died almost two and a half years ago I’ve had such a longing for Heaven, to be with her at God’s throne, singing and praising Him with jubilation. Some days the longing is stronger than other days. Grief is my constant companion whether you can see it or not. It is like the waves on the shore; sometimes gently lapping at the edge, and other times the storm is so strong that the crashing of the waves threatens to drown you. Sometimes it does feel like we have drowned and lost our bearings. Thankfully the Lord is faithful and carries us through the storms when they come. “We do not mourn as those who have no hope.” But we DO mourn and it’s a very long journey.
It’s still a physical pain in my chest when I allow my thoughts to go back to the day when the unimaginable happened. The loss has changed my view of this world and of our real home heaven.
Our experience has brought me in touch with other Christian Moms who also have lost a son or daughter through sickness, accidents, execution, and even brutal murder. In every case I hear them saying I want to go home, they are yearning for heaven. The tie to our children is so strong, it’s extremely difficult to let go It’s what makes Mom’s who they are. I was reading Spurgeon’s “Evening by Evening” last night and was comforted by what he wrote; (By the way I love reading his writings, he has such depth, honesty, compassion and always hope pointing to God and His love and mercy)
He writes:
A short stay on earth will make heaven more heavenly. Nothing makes rest so enjoyable as work; nothing renders security so pleasant as exposure to danger. The bitter cups of earth will give relish to the new wine that sparkles in the golden bowls of heaven. Our battered armor and scarred countenances will render more glorious our victory above, when we are welcomed to the seats of those who have overcome the world.
We would not have full fellowship with Christ if we did not sojourn for a while below, for He was baptized with a baptism of suffering among men and we must be baptized with the same if we would share His kingdom. Fellowship with Christ is so honourable that the sorest sorrow is a light price by which to procure it. Another reason for our lingering here is for the good of others. We would not wish to enter heaven until our work is done, and it may be that we still have a part to play shining as light in the dark wilderness of sin. Our prolonged stay here is doubtless for God’s glory.
A tested saint, like a well cut diamond, glitters much in the King’s crown. Nothing reflects so much honor on a workman as a protracted and severe trial of his work and his triumphant endurance of the ordeal without giving in or giving up.
We are God’s workmanship, and He will be glorified by our afflictions. It is for the honor of Jesus that we endure the trial of our faith with sacred joy. Let each man surrender his own longings to the glory of Jesus and declare: “ If my lying in the dust would elevate my Lord by so much as an inch, let me still lie among the pots of earth. If to live on earth forever would make my Lord more glorius, it should be my heaven to be shut out of heaven.”
Our time is fixed and settled by eternal decree. Let us not be anxious about it, but wait with patience until the gates of pearl shall open.

So is it wrong to long for home? No I don’t think so. It’s quite the opposite, but we must be patient and serve Him wholeheartedly until He calls us home. Even in grief we can serve and honor Him because of His precious gift of salvation without which we have no hope at all.

Steadfast and Sure

The weather here has been blustery, snowing, cold and wet. It's the end of April and you wouldn't know it except by looking at the calendar. People here are generally feeling blah and depressed. They yearn for the warmth of sunshine, green grass, and the typical signs of spring. Our winter has been very long this year and we had more snow than we've had in a hundred years according to the records.
We know spring weather is coming , it's a sure thing.It's a matter of when?? The promises of the weatherman keep us hoping and anticipating.
I was out for a walk today and was pelted by several snow showers. As I walked I noticed that the trees were budding out. I was excited because that's a sure sign of better days to come even though we've waited so long. All the moisture was making those buds really plump up. I was encouraged.
It all reminded me of God's sure promises, no matter how dark the days, He is there right with us. His promises keep me hopeful and anticipating as we see signs all around us of His handiwork and the order with which He planned things.
In this chaotic world, how good it is to Trust In Him.

He Knows My Thoughts

Have you ever felt manipulated , used or taken for granted? I had such a day not long ago, and I felt fully justified in my anger and resentment. On the surface I was performing the task I was told to do but underneath the surface my feelings were a cesspool of frustration threatening to boil over. Had I not done enough already? What about my needs?
Yes, I was in full self pity mode. As I was going about preparing things, I became aware of a song playing in my head… “Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, out of my life , may Jesus shine..”
What?!! “ Not now Lord!” was my initial response. “ Lord you know how tired I am … Aren’t my feelings of resentment justified? “
The song continued….” Give as twas given to you in your need., Love as the Master loves you.”
Well that stopped me short in my emotional tracks. “Oh man, your right Lord.” Forgive me in my foolishness” I recalled how the Lord used many people throughout my life to give of themselves sacrificially to care for me. My anger dissipated rapidly I began thinking deeply about what it means to serve God. It’s so easy to do good when it doesn’t require discomfort, and harder to say “Yes” to Him when the task requires sacrifice of some sort.
I’d been thinking of God’s sovereignty lately and how everything, yes everything that happens to us goes through Him first and He has a plan where our obedience and service to Him is a part of the bigger picture which we often don’t realize or understand.
I love God for teaching me about Himself through practical ways in my everyday life.
Hopefully, I have learned from this simple experience whenever I am tempted to whine about something, May the Lord bring this song to my mind again. .

God Knows Best

God Knows Best

by Helen Steiner Rice

Our Father knows what's best for us,

So why should we complain--

We always want the sunshine,

But He knows there must be rain.

We love the sound of laughter

And the merriment of cheer

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear...

Our Father tests us often

With suffering and with sorrow,

He tests us, not to punish us,

But to help us meet tomorrow...

For growing trees are strengthened

When they withstand the storm,

And the sharp cut of a chisel

Gives the marble grace and form...

God never hurts us needlessly,

And He never wastes our pain

For every loss He send to us

Is followed by rich gain...

And when we count the blessings

That God has so freely sent,

We will find no cause for murmuring

And no time to lament...

For our Father loves His children,

And to Him all things are plain,

So He never sends us pleasure

When the soul's deep need is pain...

So whenever we are troubled,

And when everything goes wrong,

It is just God working in us

To make our spirit strong.

Lifegiving Love

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Stuart Townend

One of the best songs expressing the incredible love of God that saved a wretch like me.

Quietness and Confidence

I happened across this wonderful writing by Spurgeon from “Beside Still Waters.”
Another Mom who is grieving the loss of her daughter posted it on her blog and I had to share it. Hope it touches you as it did me. Thank you for sharing JS

Isaiah 30:15"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

This is a truth concerning all the trials and troubles of this life . Some of you are passing through business troubles, for there are many tremors in the business world, and perhaps they are causing you to shake and tremble. [I thought this was funny considering that Spurgeon lived about 200 years ago!] If so, do not be readily carried away by these secondary matters. Do not let them depress or excite you. Hold loosely to all worldly things, but grip firmly the unseen God. Fussing, worrying, and hurrying will do no good. Be calm and quiet; all will be well if you are the Lord's child.Perhaps your trial is personal sickness. If so, nothing can be better than quietness and confidence. Worrying will not make you well, though it might keep you ill. You will be sick just as long as God appoints, but if anything can help to heal it is quietness and confidence of heart.Have you lost a friend? Is there a great sorrow? Have you some loved one lying in a new grave? My friend you cannot bring the dear one back, and you should not wish to do so. It is wise to submit to the inevitable. It is gracious to bow to the will of your ever-gracious God. You cannot do anything that will be as helpful to your sorrowing spirit as to exercise quietness and confidence; it will indeed be your strength.Do you have a sorrow fully equal to bereavement? Have you a loved one who daily suffers? Is that the living cross you have to carry? Do not worry. Submit to the Lord's will. Ask Him for grace to acquiesce in it, and learn to wait on the Lord.God's tested child, whatever your condition, remember this promise, "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

p. 132 - Beside Still Waters (Spurgeon)