Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Top Ten Reasons NOT to Share Your Faith with (fill in the blank)

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10. Satan does not want me to.

“Behold, I give you authority . . . over all the power of the enemy.” (Luke 10:17-19)
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

9. (fill in the blank) does not believe in hell.

“I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:18)

8. (fill in the blank) will think I am stupid.

“He who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

7. (fill in the blank) thinks I am intolerant.

“Jesus said to him, ‘"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” (John 14:6)

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

6. (fill in the blank) knows the scripture better than I do.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” (John 5:39)

5. (fill in the blank) said he was saved already, but believes Christianity is fake.

“They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19)

4. (fill in the blank) thinks the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales.

"'These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45)

3. Believes in God . . . that's enough.

“You believe that God is one, you do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” (James 2:19)

2. (fill in the blank) is too hard to witness to.

“For the love of Christ compels us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

1. (fill in the blank) is a good person.

“There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18).

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