Hope for Those Who Have Ever Lost a Child, Grandchild, or Loved One

 

Heaven is for Real  from the Haven Today radio broadcast

This is an amazing soundtrack that gave me comfort, and even joy, as I thought of the three grandchildren we have waiting for us in heaven.  I had tears in my eyes as I listened.  I hope you will take the time to listen to this amazing story.  You can listen while you check e-mails, but you will probably want to stop and listen more carefully.  It's that good!!  This was sent to me by a friend, Linda, whose toddler grandson recently died with no warning.

Jesus said we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Colotn Burpo, a four year-old boy, lost consciousness on the operating table and caught a glimpse of heaven.

Have you got your ticket for heaven?  Please reply to this newsletter for free ticket information!

My Heavenly Home

by Lois Breneman, 1999
Written in memory of my mother, Dorothy Walker, who went to her Heavenly Home in 1985 after a long battle with cancer.

As I entered the gate, I beheld Jesus' face!

He said, "Welcome Home, My child, you have finished the race.

You've had much pain and suffering in your earthly life,

But you've been a faithful friend, mother and wife."

"You were dedicated to Me to the very end,

Loving, serving, praying---on Me you did depend.

You searched and read My Word to see how I would lead.

You daily sought My face in prayer, and in your trials would plead."

"You taught your children, in My steps to go.

You were not perfect, but with My help I saw you grow.

Your goal was to glorify your Savior above,

And to show forth in you, My undying love."

"You have trusted in Me for your payment of sin.

Because you've accepted My gift, I have let you come in

To My Heaven--so glorious--free of death and all sorrow,

Where time is no more--no today or tomorrow."

I looked all around and saw countless happy faces.

Friends gone before were coming from all places

To welcome me Home. We walked all around

The River of Life, so crystal clear, with a rippling sound.

The Lord is our King--so majestic His throne.

The wall is of jasper, adorned with precious stone.

The street is pure gold, like transparent glass,

Surrounded by God's beauty -- perfect flowers and grass.

There's no need of the sun or the moon to shine,

Illuminated by God's glory so divine.

The Lamb is the Light. There's celestial air.

Nothing to compare in this world anywhere!

There's no heartache or pain in this city foursquare.

Not a single disease, tear, worry or care.

The twelve gates of pearl, the city---pure gold,

In this magnificent Land where we'll never grow old.

I'll be waiting here for you at the gate.

Be sure you are ready. Don't wait too late.

Trust in Christ as your Savior and live for Him there,

For I'm longing to see you, so please meet me there.

I know you may miss me, but don't cry for me.

Stand firm in the faith, until Jesus you see.

Then soon, hand in hand, on the street of pure gold,

We'll walk and we'll talk, in communion untold.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain: the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

"And then one day I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; and then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives."  Bill and Gloria Gaither

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord! Wherefore, comfort one another with these words!" I Thes. 4:16 - 18

God Is Still on the Throne / Scriptures of Strength, Hope and Comfort

by Mrs. W. F. Suffield

Have you started for glory and heaven,

Have you left this old world far behind;

In your heart is the Comforter dwelling,

Can you say, “Praise the Lord, He is mine;”

Have the ones that once walked on the highway

Gone back and you seem all alone?

Keep your eyes on the prize, for the home in the skies,

God is still on the throne.

Burdened soul, is your heart growing weary

With the toil and the heat of the day;

Does it seem that your path is more thorny,

As you journey along life’s way?

Go away and in secret before Him

Tell your grief to the Savior alone;

He will lighten your care, for He still answers prayer,

God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,

And He remembers His own;

Though trials may press us and burdens distress us,

He never will leave us alone;

God is still on His throne,

He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forsake you,

God is still on the throne.

A Christian is not worth much until he has been through some hot water!

SCRIPTURES OF STRENGTH, HOPE AND COMFORT

If you haven’t committed these scriptures to memory, now is a good time for the whole family to memorize them together.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.  I will guide thee with mine eye.” – Psalm 32:8

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” – Isaiah 26:3,4

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: in the shadow of thy wings I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” – Psalm 57:1

“Thou art my hiding place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble, thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” – Psalm 32:7

“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” – Proverbs 14:26

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”  - II Timothy 2:3

“He giveth power to the faint: and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” – Isaiah 40:29

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.” – I Peter 5:7

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Phil. 4:7

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 124:8

Heaven's Grocery Store

Author unknown ~ Contributed by Maggie Chandler                                           
As I was walking down life's highway many years ago,
I came upon a sign that read, "Heavens Grocery Store."  When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide,

And when I came to myself, I was standing inside.
I saw a host of angels.  They were standing everywhere.

One handed me a basket and said, "My child, shop with care."
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store

And what you could not carry, you could come back for more.
                                         
First I got some Patience.  Love was in that same row.

Further down was Understanding, You need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith - a bag or two.
And Charity of course, I would need some of that too.
I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost,  It was all over the place.

And than came Strength and Courage to help me run this race.

 

My basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed Grace,

And then I choose Salvation for Salvation was for free.

I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,
 For I thought I had everything to do the Master's will.

As I went up the aisle, I saw Prayer and put that in,

For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last things on the shelf.

Song and Praise were hanging near, so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel, "Now how much do I owe?"

He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."

Again I asked, "Really now, how much do I owe?"

"My child," he said, "God paid your bill a long long time ago.

Chelseas's Story

by Janelle Burkholder, a Heart to Heart friend in Pennsylvania.

In May, 1994, an acquaintance of ours had a 13 year old daughter who died from a brain tumor. In the days thereafter God gave me the words to a poem, a letter written to a Mom from her daughter in Heaven. Only God could have known that 14 years later I would be the Mom who needed comfort after the death of our own 4-1/2 year old daughter, Chelsea. When Chelsea was 26 months old she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. Although she initially responded well to treatment and was given an 80% chance of cure, God had plans for her life and ours that were beyond what we could see.

Throughout the 28 months of Chelsea's battle with cancer she was admitted to the hospital 27 times, but she was still a happy, smiley little girl and had one of those infectious smiles and sparkling eyes that captivated everyone's heart. Chelsea’s journey with cancer ended on January 25, 2008, but for us as Chelsea's family the journey with her cancer is not over, it only took a bend in the road. Our journey continues as we grieve her absence, but we do not grieve without hope. Our hope is found in the fact that even though Chelsea can not come back to us, we can go to her. We did not lose a child, she is simply sent ahead.

Now as I think about Chelsea in Heaven I often remember how, just about four weeks before her death, she told me that since she goes to the hospital a lot she might die, and that when she goes to Heaven she is going to play with Collin, a little boy who also died from cancer. Before Chelsea died she said that she saw “people up there“ and “people in Heaven”. Although she was not able to tell us more about what she experienced at that point, we believe that Collin must have been there to welcome Chelsea into Heaven and join her as she met Jesus face to face!

Dear Mom,

I know right now it's hard to think that I am really gone,

That I'll no longer be around to fill my empty room,

With all those pretty, girlish things I used to love so dear,

But really, Mom, I'd have to say, they simply don't compare,

To all the beauties of this place I now can call my home,

With Jesus here, my friend so dear, I'll never be alone.

The walls are made of jasper, Mom, I've never seen the likes,

With streets of gold and gates of pearl, His beauty shines so bright.

The angel host sings all the time, their praises to the Lamb,

His glory shines on ev'ry face, I can't believe how blessed I am!

So please, Dear Mom, don't fret too much, about my going on,

You made the life I had on earth, the very greatest one,

Those special mem'ries that you have, of things we said and did,

Will never let us really part, for in your heart they're hid.

Please rest assured I'm doing fine, here in this wondrous place,

And with the healing of some time, a smile will come back to your face.

Remember, Mom, we'll meet again, I know we will some day,

When time for you shall also end, we'll be together then for aye!