Grief is part of the human experience. We avoid it, we dread it, but we will all experience it. Grief, when it happens, changes us and our lives and our future. There is no retreat from the loss that caused our grief. We grieve because our lives have been changed forever….in a way we never imagined, never wanted.

Grief is our response to a terrible loss. It’s the right response to loss. How could we not cry when we lose someone we love? How could we not grieve when we are shocked by something that should never have happened? Grief is a right response to the loss. Tears are part of the grieving process.

Grief is also social. We grieve best in community. We need each other more when a loss happens and we gather together to grieve, to cry, to sorrow. Somehow community helps us deal with grief. We have an opportunity to talk about our loss, our pain, our hurt. We have a chance to cry with someone who listens and cares about us.

Grief, believe it or not, is a gift from God. He helps us through our grief to give us peace and comfort. What grief tells us all is that this is not the way it is supposed to be. What has happened to us that has caused our grief is not right, not the way we should live. And our response, as we grieve, tells us this is not the way we were designed.

Soon grief will be done away with. Tears will be dried. Reasons for grief will be permanently dealt with. Soon God will put death to death and grief will no longer be part of our lives. Until then he gives us hope, peace, a promise of eternal life ahead. Until then he gives us each other to hug, to cry, to grieve together. Until the day grief is put to death he gives us the promise of peace and life ahead. This is not the end…..grief will one day be swallowed up in joy.

Visit Mike at Finishing Well.

The post Grieving first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

Whatever your day has brought you – PRAISE HIM!

If it brought you sun, praise HIM – If it brought you rain, praise HIM

If it brought you a bonus, praise HIM – If it brought you an unemployment check, praise HIM

If it brought you a new car, praise HIM – If it brought you news you need a new motor, praise HIM

If it brought you warm hugs and kisses, praise Him – If it brought you despair and grief, praise HIM

If it brought you a trip to your favorite place, praise HIM – If it brought you to the hospital or doctor office, Praise HIM

If it brought you gladness and smiles, praise HIM – If it brought you tears and sorrow, praise HIM

If it brought you peace and harmony, praise HIM – If it brought you uncertainty and fighting, praise HIM

If it brought you encouragement and direction, praise HIM – If it brought you discouragement and road blocks, praise HIM

If it brought you good news of promotion or healing, praise Him – If it brought you heartbreaking news or disease, praise HIM

If it brought you smiles and laughter, praise HIM – If it brought you anger and yelling, praise Him

Whatever this day has brought you, place your hope in the Lord and simply praise HIM

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B-udGxwLV0

Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD1H29Ps8l8

Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K44trVhtZX4

Marie Wikle the Founder and President of Spreading Joy Corporation wants to empower everyone to make a difference and give without guilt.

Here is a personal Warm Welcome to Spreading Joy. You’ll find links to interviews, no cost ways to make a difference and other things that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your heart.

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The post Whatever The Day May Bring first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

In those two small words tragedy turns to triumph, problems are explained, sadness has hope, and we are not left without answers. God is involved in our world, in our lives. God is the great problem solver, course changer, sorrow solution. When an answer is needed, when grief seems beyond bearing, when questions overwhelm us then comes these words from scripture, “but God” and suddenly everything changes. Here are a few of those moments from the bible,

“But God remembered Noah…”

“but God meant it for good…” -Joseph

“But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol…”

“My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

“But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us…”

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,”

In the middle of this list of God’s intervention into history is the most important, the one event that changed everything, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In the midst of a fallen world without hope or peace God has stepped in to demonstrate his love in a way we cannot miss. The ultimate ” but God” event is the cross of Christ. When all seemed lost God sent Jesus to demonstrate his love for us.

I’m glad for those “but God” moments. He is there and he is not silent…and for that I am most grateful.

The post But God… first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.