Facing up to Bereavement

July 30, 2009 at 2:34 pm (Bereavement)

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                           Rev. David Womersley

FACING  UP  TO  BEREAVEMENT

 

No 9  Happy Memories

 

Memories can be very comforting and are a great help in the healing process.  As time goes on, sad unhappy memories fade.  It is the happy ones that come to the fore and I have plenty of those 

There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that together you have spent most of your lives in the will of God. God’s call came to us both separately but we believe the Lord brought us together. That does not mean that it was always easy. There were times in Africa of frustration, fear, opposition and illness but oh, so many times of fulfilment and satisfaction. A big advantage of being in God’s work for a long time is seeing fruit that has remained.  It has been a thrill to come across those trained by us who today are in leadership and doing so well in the Lord’s service, many with thriving churches.  I saw a lot of this on a visit last year.

Then there are the leisure times.  We spent enjoyable holidays camped by a Congo stream, in the Lake District, bed and breakfasting in Cornwall, Wales, Norfolk and the Yorkshire Dales. Bronwen loved looking for and photographing wild flowers and butterflies.  Consequently our house is full of her paintings, most of exquisite Congo flowers. Memories indeed.

On our 40th Wedding Anniversary, we decided to splash out and booked a bus trip to beautiful Lake Garda. We spent five weeks in Australia, partly for ministry and partly visiting my sister and her family.  Once we were invited by friends to Slovenia – what a joy! Many of these events have been recorded in colourful albums of photos, menus, sketches etc. Her artistic flare make these striking permanent memories.   

It is now just two years since Bronwen died. As I placed some roses (from her bushes) on the grave, I suddenly began to cry.  I was surprised! Surely after two years that wouldn’t happen! But I let them flow and in a strange way it did me good.  If you have been recently bereaved, don’t try and stem emotions.  After all, Jesus wept.

I remembered the happy fulfilled life and thanked God for our almost 48 years together.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases  His mercies never come to an end:

They are new every morning…   Great is The faithfulness, O Lord….

That is what my son and I have put on the tombstone: “Great is Thy faithfulness”.  Isaiah 63:7 says: “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD”.

In my bereavement, I have found such a lot of comfort in remembering the good times, in seeing God’s hand on our lives.  I have been helped by a number of close friends and a loving son. In this my last article of this series, may I suggest you too look back on your lives together and thank the Lord. You will find much comfort in that.  I hope I have helped you face up to the inevitable and be better prepared for it.

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Just a Thought

July 30, 2009 at 2:28 pm (Just a Thought)

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                              The late Rev. A. Linford

A TIMELESS WORD IN A TIME-FRAUGHT WORLD

“But the word of the Lord endureth forever” 1 Pet 1:25

Time exudes meaning but eludes definition. It is the warp on which is woven the web of life, the essence of being, the substance of existence.

It can be measured but not made, experienced but not excluded, passed but not recalled. Is it a creature or an illusion? Sometimes its leaden feet drag slowly along, each hour seemingly endless and heavy; again, it skips forward as days seem but frolicking minutes.

Time issues from eternity, for its source is God. It flows through life to a destiny determined by Him, to whom past, present and future is one everlasting NOW.

Time can be lost: it can be redeemed. He values time most who loads its presence with significance, who makes moments momentous. Time’s richest enjoyments are spent in the presence of God. Fellowship with Him gives time its ultimate accolade. All that time is intended to be, is realised in fellowship with the divine.

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Divine Courage

July 30, 2009 at 2:24 pm (Divine Courage)

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                                       Rev. E. Anderson

SUBJECT                  THE COURAGE OF A POSSESSOR

READING   Joshua 1

TEXT          vv6,7,8

INTRODUCTION

Difference:  This man was called to succeed Moses but he was not to be another Moses.  He had been greatly mentored and tutored by him yet he was not to ape him.  The Lord made him to be different and he had a different role for him to fulfil for Him at an important time.  Whilst he benefited enormously through the input and example of this very godly leader, he had not to act like him in manners or to function in the way he did.  He also required courage of a different kind because his circumstances would be utterly diverse to what had been encountered before.  The Lord knew that and that is why He sought to infuse him from the start with great promises and assurance.

Commitment:  His consecration never appears to be in question throughout his whole life and this contributed a great deal to the success of life and mission. He rendered to the Lord, Moses and the people of God an unswerving loyalty that ultimately brought the approval of the Lord and lasting rewards.  Courage was linked to this commitment and made him a rich possessor.  It is noted in a number of instances.

1/. IN CONTENTION WITH THE AMALEKITES   Ex 17

 

Soon after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt there came the conflict with the Amalekites and Joshua was the one called to lead Israel’s hosts.  It must have been quite a challenge to him yet he did not run away from it.  He must have realized that it was an opportunity to prove the Lord and his own spiritual metal.  Little did he know that this was preparation ground for something bigger later on. This is often the procedure of the Lord with His servants. 

2/. IN STANDING AGAINST THE TEN SPIES   Numbers 13

 

He, along with Caleb, rejected the spirit and attitude of the other ten who were of a  fearful mind and spirit.  There was an attitude of defiance in him to the negativism and pessimism of his compatriots and God was pleased with this mind and heart set. It is stated of Joshua and Caleb that they were of ‘a different spirit.’ 

3/.  IN ASSUMING THE ROLE OF LEADER   Joshua 1

Taking over from Moses was enough to scare anyone off.  This man had seen all that Moses had accomplished and had to put up with and he could have readily backed off from such a divine appointment.  Moses looked an intimidating figure and had exercised so much authority in God and these factors could have made him refuse the position.

5/. IN READINESS TO TAKE ON ALL THEIR ENEMIES    Joshua 1

 

The Lord gave a list of the formidable powers that would be there to resist any attempt to take their territory.  They would not readily give in and up, so an enormous spirit would be required to see the whole project through.  It would not be an easy agenda as he had Israel to deal with as well.  There would be problems and difficulties in this task but he knew with God, all things were possible.  As far as he was concerned, God, His presence, promises and power were sufficient to bring about the downfall of all the opposition and make Israel the total possessors of the whole land. The story is one of courage and conquest. 

6/.  IN THE PREPAREDNESS TO CHALLENGE ISRAEL WITH A CHOICE OF GREAT CONSEQUENCES   – Joshua 24

In coming to the end of his days, one does not find him in a weak, insipid state but was wide awake and as a strong as ever in spirit.  He was not for turning at the climax of his life.  With regard to himself and his household his mind was clearly made up: “We are going to serve the Lord.”  But he set the tone for the leadership and nation for years to come by his bold approach and created the spiritual climate for others to make the same kind of commitment.

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