Would We Truly Long For Heaven? (Song)

Love this song... remembering a year ago today and also just the pain and trials that go with life in this fallen world......

  

Would We Truly Long for Heaven?

 

Would we truly long for heaven if this life was perfect here,
If we had no pain or heartache, if we never shed a tear?
If we had no disappointments, and our dreams would all come true,
Could we keep that heavenly vision and that deep eternal view?

Would we truly long for Heaven if we never gave a sigh,
If the old were always taken, and the young would never die?
If we had no cherished loved ones waiting at the eastern gate,
Would we truly long for Heaven and reunion that awaits?

Would we truly long for Heaven at the ending of the road,
If our backs were never bleeding from the burden of the load?
If the sun was always shining, if we never felt a gale,
Would we long for Heaven’s Harbour to be safe within the veil?

Would we truly long for Heaven and the bliss of yonder shore,
If we had no loved ones tugging on the line at Heaven’s door?
If our precious family circle ne'er was broken here below,
Would we truly long for Heaven where our loved ones we shall know?

Yes, dear Savior, we are longing to be safe on Heaven’s shore,
And these trials only make us long for Heaven more and more.
And we see that You are using every trial of each day
As a tug from Heaven’s anchor just to pull us Heaven’s way.

--Elizabeth Drudge / Lena Martin

"Peace is not the absence of pain...

...it is the presence of God."  Amen!


A week ago something happened that ripped my heart open again. Turmoil. Been a rough 8 days.  But today God broke through the darkness... not removing the pain but giving clarity to the situation... showed me how I should respond to it.  It still hurts as much as ever, but I know where God wants me.  I know He is WITH me. I know He is in control. There, and there alone, I find peace.

Here are two songs that are ministering to my heart right now:

 Yet I Will Praise You
 You Alone Are Good

Quote: "Is death the final sleep..."

Is death the last sleep?

No, it is the last final awakening.

 –Scott

Quote: "Death to the Christian..."

Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils, and the resurrection of all his joys.

–Aughey

Quote: "We picture death as coming to destroy..."

We picture death as coming to destroy; let us rather picture Christ as coming to save.

We think of death as ending;

let us rather think of life as beginning and that more abundantly.

We think of losing;

let us think of gaining.

We think of parting,

let us think of meeting.

We think of going away;

let us think of arriving.

And as the voice of death whispers "You must go from earth,"

let us hear the voice of Christ saying, "You are but coming to Me!"

–Macleod

Precious little one... not lost--just gone before!

I'm sitting here with a lump in my throat…

Today was the day our little baby was due.  Our only flesh-and-blood child.  I wonder: what does he/she look like? Blonde hair, blue eyes, most likely… Boy? Girl? Outgoing? Reserved? Short? Tall? So many other questions that go through my mind.  How I’d love to lay eyes on our child for just a little! Hold our baby on my lap… run my fingers through his/her hair… kiss those soft baby cheeks, and count all the perfect fingers and toes.  If I could, I’d protect our baby from this harsh world… guide his/her heart toward God… do my best to lead this soul into heaven. But this was not to be.  We had to say good-bye before we said hello…

But really, is that SO important? Isn’t the ultimate goal and purpose for any person—big or small—to bring glory to God and spend eternity with Him?  If so, then our baby has already fulfilled that purpose!  He/she just got it done before the rest of our family. 

No—I refuse to believe that we LOST our baby.  Yes, we lost him/her from our sight, but not forever.  No… our baby is safe. Safe in the arms of Jesus…

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Hark! ’tis the voice of angels borne in a song to me,

Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

Refrain:

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,

Safe from the world’s temptations; sin cannot harm me there.

Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;

Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!

Refrain:

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;

Firm on the Rock of Ages ever my trust shall be.

Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er;

Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.

Refrain:

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

~Fannie J. Crosby

Quote... "Death is the opening..."

Death is the opening of a more subtle life.  In the flower, it sets free the perfume; in the chrysalis, the butterfly; in man the soul.

–Adam

Quote... "Often the test of courage..."

Often the test of courage is not to die but to live. 

–Alfieri

"Thanks to God!" by August L. Storm

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and stormy fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

 **********************************************************************************

"Lord, help me to CHOOSE gratitude even if I don't always FEEL it."

The Thorn---by Martha Snell Nicholson

 

The Thorn

by Martha Snell Nicholson

I stood a mendicant of God

before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift,

which I could call my own.

I took the gift from out His hand,

but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn

and it has pierced my heart.

This is a strange, a hurtful gift,

which Thou hast given me.”
He said, “My child, I give good gifts

and gave My best to thee.”

I took it home and though at first

the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last

to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn

without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside

the veil which hides His face.

Does Jesus Care? By Frank E. Graeff

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

 

Refrain:

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

   

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

   

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long?

   

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

*******************************************************************

 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7)

***************************************************************

Fridays are harder days than some. Why? That's when the "bad" things have happened for our little family.  

It was Friday when:
--we found out that the first baby we showed interest in had been aborted
--we found out that the little guy we were tentatively matched to adopt would not be ours
--I started miscarrying our biological baby (May 10th)
--we found out that the baby Tina planned to place in our arms had instead gone to the arms of Jesus... (August 16th)

Perhaps that's why my I'm extra glad for the fact that God truly does care!  And HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Whispering Hope, by Septimus Winner

 

Soft as the voice of an angel,

Breathing a lesson unheard,

Hope with a gentle persuasion

Whispers her comforting word:

Wait till the darkness is over,

Wait till the tempest is done,

Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,

After the shower is gone.

Refrain:

Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice,

Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

If, in the dusk of the twilight,

Dim be the region afar,

Will not the deepening darkness

Brighten the glimmering star?

Then when the night is upon us,

Why should the heart sink away?

When the dark midnight is over,

Watch for the breaking of day.

Refrain:

Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice,

Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,

Rends the dark veil for the soul,

Whither the Master has entered,

Robbing the grave of its goal;

Come then, oh, come, glad fruition,

Come to my sad weary heart;

Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,

Never, oh, never depart.

Refrain:

Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice,

Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

When The Time Is Right

When the Time Is Right…

--Margaret Penner Toews ©

High on the hill above the stormy waters

He keeps a careful eye upon the men

Yearning to still the wind and hush the billows,

And agonizes, deeply loving them.

I know the winds are high, I know your muscles ache

From rowing hard upon the troubled lake,

The Father knows each facet of your frame,

Is well aware of terror, tears, and strain.

He’ll send Me when the night is almost o’re,

And let Me bring your plunging craft ashore

At the fourth watch. You’re cradled in His keeping;

No hour there is that e’er would find Us sleeping.

Roll with the waves! Lay down your broken oar!

Don’t you recall?... I’ve still your tossing seas before.

Come, Ye Disconsolate--by Thomas Hastings

Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish,
 Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
 Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
 Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
 Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
 Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
 “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure.”

Here see the Bread of Life, see waters flowing
 Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
 Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
 
Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.

“I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”  

Jeremiah 31:13

"Tears Are A Language God Understands"--by Gordon Jensen

1) Often you wonder why tears come into your eyes
And burdens seem to be much more than you can bear
 But God is standing near, He sees each falling tear.

Tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands.

2) When grief has left you low it causes tears to flow
Things have not turned out the way that you had planned

But God won't forget you His promises are true
Tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand
Tears are a language that my God He understands.

So very, very, very glad God understands tears... He has been and will be seeing a lot of them...

Zion's Hill

1) There waits for me a glad tomorrow,
Where gates of pearl swing open wide,
And when I've passed this vale of sorrow,
I'll dwell upon the other side.

2) Some day I'll hear the angels singing,
Beyond the shadows of the tomb;
And all the bells of heaven ringing,
While saints are singing, “Home, sweet home.”

3) Some day my labors will be ended,
And all my wand'rings will be o'er;
And all earth's broken ties be mended,
And I shall sigh and weep no more.

4) Some day the dark clouds will be rifted,
And all the night of gloom be past,
And all life's burdens will be lifted,
The day of rest shall dawn at last.

Refrain:
Some day beyond the reach of mortal ken,
Some day, God only knows just where and when,
The wheels of mortal life shall all stand still,
And I shall go to dwell on Zion's hill.

My Dear Child...

My Dear Child...

I know you’re grieving.  I see every tear, feel every painful thrust of longing, loss, and unanswered questions.  I know there is an aching void in your heart, a loss from which you wonder if you will ever heal.

I see your heart and know those powerful feelings you have that are too deep, too intense for you to even fully comprehend much less verbalize.  I know how the pressure builds up inside of you till you think that you will burst.

I know how well you try to hide your grief, to appear normal… to smile, to laugh.  Yet inwardly part of you has died and never will live again till heaven.

I feel with you the almost physical ache, the irrepressible yearning to hold your loved one close. I know how it hurts to see others enjoying what you will never have.

My child, I am not cruel; I have not allowed this stinging loss, this poignant grief just to watch you suffer.  Never!  I would not have allowed this grief into your life if I did not trust you to trust Me.  I am trusting you to believe My love, My sovereignty, My changelessness, My purposes that are so much higher than your own.

I have a plan for all your tears, your sighs, your questions, and your pain.  I give you My unbreakable promise that if you will lean hard on Me, I will make you ever so much more like Myself than you could possibly be otherwise.  I promise that My arms are always around you, even when you cannot feel them.  I will never let you alone.  I will never make a mistake and give you more than you can bear.

Please remember—never, ever forget: I love you with an everlasting, changeless, utterly complete love, and I’m trusting you to trust Me.

Your Father, Comforter, Friend, and Healer~

 God

(Penned by Judi Butikofer)