Hello and welcome. I am Christine Smith and this is my blog where I address trials of faith, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial” (James 1:12).
First of all, I want to apologise to my blog readers for not having posted anything new since Easter time! It is because I am writing a new book and have a deadline for publication. I have to admit at being excited about my new book and especially its title which I am unable to disclose it at this time.
Whenever I write my aim is to be persuasive, enlightening, and challenging – but always with Scriptures to back up everything I say. My deep desire is to portray how exciting the Bible is, and from the comments I receive I feel humbled how the Lord has used me in this way. To Him be the glory.
My passion is God’s word because it is alive, relevant, and contains answers for everything and everyone. And it is only the word of God that will keep us from being sneakily brainwashed by the world into believing what is wrong is right! And after all “His name is the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).
Are You Mourning?
I am!
When someone loses a loved one, they will inevitably be in mourning. But it isn’t the mourning of a deceased one that I want to address in this blog.
Dictionary definition of mourning: grief; lament; great sadness.
“A time to laugh, a time to mourn” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
Various people in the Bible mourned. Tamar mourned for the loss of her virginity.
Lot grieved (mourned) over the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Are you mourning?
*Are you mourning about a family member?
*Are you mourning over your church that is changing for the worst?
*Are you mourning over lost joy?
*Are you mourning about lost youth?
*Are you mourning over a devastating past mistake?
*Are you mourning about a marriage?
*Are you mourning over something so personal, and so embarrassing you have to bear it all alone as you couldn’t bear to share it with anyone?
Jesus understands your mourning, that’s why He said…
“Blessed are those that mourn for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5).
Dictionary definition of Comforted: eased of distress; the pleasant feeling of being free from the pain; soothed; consoled, “Blessed are those that feel grieved because they will be soothed and eased from their distress”
I mourn about Christians, and gospel singers, and pastors who are accepting and giving in to this world’s values to ‘fit in’ or for the mere good of their careers, when they know something is contrary to Gods word. I mourn because it damages the Gospel. I mourn because of what our grandchildren will be forced to accept if they are to find employment. I mourn because I long for God’s will to be done on this earth, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
It seems like a contradiction that we are blessed if we mourn! How can it be a blessing if we mourn? Well ‘mourning’ shows we know right from wrong and are standing firm in truth. It is God who blesses, and I would rather have God’s blessing (whether sooner or later) and God’s approval, than anything the world has to offer me… even if it means being ostracised, or an outcast, or an utter ‘nobody’ in the world’s eyes. I have life eternal. I have Jesus. And that is what matters.
Mourning is something that precedes a genuine conversion. These days we hear people who ‘boast’ of what they did before their conversion. But a genuine conversion is unable to boast when true mourning has taken place over their sin and how God graciously forgave them for it all. The last thing they want to do is re-live it by keep mentioning it. It is enough for them to say like the thieving tax man did, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”‘ (Luke 18:12).
It isn’t a bad thing to be miserable about what we should be miserable about. So don’t feel you are not being a good Christian if you are unhappy and mourning about something or someone. Just remember, God will keep His promise and will comfort and bless in His time! And God’s blessing, and God’s best will be well worth the wait!
Trust Him because Jesus does not lie and that ‘comfort’ He promised – will come!
I get morose sometimes because of a craving to see my Lord! And I also long for His return to put right this mess of a world. There is only one question I ever ask the Lord… and it is always the same one…’Lord, how long before you return?’
“The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast (Lit, mourn)” Matthew 9:15.
I think that those of us who are mourning over someone or something relevant – should all be close friends! “Mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
God bless you.
Christine.
My books:
*Lost in Faith. It could take faith to… (my journey to take the gospel to cave-dwelling people). £9.99. Free p+p in UK.
*He Trains my Hands For Battle. A journey into the unknown (sequel to Lost in Faith). £8.99. Free p+p in UK.
*Daughters Under Trial (23 eclectic messages for Christian women of all ages). £7.99. Free p+p in UK.
Prices/orders by credit card or PayPal https://christinesbooks.wordpress.com/buy-the-book/
Orders by post/enquiries/problems with an order email livingdevotions@gmail.com
My new book out 2017.
Visit my Christian Agony Aunt. www.christianagonyaunt.wordpress.com
