Sunday, August 20, 2023

Ways to deal with Grief.

 

Our spotlight is on the subject of grief. Let’s face it, we live in a fallen world, and suffering is real. The pain of losing a loved one or pet hurts. Many do not get over this process, which consumes them, resulting in death. We will look at how to deal with this pain and start a new beginning with the Lord.

My Personal Story

I came face to face with this reality a month ago when my father passed away. In fact, I thank God that he prepared me for this because he should have been dead a year ago. He was having problems with Dementia and severe intestinal issues. I credit the extension of his life to my Mom. She is a mighty prayer warrior.

I prepared for this a year ago because he was 94 years old. He was blessed to live a long life, and I was ready to let go. My mom, on the other hand, refused to let go. She stood in the gap for him and prayed. My main concern was my mom and her care for him. Thank God for my brother and sister, who lent her a helping hand.

Even with all this help available, it was wearing out my mom. I saw her body get worn and battered. Honestly, I felt some relief when my father died because it helped lift up that heavy burden from my mother. Yes, death is always sad, and she took it very hard. They were supposed to celebrate their 70-year anniversary in October, which was painful.

Let The Healing Begin.

In dealing with the pain of a loved one, there has to be a healing process. Friends, don’t take your loved ones for granted, especially those lost or backslidden. Pray and never stop believing in their redemption through Christ Jesus.

My Dad had accepted the Lord many years ago but strayed away. Upon his deathbed, he re-dedicated his life to Jesus. I am comforted that he is now walking the streets of gold with his Savior. Thinking about that brings relief and comfort even though we miss him.

While the grieving process is normal, it is not healthy to stay in that mode. There has to be the healing of a broken heart. I prayed for my mom to get that healing, and within a few days, she was comforted and strengthened. Enclosed below is a prayer for a broken heart. (1) You may not be going through the death of a loved one, but we have times in our lives in which our hearts are broken.

Having this in mind, I want to encourage you to pray it over yourself. It will give you the comfort that you need in your life. Remember, God is the God of new beginnings. I am adding a video family tribute (2) made for my Dad. His nickname was Manolo. The Spanish ending is translated as —Until we meet again. We will remember you always.

(1) Prayer for a broken heart–Father, I come to you because I have a broken heart. I ask you to remove any root of bitterness inside of me. I forgive those who have hurt me. I receive healing in all areas of my life. (Grief, sadness, and loss of a loved one). You said in your word that you have come to heal my broken heart. Lord, heal me now. Restore to me the joy of salvation. Bring laughter back into my life. I receive this now and am excited about my new beginning in life. You are the Lord of new beginnings, and I thank you for your comfort, in Jesus’ name-Amen.

Article courtesy of the Christian Corner Ministry                        (www.thechristiancorner.org)   

Helpful links-

Part two--https://bit.ly/3YHbiML

(2) Video tribute to Manolo Santos and my personal insights. 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Plunder Of War.




Greetings. Today we will look at the Plunders of War. Whether you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are the result of a plunder of war. To better understand this concept, let's look at what happened at Salvation--

1-Jesus is the word and seed. (John 1;1,14, Luke 8:11)

2- Jesus's death brought reconciliation and Salvation to the world. ( Ps 2:8, 2 Cor 5:18-19) We were his plunders of war. 

3- It's up to us to accept his gift of Salvation. We need to confess and receive Him as Lord.  (Rom 10:8-10) Failure to do so means rejecting his gift, making us an enemy of the Lord, and condemning us to a destiny of Hell and a Lake of Fire. In Middle Eastern culture, rejecting a gift was an offense and would create enmity. 

4- Deut 20:13-14 and Deut 21:10-14 illustrates the beautiful process of Salvation. In battle, Women would be treated with respect as POWs. Many would get married and enjoy the benefits of that covenant. Please take some time to listen to the following links for more on this exciting topic. God bless. 

Plunder of war Part 1--https://bit.ly/4438KJy

Plunder of war Part 2--https://bit.ly/3DLbGA9