Seeing Him In The Way

. . . . He had seen the Lord in the Way (Acts 9:27)

Just because we are God's child doesn't automatically keep the trials and storms of life away; but . . . .the blessing is  He is (with us in the way) of our trials and storms. As we come to the end of our wits, self dependence, self assurance and self-confidence we learn by faith and lean upon his truths the Lord is with us ( in the way)  on our journey.  Apostle Paul had witnessed to the fact he had seen the Lord in the way.  Just as 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that it is HE who will provide (a way) of escape as grace guides us to  trust in his ever abiding presence and through our spiritual eyes of faith, we come to learn that God is sovereign in every step  of our journey. . . . . .
.And He had seen the Lord in the way ---

 ~ ~ ~ ~

poem from

Streams in The Desert

In the time of our deepest sorrow,

When life seems without a hope of rays

And our wounds are fresh and opened,

Can you see Him  being  "In The Way?"

When our plans, dreams and dearest projects 

Shattered fell and broken lay,

And you vainly try to mend them,

Can you see Him  "in the way?"

The tmes our prayers remain unanswered

And we almost cease to pray,

Feeling that the heavens are brazen -- 

Can you now see Him  "in the way?"

When our dearest hopes have vanished,

And our friends forsake and betray,

All all our earthly props are broken --

Can you see  Him   "in the way?"

Broken rays soon become a rainbow;

Broken clods, a fruitful meadow;

Pruned vines bear their richest clusters;

Cut and polished gems, are now rare luster's;

Harvests rise from buried grain'

Lives are born through grief and pain; --

God resides and dwells in the fragile broken clay,

He alone now leads. . . . having seen Him

"in the way."   ___   

Acts 9:27

*  *  *  *  *

Father -  sometimes in life I don't have the presence of mind, nor the
wisdom of which path to take, thank  you for being in the way and
redirecting my wayward steps.  In Christ love ___  Amen 

 

 

Wasting Our Waiting

WASTING  OUR  WAITING

Help us Lord not to spend the remainder of our earthly days longing

for our Heavenly Ones 

Wasting The Waiting

In Touch Magazine

by Dallas Hazelrig

Dallas shares when he was in college he was living in a perpetual state of waiting - waiting

to graduate - to get a job - to get married - finding a place to live etc. He lived in a contiunal state

of waiting.  He said "as Christians we are tempted to do the same with our faith, we spend our

every awakening moment and days upon earth longing for our heavenly ones".   

Tania Runyan of In Touch Magazine says, "But what's the problem?  As believers shouldn't we view 

death as the good beginning anyway?  If we are not of this world, why should we seize these broken days?"

She then realized one day in her senior year of college while driving home a song came on the radio -

"While I'm Waiting I'll Serve You"  

I'll be running the race  even while I wait I will serve you.  She says  "I began to pray asking God for peace and joy during my waiting process, then when I got home I made a list of the blessings in my life.  I began to make a habit of fighting the restlessness I was experiencing with gratitude (Proverbs 23:7).  The next time I felt that way, I began to remember the things on my list like a sunset, hugs, and flowers.  It wasn't an immediate change, but over time, I began to enjoy the present".  

***

From the time we are born until we are called home so many changes come into our lives, Apostle Paul reminds us we are changed from glory into glory.  We come through one trial after another and even while  we haven't  had time to process the last trial, you're hit again.  While being addled and somewhat incoherent  you ponder on the past.... the would of's - the could of's and should of's and if not careful you get stuck in wasting our waiting. 

 I must confess I struggled with wasting my waiting and ask God for his grace to lead me and help me to embrace and enjoy the present gift of today, this time, this place and to use me where ever I am needed.   I heard a wise lady once say "if you have a pulse then you have a purpose" 

Dodi 

Grant  us grace and strength Lord to press on and embrace the present and

what matter's most for now and eternity ~

A Sacred Space

Poem

Grief Speaks Out

 

Oh, what to do with the emptiness

That death so permanently created?

The ache so deep inside my heart

The space so suddenly vacated

Others wish the hole to fill

The distractions were so varied

But in the quiet of the night

I felt the vacancy I carried

As time passed I felt a twinge

That I was not at all expecting

Love and joy gently held the space

Surrounding and protecting

It isn't that the space is filled

Nor the pain of death now gone

This space is quietly held sacred

Reminding me that love continues on

~by 
Tanya Lord

taken from (Grief Speaks Out)

   

Father's Day Tribute

CELESTIAL  REUNION

written Father's Day

June 16, 2013

It seems just like today

you quietly slipped away

I've cried until there are

no tears left

But when I think of the

fullness and joy of 

your life and how very

happy you must now be

I can smile through my

tears

Awaiting that glorious day,

when we will see each other again

I rejoice knowing that all your

sorrows, trials and hurts

are all behind you and 

thinking just maybe you

have a front row seat
In heaven . . . .

Thomas, your life taught me so much,

So many times you looked at me and

said "I don't deserve you -

you are God's gift to me"

The truth is I felt the same thing
that is . . . I didn't deserve you

I had always heard about the love of Christ

but never truly saw him until I married you....

You showed me everyday in every way

the love of a child of God, I saw the Lord

living, laughing, loving, walking, talking

through your everyday life

. . .God has now given me time

to realize that you never knew

 how very special you were

and....as they say 

"God only calls home the very best"       
and promises to all his children 
a  joyous 

Celestial Reunion

I grieve your physical presence,

 spiritual wisdom and aura,
your gentleness and kindness

 but I do not sorrow

for God has promised us in his word.....

that one day we will know, even 

as we are known . . . .

and  to live is Christ and to

die is gain 

I do believe that one day

there will be a

Celestial Reunion

where we will meet again

and.....

so shall we be forever 

with the Lord.

So until then.......
not good-by

just a simple good-night

until then ~

L / Dola  

  

Poem of Heart

POEM OF HEART

by Thomas 

Thomas lived everyday from his
heart and soul as his words were also  ~

One day as I was resting
These thoughts came to me
how could I love the world so much
and not remember Calvary
As I lay and wonder
another thought crossed my mind
that all my life could end at once,
and all my worldly treasures
would be left behind.
then I cried Dear Lord, you gave
this life to me -
but my mind was on worldly things
not on eternity -
Then a voice from heaven,
seem to speak to me,
I loaned them to you for a while
now don’t you remember Calvary,
then I remembered once again,
that all I had forever more
was the thought that Jesus died
and all my sins he bore
yes on that cross, my
Savior went and there
forgave my sins,
he died for me,   if not alone
then for all the sins of men.

I still sometimes think about
all the things I thought I owned,
but my mind soon thinks on
Jesus and remember it was
just a loan.

I only wish to convey this thought,
that God has given to me,
the thoughts of all the LOVE
he showed,
when he went to Calvary

by:  Thomas J. Bivins - 1983
             written while working on a river barge
             before attending Mortuary College & Seminary

Sorrow Turned Into Joy

Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned Into Joy

John 16:20

 I've thought many times about the disciples and the inward grief they must have experience after the Lord's crucifixion.  The pain of his absence, missing the one who showed to them and demonstrated on a daily basis  the love of God the father, walking, talking and eating with them. witnessing his miracles.    The Lord had so lovingly prepared his disciples for his departure telling them they  would weep and lament, but thereafter their sorrow would be turned into joy.  

About two weeks after Thomas's  passing the Funeral Home brought to me his brief case and  all of his belongings from his desk in a large box.  I set them aside for a couple days not wanting to deal with the raw emotions I was still experiencing, it was too painful.   Then a few days thereafter - I  went through his brief case and removed all his business files and folders.  It was then I came upon two unfolded white piece's of paper turned inward towards  each other, I separated  them and it was a poem titled -

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me"

I believe he knew God was about to call him home, Thomas had indicated for the past couple months statements about his declining health.   As I was reading the poem the Lord made me realize this was Tom's way and love for preparing me and Myra for the inevitable, not thinking of himself (as always) but of us.  The poem is very lengthy and  beautiful......

 here are a couple stanza's that  comforted my heart . . . . .. ..

I thought of all the yesterdays,

The good ones and the bad,

I thought of all that we shared,

And all the fun we had

If I could relive yesterday,

Just even for a while

I'd say good-bye and kiss you

and maybe see you smile

But then I fully realized

That this could never be

For emptiness and memories,

would take the place of me

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow

I thought of you, and when I did

My heart was filled with sorrow

But when I walked through heaven's gates

I felt so much at home

When God looked down and smiled at me

From His great golden throne

He said,This is eternity

And all I've promised you'

Today your life on earth is past,

but here life starts anew 

I promise no tomorrows

Because today will always last,

and since each day is the same way,

There's no longing for the past

So when tomorrow starts without me,

don't think we're far apart,

For everytime you think of me,

I'm right here in your heart.  ~

~

In John 16:20 the Lord told his disciples  "the world would rejoice but you will weep and lament and  be sorrowful"  but then concluded with this wonderful promise - " but your sorrow shall be turned into joy"   Can't you just imagine after the Lord's resurrection and when for the very first time  the disciples realized it was him and how their hearts almost exploded with joy.  All our sorrows will be transformed into joy and only for a little while will we weep and be sad.   Even though my frail  mind can't comprehend it ,  I believe it is so . . .. thank you Lord for your wonderful promise - you will- 

 turn my sorrow into

J O Y

 

Just A Brief Separation ~

Just A Brief Separation

A Comforting Thought

When God calls our loved ones home to be with Him our everyday seems so strange and all the familiar has been taken away.  We miss the everyday simple joys such as  phone calls like (what's for supper) or (what are you doing)  the unexpected hugs and unexpected surprises.  Thomas was always  surprising me with gifts of the simplest nature.  Simple gifts like stopping on the side of a country road and bringing me a fresh bouquet of dogwood blooms or wild daffodil's.  Sometimes he would even stop at yard sales and bring me  perfume.  

Pastor Arthur Pink of the nineteenth century says when our loved ones have departed this life we should rejoice to the fact they were chosen and  highly favored of heaven, an elect regenerated, redeemed soul trusting the merits and righteousness of Christ's finished work for their acceptance with God.  He said "think not only of yourself and your loss but think of their gain and heaven's gain of what your loved one is experiencing at this very moment".   Rejoicing in the fact they will never suffer again or endure the trials of this earthly life.  If you could ..... would you call them back from heaven to earth to this pitiful life?   We have the blessed hope and assurance we have not parted to meet no more!    This departure here is not good-bye but just good-night.

 Only for a brief season will we be separated, it twill be "just a brief separation".    And before long we too will rejoin them where partings will be no more.  We will be united again not for just a short time but for eternity.  May God's grace  gently lead and teach us  to set our affections on things above not upon things of earth (Col. 3:2).  For where our treasures are there will our hearts be also.  

May God remind us from time to time all His gifts and mercies are temporal and we should hold to them lightly as they are only on loan to us but for a season.   We do not know when God will  choose to recall them.

Just A Brief Separation

Dear Lord, since it is your sentence

that I should part, with the most

precious treasure of my heart

I know I've done nothing to

deserve my perfect home above

It was freely given through 

the grace and merits of your Son's love

I give you thanks for the

gift of  all  creation
and thanks for

reminding me also death

is just a brief separation

I pray dear Lord
let not grief consume my earthly cares

or heavily  weigh down upon me so. . .

It will only be a distant memory

When at Home at last I go.

**

Our greatest enemy is not disease __   it's despair
        Our greatest friend is __ hope 

~ ~ ~
My residential address is here on earth
My home address is heaven ~
Ruth Bell Graham

The Jumping Off Place

Wit's End

They reeled to and fro staggering as men who were drunk, and when they came to their 

wit's end,  they cried  unto the Lord and he brings them out of their  distresses.

Psalm 107:27,28 

Not knowing which way to turn in life when tragedy, trials and suffering over whelms us and we are not even able  to walk a straight line without staggering.   All our rests, earthly dwelling places, comforts and securities have been taken away,  it is then  we come to the jumping off place.   The Psalmist  tells us when they came to their "wits-end" they cried out and the Lord heard them and brought them out of their distresses.  (They cried and He heard)

~

Jumping Off

at

Wit's End Corner

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner
Friend with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember-at "Wit's End Corner"
Is just where God's power is shown.

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy, and dazed, and numb?
Remember-at "Wit's End Corner"
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner"?
Your work before you spread,
A mountain of tasks unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember--at "Wit's End Corner"
Is where the Burden-bearer stands.

Are you standing then about to jump off 

at "Wit's End Corner"?
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who faileth not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wit's End Corner"
Is the "God who is able"  truly proved.

Prisoner of Hope ~

 Prisoner Of Hope

"If we have hope in this life (only) we are of all men most miserable"

1 Corinthians 15:19

Years ago there was a secular song out titled  "I Won't Live In A World Without Love". God created us for love - to love and to be loved.  This world's love is sorta short lasting and this world's  hope is sorta shortsighted, but the love and the hope of God and Christ our Lord is everlasting. 
  I received a card in the mail this week from a dear friend  whose husband of 30 years just went home to be with the Lord.  One thing she said in her note which blest me was......."Years ago when we all  said I do  till death do us part"  we never really believe that day would come, thank goodness as Christians we are so comforted by the hope and fact we have  that death is not really a parting, but only a brief separation to once again be reunited eternally, I do take comfort and hope just as you do in God's great love and mercy and in His promise of eternal life".    We have this hope knowing to live is Christ and to die is gain and so shall we be forever with the Lord and our loved ones.
Never again to endure  parting, pain or separation.
.........................
A Little Boy's hope.......
A store clerk notices a six year old little boy standing at the bottom of an escalator for at least an hour or so;  the young boy was intently watching the handrails going round and round, when asked why doesn't he step on the escalator or was he lost?  The little guy said "nope, I just keep waiting for my chewing gum to come back"   The little fellow was standing still, firm, fixed and patiently hoping his chewing gum would come around. he still had hope..

(a prayer of hope)

Thank you O' Lord

For all you have given me

For all you have taken from me

and

Thank you O' Lord 
For all you have left  for me

Author ___  unknown

My understanding  many times is shortsighted....  

I cannot know and understand joy until I know sorrow

I cannot know faith until I have been tested and tried

I cannot know peace until I have endured conflict and chaos

I cannot know trust until I have been betrayed and .....
I cannot dry another's tears, unless I have wept....
I cannot know hope until all else is sinking
around me and when
all  grasps and props have been stripped away.

Thomas used to say so many times when all of life was upside down, "Dodi, when you come to a point in life when the Lord is all you have, then  you finally realize he is all you need"  When all of life's foundations have been shaken and everything crumbles  and then you have that which remains and cannot be taken away. 

The Lord's hope makes a difference

His hope opens doors where despair  closes them

His hope "lights a candle" instead of  "cursing the darkness "
His hope blows upon the flickering candle, to ignite the flame
which has almost gone out.
His hope promises not extinguish the smoking flax

The prophet Zechariah says.... those who turn to their stronghold
become prisoners of  hope will receive double blessings -

Turn you to the stronghold,

ye prisoners of hope; even

today do I declare that I will

render double unto thee.

Zechariah 9:12

 

Is Zechariah saying .... for us who turn to the Lord whose hope and stronghold  is in him,   and when fixing our hope in him, he will give us double grace and  double supply?  Double signifies anything in abundance, large or sufficient, plenty of blessings,  temporal or spiritual,   will he give us a double measure of grace, a double measure of strength, a double measure of peace and joy.   We who turn to him as our stronghold - and we who are  prisoners of hope he will render double to us.  To become a prisoner of something or someone is to be totally held captive with an unchanged focus.  We can be held captive and prisoners to our sorrows, our griefs, wrong relationships, wrong priorities or choose to be as Apostle Paul and Zechariah  turning to our stronghold and  become prisoners of hope.
A hope that is unchanging, unmovable and unshakable,  a hope which is the anchor of our souls, a hope with a promise of never to disappoint.

 "The Lord is good to those who hope  in Him" ....

. 

Forever Reminding Me ~

A Way In Remembering Grief That Is Not Wrong

j.r. miller

There is a way of remembering grief and a submission

to sorrow  __ I believe that is not wrong, that brings rich blessings

into our soul, hearts and lives.  In our humanizing sorrow,  if rightly accepted 

  yielding  our submission and
acceptance of grief that will grace our souls and strengthen our hearts.

There is also.....

 a way of remembering grief and sorrow, which brings no blessings, no enrichment -

and does not soften our heart or add beauty to our life.  This  is an

un-submissive acceptance of
 remembering which brings no joy, and will only keep the heart 

bitter, and shuts out the sunshine of life.  When allowing the heart to continually

brood over losses and trials, only evil can result from such a memory of continued
anguish of  grief and pain. 

Ecclesiastes 3: reminds us there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to

keep and a time to let go.  Scripture teaches us to leave our sorrows behind us and

reverently, faithfully and quietly go on in our appointed way.  May the Lord teach

 and help us not to perpetually live in the shadows of  our griefs, losses of bygone days. 

And may his grace engrave into the deepest part of our souls...... . . . . .
  "Forever Reminding Me" I am never alone, left, forgotten or forsaken. ~ 

 

 

On Eagles Wings

On Eagles Wings

  Psalm 91: 4 

HE,  shall cover you with his feathers and under
 His wings shall you take refuge, his word
 will be your shield and strength. 

Be Still My Soul

Sometimes I've prayed this song and other times I've sang this song many times before Tom's homegoing and many, many times since Tom's homegoing and I believe everyword to be true.

Be  Still  My  Soul

Be still my soul, the LORD is on thy side...

bear patiently the cross of grief or pain -

Leave to thy God to order and provide....

In every change He faithful will remain

Be Still My Soul

Thy best thy heavenly friend

through stormy ways, leads to

a joyful end

Oh Be Still My Soul

the waves and winds still obey his voice

who ruled them while he dwelt here below

Be Still My Soul

when dearest friends depart and 

ALL is darkened in thy vale of tears...

then thou shall know his love, His heart

who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy tears....

*  *

The LORD will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still will not fall

Psalm 27:4

It is the LORD who goes before you: he will not take away his help from you or 

give you up; so have no fear.

Deut. 31:18  

Morning Will Come ~

Morning Will Come

"Weeping Endures For the Night, but Joy Comes in the Morning"

Psalm 30:5

Brokenhearted . . . . . .

How can I bear the pain?

So many plans. . . . permanently interruped.

So many dreams shattered.

Hopes . . . . dashed

All gone.

Why?

Why us?

Why now?

Why me?

Helplessness . . . Hopelessness . . .

Life will never be the same again . . .

Is it even worth living?

Where are you, God?

(lovingly He whispers) . . . .

I'm right here besides you my child.

Even though you may not sense my presence,

I'm holding you close and sheltering you

under the shadow of my wings.

I will walk with you through this dark night.

Do not shrink from weeping.  I have given

you tears for cleansing and emotional release.

Don't hide your grief, especially from me.  Let

it become for you a source of healing,

A process of restoration,  For I have planned

it to be so.

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall

be comforted.  I'll be holding on to you, even

when you can't feel  you can hold on to me.  

My love and grace will keep you from utterly

going under.

Seek my presence, child of mine.

Impossible as it may seem now, receive my

promise that joy will come in the morning.

It may take much time,

But I will heal your broken heart.

I know presently the night seems endless,

But,  MORNING WILL COME ~ 

I have promised.

___   Haven of Rest Newsletter

*  *  *  *  *  * 

WHEN GRIEF IS THE FRESHEST
WORDS SHOULD BE THE FEWEST. 

Gift of Life

 Gift of Life

Thomas Joseph Bivins

1957 - 2011

I am standing upon the seashore

a beautiful ship I witness now has

spread her wings wide to the morning

breeze and starts for the ocean blue.

She is an object of mass, beauty and

strength.  I watch her sail away until

at length she is only like speck of

white cloud just where the sea and cloud

mingle together.  Someone at my side says

"there she is gone!"  Gone where I ask?

Gone from my sight (that is all).  She

will bear her load of living freight to her

destined port.  Her diminished size is only

in me.  When someone says "There she is

Gone"!  I so believe there are other eyes 

watching her coming in and voices saying 

"Look here she comes"

 ___    Henry V. Dyke

 

This beautiful ship has only left one port to

safely arrive to her final destination to

her appointed port, with our Captain Lord Jesus

watching her, guiding her safely onto the

blessed shore of the eternal banks of 

Heaven.

C.H. Spurgeon