When you lose what you love

When they walk through the Valley of Weeping... They will continue to grow stronger.
Psalm 84:6-7

When you lose what you love you go through five stages:
(1) Denial - "No, it can't be happening."
(2) Anger - "God, why are You permitting this?"
(3) Bargaining - "Please make it go away."
(4) Depression - Silence and withdrawal.
(5) Acceptance - "Not my will but Yours be done."

Whether it's the loss of a child, a marriage, a job, your health, etc. when you turn to God He'll give you the grace to embrace it, grieve it, express it, release it, and go on to become stronger. Sometimes we seek quick relief by releasing it before we've gone through these stages. That's because we fear the process. We've been taught that any show of emotion is a show of weakness, so we stuff it. But we only stuff it into our emotional rubbish bin, then spend all our time and energy sitting on the lid, trying to keep the contents from spilling out. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). It's knowing and embracing the truth, including its painful aspects, that sets you free. You must be willing to forgive. But until you come to grips with the enormity of your loss, including any injustice of what was done to you, you are not ready to forgive. When you rush to forgive, you forgive only in part and you're released only in part.

Are you running from pain today? Are you trading it in prematurely for some other feeling? That's not God's way.
Jesus said, "You will weep and mourn… but [eventually] your grief will turn to joy… and no one will take [it] away" (John 16:20-22 ).



Learn to Benefit from Criticism

Whoever learns from correction is wise.
Proverbs 15:5

There are two kinds of criticism:

(1) Unjustified criticism. One day Henry Ward Beecher went to his church to preach. As the great orator placed his Bible on the pulpit he noticed a blank sheet of paper with the word "fool" written on it. Beecher's keen sense of humour seized the moment. He lifted the paper for all to see, then his booming voice filled the church as he announced, "Generally I receive letters from people who write and forget to sign their name. This letter is different. The person has signed his name but forgotten to write the letter." Jesus said, "Offences will come" (Luke 17:1). So expect them. And remember, attack is a sign of respect. You're getting noticed. You're making a difference. So when you are criticised unjustly, forget it and move on. Jesus did!

(2) Justified criticism. Criticism that's justified has a measure of truth in it. An old Arab proverb states, "If one person calls you a donkey, forget it. But if five people call you a donkey, buy a saddle."
Dr. James G. Kerr, a management psychologist, points out that a major deterrent to gaining information about ourselves lies in our natural reluctance to discover anything about ourselves that isn't flattering. When we erect defences against our own inadequacies and try to hide our faults from ourselves and others, we close the door to a vital source of self-knowledge and therefore deny ourselves the joy of Spiritual growth. Stop hiding from the truth. Every one of us can improve what we're doing and the way in which it's being done.
As they say, "The largest room in the world - is room for improvement!"
Proverbs 15:5


You Have To Give It Away

Give, and it will be given to you.
Luke 6:38


Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, dying for water. He came upon a shack and saw a rusty old water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle and began to pump up and down. But nothing came out.
Then he noticed a nearby jug with these words, "My friend, you have to prime the pump with the water in this jug. P.S. Be sure to fill the jug again before you leave."

As he popped the cork, suddenly he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water he could live. But if he poured it into the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield from down deep in the well all the water he wanted later. He studied his options. What should he do, pour it into the pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water, or drink what was in the jug and ignore its message?

Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump… squeak, squeak, squeak. Nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the old rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents. Then he filled the jug for the next traveller. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: "Believe me, it really works."
Friend, don't ignore the message Jesus left: "Give, and it will be given to you."

http://www.thevine.co.nz