June 16: NO meeting (Kid's Crusade)
June 23: Upward Turn/Working Through
June 30: Acceptance
June 30th will be the last meeting for the grief group for this cycle. In July, we will begin another subject matter (topic to be announced). I encourage anyone who has been a part of the grief group to try and make it to the last two meetings. I want to make sure your concerns have been heard, and you feel God is restoring you. I pray that healing has taken or is taking place, and you are feeling more at peace about the issues surrounding you. God bless you this week, and hope to see you next Tuesday, June 23 @ 6:30 pm.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Create in Me a Clean Heart
Psalm 51:
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
This psalm comprises the song by Keith Green. I posted the video on facebook. It came to my spirit since it speaks of "renewing" and "restoring". I've listened to it several times tonight, so it's resounding in my head. My Renewal theme song for now.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
This psalm comprises the song by Keith Green. I posted the video on facebook. It came to my spirit since it speaks of "renewing" and "restoring". I've listened to it several times tonight, so it's resounding in my head. My Renewal theme song for now.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Song Within
Psalm 13 (New International Version)
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
David cried out to God in his distress. He asked God many questions. David's soul was in anguish. But, in the midst of his grief, David still had a song in his heart. And, he chose to sing it. Just like David, God allows us to express our hurts and grievances to Him. God wants to bring healing to those wounded areas. And, in like manner, God wants to hear the song within our heart, knowing that His love is always there.
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
David cried out to God in his distress. He asked God many questions. David's soul was in anguish. But, in the midst of his grief, David still had a song in his heart. And, he chose to sing it. Just like David, God allows us to express our hurts and grievances to Him. God wants to bring healing to those wounded areas. And, in like manner, God wants to hear the song within our heart, knowing that His love is always there.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Depression
Looking ahead to next week's meeting, the subject matter will be depression. Now, I know you might be thinking, "Oh, I can't wait to get to that one. What fun that will be. We can all sit around and talk about how sad we are, and shed a few tears." And, if that be the case, we always manage to have a box of Kleenex there. But, haven't we always shared some laughter amidst our grief as well?
Depression isn't just a case of the "blues". According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, depression is: " a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies ". When left untreated, depression can cause further emotional and physical damage.
Depression is normal when dealing with grief. A feeling of sadness is expected. However, when it becomes prolonged is when the problem arises. Self-evaluations may be done online by answering a few simple questions. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please seek support from a group, trusted friend or counselor.
Depression isn't just a case of the "blues". According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, depression is: " a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies ". When left untreated, depression can cause further emotional and physical damage.
Depression is normal when dealing with grief. A feeling of sadness is expected. However, when it becomes prolonged is when the problem arises. Self-evaluations may be done online by answering a few simple questions. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please seek support from a group, trusted friend or counselor.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Bargaining
(taken from "Healing Grief: Reclaiming Life After Any Loss" by James Van Praagh)
"Bargaining is a phase we use as a way to control a situation. It is a type of defense mechanism. A person may make a promise to God that if he or she behaves a particular way, then everything will be reversed, or the scenario will be prevented by some miraculous occurrence. Bargaining, like denial, keeps us from facing reality. Sometimes the shock of loss can become too much to bear, and we resort to this kind of reasoning. Bargaining may temporarily comfort some people as they ease into the truth of the situation. However, if you live in an illusionary world where denial and bargaining are totally encompassing, you begin to detach from the reality around you."
As we continue to explore the stages of grief and examine where we may be in this process, I encourage those who have been a part of Renewal to hold fast to what God has done and is doing in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter.
"Bargaining is a phase we use as a way to control a situation. It is a type of defense mechanism. A person may make a promise to God that if he or she behaves a particular way, then everything will be reversed, or the scenario will be prevented by some miraculous occurrence. Bargaining, like denial, keeps us from facing reality. Sometimes the shock of loss can become too much to bear, and we resort to this kind of reasoning. Bargaining may temporarily comfort some people as they ease into the truth of the situation. However, if you live in an illusionary world where denial and bargaining are totally encompassing, you begin to detach from the reality around you."
As we continue to explore the stages of grief and examine where we may be in this process, I encourage those who have been a part of Renewal to hold fast to what God has done and is doing in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Dealing With Anger
(The following was taken from the Life Recovery Bible):
"Many of us have a hard time dealing with anger. Some of us have a history of rage, so we try to stifle our feelings. Others of us stuff down the feelings of anger, pretending they don't exist, because we were never allowed to express them in the past. If some of our problems stem from not knowing how to express anger properly, we may try to avoid dealing with it altogether. We may try to 'put it off' and hope it goes away.
The apostle Paul said, 'Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil' (Ephesians 4:26-27). One key is to have daily time limits for handling our anger---time to find ways to express the feelings and then let them go.
Dealing with anger promptly is important because when it is left to fester, it becomes bitterness. Bitterness is anger that has been buried and given time to grow. The Bible warns us: 'Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slanders as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you' (Ephesians 4: 31-32)."
"Many of us have a hard time dealing with anger. Some of us have a history of rage, so we try to stifle our feelings. Others of us stuff down the feelings of anger, pretending they don't exist, because we were never allowed to express them in the past. If some of our problems stem from not knowing how to express anger properly, we may try to avoid dealing with it altogether. We may try to 'put it off' and hope it goes away.
The apostle Paul said, 'Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil' (Ephesians 4:26-27). One key is to have daily time limits for handling our anger---time to find ways to express the feelings and then let them go.
Dealing with anger promptly is important because when it is left to fester, it becomes bitterness. Bitterness is anger that has been buried and given time to grow. The Bible warns us: 'Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slanders as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you' (Ephesians 4: 31-32)."
Monday, May 25, 2009
Not Enough Rocks
The following excerpt was taken from the book, "Wounds That Heal" by Stephen Seamands.
"The movie Forrest Gump contains a heartwrenching scene where five-year-old Jenny, Forrest's friend, prays as the two of them are running into a cornfield to hide from her drunken father: 'Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far away from here.'
Years late, Jenny returns to the small town where she grew up to visit Forrest. The two of them, now adults in their thirties, are walking near the abandoned shack where she once lived. As she fixes her eyes on it, painful buried memories of the abuse flood her mind.
She bursts into tears and begins to vent her hurt and anger by picking up the rocks around her and throwing them as hard as she can at the shack. When there are no more rocks, she takes off her shoes and throws them too. Finally she falls to the ground sobbing. As Forrest reflects on the scene he says, 'Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks.'
Like Jenny, deep-seated pain and anger may still fester in your heart. At times, you may find yourself shaking a clenched fist toward heaven as a raging voice within cries out, God, it isn't fair! It's not right. What did I do to deserve this? We agree with Forrest Gump, 'Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks.' "
If you are struggling to work through some anger issues due to things that have happened in your past, come and join us in our Renewal meeting this week. We will be discussing anger, how to handle it, and how to relinquish it to God so He can heal our wounded souls and spirits.
"The movie Forrest Gump contains a heartwrenching scene where five-year-old Jenny, Forrest's friend, prays as the two of them are running into a cornfield to hide from her drunken father: 'Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far away from here.'
Years late, Jenny returns to the small town where she grew up to visit Forrest. The two of them, now adults in their thirties, are walking near the abandoned shack where she once lived. As she fixes her eyes on it, painful buried memories of the abuse flood her mind.
She bursts into tears and begins to vent her hurt and anger by picking up the rocks around her and throwing them as hard as she can at the shack. When there are no more rocks, she takes off her shoes and throws them too. Finally she falls to the ground sobbing. As Forrest reflects on the scene he says, 'Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks.'
Like Jenny, deep-seated pain and anger may still fester in your heart. At times, you may find yourself shaking a clenched fist toward heaven as a raging voice within cries out, God, it isn't fair! It's not right. What did I do to deserve this? We agree with Forrest Gump, 'Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks.' "
If you are struggling to work through some anger issues due to things that have happened in your past, come and join us in our Renewal meeting this week. We will be discussing anger, how to handle it, and how to relinquish it to God so He can heal our wounded souls and spirits.
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