Believe

Friday March 11th-Pray believing!

6:00 PM

 


Our Father who art in heaven , hallowed be Your name,  Thy will be done in our lives.   We ask You to forgive us for __________________ .  If we have any unforgiveness towards anyone we ask You to help us forgive them through You.  We call upon You, Lord in our distress, because we know that You hear and You answer.  Our cries for help come into Your ears and we lay before You______________.  We know that You will answer our prayers according to Your will and we wait expectantly for Your answers.  Help us not to grow weary in waiting but with rejoicing and singing praises to You, our God.  We stand firm on Your promises for You are faithful and your every word proves true.  There is no one like You the God of Israel who rides on the heavens to help us and on the clouds in Your majesty.  You eternal God are our refuge and underneath us are Your everlasting arms.  You drive out the enemy from before us saying destroy him.  Amen

Selah,

Lyn

 

Believe

Lessons From Hannah

9:00 AM

 Hannah's Story is found in 1Samuel 1:1-2:11; 2:18-21




Her name means, “Graciousness” or “favor”. (Hasn't it been neat to see how the women’s names so often fit their character and the situation?) And Hannah will also reveal a new name for God! She is the first to use this name for God, but certainly not the last, in fact God, Himself uses it to refer to Himself twenty-two times in the book of Malachi alone. 

Hannah’s story is not new to us, we’ve seen others in her situation. The difference in Hannah lies in how she chose to handle and deal with the trials she faced. Hannah was a woman who turned to God, who trusted God, and one who could give back to God her most precious gift she’d been given from God. How could she do it? It’s a question that haunts not only mothers but most others even today. Let’s see if we can find Hannah’s answer. 

The story opens with a major problem found in 1 Samuel 1:2, "He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none."

We already know how God felt about taking more than one wife “the two shall become one flesh’. How can that be when there are three? But it was still common practice back then, especially among the wealthy. After all a man had to have sons and if his first wife couldn’t produce them, than a second wife would. 

"Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.  But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.  Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.  Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” - (1 Samuel 1:4-8)

Most likely Hannah was Elkanah’s first wife and Peninnah was taken after Hannah was proven to be barren. Hannah was the one Elkanah loved,(v.5) but Peninnah had all the children(v.4). Which brought about envy, jealousy, strife, etc. among the women. Where have we read about this before?

 Have you ever been in a situation like Hannah? The longings, all the “if only's”, wanting something so badly, yet being helpless to bring it about. Desiring something so much that it robs you of any and all joy?

Have you ever had someone like Peninnah in your life before (1 Samuel 1:6)? Someone who might have something over you and just loves to rub your nose in it? What do you think motivated Peninnah to do that?

And how should we handle that type of situation?

 Notice in verse 7 how long this had been going on. Is Elkanah any help (v.8)? What impact did the reaction of those around you have on your situation?

 Look where Hannah turned when no one seems to understand Hannah’s grief,

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.  In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.  And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” - (1 Samuel 1:9-11 emphasis mine)

Jehovah-Sabaoth-

 When there seemed to be no other recourse, when all hope was lost, the children of Israel came to know God as Jehovah-Sabaoth; the LORD of Host. David was another famous person who called Jehovah-Sabaoth when facing Goliath in 1 Sam 17:45-47, 

            Did you catch Hannah's bargain with God in her prayer?

She promises never to cut his hair. (Look to Numbers 6:1-5 for more details on that.) Samuel will be the last of the judges to rule the nation of Israel. Most Nazarites were dedicated to the LORD for just short periods of their lives. Samuel, like Samson was dedicated for his entire life time.

 When Hannah finishes praying it is obvious that she is at peace. She is full of faith; trusting God will answer her prayer, so much so that she can rise and go about her day. And Jehovah-Sabaoth did answer her prayer! 

In chapter two we see Hannah rejoicing as she keeps her promise as well. Let’s look these verses over carefully and find some truths about our God that Hannah brings to light.


Did you find Hannah’s secret? How was she able to keep her promise to God, and give her son back to God? I think the answer may be found in 1 Samuel 1: 25-28, "When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli,  and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.  I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there."

BUT, nobody can ever out give God! Look in verses 2:20-21,

Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home.  And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

I love Hannah's story. It is so important for so many reason, but here are just a few takeaways I found right away and I hope you'll share yours.

1. We need to take our burdens to the Lord, for there is where we will find 

  • Our peace, for He is the Prince of Peace and He promises a peace that will beyond even our own understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)
  • Grace – As we leave our burdens with the Lord, His grace becomes evident. Notice that nothing had changed in Hannah's life except her countenance once she went to the Lord. He promises His grace will be sufficient even in the darkest circumstances. (2 Corinthians 12)
  • Joy – He restores our joy even when the circumstances around us don't change, our perspective does! I believe Hannah could have written this in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” 

2. It is important to keep our vows made before God, made to God.  If you make a promise in the midst of your requests – keep it!  Our Lord has never gone back on His promises and neither should we.

I hope you'll share your thoughts on our study of Hannah as well!

Blessings 

sue

Believe

Contentment {Romans 8:18-30}

11:30 PM


Tuesday, February 5, 2019


Please read:  Romans 8:18-30

I heard a story about a lumberjack who was going through a plot of woods to be cut.  He noticed a mother bird starting to build her nest.  He knew her chicks would hatch when the trees were cut down and they would probably die.  So he devised a plan…

Each day he went to that tree and shook it until she left to build her nest in another tree.  Each day the mother bird flew around wondering, “What’s up with this guy harassing me so much?”  He did this day after day… tree after tree… until finally she built her nest safely on the rocks of a cliff.

“Trouble” was the lumberjack’s way of keeping her and chicks safe.  What we think is trouble may very well be God’s way of ultimately protecting us. 

 Image result for Romans 8:28

God has a purpose for our lives and as much as we would like for our lives to be happy, God’s plan is to fulfill His purpose.  Jeremiah 29:11

When you are not a believer, and life is tough and it seems like you don’t ever get your way, you blame everyone else.  Even as a believer we struggle because we are living in this sin-filled world, we still want that “one break”.  We want this life to be or become easier.

Maybe you thought she wouldn’t die from that illness; or maybe you are following that financial plan and you thought it would lead you to not struggle to pay your bills; or perhaps you thought by now your wayward child would be sitting next to you in church.

Whatever your thoughts and plans are, God’s plan is to be glorified.  We need to turn our thoughts away from questioning why this hardship is happening, into accepting that God is allowing it because He is doing something in my life that will result in my good!  We are to trust in God and not life’s treasures.  We need to find security in heaven and not on earth. 

Things don’t work out better and for the good BECAUSE a person is a Christian; GOD MAKES things works out for the Christian’s good.  GOD is the one who is active in these events so that we are ultimately blessed.  So you see, God gets the glory.
 Image result for Romans 8:18

Our attitude reveals our heart every time something difficult arises.  When we are frustrated with our life, with what is happening and the circumstances we are in are difficult, it appears we don’t understand or believe God.  We just don’t grasp Romans 8:28.  Those who complain about their lot in life or play the martyr or find fault in others first, are not living by faith nor do they truly believe what God has said in Romans 8:28.  We truly need to think biblically.  And since we cannot think as God thinks, we must learn to trust Him in all things.  Proverbs 3:5

The story of the lumberjack and the birds reminds me that God knows exactly what I need and I don’t need to run around trying to find all the answers.  Matthew 6:32


True contentment is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Blessings ladies,

Lisa Thayer







Believe

"What must I do to be saved?" {Acts 15:22 - 17:34}

12:30 AM

Image result for Acts 16:31

We’ve all heard stories of a very healthy person who spent their lifetime committed to eating right, exercising and living right, only to go to the doctor one day and discover she only has weeks to live.  None of us are guaranteed of being alive tomorrow. 

John Grisham said that when he was in law school, he got a call from one of his best friends in college.  They got together for lunch, and the friend told Grisham that he had terminal cancer.  Grisham was stunned.  He asked, “What do you do when you realize that you are about to die?

The friend replied, “It’s real simple.  You get things right with God, and you spend as much time with those you love as you can.  Then you settle up with everybody else.”  That friend’s death at age 25 left a lasting impression on Gresham (Christianity Today [10/3/94], p.16.

So this question is an urgent one, because apart from Jesus Christ, we are all lost, and because we are all just a breath away from eternity.

But salvation is God’s doing, not our doing.  When Paul says, ‘you shall be saved’,  it means that no one can save herself by any amount of effort.  No one can pile up enough good deeds to tip the scale in their favor.  Paul didn’t tell the jailer that he would have to keep the Ten Commandments and reform his life before he could be saved.  We can’t save ourselves.  But God will save everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus.


The numerous biblical pictures of people who are apart from God show us how impossible it is to save ourselves. We are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1-3). We are spiritually blind (2 Cor. 4:4). We have natural minds that cannot perceive spiritual truth apart from God’s Spirit revealing it to us (1 Cor. 2:14). We are enslaved to sin, unable to free ourselves unless the Son of God frees us (John 8:34-36) We have spiritual leprosy and only Jesus can cleanse us. God alone can save a person from his sins. (Bible.org)



When the jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?”  Paul did not answer with something to do, but rather with someone to believe in.  Believing is not a matter of human effort, but rather of ceasing from our efforts and relying on God alone.  Paul said, “When people work, their wages are not a gift.  Workers earn what they receive.  But people are declared right because of their faith, not because of their work.”  (Romans 4:4-5)  Saving faith is a matter of ceasing from my own efforts to save myself, and trusting in Jesus Christ to save me.

Believing in Jesus Christ for salvation is a lot like flying on a plane.  We could watch the crews servicing the plane and check the maintenance records.  We could interview the pilots and make sure they know what they are doing.  But that won’t get us to where we want to go.  Instead, we have to commit our lives to those planes.  We must commit our eternal destiny to the Lord Jesus as our only hope.  We must rely on Him to bridge the gap between us, a sinner, and God as absolutely holy.

Saving faith relies on Christ alone.  Can you imagine getting on board a plane and walking into the cockpit and telling the pilot that you’d like to help fly the plane?  I doubt they would appreciate your offer.  All you need to do is get on board and know that you will reach your destination.  Trusting in Jesus is all that we need to do to be saved.



Believe

SoulSearching Sunday~The Power Of A Changed Life

12:00 AM

Sunday, October 21, 2018


Week Forty-two...

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was John 5 - 17...

 1. What fears have you allowed to drown out God’s voice lately? We can face our fears with confidence, knowing that God is with us even in the storms. Take your fears to the One who alone can deal with and overcome them.

 Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. They were three or four miles out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but He called out to them, “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” (John 6:18-20)

 2. What in your life can only be explained in terms of the supernatural, that is to say, “God did it”? Make a list of the most significant changes God has made in you. Thank Him for what He has done for you; then look for an opportunity to tell those around you.

 “Yes, LORD,” the man said, “I believe!” And he worshiped Jesus. (John 9:38)

 3. Describe a time when you were shocked by someone’s act of humble service. What would you feel if Jesus, the LORD of the universe, were washing your feet? Today, how can you serve others with the caring and compassion of Christ? Thank Him for His example of humility and love.
And since I, the LORD and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. (John 13:14-15)



Angie Benjamin

A Wasted Life, Unbelief and Hardened Hearts {John 12}

2:07 AM

By Angie Benjamin

 Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany (vs 1-7)




1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

 This is story tells us how not to waste your life. It’s also a story about motivation: why do you do what you do for the Lord? Do you serve Him for the satisfaction you get when you see results? It is satisfying to see Him use you, but that’s the wrong motivation. Do you serve Him because it helps others? Again, it’s gratifying to see others helped, but that’s the wrong motivation for serving Him. The true motive for serving Christ is because He is worthy of everything you can do for Him and because you love Him and want to please Him because He gave Himself for you on the cross. We learn this from Mary’s act of devotion.

 John contrasts Mary’s act of devotion with Judas’ self-centered focus and with the evil plans of the chief priests, who now not only want to kill Jesus, but also Lazarus, whose resurrection was resulting in many believing in Jesus. So the story’s lesson is:

A life spent in selfless devotion to Jesus is not wasted, but a life spent on self is totally wasted.

The Unbelief of the People (vs. 36-43)




When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
"Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
40 "He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them."
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jesus had performed many miracles but still many people didn't believe in Him. The same happens today, many won't believe despite all God does.

People would not believe despite the evidence, as a result God hardens their hearts...at the beginning sounds like if it's God intentionally preventing these people from believing in Him but no, it simply means that He confirms their own choices. After a lifetime resisting God people become so set in their ways that they won't even bother to understand Jesus message.

Sometimes we get discouraged when we witness for Christ and it doesn't necessarily turn out as we would like. We must remember that our job is simply to be a faithful witness. We are responsible to reach out to others, but they are responsible for their own decisions, so keep up the good and faith-full work !



Jesus Came to Save the World (vs.44-50)




44 And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."

He came into the world as light [vs46 and John 3:19 -21; 8:12 ; 9:5]. To believe in him, to believe the claims he made about his true identity, is to finally see and believe in God. The deep darkness of separation from God and ignorance of God is here dispersed. The age-long, world-wide questions about who or what God is are here answered. No one who believes in Jesus remains in darkness.

His miracles identified him as God. They should have believed on the basis of the miracles alone [ 12:37 ]. His words have identified him as God, and, he says, it will be those very words, which they have rejected, that will condemn them, for in rejecting his words they have rejected the words of God.

In refusing to accept his words [ ‘believing’ his words, ‘obeying’ his words, ‘keeping’ his words] they have rejected God. His words which could have brought them light and life, will, if they are rejected, bring them only judgment and darkness. To reject the offer of light is to choose the darkness. To reject the offer of salvation is to choose judgment [ 12:38 -40, 47-50].


Believe

Are You Sure Jesus is The Son of God? {John 5}

11:30 PM



By Sue Desmarais

How can you be sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? And how can you be sure you are one of His followers?

What would you say if someone asked you these questions today?

I've discovered over the years that there is often a vast difference from following a particular religion and following Christ Jesus, God's Son. Have you noticed just how many religions there are out there today that all claim their way is the best, or even only way to God in heaven? Have you ever wondered about what you believe and whether or not it's correct? These were exactly the questions on the people's minds in chapter 5 - How can we be certain Jesus is who he claims he is? 

According to the Law of Moses which is what the Jews followed, a testimony had to come from, “the mouths of two or three witnesses" before it was accepted. (Deuteronomy 19:15). Because we live in a fallen world, we don't know whether to believe someone's testimony or not, therefore The Lord prescribed in the Law that there must be witnesses; people who will corroborate another's testimony before it is to be believed, and this is exactly what our Lord is doing for the people who are listening to Him.

Jesus has made some amazing claims about Himself in this one chapter alone! He claimed to be:
·         "the Son of God,"
·         "the One sent by the Father,"
·          "the Source of all life" (physical and spiritual),
·          "the Judge of all the world" (everyone is heading toward a confrontation with him), and
·          "the Raiser of the dead," - the very One who one day will empty out all the cemeteries of the earth!

 Imagine for a moment that you were hearing all of this for the very first time! I'll bet it was a "jaw-dropping" moment. I'm also willing to bet that doubts began to form in the listener’s minds almost immediately, and knowing their hearts and minds, Jesus proceeds to reveal three witnesses whose testimony backs up His claims. 

The first witness is Jesus Himself:
"If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. There is another [My Father] who testifies about Me, and I know [without any doubt] that His testimony on My behalf is true and valid.”-John 5:31-32
(When our Lord says his testimony is not valid, he does not mean it is false; he means it was not valid in their eyes because of their need for more witnesses, referring back to the Law in Deut 19:15.)
The second witness was John the Baptist:
"You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light." -John 5:33-35 

John the Baptist had said four specific things about Jesus:
  • John proclaimed Him to be the long-expected Messiah, the One whom the prophets wrote of. John even quoted the word of Isaiah concerning himself, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord'" -John 1:23
  • Secondly, as "the Lamb of God." To his own disciples he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," -John 1:29. Which meant Jesus was to be the innocent Substitute who will one day stand in our place and take our sins upon Himself.
  • Third as the "Baptizer with the Holy Spirit," (John 1:33). He is the One who will pour out "river of living water" that will satisfy the thirsty hearts.
  • Finally, as "the Son of God," (John 1:34). He is the Word made flesh, God Himself, Lord of heaven and earth, who became a man. 
And in verse 33, Jesus declares that all John said about Him is true!

The third witness and even greater witness than John, according to Jesus, is the very works that Jesus has performed before them:

“But the testimony which I have is far greater than the testimony of John; for the works that the Father has given Me to finish—the very same works [that is, the miracles and proofs of My deity] that I am [now] doing—testify about Me, [by providing evidence] that the Father has sent Me.” -John 5:36

And if you still can't believe Him because of the works He's done, believe Him because of His Father who sent Him to do those very works:
"And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me."- John 5:37


Ah! But there is still a problem! And Jesus goes on to explain it:
"You have never heard His voice nor seen His form [His majesty and greatness]. You do not have His word (Scripture) abiding in you [actually living in your hearts and minds], because you do not believe in Him whom He has sent.
You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me." - John 5:37-39

Do you know people like that? They think they have it all figured out, so much so, nothing you could say would change their minds?
There is this one man I know who comes to mind. He's absolutely brilliant! He's an excellent Bible teacher; has earned a Ph.D. from the very best schools in the country. He can win an argument without ever opening up a Bible! He can quote Scripture and cross-reference like the best of them, but He doesn't know Jesus!!  He is lost, utterly lost, but chooses to remaining right where he is. Like these Jews, he has studied the Scriptures, but stopped short of coming to Jesus in order to be assured of eternal life. 

This tells me that there has got to be more to knowing God’s word inside out and backwards! It's not enough to have only head knowledge; we've got to have faith to believe it! Romans 10:8-10 comes to mind and I'll close with this:

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Jesus is who He says He is, for not only does Scripture testify to this fact in so many, many ways, but my heart also believes it’s true. How about you?




Believe

Called to Believe {Luke 8}

12:22 AM



By Lisa Thayer

This is the third time we have visited these parables this year, and every time, I see things just a bit differently.   Isn’t your faith growing because we are revisiting these stories?

When I read the parable of the seeds and the soil to prepare this post, I realized that the farmer has to be generous with his seed.  He cannot be worried about wasting some seed on the bad soil – he simply must broadcast it for the best return.  He must not be concerned with the condition of the soil.  Our responsibility is to spread the seed (God’s message).  Soil changes over time.  If you’ve ever gardened, some plants just cannot grow in the same soil as other plants.  And just as we all change and hear God’s word multiple times, we receive it and it takes root and grows abundantly.  Once it begins to grow, we want to share all we know with everyone.  We don’t receive it and hide it under a basket - we let our light shine!  The more we apply God’s word, the more we grow and it is impossible to stand still.  We return home and tell how much God has done for us (v. 39)


I’ve often struggled with verses 19-21, but I realized here, in these two short verses, that Jesus recognized who they were, but it was his mother and brothers who hadn’t recognized who He was.  That happens in our own lives.  Our own families and friends don’t recognize Jesus at the same time we do and they often wonder what happened to us!  Jesus loved his mother (John 19-25-27), just has He loves us.  Individually, we all have to recognize Him to understand His message. 

We once again hear the message about Jarius’ daughter and the hemorrhaging woman.  The majority of us are mother’s and we juggle all the parts of our daily lives; children, school, after school activities, jobs, homes and husband.   Some of us add the additional duties of grandchildren and aging parents.  Jesus doesn’t neglect one of these on your list!  Not one!  He calmly attends to each one.  Jesus never neglects one from the other.  He can heal a person along His way to raise someone from the dead.  His mercy, is like water, it takes the shape of the vessel.  The miracle isn’t in believing if you touch an object, you will be healed, it is in the faith of the Healer.  “Just believe.”   There can be no fear – only faith.  An attitude of trust banishes dread.  There are no irrevocable losses to one who trusts. 

When we weep, and we are commanded not to, we will not see His grace.  Jesus comes to ALL.  Are we the paid mourners who have lost all hope?  Or do we laugh in the face of Jesus when someone seems so far away from life?  Or do we live courageously in faith, knowing that Jesus has life giving power?  For EVERYONE!