Tag Archive | Grief

Grief Choices #1

Dec23

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The process that has been working in my heart concerns making quality decisions.

Not the kind of decisions like New Year’s resolutions, which are gone in two weeks, leaving behind shame and guilt, but the kind of decisions that stick. The kind of decisions that can change an entire lifetime.

Proverbs 4:23 in the English Revised Version says –  Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.

When making these choices, there is a knowing that there will no doubt be some sort failure ahead, but with these types of choices, we are determined to assess where we went wrong, and begin again.

These kinds of choices lead us to be more like our Father in Heaven, and to have the type of fullness in our lives that God intended for us from the beginning.

Excerpt from Joshua 24:15 says choose you this day who you will serve.

I am quite aware that some will believe my approach to be over simplified.

Please know that while I in no way think my process is conclusive, I do believe that it will start the wheels turning for some in the right direction, beginning to help to find the way through any blockages they may be experiencing.

The losses I grieve began early in life, and ran through childhood to adulthood, in relationships, emotions, lifestyle and finances.

These losses led to a deep sadness of heart, and a long journey seeking wrong ways to fulfill the sadness inside. They also led to a poverty spirit.

The poverty spirit says “That’s just the way it is, get used to it”. That’s the spirit that prevailed over most of my life.

This is so opposite of the purpose that God had stated for my life from the beginning.

Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Jeremiah 29:11 says – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

With that said, I want to share two choices here that got my wheels turning;

*I CHOOSE to let the losses in my life mature me into understanding the grace that God has for me.

James 1:2-4 (NIV1984) consider it pure joy, my brothers; whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

*I CHOOSE to have joy. To allow God to raise my capacity for it – so that it can be shared. I choose to believe His word that says that joy comes in the morning. That joy will help me to regain any strength I have lost in the grieving process.

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Colossians 1:10-12(KJV) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

 

Scripture tells us something about Mary when she knew that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. Here is what it says; In Luke 2:19 – But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 

Won’t you ponder these things in your heart with me until next time?

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Fearfully and wonderfully made

No Through Traffic

Dec16

I pray that you and yours will have the merriest of Christmas’.

 I pray that each and every tense moment;

you will be able to quiet yourself in Him,

and show His glory. After all, He IS the reason we sing!

road-block

God has been helping me to identify correctly something that has been blocking my path for quite some time.

The problem is that there are times that we are being blocked; We may not know it. We may not see it. Or there are always times, we do see it, but we do not recognize what it is.

I found myself in the latter category.

When we ask God to clean out the corners of our insides, He is of course faithful to do it.

The topic He brought to my attention could not have been any more appropriate for where I find myself today.

 I think that there are some things we could learn at any time, but God saves these lessons for us, so that the maximum impact can be made. The truth of that impact is not then lost in the business of everyday life.  

I do not believe in coincidence. Only God encounters. Encounters that change our lives at the exact moment the change is needed.  Significant Encounters.

Over time, if you will allow me to, I would like to share my process with you.

The topic that has been a blockage is grief…… See I told you, appropriate right?

Up until now I have only considered grief as in the death of a loved one.

I believe God has chosen now to help me to realize that grief can be brought about in many ways, not just loss of life. Grief can come in the form of the loss of a job, loss of relationship, loss of health, divorce or other changes in long time family structure, changes in lifestyle, whether intentional or not. It is even possible to grieve for loss of childhood or loss of whatever one did not receive as a child. Not stuff mind you, but love, attention, emotional, physical or spiritual support, the things that could and probably would have raised your potential.

My story is both long and dark, but my Father in Heaven is both Big and Bright. He shined a spotlight, on many, many of things blocking my path

Journal excerpt; Loss produces grief. God gives grace for that season, but when that season is finished, if we do not move away from grief, it saps our strength – Shock, denial, bargaining, depression, anger, guilt, confusion must give way to →hope, and acceptance.

Denying these emotions can cause festering and then manifesting in harmful ways = addiction, chronic depression, fits of anger, or physical illness.

*Seasons of guilt incompletely dealt with can turn into STRONGHOLDS of grief.

Grieving that goes on too long robs our strength. The very strength we need to move on to our next season, our season of inheritance.

(I must also cite the book “Possessing Your Inheritance” by Chuck D. Pierce and Rebecca Wagner Systema)

Please ponder these things with me, and next time I will share with you some choices we can all make to get on to the other business God has for us to do.

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Fearfully and Wonderfully Made