The Buzzard Within

 

While sitting outside at a Veteran’s Day celebration, we all glanced skyward to view the Sheriff Department's fly-over. In the thrill of this meaningful moment, I also noticed a majestic kettle of vultures.

Their wings spanned forty-eight inches and never flapped, as they soared on invisible wind currents. One of these birds nose-dived to the earth and landed within a few feet of me.

Once I recovered from the shock of his sudden close proximity to my chair, I realized that what I always thought was a beautiful, agile bird of prey actually had an awkward and grotesquely revolting appearance.

This reminded me of our unsaved heart. We disguise our disfigured soul within us with an outward coat of cosmetics and brightly colored clothing. Yet, we remain nothing more than whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27-28).

The good news is that Christ died to make us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our spirit is washed anew in the blood of the Lamb of God (Revelation 22:14). Through His sanctifying work, God's Spirit makes our soul beautiful in His timing and way (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

On this earth, God's Spirit crucifies our soul and frees us from slavery to sin. He makes us holy and frees us from the bondage and destruction, through which sin hinders and overwhelms us.

He unites us with Christ through the new birth and provides us with the blessings and promises of eternity both in this life and the next. He frees us from dwelling on our past or fearing the future (Isaiah 43:18).

In heaven, He will glorify our body by giving us an immortal existence with Him forever. We look forward to a body free of age-related issues, illness and fatigue.

We look forward to continuing to live in God's presence, adding the physical existence to our soul and spirit's enjoyment of His presence now. Our salvation will be complete in body, as well as in spirit and soul, and we will dwell with Him for eternity.

Prayer:

Father God, we live in Christ with Christ in us, and death has no more mastery over us. We also die to sin and live for You. Then in eternity, You glorify our body and provide us with immortality for our body, as well as our spirit and soul (Romans 6:4-11).

Thank You for forgetting who we used to be and giving us a new identity in Christ (Isaiah 65:17). You give us a new heart and put Your Spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26). We rejoice at the thought of seeing Your Kingdom in all of its glory, since we are born by the blood of Your unblemished Lamb (John 3:3).

Thought for the Day:

God buries our old, carnal nature in Christ by baptizing us into His death; then He sanctifies us through one stage of glory to another and gives us a new, resurrected life.

Healing During Holidays

Read: Habakkuk 3:17-18

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” - Matthew 5:4

The death of a loved one is the most devastating blow that life can ever inflicts upon us. Special days such a birthday, anniversary and the holidays such as: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are emotional triggers. The pain and loss we feel on these days is often more acute than during the original pain of loss, because initially, we are usually numb from shock. Anger, bitterness, resentment, abandonment and despair are just a few of the emotions accompanying grief during these special days and holidays.

We may think there is something wrong with us for feeling these emotions all over again. However, they are normal, necessary and healing as we continue to process our grief. Preparing in advance for these milestones will help us to traverse them more successfully. At times like these, our soul – our mind, will and emotions – gets downcast. We feel disturbed, forsaken and alone. We can put our hope in God, and praise Him even in the midst of our pain, because He is our Savior and God (Psalm 42:5-6).

There are a few concepts, which will facilitate your healing. The first is to be honest with yourself and others. Face your emotions and struggles, rather than avoid them. Spend time alone with God. Read His Word and keep a notebook of Bible verses that speak to your heart. Do not allow your loss to consume you and do not become preoccupied with your grief. Facing the truth about our grief actually sets us free from it (John 8:31-32, 36).   

The second concept is to express your feelings. Admit how you feel to others who are grieving or to a confidant or counselor. Tears are healing and they cleanse our soul. Fully feeling your grief allows you to heal more quickly. Tears release pent up emotions and stress as well. Sometimes tears are internal, rather than external. This is perfectly normal. It is also very healing to squarely face the pain of grief and to allow yourself to mourn loudly and to weep bitterly (Acts 8:2).

The third concept is to socialize. You cannot face your grief alone. Ask God to show you or to bring to you a person with whom you can share your most intimate feelings about your loss. Finding someone who also experienced loss will bring you the most comfort. Call or write this person and arrange for times to get together to talk. Grief Share and similar support groups are also available for people to vent, chat and find support from others with whom you can relate (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Planning a celebration with family and friends in honor of our loved one gives us the opportunity to create new memories and also puts a positive slant on our loss. We can look forward to being able to comfort others who are also experiencing affliction with the comfort, which we receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am depending upon You to see me through this time of loss. I will praise You, because I am assured that You have a future and a hope for me that is for my good (Jeremiah 29:11). We are beaten down on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; deprived, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Thank You for setting us free from the grief of our loss and bringing a semblance of order back into our life. Help us to freely express our emotions and loss with a trusted friend or counselor. Direct us to people who are also grieving and allow us to be a friend and confidant to them during their time of grief and loss.

Thought for the Day:

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:26

 

 

 

 

Read these wonderful articles about grief during the holidays:

http://www.griefshare.org/holidays#articles