Devotions

I've been reading through a great devotional book that my sister gave me.  It's has devotions for every day of the year.  For now, I started in December, but I look forward to starting with the January 1 date and working through it for the next year.  It's titled "Streams in the Desert" and was recommended by another grieving mother.  Anyway, it seems that each devotion I read is very fitting to my life.  I just wanted to share some that have been very meaningful to me so far.

Dec. 19 devotion:

This will result in your being witnesses to them.  (Luke 21:13)

Life is a steep climb, and it is always encouraging to have those ahead of us "call back" and cheerfully summon us to higher ground.  We all climb together, so we should help one another.  The mountain climbing of life is serious, but glorious, business; it takes strength and steadiness to reach the summit.  And as our view becomes better as we gain altitude, and as we discover things of importance, we should "call back" our encouragement to others.

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back --
It will cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perhaps, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.


Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn;
That, when the heavens thunder and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the lofty air was still.


O friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph, and your feet sprint in the race;
But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.


But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky--
If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back--
It will cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

I am thankful for the other grieving moms who have "called back" to me.  To hear from you is comforting and encouraging to me.  I have no doubt that there will be others that have to deal with the death of a child and I will be here for them and "call back".  





Another devotion from Dec. 21:

I will give him. . . the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly. (Deut. 1:36)

Every difficult task that comes across your path--every one that you would rather not do, that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle--brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of the personal cost is to miss the blessing.
Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master's footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path.
Every battlefield you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength. J.R. Miller

I cannot do it alone;
The waves surge fast and high,
And the fogs close all around,
The light goes out in the sky;
But I know that we two
Will win in the end,
Jesus and I.

Cowardly, wayward, and weak,
I change with the changing sky;
Today so eager and bright,
Tomorrow too weak to try;
But He never gives in,
So we two will win,
Jesus and I.

I could not guide it myself,
My boat on life's wild sea;
There's One who sits by my side,
Who pulls and steers with me.
And I know that we two
Will safe enter port,
Jesus and I.

I have also been reading as many books that I can get my hands on to help me deal with such a huge loss.  One of the books was Mary Beth Chapman's book "Choosing to See".  The book was amazing.  I hated when I finished.  The things she wrote in her book could have been written by me.  That's what made it so great to read.  Because she's been where I am, she "knows" how it feels.  She's had the same thoughts, questions, etc. that I have had.  I will read it again.  I also purchased Steven Curtis Chapman's CD, "Beauty Will Rise".  He wrote all of the songs on the CD about the loss of his daughter.  So, I've really enjoyed listening and crying along to that CD.