Tag: death

God, Grief, Healing, Hope, Spirituality

The Sound of Silence – Walking Through Grief

Grief, it comes in waves. One moment I am fine, and the next I am crying like a little baby. There is no way to get through this valley of Grief without it changing you.  I have been silent for a while now. The sound of silence is deafening. How can silence be so loud?

We all grieve differently. Some have been through it so many times and they go through the 5 stages of grief quickly. Others, like me, linger here for what seems forever. Memory after memory floods my mind and takes me away to a different time and place – a time when we were together. My heart hurts. I can never go back to the way things were, you are not here. I know you are in a better place with no more sorrow and no more pain, no more tears,  but I am stuck here. Help me Lord get through this because I am falling apart.

The 5 stages of grief and loss are:

1. Denial and isolation

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

I admit it. I don’t like feelings. They come and go and change and I have absolutely no control over any of it! That’s really hard for a control freak like me!

So what is a person supposed to do when they lose someone they love? I would love it if I could turn back time and we could be together again. But I don’t have control over that either. My only choice is to Embrace it all. Don’t run from the valley. I have to feel every thing and make a choice to trust God to walk beside me and lead me THROUGH the valley of despair. Trust God. Yeah, from a girl with trust issues. No wonder this is so hard.

I know God is Faithful. I know God is True and God is with me and for me. But now, I have to let Him lead me out of this valley. I get to let Him drive. Ok, I surrender. I have no other choice. I don’t want to stay here in the despair and sorrow forever. Show me Your Glory Lord. Show me Your Comfort Lord. I need You!

God’s Word for You:

  • “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 
  • “Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted. ” Matthew 5:4 
  • “He heals the brokenhearted
    And binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
  • “My flesh and my heart fail;
    But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
  • “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”” Revelation 21:4
  • “If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18
  • “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” 2 Corinthian 1:3-7

My Prayer for You:

Dear Lord,

You have told us that you would never leave us nor forsake us. I know you are here with me now in the middle of my grief. I pray that you would hold me and comfort me during this season. No matter how long it takes to get to the other side, I pray that you would open up my eyes and my understanding to see You right here next to me, holding me, and walking with me. Help me to just be still, and KNOW that You are God, in Jesus Name!

Anxiety, behavior, God, Healing, Life, Religion and Spirituality

Learning to Deal with Grief – What Are Your Stressors?

I recently have been visiting many Doctors to figure out what is going on with me. One of them asked, ” What are your stressors?” It took me a few days to figure this out. My family life is good. What else could stress me? Then it hit me, I hate loss.

Here is part of the letter I sent my Doctor:

I have a hard time with loss ever since 2012. In Jan of 2012 my Mother in law passed away from Cancer. In Feb of 2012 I broke my leg and lost my job. In Sept of 2012 my Mom passed away from Cancer. In the spring of 2013 we went through a foreclosure due to my lost income. This has affected how I perceive the world.

This past year my sister in law was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She has undergone Chemotherapy and will start Radiation in May. My heart breaks for her and what she is having to go through.

My best friends have lost 2 of their children in the last 15 months. My heart breaks for them too. How do you go on after that? Lord, help us all.

In my job, we have a 60% turnover rate. I am losing friends all the time – they leave or go to another department. It makes us afraid to open up and get too close to each other. Too many people leaving all the time.

When my Peripheral Neuropathy started I had just got promoted. I couldn’t feel my legs while I was doing the training. It was 8 hours on my feet. I was afraid I was going to lose my job. I provide insurance for my family. I was afraid I would lose our insurance, so I pushed through the pain. Not a good idea. It really made things worse. I had to turn down the Training Position I was offered due to the inability to stand. This was a teaching position that I really wanted, and I lost that too.

I guess I am afraid of losing my job and losing my health this year.

We all face loss. We all grieve. I can tell you I really don’t like this whole process. I am not really a touchy, feely kind of girl. I find freedom when I write.

They say there are 5 stages to grief. I think I am stuck somewhere:

  1. denial
  2. anger
  3. bargaining
  4. depression
  5. acceptance

I think it’s #4 – Depression. I think I am just stuck here.  I have been on short term disability since November of last year. I have no idea if I will be able to go back to work. I have so many Doctors and so many tests. They have said I have this, that, and the other thing. Blah, blah, blah – I am so sick of this. Doesn’t matter. God is greater.

I want my friend’s kids back, I want my sister’s health back. I want my body back. I want my health back. I want that Training job. It just isn’t fair. And I have absolutely NO CONTROL over any of this! That’s probably what I am wrestling with.

How do you deal with loss?

Anxiety, faith, God, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

6 Ways to Overcome Anxiety in the Chaos of Mass Shootings

We live in perilous times. Anger and evil are rising. There are so many psychos out there taking innocent lives. It can be sobering. We feel so out of control as evil people kill innocent victims. There is no reason. They are psycho. But how can we react in times of chaos and senseless violence? How do we overcome our anxiety in these days of shootings?

6 Ways to Overcome Anxiety in the Chaos of Mass Shootings

1. There is good and there is evil in this world. There will be chaos and confustion. God told us ahead of time.  These are the beginning of sorrows. We are in the last days.

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will bethe sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” -Matthew 24:3-14 NKJV

2.  Whether we live or whether we die we belong to the Lord. Trust him with whatever happens next.

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. – Romans 14:8-9 NKJV

3. Have faith that God will get you through these last days. Jesus has faith in you and your family and He will be with you here and in Heaven. This world is not our home. We were made for eternity and to live with Jesus in Heaven.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:1-6 NKJV

4. Our days are numbered in the Book of Life. Trust God that He knows when we are coming home to live with Him. He has put eternity in our hearts. We are citizens of Heaven just trying to make it through this world. We are only passing through. This is not the end, just the beginning.

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them. – Psalm 139: 13-16 NKJV

5. Limit your news time and phone time. Whatever you feed will grow. I know people who watch every news story and read every article out there. They feed their fear. The more you feed it the bigger it will grow. Instead, feed your faith. Read the Word, pray, meet with other believers. Strengthen yourself in the most holy faith.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what isthat good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:1-2 NKJV

6.  In uncertain times, remind yourself of one thing that stays the same – God and His love for you. God is faithful. God is true. God will never leave you. God is true. God loves you now and forever. He will lead the way when it is time to leave this world and join Him in Heaven. Trust Him.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.  – Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

God, Quotes, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

10 Quotes About Grief

It has been a hard month. Two of my friends lost loved ones this month. My heart hurts. I havn’t been very talkative this month. My friends and I are grieving and I know only God can heal our hearts.  I love them and it is so hard for all of us. I know that it is part of life, but it still hurts. Yes, there is life after death in Jesus Christ, but what about those of us who are still here?  I admit it, I don’t like it. I don’t like change. I want things to stay the same forever. Well, sometimes.

We have all lost loved ones. You can’t get through planet Earth without losing someone you love. I have been through this too. Lost my mom and mother in law in the same year. Grief is hard. It comes in waves. One moment you are fine and the next you are crying your eyes out. Smells still get to me. I will smell a cologne, or a flower, or a food and remember my mom. I still lose it sometimes. Grief changes and humbles you. I know God has a plan and they are in Heaven, but sometimes living life here without them just hurts.

All we can do is hang out together and love each other through it. We pray for each other and hold each other tight. We cherish each day and look forward to the day we can see out loved ones again in Heaven. We lean on the Lord who never leaves us, forever. Help us Jesus, and Holy Spirit, comfort my friends and their families during this difficult time, in Jesus Name.

10 Quotes About Grief

  1. “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.” ― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
  2. “You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” ― Anne Lamott
  3. “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” ― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
  4. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psaml 34:18 NIV
  5. “The darker the night, the brighter the stars,
    The deeper the grief, the closer is God!” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  6. “In times of grief and sorrow I will hold you and rock you and take your grief and make it my own. When you cry I cry and when you hurt I hurt. And together we will try to hold back the floods to tears and despair and make it through the potholed street of life” ― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook
  7. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 NIV
  8. “Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope” ― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
  9. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:4 NIV
  10. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Activism, Healing, Quotes, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Quotes to Remember Our Fallen Heroes
English: Picture of graves decorated with flags at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

REMEMBER

We remember you, the fallen, the ones who gave their lives for our freedom.   You are not forgotten. Your love lives on in our hearts.  We cherish the time we had with you. Memories so sweet. And always, we love you.

Quotes for Memorial Day

God of our fathers, who by land and sea have ever led us to victory, please continue your inspiring guidance in this the greatest of all conflicts. Strengthen my soul so that the weakening instinct of self-preservation, which besets all of us in battle, shall not blind me of my duty to my own manhood, to the glory of my calling, and to my responsibility to my fellow soldiers. Grant to our armed forces that disciplined valor and mutual confidence which insures success in war. Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived. If it be my lot to die, let me do so with courage and honor in a manner which will bring the greatest harm to the enemy, and please, oh Lord, protect and guide those I shall leave behind. Give us the victory, Lord. -General George Patton

For love of country they accepted death. —James A. Garfield

So long as there are men there will be wars. -Albert Einstein

The purpose of all war is ultimately peace. -Saint Augustine

These heroes are dead. They died for liberty – they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars – they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead. —Robert G. Ingersoll

And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me and I’ll proudly stand next to him to defend her still today, ‘cuz there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA. -Lee Greenwood

The story of America’s quest for freedom is inscribed on her history in the blood of her patriots. -Randy Vader

The dead soldier’s silence sings our national anthem. -Rev. Aaron Kilbourn

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.
-General George Marshall

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot’s breast,
And their names are engraven on honor’s bright crest. —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Battle of Lovell’s Pond

The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree. —Thomas Campbell

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier’s tomb, and beauty weeps the brave. —Joseph Rodman Drake

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. -Billy Graham

I consider it an indispensible duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into his Holy keeping. -General George Washington at Valley Forge

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Depression, Healing, Spirituality

Speak the Good Things

Ever had a sick kid? Yeah, me too. My husband shared something with me the other day that bears repeating. He asked me, “Diana why are you praying speaking about the sickness, why not declare the Word over your son? Speak LIFE over him.” Whoa! Instantly I changed the ‘direction’ of my prayer. I said, “He is righteous, he is the blood bought son of Jesus, he is a child of the King, he is well, he is whole, he is healed in Jesus Name.” Guess what? The sickness left!

Speak the good you want to see.

Ever talk trash about someone? Gossip, backbiting, idle words? How about that sarcastic self? I read that sarcasm was really suppressed anger. Yep. Hey guess what’s for dinner? Those words will come back to you, the fruit of your lips.

And this morning I got this in my e-mail:

The mouth of the righteous is a well of life…
Proverbs 10:11

Speak The Good You Want To See

Anyone can speak what he sees, but it takes faith to speak what you want to see. Anyone can state the obvious, but it takes faith to see the invisible and call it forth!

Our Lord Jesus always spoke the good that He wanted to see happen. He practiced this so much that at one time, He said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (John 11:11). Everyone else, including His disciples, spoke of a dead Lazarus, who was already wrapped in grave clothes and laid in a tomb. But Jesus spoke of a Lazarus who was alive, and He called forth what He wanted to see. He said, “Lazarus, come forth!” and he who had been dead for four days arose and came out of the tomb (John 11:43–44)!

The Bible tells us that “God…who gives life to the dead…speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed” (Romans 4:17, AMP). Beloved, you are made in the image of God and His Spirit abides in you. So if you want to see good in your life, then begin to speak it into your life. Jesus died on the cross to give you an abundant life. You have a blood-bought right to call forth a healthy body, a fulfilling career and a blessed marriage and family. Speak boldly the good that you want to see and start to experience it!
(Source: josephprince.com)

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Poetry, Uncategorized

Cry in the Rain

Cry in the Rain

(Dedicated to Mel)

©2013 Diana Rasmussen

From: flywithdreams23.blogspot.com

The lightning flashed
and thunder cracked
The day you died
the sky turned black

*
I cry in the rain
I scream in the thunder
Let go of the pain
before I go under

*
my heart withdrawn
trying to hold on
one day you’re here
next day you’re gone

*
Tears fall from my eyes
I never got to say goodbye

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Poetry, Spirituality

Dance Inside My Dreams

Dance Inside My Dreams

© 2013 Diana Rasmussen

The stars are our light
Twinkling so bright
Time is undefined
With you and me entwined

Clouds are our dance floor
As you hold me once more
Spinning ’round the moon
To our favorite tune

When the day turns into night
A new reality takes flight
Your my King and I’m your Queen
As we dance inside my dreams

Turning round and round
Crickets sing our song
Absolutely heavenly
Precious melody

Swaying in the breeze
Above everything
When our fantasy
escapes reality

When the day turns into night
A new reality takes flight
Your my King and I’m your Queen
As we dance inside my dreams

Meet me at our Castle in the Air
Calm my fears, answer my prayers
As we dance inside my dreams

Music, Uncategorized, Videos

We Remember

I dedicate this to Mary Ellen and Linda today. Both of them died on Sept 11th.  May they dance with the Angels on streets of gold today and always. And thanks to my husband Bob who made the video.

Love u t, and miss u mom…

D

“I LIFT MY HANDS” 

By Chris Tomlin

Be still, there is a healer

His love is deeper than the sea

His mercy, it is unfailing

His arms are fortress for the weak

Let faith arise

Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

Be still, there is a river

That flows from Calvary’s tree

A fountain for the thirsty

Pure grace that washes over me

Let faith arise

Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise, let faith arise

Open my eyes, open my eyes

Let faith arise, let faith arise

Open my eyes, open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

And I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God

You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise

Let faith arise

Songwriters

LOUIE GIGLIO, CHRIS TOMLIN, MATT MAHER

Read more: Chris Tomlin – I Lift My Hands Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Music, Uncategorized, Videos

When Death Dies

“When Death Dies”

by Gungor

Like the waters flooding the desert
Like the sunrise showing all things

Where it comes flowers grow
Lions sleep, gravestones roll

Where death dies all things live
Where it comes poor men feast
Kings fall down to their knees
When death dies all things live
All things live

Like a woman searching and finding love
Like an ocean buried and bursting forth

Where it comes flowers grow
Lions sleep, gravestones roll

Where death dies all things come alive
Where it comes water’s clean
Children fed
All believe
When death dies all things live
All things live

There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ. But we have to wait our turn: Christ is first, then those with him at his Coming, the grand consummation when, after crushing the opposition, he hands over his kingdom to God the Father. He won’t let up until the last enemy is down—and the very last enemy is death! (1 Corinthians 15:21-26 MSG)

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson