Today, my friend
buried his bride of 9 short years.
Today, two small
children said goodbye to their mommy.
Today, the world
lost a Jesus-girl who honored her husband, loved her children, and was faithful
to her Lord and Savior.
 |
| The Shippey Family Chris, Christina, Malakhi, Brooklyn |
Last week, my friend buried her husband of 28 years.
Last week, three
children said goodbye to their hero.
Last week, the
world lost a mighty warrior who ran to the hurting, the broken, and the forgotten
all around the world with the goal of pouring out love and spreading the Gospel by being the hands and feet
of Jesus.
 |
| Craig Miller |
This morning, my
heart is heavy.
This morning, the
tears flow freely.
This morning, I am
sad that my friends have to grieve so deeply.
I can't imagine the pain involved when your spouse, your person, the one whom your soul is mingled, passes from life to death and leaves you behind. Jesus, how does a broken one-flesh heart heal from that without having an intimate relationship with You?
You tell us in Psalm
34:18 that You are near the brokenhearted.
You tell us in
Isaiah 41:10 that You will strengthen and help us.
You tell us in
Psalm 147:3 that You heal the brokenhearted and bind up wounds.
God, I pray that
you will envelope the deepest places of their hurting hearts today. I pray you will be their refuge and their
strength. I ask you to bind up their
wounds and lead them along the path of healing. Jesus, I pray today that as they face dark days ahead, that you will be
near. Jesus, please be near!
These two giants, these two friends, they left a mark on the world. My human brain can not even begin to understand how calling them home instead of leaving them here was the right decision.
Their lives brought You glory.
Their journeys pointed people to You.
Even though I am sad and confused, I echo Isaiah and declare that my thoughts are not Your thoughts and my ways are not Your ways. Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine and I stand on that truth and I trust that You know best.
Their lives brought You glory.
Their journeys pointed people to You.
Even though I am sad and confused, I echo Isaiah and declare that my thoughts are not Your thoughts and my ways are not Your ways. Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine and I stand on that truth and I trust that You know best.
“Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be your darkest days - when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you are out of options, when the pain is great – and you turn to God alone.”
{Rick Warren}
