{"id":29352,"date":"2020-12-09T03:30:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T11:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29352"},"modified":"2020-12-04T13:51:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T21:51:40","slug":"december-9-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2020\/12\/09\/december-9-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"December 9, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cGod will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.\u201d <\/em>Revelation 21:4<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Grieve, It\u2019s Okay<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This time of year is a time of celebration with family and friends, yet it also can be a time of remembering those loved ones who have gone on before us.<\/p>\n

My grandma made the best Swedish pancakes and had the most comforting hugs. My mom was always so loving, caring and forgiving no matter what was going on in my life. My dad\u2019s encouragement and strength always made me strive for the best. My sister\u2019s example of goodness got me moving each day in hope. These people have passed on but have left a legacy of joy in my life and their memories are warm hugs to my heart.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m praying for all of you who have lost loved ones and\/or friends and feel great emptiness. There are temporary fixes, but only Jesus can fill the space from sorrow. I lost my sister in a devasting, brutal car crash when I was young and the emptiness of loss was overwhelming. Even though I wasn\u2019t yet a believer, I knew she was singing with the angels and that comforted my soul. Yet like Job: \u201cmy eye has grown dim because of sorrow, and all my members are like shadows\u201d <\/em>(Job 17:7). I felt very hopeless, empty and lost.<\/p>\n

Grieving is individual and we each face it differently. I jumped back into life, ignoring the pain, I thought; yet I had devastating results because I didn\u2019t turn to the Lord. In time, He drew me into His love and salvation. The hole in my heart was filled with His warm embrace, healing and hope. God meets us each individually in time and there is no cookie cutter way to move through loss.<\/p>\n

We can know \u201cThe Lord is near those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit\u201d <\/em>(Psalm 34:18). Turning our hearts to Him is our hope. He turns our sorrow into hope and gives us the strength and drive to continue reaching out to those in our lives with the same healing love He gives. My memories of my loved ones have impressed my heart that I can give out the same joy they gave to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the Lord\u2019s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness\u201d <\/em>(Lamentations 3:22-23).<\/p>\n

\u201cWeeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning\u201d <\/em>(Psalm 30:5).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Accept His comfort and enjoy the memories with a smile. The Lord bless you through this holiday season with His peace and goodness, enjoying His presence, memories and your family.<\/p>\n

Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and healing love that meets us. Thank You for this time of year to celebrate Your coming and Your salvation. Thank You for the memories, and all of those in our lives now. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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