The Lord is my Strength

 

Good morning ~ It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here. I post regularly in my other blog FlowerLady’s Musings.

I’ve been feeling the urge to get back into posting here so here I am.

It has been 4 years 3 months and 1 day since my dear husband went to be with Jesus. I have made forward progress in the grieving process, but like this morning, it can sneak up on me at any given time.

I wake up early every morning ever since my husband left this planet, usually around 4. This morning I woke up right around then, after having an emotional dream. I sat up on the edge of the bed, thanking Jesus for this new day, (talking to Him out loud), then thanked Him for the love my husband and I had shared as husband and wife for 43 years. I then said how I love my husband still & even more & that I miss him and then broke down sobbing. The tears subsided and I felt somewhat better after the release of tension and sadness and got up to get started with my day.

Each morning I have coffee with my devotional time. At that time of morning traffic is quiet and it is nice to read and pray before the hurry/scurry of the day gets started.

Lately I’ve been picking up my husband’s Bible and opening it up to see what verse or verses, of scripture he might have marked, and how would they speak to me. This mornings’ verse that spoke to my heart, was found in a section of marked verses, Nehemiah 8: 9-12. and in the margin he had written one word, EXCELLENT.  Verse 10b was the part that stood out to me, especially after my emotional start to this day.

“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” NIV

Each day is a gift, from our heavenly Father.

The verse about God’s compassion on us came to mind so I looked it up and will share it here.

Lamentations 3:22-26

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
 
They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfulness.
 
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.
 
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him,
to the soul that seeketh him.
 
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

The Lord is my strength when I am weak.

He has promised to never leave me.

He is working all things out for good and for His glory in my life.

Don’t give up. You are not alone. Call out to Jesus for help when you need it.

Thank Him daily for all that He does for you, large or small blessings.

For me a small blessing yesterday was, asking for His help in cutting over hanging limbs from our neighbor’s trees that hang over my driveway.  I got out my pole saw and began sawing, and also used my hand clippers to cut things up smaller. When I had done what needed to be done, I had a huge smile on my face and thankfulness in my heart.

The day before He gave me the idea to look in a certain area of ‘stuff’ to find a pipe I needed for a project. Again, a smile on my face and thankfulness overflowing.

Every day we have much to be thankful for if we will just open our eyes, ears and hearts.

Being a widow isn’t easy, but Jesus blesses us with what we need in each new day.

Trust Him.

FlowerLady

 

Still moving forward

 

Each new day is a gift! We can either wallow in self-pity, or be thankful to God for his many blessings in our life. It’s been eight months now since my dear husband went to be with his Maker and while I still miss him every single day, I am not as distraught as I was at first.

Jesus has been my strength, seeing me through every step of my journey. He is filling my life with his love, peace and strength. I still have times of tears, but I also have times of thankfulness and joy for the 43 years of marriage we had.

I am going through things, doing some rearranging and making forward progress in this new life I’m living. I ask Jesus for help and he gives it. I am excited about an indoor project I am working on and while doing this have found some real treasures in artwork done by my husband. I’ve come across other things too and my love for him continues to grow even though he’s no longer here. God blessed me by answering my prayer as a young girl when I prayed for Him to send me someone who loved me and someone for me to love as well.

On the 8th of next month is the anniversary of our marriage, it would have been our 44th.  I still plan to fix a nice dinner, as I always did, to celebrate the love and our life that God blessed us with.  I am thankful.

I am also thankful for this time in my life of drawing closer to Jesus. He brought me to where I am, he knows all that I am going through and he knows what he as in store for me.

MKJV ~ Jer 29:11 ~ For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I want to rest daily in God’s tender loving care, to grow in his grace.

May you do the same.

FlowerLady Lorraine

Give thanks and confide in the widow’s God

 

The sweet little bear holding the pillow is from my ‘Friends Needing Friends’ widow’s group.  I got it because I am new to this special sisterhood of widows, and for comfort.

Even as I am now, without my best friend and love, my dear husband and soulmate, I am to ‘give thanks in all things’.

With God my Saviour, I can do all things.

***

In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1Th_5:18

O give thanks unto the LORD;
for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa_136:1

***

It is well! All that he does, who speaks these touching words, is well. It is well with you, for he who gave in love, in love has taken away the mercy that he gave. The companion of your youth, the friend of your bosom, the treasure of your heart, the staff of your riper and the solace of your declining years, is removed, but since God has done it—it is, it must be well. Look now above the circumstances of your deep and dark sorrow, the second causes of your bereavement, the probable consequences of your loss,—God has done it; and that very God who has smitten, who has bereaved, and who has removed your all of earthly good, now invites you to trust in him. Chance has not brought you into this state; accident has not bereft you of your treasure; God has made you a widow, that you may confide in the widow’s God.

Octavius Winslow