Third Child Dies After Western Wis. Crash « CBS Minnesota

Please pray for the families in this tragic car accident.  I am at a loss for words right now.  Please pray for them.

Third Child Dies After Western Wis. Crash « CBS Minnesota

Abby's Poem - December 2011

My cousin spent Christmas in Heaven last year,

He has been safe with Jesus so have no fear.

 

Since Carter's been in Heaven we feel very sad,

And so does his brother, his dog, his mother, and his dad.

 

This Christmas we'll gather from far and near,

To celebrate Jesus to live in his heart with those we hold dear.

 

When we think about Carter we'll always be glad,

That he asked Jesus to live in his heart when he was just a lad.

 

We can all have the gift of Heaven that is clear,

If we accept Jesus' gift of love so pure.

~Honorable Mention - Abby Klimek, age 13, Notre Dame Middle School, Chippewa Falls

Remembering Collin...

Please remember Dan & Rachel Fitzgerald in your prayers.  It has been one year since their son, Collin, met Jesus.  I have an overwhelming sadness on these days, as doubt and fear creep in.  Please lift them up in prayer, think of Collin and his family......let them know you are thinking of them and of Collin (I can't tell you how much that means....).  Pray that God's forever love will embrace their hearts with His ever-present healing comfort.  "Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe!" Psalm 116:2

We can't fully understand what it means for the Lord to welcome home one of His precious saints.  And we surely can't fully understand what it means for the Lord to welcome home a young child. It is also difficult to understand the joy that our loved one experiences while we are in the midst of pain.  But we do know that our Lord loves them and is with them and we do know that our Lord loves us and is with us.  "May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise." Psalm 119:76

May God hold up and carry this family today and the days to come.  Praying for their suffering and their hurting hearts.

" Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15





We Will Remember..

Will I Forget?

After three long years of missing you,
I have a newborn fear;
That as time goes by, my mind will fail,
And your memory won't be clear.

Already I have problems in
Remembering the sound
Your sweet voice made in speaking--
Oh, where can it be found?

I have photos by the hundreds,
And your face will always be
Engraved upon my very heart,
For you're the heart of me.

But how I long to hear your voice
And see your loving smile!
To gaze upon your precious face,
And talk with you a while.

I can't believe it's been three years--
It seems like yesterday;
Yet it also seems a million years
Since you went away.

Time doesn't work the way it did
When you were still on earth;
Sometimes it crawls, sometimes it flies,
It's hard to know time's worth.

But three years gone is three years less
I have to live alone,
And as the years roll slowly by,
Someday I'll be called Home.

And then I'll get to be with you,
For all eternity,
How precious, then, will be our time,
Each day a symphony!

Oh, always, I'll remember you
And all the things you are,
You are my son, my precious child,
My brightly shining star.

I will remember!

Loving you ever, forgetting you never,
Mom

This poem was written by Saralyn McAfee Smith, for her son in heaven, Robbie Smith.

God's Grace

Strengthened By Grace

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

The grace of God strengthens a child of God. Like a B1 vitamin gives energy to the body, so God’s grace energizes the inner being of believers. This is why in the face of human weakness, grace flourishes. Fear weakens, but faith strengthens. Anger weakens, but forgiveness strengthens. Busyness weakens, but prayer strengthens. Noise weakens, but quiet strengthens. Stress weakens, but rest strengthens. Yes, the love of God strengthens His servants by grace!

Has your patience been tested to your very last nerve? Are you exhausted and depleted by the demands of others? Look for the way of grace to give you what you need in your emotional emptiness. Your heart yearns for what only the Lord can provide through the fullness of His Spirit. So, Christ consoles your soul with His eternal encouragement, the good hope you have in Him. Gladly and gratefully receive God’s grace like at salvation, abandon yourself to His care. Because of the disgrace Jesus experienced on the cross, you enjoy His grace when you bear a cross of pain.

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. Hebrews 13:9

Furthermore, the inner energy we receive by God’s grace is supplied for our service. This is why it is remarkable when a man or woman on their sickbed become a blessing to those who serve them. Nurses, nutritionists and neurologists go away scratching their heads having been in the presence of heaven’s emissary, a grace filled follower of Jesus. Indeed, our adverse condition is not about us, but about how we can graciously exhibit what we believe for God’s glory. Grace strengthens!

Grace gives you stamina to serve a needy child or an aging parent. Grace engages your empathetic heart with a friend’s hurting heart. Grace is the fortitude you need to remain steadfast in a relationship that is not life giving right now. So, whether strength of character or mental toughness is required, God’s grace is available as your supply chain. Grace does carry Christ’s expectations, but with it HIs power to execute. Grace is a sweet, soothing sound that is music to your soul.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:7-8

Prayer: Heavenly Father, strengthen me by Your grace, so I can serve others in Your power.

 

This side of heaven...

Today is baby Jacob's birthday/heaven day. He would have been six.  We would have had a six year old, seven year old and a twelve year old....on this earth! We would have been raising three busy boys....if it were our will. When we put our faith in Christ, we allow His will to happen.  This does not happen without pain, but we will see God through the pain.

 

Jacob was born sleeping....right into the arms of Jesus. My precious baby. Carter knew Jesus and loved Him and loved heaven.  Into the arms of Jesus at the age of nine.  My precious son. Bradley loves Jesus and looks forward to our life to come with the Lord, where he will be reunited with his brothers. My precious boy.

 

As we live our lives on this side of heaven, we keep our eyes fixed on our life to come. God is bigger and stronger than our own understanding.

 

Give your children an extra hug today.  Be ever so thankful for your gifts from the Lord.

 

 

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."  John 14:27

 

 

Keeping the memories alive..

When your child is no longer with you, you ask the Lord to fill your lives with special ways to keep the memories alive.

"O God, listen to my cry!  Hear my prayer!  From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.  Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.  Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings" Psalm 61:1-4