November 29th, 2022
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength
Lord, I don’t understand your ways; to be honest, it sometimes unravels me. You asked me this week to write about the beginning of this horrific tragedy, I pray that you will continue to shield me from the overwhelming impact of one’s decision that has forever changed our family’s life. Heal this part of the story God and bring us your everlasting peace.1 Corinthians 15:55 says “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the Power of sin is the law.
~But Thanks be to God~
God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The paragraph reads “O death where is your sting? I know that in Christ based on God’s word that there is no sting, but for some reason when the news hit that Joshua was dead it felt like the tip of a needle had pierced my rib. When the Lord asked me to write about the events of that day I was shocked and a little hesitant. If you recall back in February when he told me to start this blog I was scared, mainly because I am not used to expressing my feeling to people that I have no relationship with. I now understand that some things are birthed in times of weakness and I thank God that his strength has carried me through even when I felt blindfolded.
In a previous post called “The Strength that lies within me” I wrote about how God has taught me that I do not need to be afraid to come revealed weak before him. And that it’s okay to be vulnerable because being my vulnerability is a weapon and he holds my life in his hand. To those that may feel the like you have to hide, I want to encourage you can call upon God in times of need, his love, compassion, and mercy endureth forever just like the Psalmist says in Psalms 136 keep on trusting him even when life makes no sense.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is Here.
Because Joshua received the free gift of Salvation from God spoken of in Ephesians 2:8 by Christ into his heart he was given the ability to live with Christ after death. Its hard learning life without Joshua but God has given us the ability to enter in the rest that God promised to give his people that is spoken of in Hebrews 4:1 Therefore since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. But this road of grief requires one to seek God earnestly and pray that he infuses us with the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control found in Galatians 5:22-23.
Last week while cleaning I was led by the Holy Spirit to watch an interview called “Grieving with God” with the guest speaker being Davey Blackburn, hosted by Jackie and Preston Perry who are of sound faith in the body of Christ equipping other believers to be ground shakers walking in Holiness while doing ministry with God. Mr. Blackburn spoke about what it has been like to grieve the loss of his wife all while remaining to be rooted and steadfast in Christ. At times I had to pause the video because everything he was speaking registered with me so much, especially from the place of dealing with a loved one gone by the act of murder. He talked about how he had learned after reading this book called “The Body Keeps the Score” written by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. that when learning to cope with grief one must lean into it and try to understand where you can put it; because if not it can come out oozing in different avenues that can if not attended to will can cause more unnecessary pain.
Mr. Blackburn said something that I personally needed to hear. If you recall I recently shared how I often wish that time would move more quickly as in I often wish I was in year 5 into this journey and I say this because for some reason I feel like it would be easier but that is just my mind persevering. But what he said the complete opposite, he said that we should not try to rush the process with an understanding that and I quote him that “You don’t escape or get out of the valley, the only way out is to walk through it. Also, because we have such a great High Priest Hebrews 4:14-16 that nothing will be wasted and God will use our pain to continue to show us that we do indeed in every situation no matter how dark it is that we are victors in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil for are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.
God your word says in Hebrew 13:8 that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. Tonight, as we lay in our beds would you open our eyes and heart to understand more deeply who you are. Help us in understanding that grief is manageable and with you, we can do it well. Do a work so grand that when done the Glory and Praise can only be magnified onto you. Bring peace over every situation that is happening right now and thank you that you are still in the business of answering prayers and quieting storms. Lord some of us are still awaiting the day that we receive the call stating that the people reasonable for taking our loved ones’ lives have been caught, but until then help us to rest in your presence. God, I am asking that reveal every hidden piece in any unsolved murder case. Because we are in a time where wearing a mask is standard to enter certain places which have caused some criminals to believe that because their faces were never seen that they can not be caught but in the name of Jesus Christ reveal them tonight, no longer will your identity be hidden, no longer will your name be concealed. May the Spirit of the one true God bring you forth in this hour and I seal this prayer with the Blood of the Matchless name of King Jesus.
James 1:2
Consider it pure Joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.
Lord, we pray and thank you in advance for meeting every need.
#Countitalljoy
The Songs of the Week are
iAmen Amen by TY Bello and Draw sung by Victoria Orenze
My only request until next time is that my viewers continue to lean on the great one called to carry our pain and pray that God will open a door so that we can all one day stand face to face.
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Love, The Carpenters Mother
#JUSTICEFORJOSHUABENNETT