Matthew Henry’s Commentary says Psalms are important summary of the Old Testament while bringing the promise of the New Testament. He says Psalms reach all people and help them communicate directly with God. All the Books of the bible do this, but Psalms tend to put it all in one place. In a warm and tender moment, Matthew Henry says about Psalms, “It is good to be here.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
I don’t intend to dwell on the loss of our daughter as we read together Scripture for Today. I had a few questions asked of me about losing a child and faith. I believe when we experience loss, it allows us to learn better how to comfort one another. I believe with all of my soul that Isabelle lives and she serves & served God’s purpose for her life. A friend told me - I take great comfort from it- although God knew Isabelle’s days would be very short in God’s book of life, He chose to create her and loves her immensely. I grieve, the grief recovery sites say it can be for up to 2 years, but I do not grieve as one without hope of God’s goodness.
Is God good?
But in this thought provoking season, I have learned deeply I am one who is saved by grace not by being nice enough, clean enough or by works. As I have cried unfair and not good to the Lord, I have read Job and realized what used to be a theory (hardship, grief, fairness in God's actions), is very uncomfortable to experience. In Psalm 139, (the baby Psalm) the Lord acknowledges there is no where to go where He is not with us. And I will confess, as I read Job and felt his cry and the Lord’s answer that would we judge Him for goodness, I really wanted to crawl under the sofa and not have my thoughts seen.
A very wise Minister once told me years ago in times of stress or emotional pain, it is good not to make life changing decisions. After Isabelle’s death, I did not want to abandon my faith, but clung to it. In my emotions, I did not always feel that God is good all of the time, but I believed it.
God is good. All the time.
It is a great and wonderful thing we have a God who grieves with us when we grieve. God wept over Lazarus.
Because I know God, my family, including Isabelle, and my friends do not want us to suffer over Isabelle, I am able to put the sadness down mostly and be thankful for what is good in life. It IS good to have a daughter when last year she did not exist, she is a treasure in heaven to look forward to. It is good to know with time it won’t hurt so much. It is good to know my life is still part of God’s plan. It is good to acknowledge Americans do poorly with people who grieve, the people who avoid me for my sadness will again be part of my life and the love in friendship will continue. The tender mercies of God are renewed each day. It is good to be here.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
I don’t intend to dwell on the loss of our daughter as we read together Scripture for Today. I had a few questions asked of me about losing a child and faith. I believe when we experience loss, it allows us to learn better how to comfort one another. I believe with all of my soul that Isabelle lives and she serves & served God’s purpose for her life. A friend told me - I take great comfort from it- although God knew Isabelle’s days would be very short in God’s book of life, He chose to create her and loves her immensely. I grieve, the grief recovery sites say it can be for up to 2 years, but I do not grieve as one without hope of God’s goodness.
Is God good?
But in this thought provoking season, I have learned deeply I am one who is saved by grace not by being nice enough, clean enough or by works. As I have cried unfair and not good to the Lord, I have read Job and realized what used to be a theory (hardship, grief, fairness in God's actions), is very uncomfortable to experience. In Psalm 139, (the baby Psalm) the Lord acknowledges there is no where to go where He is not with us. And I will confess, as I read Job and felt his cry and the Lord’s answer that would we judge Him for goodness, I really wanted to crawl under the sofa and not have my thoughts seen.
A very wise Minister once told me years ago in times of stress or emotional pain, it is good not to make life changing decisions. After Isabelle’s death, I did not want to abandon my faith, but clung to it. In my emotions, I did not always feel that God is good all of the time, but I believed it.
God is good. All the time.
It is a great and wonderful thing we have a God who grieves with us when we grieve. God wept over Lazarus.
Because I know God, my family, including Isabelle, and my friends do not want us to suffer over Isabelle, I am able to put the sadness down mostly and be thankful for what is good in life. It IS good to have a daughter when last year she did not exist, she is a treasure in heaven to look forward to. It is good to know with time it won’t hurt so much. It is good to know my life is still part of God’s plan. It is good to acknowledge Americans do poorly with people who grieve, the people who avoid me for my sadness will again be part of my life and the love in friendship will continue. The tender mercies of God are renewed each day. It is good to be here.
Psalm 33
1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
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1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
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