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Tag: grief

  • Getting Out Of Bed In The Morning – Alice J. Wisler

    Getting Out Of Bed In The Morning – Alice J. Wisler

    Christian Non-Fiction Review

    An Introduction by Roger Harned

    As I write this on September 21, 2013, my daughter is celebrating her 21st birthday with friends.  If you do the math from the cover photo you will see that Daniel Paul Wisler was born just 28 days before my daughter Rachel, who will be hosting our discussion on grief.

    In 1997, the year that Daniel died, Rachel’s mother, my wife Becky, also discovered cancer spreading aggressively through her body.  We prayed fervently for the Lord’s intervention, as did many of our faithful friends; but like Daniel, Becky also died 2-10-99.

    Please take a moment to read this review from Alice Wisler’s website.  Join in our discussion on grief.  And consider ordering her book:

    GETTING Out Of Bed IN THE MORNING – by Alice J. Wisler

    A book by a grieving mom for others going through sorrow associated with loss, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache, is a tribute to my four-year-old son Daniel. Filled with prayers, scripture and thoughts on walking through this rocky path called Life, this is a companion for others who want to know that they are not alone.

    Written in devotional format, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning is a companion for those going through sorrow associated with loss—whether brought to the journey through the death of a loved one, failing health, job loss, broken relationships, or weakened family ties.

    Getting Out of Bed in the Morning is ideal for:

    •  Parents who have had a child die
    •  Those faced with an illness, financial dilemma or troubled relationship
    •  Those desiring to be sustained on their journey by God’s comfort, love, joy and
    • forgiveness
    •  Those who yearn to incorporate journaling and prayer into their daily routines
    •  Those who find beauty in walking and seek unique ways to pray and meditate as they exercise

    Alice J. Wisler has contributed an important resource for grieving families by authoring Getting Out Of Bed In The Morning from her own experience of faith in Christ and eternal life.

    Again, please SHARE your heart, scriptures and grieving experiences with all of us as your Christian Social Witness.

    We appreciate your COMMENTS on this or any post.

    Roger Harned

  • A Picture of Heaven – Chapter 14

    A Picture of Heaven – Chapter 14

    As I walked through the brilliance of a field now bathed in light, through gentle caressing breezes which flowed over lily and daisy, I basked in the warmth of something I had never known: a love of God.

    I now embraced a love and tenderness toward Jesus I had never sought, but now had found.

    As I had journeyed from the grave and thought of these things, I had been completely unaware of a stream I had crossed in delight, when suddenly a little girl came running toward me, dragging along a beautiful woman also prancing along behind her.

    “Do you remember me?”

    I looked at her loving face and smiled.

    “You showed me your picture of Heaven,” I recalled as I smiled again.

    “This is my mommy!”

    I was certain.

    “Jesus sent us here to show you the way.”

    She beamed in that same love that she had said her mommy had every time she talked about Jesus.

    Now I saw this same love in the souls of both child and her beautiful mommy.

    “You know what?” she exclaimed.

    “JESUS said that we can call God, ‘Daddy.’”

    I smiled in joy and reached out my hand to her, THANKFUL that Jesus had sent this little girl to me with a picture of Heaven.

    +++

    A Picture of Heaven is dedicated to our beloved daughter, Rachel Katherine Harned, whose mommy died when she was seven. Rachel earned her Master of Arts in Christian Counseling from Wheaton College, currently works for a local hospice and will turn age 21 tomorrow, 21 September, 2013.

    Happy Birthday, Rachel.

    Your Daddy loves you.

  • A Picture of Heaven – Chapter 12

    A Picture of Heaven – Chapter 12

    A moment of silence…

    We were asked to stand as the music began once more in our surroundings of the darkened church. It seemed sadder than before.

    I looked toward a glimmer of sun breaking through a window and reflecting off the brass cross on the altar.

    I looked down at a hymnal … to a somber lyric, crying out to me:

    Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

    And with fear and trembling stand;

    Ponder nothing earthly minded, 

    For with blessing in His hand,

    Christ our God to earth descendeth
    Our full homage to demand…

    Lord of lords, in human vesture,
    In the body and the blood;
    He will give to all the faithful
    His own self for heavenly food…

    As the Light of light descendeth
    From the realms of endless day…

    ‘Is Heaven really endless day?’ I thought, as my mind wandered upward.

    That the powers of hell may vanish
    As the darkness clears away…

    —

    At sometime during the hymn I had sunk into the pew and hung my head in shame.

    My eyes flooded with tears.

    I recalled from somewhere in my past, my hearing of Reverend Birney’s booming voice from the back of the church to begin our worship service. (I think it was from one of the Prophets.)

    THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE.

    LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENCE BEFORE HIM! [Habakkuk 2:20]

    At His feet …with ceaseless voice they cry:
    Al-le-lu-u-ia–,

    Al-le-e-e-lu-ia—
    Alleluia, Lord- Most- High!

    —

    I saw it suddenly – in a little girl’s Picture of Heaven.

    All of the hidden glory of the cross, glorified in Heaven!

    Then I realized that I was the only one brought to my knees – the only one not standing.

    I sheepishly stood once more, as eight men dressed in black began to roll the casket down the aisle beside me toward the doors at the rear of the church.

    —