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Author
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Topic: DEATH
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Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
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posted
God bless you;
How I would desire a special word or phrase which would make the pain of losing a dear-one all go away and peace and joy enter-in. No written word or spoken thought can minister as much as a comforting hand on shoulder or a hug in hour of need.
It is the Lord Who ministers healing and comfort in the broken hurting places, it is only His peace which passes all human understanding, which can lead us through our darkest hours. The touch of the Master's Hand can strengthen us when we are at our weakest, and deepen our faith for the journey we face.
I am reminded of that precious old hymn, "It is Well With My Soul", by Horatio Spafford.
This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.”
Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Refrain
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
Refrain
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
Refrain
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by barrykind:
True Brother, but i was not reffering to mydeath as much as some loved ones i recently lost...
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Toforever be with the LORD will truly be something else, simply were just pilgrims passing thru
God bless you Bro;
I am so very sorry for your loss. We buried my father-in-law last Friday. He was 78 and in a rest home. He was laid next to my mother-in-law out in a little country cemetary. She died three years ago the day before his birthday(Dec.3), and we buried Dad on Mom's birthday(Sept. 10).
It is the valley of separation which is so very difficult to walk through. The pain and emptiness of the loved ones absence can hurt so much, and it takes time and the grace of God to ease the pain and bring peace and comfort. It is our faith which allows us to look up from the valley of the shadow, with the eyes of our heart, and see the precious nail-scarred Hands of God reaching forth with peace and comfort and with a love like we can only imagine.
Brother Joe, the family pastor for almost 30 years, ministered for Dad's, and today he will be ministering to the family and friends of a young teenage girl, one of three teens killed in a car wreck last week. Losing one so very young is such anguish and heartache, and I am lifting Brother Joe and each precious one up in heart and prayer.
One certainty of our life is our departure, that we will not get out alive. The greatest comfort we can give our loved ones is our departure status. If we have placed our faith and trust in Christ, if our spiritual fruit is external evidence of our internal transformation we can have that Blessed Assurance of the waiting Arms of Christ Jesus our Lord.
What a peace and precious comfort to our Dear-Ones if they can know in their hearts the love of God, and that we have absolutely boarded that Express Train for Glory. If each of us can face our own mortality, our need for our Savior, and have laid out our clothes, chosen our Pastor and music. If our pastor IS our Pastor then his eulogy will truly reflect/celebrate our life. If the funeral director can open our file and commence the preparations, our loved ones will not be burdened.
Come to Christ Jesus our Lord, live each day with Him, and never miss an opportunity to express our unconditional love and caring for our dear ones. We can seek to make each moment together a moment of love from the heart so that if we never meet again this side of Glory, we can have reinforced the message from the heart.
I will be lifting you up in my heart and prayer Brother Barry, and I am truly sorry for your loss.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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barrykind
Advanced Member
Member # 35
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posted
True Brother, but i was not reffering to mydeath as much as some loved ones i recently lost...
Toforever be with the LORD will truly be something else, simply were just pilgrims passing thru
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The HEART of the issue is truly the issue of the HEART!
John 3:3;Mark 8:34-38;James 1:27
Posts: 3529 | From: Orange, Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
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posted
God bless you bro;
I do understand your perspective. For myself being old and tired I look forward to it as the curtain which separates me from my eternal Home. In the words of Brother Paul,"to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord which is so much better".
We are shackled to our body, with pain, sickness, disease, infirmity, imperfections, which wears out and traps the spirit. At death the shackles are broken and we are with the Lord.
2 Cor. 5:
[6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
[7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
[8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
[9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
Phil. 1:
[20] According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
[21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
[22] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
[23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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barrykind
Advanced Member
Member # 35
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posted
i would like to take this opportunity to tell you just HOW MUCH i HATE DEATH!
i loath it, hate it, despise it, it is a contempt in my nostrils, i cannot express how great a hate i have for death,.......................................................................................................................................................
Thankytou Lord that you have overcome death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the LAST ENEMY!!!! Conquered!
sadly
bondservant barry
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The HEART of the issue is truly the issue of the HEART!
John 3:3;Mark 8:34-38;James 1:27
Posts: 3529 | From: Orange, Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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