Archive for the ‘heaven’ Category

My Pilot

Posted: May 6, 2013 in bereavement, death, depression, family, friendship, Health, heaven, life, love, religion, Rutherglen, Salvation Army, transportation, words
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In the last couple of months I’ve spoken several times about how I’ve felt as if I’m running on auto pilot. But do you understand what i mean?

A pilot is normally associated with aeroplanes, however a pilot is really just described as someone who leads or guides. So for me what that meant was, I was going through the motions, doing and saying all the things I was supposed to without really feeling as though I was really there or really in control of what I was saying or doing…I was there in person but my mind was definitely elsewhere thinking about my Dad and my Aunt Mae  who died within 6 weeks of one another earlier this year.

I am just thankful that particularly in these last couple of months, I’ve had a great pilot to guide me…Jesus!jesus is my pilot

I’m reminded of a chorus we used to sing:

I have a pilot who guides me
Night and day;
Through cloud and sunshine I trust him,
Come what may.
Dangers may threaten but I never fear;
I’m full of confidence while he is near;
I have a pilot who guides me
Along life’s way.

I have certainly found those words reassuring in the last while, I hope you do too.

If it wasn’t for my faith…

Posted: April 14, 2013 in bereavement, blogging, death, dementia, family, finance, friendship, Health, heaven, hospital, life, love, music, pray, religion, stroke
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Have you ever wondered how your life would have turned out and how you would have coped with life , if you hadn’t accepted Christ as your saviour?

I have, particularly in these last few weeks as we’ve had to cope with the death of first my Dad and then my Aunt Mae.faith

Just after my Dad passed away, someone said to me that, “There are only two certainties on life, one that you have been born, and secondly, that you will die” – Despite this, we all find the death of a loved one very upsetting and difficult to cope with.

It’s therefore no surprise to me that during these difficult and stressful weeks, I’ve relied heavily on God to keep me strong for my Mum and focused enough make all the required arrangements etc. So much so, I actually feel as if I’ve been running on auto-pilot for weeks now, as every day seems to have been a bit of a blur and I’m not sure I can actually tell you what I did on any particular day since the middle of February!

That said, I’m not sure I would have been able to get through these weeks if God hadn’t been there with me, as there were times when I honestly felt I couldn’t cope with any more problems, but as you can tell, I got through those days, and that I simply put down to the fact that my faith reassured me that God is with me at all times, and is helping me when my own strength has gone.

Today I thank God for my faith. Without Him, these last few weeks would have been even harder to face than they were.

Another Farewell

Posted: April 11, 2013 in bereavement, blogging, children, church, death, dementia, family, Food, friendship, Glasgow, Glasgow, Health, heaven, life, love, religion, Rutherglen, Salvation Army, stroke
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It’s been another sad day today, as just 5 weeks after saying our final farewells to my Dad, we said a final farewell to my Aunt Mae, Mary Waddell Gilchrist (23/10/1922 – 03/04/2013).

Aunt Mae (Aug 2011)

My intention again today, just at it had been on the day of my Dad’s funeral (see the blog post Farewell), was to write a tribute to my Aunt Mae, but I’m afraid again it’s just too soon for me to be able to write anything that would do her justice. At some point in the coming weeks I hope to write tributes to both Dad and Aunt Mae, but for today I simply want to say thank you.

Thank you to so many of you who have offered words of comfort and solace to me, Mum and Sandy over these last few weeks as first we lost my Dad, and then my Aunt Mae. I really can’t express strongly enough just how much your support in person, by phone and/or card, has meant to us all.

To those of you who have helped us get everything sorted out for today, I’d like to say a huge thank you to you.

To the many of you who shared with us today at Rutherglen Salvation Army for the service of thanksgiving, then at Rutherglen cemetery, and then afterwards back at Rutherglen Salvation Army for refreshments, thank you for taking the time to support us on this most difficult of days, as I’m sure it was very much appreciated by all my family. I’m sure my Aunt Mae would have been embarrassed by all that has been said about her today, but as far as I’m concerned, it simply shows the huge impact and influence Aunt Mae had on the many people she met during her lifetime.

I’ll miss you Aunt Mae, and just as I said about my Dad a few weeks ago, I will never ever forget you.

Rest in peace Aunt Mae xxx

WIP

Posted: April 7, 2013 in bible, family, friendship, heaven, life, love, music, religion
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We are all works-in-progress

Philippians 1:6 (NLT) says:

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

So as you can see, God tells us in Philippians, that was we are works in progress, by reminding us that although He has been working in us from the moment we were born, He has promised to keep working in us until either Jesus returns to earth or He calls us home to heaven.

Therefore, today I want to say to you, never think God has given up on you as a lost cause because He will keep working in your life.

It’s Finished

Posted: April 3, 2013 in cross, death, Easter, family, friendship, heaven, life, love, music, religion
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How deep the Fathers love for us.
How vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only son to make a wretch His treasure.
Why should I gain from His reward,
I cannot give an answer.
But, this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Christ willingly died for us. He shed His blood just so we could live.

I will never forget the great sacrifice Christ gave for me, and that is why today, I again say thank you to God for accepting me for who I am, faults and all. I believe because I have given my heart, my life, my all to Him, that He can achieve all He needs and wants me to.

It was my sin that held him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying words have brought me life
I know that it is finished.

Resurrected!

Posted: March 31, 2013 in cross, death, Easter, family, friendship, heaven, holiday, life, love, music, pray, prayer, religion
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Power of the cross is what makes today a day to celebrate Christ, and God’s love for every one of us.

Christ is alive, He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!

Easter Sunday, today, is one of the happiest in the Christian calendar. Why? Because today we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. So let’s celebrate today by rejoicing in God’s love for each one of us.

God gave His son for us, so in return let’s celebrate this Easter by give our all to God.

Why Care About Easter?

Posted: March 30, 2013 in bereavement, cross, death, Easter, family, friendship, Health, heaven, life, love, music, pray, prayer, religion
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What does Easter mean to you?

For me Easter is all about sacrifice, the sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us on the cross when he bled and died, just so we can all be forgiven of our sins. I find it almost impossible to truly understand the pain and agony Jesus suffered when he was crucified.

Can you imagine how God felt, giving up his one and only son, just so the world could be forgiven of every sin?

Personally I struggle to comprehend how God must have felt, but I am forever in God’s debt because He did allow Christ to die on the cross.

As with every Easter, I feel so inadequate and so unworthy of God’s love. However I am  also so thankful that God does love me unconditionally, and He is always by my side, guiding me and supporting me through each minute of every day, and challenge and problem life throws in my direction.

So if Easter has only ever been about two days off school or work and Easter eggs, I pray this Easter I have given you some food for thought about what Easter is really all about…

Easter is all about “The Cross” and the sacrifice God gave for you and for me.

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Calvary Is Real

Posted: March 29, 2013 in bible, cross, death, Easter, family, friendship, Health, heaven, holiday, life, love, music, religion
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Lord, make Calvary real to me;
Lord, make Calvary real to me.
Open mine eyes to see victory in Christ for me;
Lord, make Calvary real to me.

Today is Good Friday. A day when Christians around the world remember the day when Christ was crucified on a cross, at Calvary.

Now doesn’t that sound a bit odd, people remembering, and celebrating the death of another? It would if it wasn’t for the significance of the person who was crucified. Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to earth to live amongst us and teach us how to love one another, was that person. Because Christ died on a cross we have been forgiven of our sins. In other words,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:15-17)

So today is all about the cross, the blood, forgiveness and The Christ!

One of my favourite Easter songs is Written in Red. Please listen to the following audio of Olwyn Mathie singing this beautiful song which has such power and emotional words:

Endless

Posted: March 21, 2013 in bereavement, children, death, dementia, depression, family, friendship, Health, heart, heaven, hospital, life, love, music, religion, words
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tearsThere are some things which can seem endless. Some that are good and some not so good. Things like the love and support from family and friends can feel endless which is obviously good. While a continual string of bad or events which affect your life are the complete opposite.

I’ve felt for the last few years that my life has just been one constant struggle after another between my own health problems as well as health  problems and other issues affecting other members of my family. This has all culminated in the last few weeks with my Dad passing away and now my 90-year-old aunt being admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago with a bad chest infection and not eating or drinking, and then just a few days ago being told my aunt had probably had a stroke and it was unlikely she’d pull through.

How does that make me feel? Well at times I question God, as I’m sure we all do sometimes, “why me?”, but other times I acknowledge that God wouldn’t let me go through these experiences if he didn’t think I could handle them.

That doesn’t make me feel any better during these tough days, and it of course doesn’t make my life any easier, but it does remind me that God lives me and walks beside me in all situations, even though it may feel to me that he’s deserted me.

So when you are going through what seems like an endless string of bad things, remember God is there and is supporting you in all at all times.

The following video of Susan Best singing God is Always There will hopefully help you remember that God is always there for you:

Managing Grief #2

Posted: March 4, 2013 in bereavement, blogging, death, family, friendship, Health, heaven, language, life, love, music, religion
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I mentioned the other day in Managing Grief #1, that I would be doing a series of blog posts giving some ideas on how to manage grief.  Today it’s about remembering your loved one…

Just because your loved one is gone doesn’t mean you should try to remove any thought of their passing from your mind. It’s important to be realistic about your loss, and not try to hide from the fact that there is an empty space in your life that they once filled.

I’m not saying we should immortalise them and never move on with your life, simply that you need to give yourself time to grieve – That in turn leads to the question of the how long is appropriate for us to grieve. The answer to this questions in itself is unknown as we are all different and all cope with grief differently, so grieve for as long as you need to.

When your with family and friends, don’t be afraid to talk about your loved one by sharing your memories of them, because in doing so you are helping you, and in turn showing your family and friends that it is actually ok to speak about the person.

I hope none of this sounds cold and dismissive, it is not intended to be. I simply feel that it is worthwhile to remember the person who has died and talk about them. i.e. It should not be taboo to talk about someone because they’ve died, but instead it should be good to share memories.

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