In memory of my Dad - by Catherine Ulstad-Hart
My apologies to my Sister Catherine who wrote this weeks ago...
Grief is a painful process of adjusting to life without the people that we cherish init. At first it feels like a shock wave to us who are left behind. People who grieve well- don't hurt any less. If they use their pain as an opportunity to grow "through it" rather than just go through it- that process takes time. That is what I've been trying to do... on a journey... learning that my life won't be the same without my Dad. But I've learned that it can be good again no matter how much I miss him. My journey through this grief has revealed some things I've discovered that I would like to share. It has revealed things I never would have seen without my Dad's passing. Some of the choices we make in the process of working through our grief can and will slowly bring meaning and hope back into our lives. No one chooses grief, but everyone eventually chooses how we respond to it. It all boils down to what we believe and it provides eternal meaning and significance to life. It comes from our relationship with God and our relationship with others through Christ. One thing I've learned working through my grief is that I need to focus on what I still have that's important. My grieving and my living is still intertwined with hope and the future. I'm learning how to keep my focus on what's important whenever trouble comes and the most important is to focus on Christ who gives me strength to go on. He is the "Light" that never fails.
In the Christian life...disappointments will come...people who used to be lights will flicker out, then we must build our faith not on the fading lights but on the "Light" that never goes out. When "important" individuals pass away we are very sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do... to look into the face of God for ourselves.
* The best of life on earth is a glimpse of heaven The worst of life on earth is a glimpse of hell For Christians- this present life is the closest they will come to hell. For unbelievers- it is the closest they will come to heaven.
Most people live unprepared for death for them and their loved ones. God uses suffering and death of those you love to help "unfasten" us from this earth and to set our minds on what lies beyond our lives on earth. Now... my family and I have lost our Dad/husband who was a big part of our lives. But actually we've only lost contact with him... he's not lost. We know where he is. This has given us an interest in the afterlife, to investigate what is on the other side of this life? Our family fortunately has already discovered that the choices we make during our stay in this world will matter in the world to come. Most people try to deny death and avoid talking or even the thought of it except when it's forced unexpectedly upon us. I used to think that way but, no more. Most live under the fear of death. I learned and believe that Jesus Christ came to deliver us all from the fear of death.
My beloved Daddy... taken up into his eternal home... he is not dead... but lives. I am thankful that he no longer feels any pain and the years of suffering from his Parkinson's disease. I know that he's walking, running, talking and laughing again and maybe even flying again. But best of all he is with the Lord. My Dad is where he was made to be... where we're all made to be. We all should accept the many things about heaven that are secret and that God has countless surprises in store for us. God has revealed these things to us in His Word... and it is critical and important that we study and learn to understand them.
Jesus said:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; Trust also in Me. In my Father'shouse are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3
We cannot enter heaven as we are. Heaven is not our default destination. No one goes there automatically unless our sin problem is resolved first. I only mention this because it is important to everyone... to be reunited with family and friends when it comes to their time to pass from this world. None of us should just "wait and see" when it comes to what's on the other side of death. We can know, and we all should know, before we die, especially because we may die at any time. We all need to choose.
My Dad's pain and suffering was not relieved in his life here on earth... but it is now and for eternity. I can almost imagine hearing his laughter and joy that he is no longer suffering. Suffering and death are temporary conditions. Our existence will not end in suffering and death... they are a gateway to our eternal life of unending joy. My Dad is now experiencing something much better than he ever experienced in his life on earth.
Jesus transforms our mourning into rejoicing!
Everything we have is a gift from God!
We have a place of safety- today and for eternity.
Have you personally accepted the wonderful "gift" of eternal life?
Faith is the title deed to the things we can't see.
Christ's unlimited love fills us with God's unlimited power. - Ephesians 3:19
Death may take our loved ones from us, but Jesus takes our loved ones from death!
"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin it's power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!
- 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
The blood of Jesus on the Cross... purchased our entry into heaven and God's presence.
This was His Plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of His glad welcome.
- Ephesians 3:11-12
This is a true saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaith-ful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
- 2 Timothy 2:11-13
He is with us from our first breath to our last... and beyond!
I conclude with having so much affection, appreciation, and devotion for my father...my Daddy. I've had the indescribable priviledge of having a great Dad, and for this I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father above. I believe in God the Father... Almighty Maker of earth... and in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord. I believe in the Holy Spirit and in a life that never ends with living eternity in heaven forever.
Nothing on earth is worth keeping us out of heaven.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Believe and receive and take what the Lord offers with a grateful heart...
Grieving with a purpose,
Love to all,
Catherine A. Ulstad-Hart
Grief is a painful process of adjusting to life without the people that we cherish init. At first it feels like a shock wave to us who are left behind. People who grieve well- don't hurt any less. If they use their pain as an opportunity to grow "through it" rather than just go through it- that process takes time. That is what I've been trying to do... on a journey... learning that my life won't be the same without my Dad. But I've learned that it can be good again no matter how much I miss him. My journey through this grief has revealed some things I've discovered that I would like to share. It has revealed things I never would have seen without my Dad's passing. Some of the choices we make in the process of working through our grief can and will slowly bring meaning and hope back into our lives. No one chooses grief, but everyone eventually chooses how we respond to it. It all boils down to what we believe and it provides eternal meaning and significance to life. It comes from our relationship with God and our relationship with others through Christ. One thing I've learned working through my grief is that I need to focus on what I still have that's important. My grieving and my living is still intertwined with hope and the future. I'm learning how to keep my focus on what's important whenever trouble comes and the most important is to focus on Christ who gives me strength to go on. He is the "Light" that never fails.
In the Christian life...disappointments will come...people who used to be lights will flicker out, then we must build our faith not on the fading lights but on the "Light" that never goes out. When "important" individuals pass away we are very sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do... to look into the face of God for ourselves.
* The best of life on earth is a glimpse of heaven The worst of life on earth is a glimpse of hell For Christians- this present life is the closest they will come to hell. For unbelievers- it is the closest they will come to heaven.
Most people live unprepared for death for them and their loved ones. God uses suffering and death of those you love to help "unfasten" us from this earth and to set our minds on what lies beyond our lives on earth. Now... my family and I have lost our Dad/husband who was a big part of our lives. But actually we've only lost contact with him... he's not lost. We know where he is. This has given us an interest in the afterlife, to investigate what is on the other side of this life? Our family fortunately has already discovered that the choices we make during our stay in this world will matter in the world to come. Most people try to deny death and avoid talking or even the thought of it except when it's forced unexpectedly upon us. I used to think that way but, no more. Most live under the fear of death. I learned and believe that Jesus Christ came to deliver us all from the fear of death.
My beloved Daddy... taken up into his eternal home... he is not dead... but lives. I am thankful that he no longer feels any pain and the years of suffering from his Parkinson's disease. I know that he's walking, running, talking and laughing again and maybe even flying again. But best of all he is with the Lord. My Dad is where he was made to be... where we're all made to be. We all should accept the many things about heaven that are secret and that God has countless surprises in store for us. God has revealed these things to us in His Word... and it is critical and important that we study and learn to understand them.
Jesus said:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; Trust also in Me. In my Father'shouse are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3
We cannot enter heaven as we are. Heaven is not our default destination. No one goes there automatically unless our sin problem is resolved first. I only mention this because it is important to everyone... to be reunited with family and friends when it comes to their time to pass from this world. None of us should just "wait and see" when it comes to what's on the other side of death. We can know, and we all should know, before we die, especially because we may die at any time. We all need to choose.
My Dad's pain and suffering was not relieved in his life here on earth... but it is now and for eternity. I can almost imagine hearing his laughter and joy that he is no longer suffering. Suffering and death are temporary conditions. Our existence will not end in suffering and death... they are a gateway to our eternal life of unending joy. My Dad is now experiencing something much better than he ever experienced in his life on earth.
Jesus transforms our mourning into rejoicing!
Everything we have is a gift from God!
We have a place of safety- today and for eternity.
Have you personally accepted the wonderful "gift" of eternal life?
Faith is the title deed to the things we can't see.
Christ's unlimited love fills us with God's unlimited power. - Ephesians 3:19
Death may take our loved ones from us, but Jesus takes our loved ones from death!
"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin it's power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!
- 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
The blood of Jesus on the Cross... purchased our entry into heaven and God's presence.
This was His Plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of His glad welcome.
- Ephesians 3:11-12
This is a true saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaith-ful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
- 2 Timothy 2:11-13
He is with us from our first breath to our last... and beyond!
I conclude with having so much affection, appreciation, and devotion for my father...my Daddy. I've had the indescribable priviledge of having a great Dad, and for this I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father above. I believe in God the Father... Almighty Maker of earth... and in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord. I believe in the Holy Spirit and in a life that never ends with living eternity in heaven forever.
Nothing on earth is worth keeping us out of heaven.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Believe and receive and take what the Lord offers with a grateful heart...
Grieving with a purpose,
Love to all,
Catherine A. Ulstad-Hart
posted by Norse1957 | 7:30 PM
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