"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