Skip to main content

Our Loss, Heaven's Gain

My heart goes out to the families in Connecticut who lost their children during that horrific school shooting. I can't even imagine the pain and sorrow they are experiencing, but by all means I pray for the comfort and grace of God to overflow within their hearts.
Just today, I received news of the tragic death of a good friend, and a great deacon, Bro. Everett Oliver. He attended Bethany FWB Church in Timmonsville, SC of which I used to minister at. Pray for his wife, Mrs. Sylvia. This world is filled with tragedy and pain and at times it seems like hope can be blown away as easily as smoke in the wind, yet praise God that a Christian's hope is not like smoke, but is a SOLID ROCK. Peter wrote that we have a "lively hope", literally a hope that is alive and well, for our hope is in Jesus and praise be to God, He IS risen!

I emailed the poem below to a worker at the school where the children were killed, hoping that perhaps it would be given to the families. I post it today for everyone who has lost a loved one. In the midst of such tragedies, I try to remember one thing, "Those that We may Lose in this life, Heaven Gains forever." Psalms 48:14 says, "For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death."
                       
Like an unsuspecting wave that buries you under
Like a sudden storm that blasts forth thunder
Fear, sorrow, and agony grips your heart
Ever tightening while your soul falls apart
Crushed and bruised, a barrage of emotions
Confused and broken, a slew of questions
How could this happen? Why to my dearest?
There's no hope. How can I bear this?
How can we pick up the pieces? Where do we go from here,
when there's nothing left but the sound of fallen tears?
Nothing now but silence
Nothing now but sadness
But wait and look up. Do you see it?
You must glance with your heart, or you'll miss it.
There in the place of sweet, eternal serenity
Though hidden behind the world's painful mire, it's still a reality.
At first a dim flicker, and than radiant light
So grand and glorious, conquering the night
There is Jesus with His arms so gentle, yet strong
Holding your dearest and singing a song
“My child, my child, you're not alone.
You are my treasure and this is your home.
My child, my child, the time will come
When I'll right the wrongs that are done.
But for now you must rest and know
That my Spirit is also holding your family below,
Though perhaps unknown or obscured by grief
My love still holds firm and can give them relief
True the pain will linger and there will be scars,
But I have the power to mend their hearts.
I too have faced the deep darkness
But through it all I have reigned victorious.
If only they'd look up with their heart and see
that you have been given matchless love and joy for all eternity.”
My friend, though these words cannot erase the pain
Nor restore what you lost that terrible day
They simply serve to remind you to hold onto true hope
That your dearest is alive in glory and you don't have to walk alone.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

By Fighting or by Faith?

    I have spent many years sitting under hard 'conservative' preaching where there has been a mile long list of do's and don't's and a standardized belief that the Christian life must be choosing what is good, better, and best. Here's an example.... Bob: You don't have a tie for service today? Tom: I am sorry, I did not know I was supposed to wear one. Bob: Well, it's the fact of what is good, better, and best! Tom: Oh, why is that? Bob: A tie is better. It makes you look distinguished. You don't want to look sloppy for God now do you? Tom: No. I suppose not. I just came to worship God. I did not know there was more involved. What kind of a tie should I wear to honor God? Bob: What kin.....well, um...you need one that matches the suit you should wear. Tom: I'm not good at matching, what if I don't have the right color. Will God be offended? Bob: Oh no! That is silly nonsense. So, Tom goes on his way. Buys himself...
1 comment
Read more

WORLDCLASS SCRUTINIZERS

Lord willing, I will continue to post the "letters of Madam Darkshade", but for now, I am posting something I wrote a few days ago regarding criticism and scrutiny. Romans 14:1-3 , “ Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don't get into an argument over differences of opinion. Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people (GWT).” 1 Corinthians 13:7a, “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person... (AMP)” We have lost the art of giving someone the benefit of the doubt. In today's society, perhaps even more in the church, people have become avid critics. At some point in life, we all experience both sides of the ju...
3 comments
Read more

Star Light

I remember, when I was a child, my brother and I wanted to camp out in our front yard. We even talked our friends into joining us. We begged our parents to let us sleep out under the stars without a tent, because it would not rain that evening. It was somewhat foolish, but we were not thinking about the insects, strong winds, or even the morning dew. We just thought it would be fun to sleep outside. I think we lasted a solid hour in the dark, but once the cold wind blew and the mosquitoes landed, our imagination dissipated and we ran back indoors. Though we didn't stay out long, I do remember the stars that night. They were unusually bright and seemed to crowd the sky more than any other night. I don't think I will ever “grow out of” being in awe over the beauty of stars. I don't believe King David did either. He wrote in Psalms 19, “ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made. One day tells a story to the next. One night shar...
Post a Comment
Read more