by Carol Roberts | Feb 23, 2016 | Grief
During special holidays it is hard not to miss someone who is no longer present. People will always say the more a person loves the more it hurts when separation occurs.
There is nothing more frustrating than to be told how to grieve. Grief is a personal thing between God and a hurting person. While some people stand over a grave and sob, others may stay away. Some people get busy, others isolate. There are people who even laugh because it’s the only emotion that will happen for them. There are some who can’t stop talking about memories and others change the subject.
These are times that are very intimate and personal with God. God is the creator and Savior and He understands all things. He loves in all things even grief. Jesus Himself experienced the death of His friend Lazarus. Even though Jesus knew the outcome would be glorious He still experienced the human emotion of losing such a good friend.
The only wrong way to grieve is not at all.
There is assurance of an eternity with Jesus Christ. As He holds beautiful loved ones in His bosom He provides comforting assurance of a reunion where there are no goodbyes. Until that time He sends gentle reminders that He loves both the people with Him in heaven and here on earth. He is the bridge that bonds together the people here and those that can no longer be seen with the human eye.
John 11:35-36
Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
by Carol Roberts | Feb 22, 2016 | Hope
There are people who enjoy making life miserable for others. They are not happy unless they have made someone else unhappy. It gives them a sense of achievement to sit by and watch as others reap the consequences of what they arranged to happen. If these people are coworkers it makes the workplace almost unbearable. This is true too if it is a family member who is jealous or someone who wants to break up a friendship.
The motives of these people will be exposed in due time by God Himself. Any vengeance belongs to God. He has made that very clear that pay back is His.
When people, for whatever reason, make life difficult He has given specific instructions to return kindness to them. It is not necessary to become best friends or approve of their actions but only to return kindness. The greatest act of kindness toward one another is prayer. God will take care of the rest.
Matthew 5:44-45
But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too.
by Carol Roberts | Feb 21, 2016 | Encouragement
Jesus loves us when the answer to prayer is different than what is expected. When praying, we often imagine the outcome which corresponds with our plans and goals.
There are many examples of answered prayer that come as a surprise. A man wants a promotion to boss at his company and his best friend gets the promotion. A daughter wants a healing for her mom and mom’s healing is in heaven. A young adult wants to marry a specific person and a new person comes along and steals his/her heart.
When we imagine the answer, we see things from a human point of view. Many times what we want is what we feel is best for us to meet present desires.
To trust God to send His answer is to trust in things greater than we can see or know. The man wanting the promotion is promoted even higher than what he wanted but at a different company. The healed mother is in a place too beautiful for words where her best day here doesn’t even compare to her joy now. To make things even better, God keeps her safe until that daughter arrives in heaven to see her in a fullness that cannot be explained. The young person wanting to marry is sent another who is a lifelong companion where both work together to fulfill a special purpose for God.
To put trust and faith in God is to trade human values for divine purposes. We may not understand at first but God reveals His purpose one step at a time. God gives an illustration of a beautiful rose that unfolds one petal at a time. The end result is worth waiting to see.
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress.
by Carol Roberts | Feb 19, 2016 | Hope
The greater the obstacles that are overcome the greater the proof that God can do all things. As people witness situations that become the best achievements from the worst possible circumstances, the name Jesus Christ is glorified. Never give up. There is an answer on the way.
John 16:33
I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.
by Carol Roberts | Feb 18, 2016 | Love
The love of Jesus Christ is so great that He gives His life for us. It does not matter our language, nation, color or whether we have lots of material things or none. The beauty of what Jesus has stored up for us in heaven cannot be explained in words. Even the angels want to know more.
Sometimes we compare the word “love” to feelings that place us in a fantasy world. Other times we express love by meeting needs in the family and close friends. While there are several ways to express love there is only one way to experience the love of Jesus in our hearts. Jesus loves us unconditionally because He IS love. He loves all people and He offers His salvation to all who will accept Him.
1 Peter 1:8-12
You love Him even though you have never seen Him; though not seeing Him, you trust Him; and even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself. And your further reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.
This salvation was something the prophets did not fully understand. Though they wrote about it, they had many questions as to what it all could mean. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about, for He told them to write down the events which, since then, have happened to Christ: His suffering, and His great glory afterwards. And they wondered when and to whom all this would happen.
They were finally told that these things would not occur during their lifetime, but long years later, during yours. And now at last this Good News has been plainly announced to all of us. It was preached to us in the power of the same heaven-sent Holy Spirit who spoke to them; and it is all so strange and wonderful that even the angels in heaven would give a great deal to know more about it.