Paul Harvey, the man and the birds and a reminder of the gift God gave us through His son.

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelations 3:20

Paul Harvey's'a man and his birds' has become the classic of mine every holiday season. A poetic reminder of God's greatest gift to mankind, the gift of God's son, Jesus to a world starving for significance. Yet, the true gift wasn't realized until the sorrow overwhelmed us when Jesus took his final breath on the cross.

 Those who might have walked away from Christ believing this was just another broken promise from God never got to see the greatest Spiritual revival in the history of mankind when Jesus reappeared in his new heavenly body and witnessed by thousands of people. 

Nor was their faith strong enough to firmly believe Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Savior and Lord of their life.

 In the book of Acts 1-2, we read these words from Jesus3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Later in that Chapter are these words of encouragement from our Lord Jesus, "7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The greatest gift wasn't realized until after the final blow and the final breath was taken, but after he was resurrected and came back to fulfill the promise God made to His people. Shortly before Jesus took his final breath, he uttered those words found in John 19: 28 'After this, Jesus, knowing[a] that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

How easy is it for us to rush our grief by engaging in mindless activities that do nothing but ruin our souls! I would have loved to be in that room when Jesus made his appearance or witnessed those words found in John 20 to Thomas, one of his disciples, '24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

There is a reward for those who trust the living Savior that He knows what to do with your pain and suffering. To those who trust and lean on their emotions will find healing. When we accept the living Savior into our heart, he promises to walk with you on your journey of life, just as Revelations 3:20 reminds us.

When you trust the living Savior with your pain,  one day you will once again laugh and giggle just as you had before your loss. 

He really does make all things new!

Joy

For this is what the Lord says— he who created theheavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made theearth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:18

I spent the best of two days putting up Christmas lights which means I was outdoors enjoying nature,  sunshine, and getting physical exercise.  The by-product of this effort left me with a feeling of euphoria. It was like I had this overflowing river of joy brimming up from below. 

While driving to the hardware store to buy an item I didn't have, I had my radio tuned to our local Christian FM radio station otherwise known as KTIS which this time of year has been playing joy lifting Christmas songs.  

Between the time I spent outdoors soaking up the radiance of the sun and everything God's abundant nature provided from the bunny running through the yard to dogs playing fetch to the birds flying overhead, I sense this brimming source of optimism radiating through every vein and artery of my body. 

At dinner time we heard this news report that perfectly defined what it was I was experiencing: Eco-therapy.

Ecotherapy is the name given to a wide range of treatment programmes which aim to improve your mental and physical wellbeing while doing outdoor activities in nature.https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/ecotherapy/#.Whp__EqnHIU  

Once God created the earth and all of the animals and nature, he made man to be the overseers of the earth. This meant he wanted men and woman to enjoy all of the fruits and benefits of God's creation by occasionally going outdoors for long walks, hiking in the park, camping, or simply sitting in a chair by a gently flowing creek.

  How we forget these simple things when pain and grief enter our lives where our first inclination is to stay in a darkened room. away from the health benefits of nature.  Since I began facilitating grief share, I have heard stories miracle stories of what happens when grieving people venture outdoors-  God does wonderful things to lift them up.  Doctors are now encouraging their patients to take walks in the park as a way to help them feel better. 

If we all did this, think how much better our bodies would feel? Our world has incredible beauty spread on all the far-reaching continents for people to enjoy. We were made to be in balance with nature.

We were meant to enjoy the great outdoors.

At times the waves of grief may seem like t hey will never end.....

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41

A song I loved singing as a child was 'Jesus loves me, yes I know, for the bible tells me so.' Anyone who've experienced singing in children's church will likely know the rest of the words of that song. It is a poetic reminder of how much God truly loves you and me. No matter what happens to us on this journey called life, God is watching out for you.

Yet, when we lose someone special to us and we feel the torrent of emotions hitting our lives, we get this feeling that God abandoned us, and this forlorn journey of grief would never end. It is as though we are in this wooden boat on the stormy sea bailing water just to try to stay afloat. As we hear the thunderous roars and see the huge lightning beams all around us, we wonder if this is the end.

In the 4th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is reclining at the back of the boat when his disciples experience a storm that is so bad that it looked like they would be capsized. The disciples woke Jesus up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” A natural response of anyone who has ever been in a boat when a storm comes from nowhere!

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Jesus next response was, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Can you imagine what your response might have been if you were in that boat and you witnessed the wind died down and the sea returning to normal?

His disciples did when we read these words, They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” I think Jesus's words illustrates for all of us that when we are in the storms of life (and grief is categorically one ) He will walk with us through the muck and mire of our pain no matter how long it takes.

Instead of grabbing the nearest alcoholic beverage or that addictive sedative to down your pain, trust Jesus Christ by asking him to cope with it. In time, those rough seas that you thought would swamp you will even out with just an occasional high wave you know you can face head-on and recover.

The grief journey you are on can be the signature moment of your life when God felt moments come to you through dreams, bible passages, or through conversations with your friends who were given a word of encouragement to encourage you.


Just as the words to that song, you will one day be singing the rest of  those lyrics!
'
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain:

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so. 

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
Jesus loves me still today,

Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live. 

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.