He Is My Strength

Since the anniversary of my husband's passing, I've felt like I am reliving the entire experience again. I'm feeling like it just happened yesterday!  Have I been in shock for a year?  I guess it's possible to be in some form of shock and still go about some of your day to day activities.


I found myself becoming sadder and sadder.  So I looked to the Lord for peace and guidance.  His word is so comforting to me.  As low as I felt, as sad as I was, as alone as I was, I knew that God would help me.  I remembered a verse that reminded me of that.


2 Corinthians 12:9  -  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


Then, as I surfed the web, tonight, I came across this wonderful hymn.  It's a newer hymn, but the words just touched my heart.  It was what I needed to hear.  It reaffirmed my belief in the sovereignty of God and how He works in my life.  It reminded me to call out to Him, especially in my time of need.

God's Power, My Weakness

---

Lord, help me please through daily life
To seek your perfect love.
You're sovereign over everything,
In earth and sky above.

Your love should fill my heart with praise,
With splendor, love and awe.
I need your strength, your help, your grace,
Your love, your might, your law.

I'm dead in sin without the grace
That you've bestowed on me.
For sinners you came down to die,
And by your love I'm free.

When life is through and judgment comes
By grace to heav'n I'll go.
The gates I'll enter overjoyed,
No death, no sin, no woe!

© Rachael Lewis

I hope some of this is encouraging to anyone who's having a hard time.  If you don't know Jesus and your personal Lord and Savior, message me and I'll help you get connected.  

Keep your chin up and keep your eyes focused on Jesus!

God bless you as you Love Your Life Again!

Sometime a year goes SO fast

I can't believe it's almost been one year since the love of my life went home to be with Jesus.  So much has changed in my life and the lives of my children.  The ONLY constant in our lives has been Jesus Christ.  He has remained with us and brought us a peace that is unexplained.  People ask me how I can even laugh or smile after losing David.  The answer is quite simple.  I have a saving relationship with Jesus.  Through the Word of God, I am able to see things more clearly.  I am able to see that God's plan is always the best plan (even though I may not think so).  I know that when I have the privilege of entering Heaven, the Lord will be there to meet me.  I will also see David again.

My son say "You know Mom, it's kind of strange.  Sometimes I almost feel bad."  I asked him why and he replied "Because I have this peace in me about Dad's death.  I know it's from Jesus, but sometimes I feel bad for not feeling bad."  I assured him that people grieve in different ways.  There is no wrong way.  I was glad to see that he had peace in a place where he could have depression and despair.

Please listen to this song.  It tells of how God is always there for us in our time of need.  Lyrics follow the link to the song.  Enjoy!

Healing In Your Wings by Sovereign Grace Music


VERSE 1
Though the clouds may hide the sun
It’s always shining
And when the storms obscure Your face
You still are smiling
Here we will have tribulation
But there is one thing that is certain
You never change

CHORUS
You are always good and loving
Merciful in all Your dealings
Shining like the sun
Rising up with healing in Your wings

VERSE 2
When the floods are swirling round me
You are with me
And when the flames rise all about me
They don’t burn me
You’re nearer than the air I’m breathing
Promised You would never leave me
You never change

BRIDGE
So I will say it’s good that You afflicted me
That I might learn Your holy ways
And to trust in You at all times

This song says - promised You would never leave me, You never change.  How awesome it is to have a God that is our rock.  A God that doesn't change from day to day.  He will always be there and always keeps His promises.  To know more about a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, just message me

God bless you as you Love Your Life Again,
Jane

Glories of Calvary

This is an amazing song that encourages us to really think about what Jesus did for us! It wasn't just a wave of His hand that cleansed us from the penalties of sin. It was His blood, poured out on the cross, that was payment enough. You can't earn it, buy it, steal it, or make it. Salvation comes only through a relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship in which He becomes your Savior and the Lord of your life.

Isn't it encouraging to know that by putting your faith in Jesus Christ, everything you've done wrong will be forgiven. He paid the price for all the sins you've committed. He shed His blood on the cross so you wouldn't have to bear the wrath for your sins. He did this because He loves us. He chose us to be part of His family. What an honor! What a great way to love your life again. You can start with a clean slate. All because He was willing to die for us.

The Glories of Calvary by Steve & Vicki Cook

Lord, You’re calling me to come, and behold the wondrous cross

To explore the depths of grace, that came to me at such a cost

Where Your boundless love conquered my boundless sin

And mercy’s arms were opened wide

My heart is filled with a thousand songs, proclaiming the glories of Calvary

With every breath, Lord how I long to sing of Jesus who died for me

Lord take me deeper, into the glories of Calvary

Sinners find eternal joy in the triumph of Your wounds

By our Savior’s crimson flow Holy wrath has been removed

And Your saints below join with your saints above

Rejoicing in the Risen Lamb

My heart is filled with a thousand songs, proclaiming the glories of Calvary

With every breath, Lord how I long to sing of Jesus who died for me

Lord take me deeper, into the glories of Calvary

God bless you as your Love Your Life Again!

The Day That Changed My Life

Well, I originally started this blog in 2009. Since my first post, so many things have happened in my life. Now, I really feel a need to spread the good news and show how you can "Love your life again" even after bad things happen in your life.

On August 3rd, 2010 my best friend, my partner for life, my husband, the father of my children passed away. He died, in his sleep, of a heart attack at the young age of 47. The autopsy showed that he probably would have had a massive heart attack in the near future had he not died that day. I thank the Lord that he died in his sleep and didn't suffer the pain and fear that can accompany impending death.

Well, it's almost been one year and I'm still going. During the many years before his passing, I often wondered what it would be like if something ever happened to him. Would I be able to go on? How would I handle it? How would the kids be? What would life be like without him? It's not that I wanted to find out, its just that I couldn't ever have pictured my life without him. Never!

So, here I sit, a widow at the age of 53. Someplace I never thought I'd be. So, am I able to go on? Yes. How am I handling it? Somedays good, some days not so good. How are the kids doing? Better than I expected, yet I feel like they're probably not telling me everything so as not to put pressure on me. What is life without him? Quiet, sad, lonely, boring.

So, how could I possibly have any good news? Well, I do. The good news is that I will see him again, in heaven. He was a Christian that had received Jesus Christ as his Lord & Savior. He didn't earn his way into heaven. He didn't rack up points for the good deeds he did while on this earth. He accepted Jesus into his heart and tried, every day, to live his life like Jesus.

Did he accomplish that? Well, the trying he accomplished. Did he become perfect, like Jesus? Not until the moment that he met him face-to-face. So why did he try? Because that's what Jesus asks us to do. With the Holy Spirit in us, we try to conform to the image of God until the day that Jesus Christ returns. That is our lifelong ambition.

Philippians 1:6

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Death, for those of us left on earth, is such a tragic event. But, know that just because you may be a Christian, does not mean that you can not grieve. Grieving does not mean that you don't put your faith in Christ. It's when the grieving overtakes you and you wallow in your despair that it becomes a sin. If you turn to God's Word (the Bible), it will show you what to do to pull yourself out of the muck and mire of depression and grief.

Psalm 119:28
My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken

Psalm 37:39
But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I ask you to read the following passages. They will help you understand that you can not earn your way into heaven. It is a free gift, from God, shown by your faith not your works!

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

Romans 10:9-11

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes,^[b]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, ^[c]resulting in salvation. ¹¹For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE ^[d]DISAPPOINTED.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

John 14:6
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

As someone who is walking through the darkness and despair of losing a loved one, I can tell you that I know how hard it is. I know how sad some days can be. I know how lonely the house can seem. I know that the tears will fall without a seconds notice.

But, as someone who is walking with Jesus, I know that you are not alone when you know Him as your Lord & Savior. I know that being in His Word (reading the Bible) can bring you comfort like you've never known. I know that everything that God allows to happen, happens for His glory and for His purposes. I know that while it really doesn't "get easier with time" that with Jesus, we are able to handle those moments of sadness much easier.

I hope these little tidbits will help you in some way. I know it may sound cliche, but remember JESUS LOVES YOU!

God bless you as you Love Your Life Again!

Day 1

Tell someone, anyone, that you care.

Look at your circle of friends and family. Pick one person and let them know that you care about them. Tell them how glad you are that they are a part of your life. If they ask why you're doing this tell them it's because they need to know. Tell them your life would not be the same without them.

Come back tomorrow for another tip.

True happiness comes from within, asking nothing in return.