I have a daily Scripture email delivered to my inbox from KLove Radio. They call it their Encouraging Word for the day. I've been getting it for 3 years or so by now. It is amazing how many times the Scripture seems to match exactly what I need for the day. On the day of Rob's funeral, I had to get on my computer to email directions to the church to someone and I checked the Scripture for that Sept. 23rd day and it was this:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
(Ephesians 2:8)
It was exactly what I needed that day. I needed to remember that at the base level of all of our beliefs is the fact that Rob had faith that it was by God's grace that he was saved. That, by God's grace offered to us through the death and Resurrection of Jesus, my husband's death, even though a brutal ending for my children and for me, was only the glorious beginning for my Rob. I don't know if they remember it or not but I printed it out and showed it to my children and my, at the time, future son-in-law as we drove to the funeral. It was that Scripture that helped get me through the funeral. It was so encouraging for me that day to think of what Rob was experiencing in Heaven through the grace of our God.
That Scripture has shown up in my inbox 8 more times since then (KLove does repeat Scripture occasionally). It seems to show up on days when I need to remember and it always seems to be on a day that was significant for him, us, or me: Dec. 14, 2011; Jan. 18, 2012; June 9, 2012; September 21, 2012; November 4, 2012; February 22, 2013; May 6, 2012; May 22, 2013.
Most notably of these dates are:
January 18, 2012 - the first one of Rob's birthdays that we would spend without him. That day was SO HARD and it helped to remember that, even though he wasn't living with us on earth anymore, he was living.
September 21, 2012 - Rob died on September 20, 2011. Sept. 21, 2012 was the 366th day we had lived without my Rob. As I've told other grieving widows and widowers since then, there was a slight bit of relief for me on that 366th day. Going through the first anniversary of his death was agonizing in so many ways and to wake up on that 366th day and know that we not only had survived an entire year but were even thriving on many levels gave me a sense of relief. And then, as I watched all of my children sleep that 366th morning (Crystol included because she was with us in that hotel on that day), I opened my inbox and there was that Scripture.
I thank God for His encouragement provided for me through those words on all of the days I've needed them!
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That Scripture has shown up in my inbox 8 more times since then (KLove does repeat Scripture occasionally). It seems to show up on days when I need to remember and it always seems to be on a day that was significant for him, us, or me: Dec. 14, 2011; Jan. 18, 2012; June 9, 2012; September 21, 2012; November 4, 2012; February 22, 2013; May 6, 2012; May 22, 2013.
Most notably of these dates are:
January 18, 2012 - the first one of Rob's birthdays that we would spend without him. That day was SO HARD and it helped to remember that, even though he wasn't living with us on earth anymore, he was living.
September 21, 2012 - Rob died on September 20, 2011. Sept. 21, 2012 was the 366th day we had lived without my Rob. As I've told other grieving widows and widowers since then, there was a slight bit of relief for me on that 366th day. Going through the first anniversary of his death was agonizing in so many ways and to wake up on that 366th day and know that we not only had survived an entire year but were even thriving on many levels gave me a sense of relief. And then, as I watched all of my children sleep that 366th morning (Crystol included because she was with us in that hotel on that day), I opened my inbox and there was that Scripture.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
(Ephesians 2:8)
I thank God for His encouragement provided for me through those words on all of the days I've needed them!
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As of this morning, there are a lot of issues going on - none having to do with Rob or my past with him at all. And all of my children are healthy and thriving so for that I am thankful! All of the issues are about now - general daily life issues, house issues still not resolved, etc., all of my responsibilities that I have to handle, tedious details of lots of stuff, and just my "everything" piled on together. And having to do it all alone. Enough to be extremely discouraging as I woke this morning and remembered all I have to do today.
I checked my inbox and this was today's Scripture:
Tuesday 7/16/2013
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
God really is enough. Enough to help me not feel so alone in the tedious tasks that must be done. Enough to encourage me when I am so weary from feeling that I am constantly swimming upstream.
Enough to remind me that at least I'm still swimming.
Today's Encouraging Word was encouraging to me and I hope it is for you as well!
1 comment:
What a powerful and inspiring testimony this was today! This has touched me on so many levels and showed me how much we have in common, as far as our faith is concerned. Although my life challenges have differed from yours, I, too, get a daily devotional in my email inbox. It has also given me so much comfort on some of my worst days, particularly as I was going through the worst portion of my chemotherapy treatments. The Lord has placed so many people in my path at just the right place and just the right time, that I KNOW He is right here with me ALL the time. When I was first diagnosed and needed someone to talk to, I had a friend reveal she had recently been through treatment as well. She gave me the RBC Ministries daily devotional for a while, then I told her I'd subscribed to receive them in my email. She is a continued source of love and support, too. This is just one small example of the MANY blessings God shows me every day. People tell me I'm strong, but I don't feel so strong. I do know that I keep going because of my God giving me the strength! That is something we share, Janna!
Much Love,
Debbie
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