{"id":669,"date":"2016-09-21T17:20:36","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T17:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.eklutheran.ca\/?page_id=669"},"modified":"2020-03-26T11:35:56","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T17:35:56","slug":"grief-course-10","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/?page_id=669","title":{"rendered":"Grief Course 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>&#8220;SURVIVORS&#8221;<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Hello and Welcome.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get started with prayer:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dear Lord, we give you all our pain and sorrow and guilt.\u00a0 We give you all our tears and heartaches.\u00a0 We remember that Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, that God works in all things and circumstances for the good of those who love Him.\u00a0 Lord, we know that we are not alone and for that we thank you.\u00a0 In Jesus name, Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Remember last session\u2019s bible study?\u00a0 Romans 8, verse <\/strong><strong>28 \u201cAnd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\nPlease, personalize it.\u00a0 Where it says \u201cin all things\u201d put your problem:<br \/>\n\u201cAnd I know that in this divorce\u00a0God works for the good of me, and I love Him.<br \/>\n\u201cAnd I know that in this\u00a0widowhood God works for the good of me, and I love Him.<br \/>\n\u201cAnd I know that in this\u00a0move, in this new town\/neighborhood,\u00a0God works for the good of me, and I love Him.<br \/>\nHow does it feel to you to say these sentences?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I thought that today I would start this session with another quote from the book (great reading, by the way!)\u00a0&#8220;So, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy!&#8221; by Barbara Johnson, <\/strong><strong><br \/>\n\u201cFlowers can even grow on dung hills, and compost makes great gardens.\u00a0 God is offering Himself to you daily, and the rate of exchange is fixed (not fluctuating!).\u00a0 It is your sins for His forgiveness, your tragedy and hurt for His balm of healing, and your sorrow for His joy. . . Remember, you are not alone; many are in God\u2019s waiting room for what seems like forever, learning lessons, suffering pain, and growing.\u00a0 But the fertilizer that helps us grow is in those valleys, not on the mountaintops.\u201d<br \/>\nThe fertilizer, the dung, the compost &#8211; the losses and heartaches, will enrich the garden of my life, your life,\u00a0in the valley.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Please, take a moment and try to define \u201csurvivor\u201d (You must survive before you can recover!).<br \/>\nList 4 characteristics of survivors compared to people who are non-survivors.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Examples:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n*4 men from a Central American country were adrift in their small fishing boat for not just a few days or weeks, but months.\u00a0 Reader\u2019s Digest carried a story about their experiences in the fall of 1990.\u00a0 The focus of the story was on how they survived.<br \/>\n*A plane crashes and isn\u2019t found for ten days.\u00a0 14 people are found alive. The question asked is, \u201cHow did you stay alive?\u201d<br \/>\n*A car crashes through a guardrail on a deserted mountain road and 3 injured people are found alive 5 days later.\u00a0 The question asked of each of them is, \u201cHow did you survive that ordeal?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This is the same question to consider when we experience a major loss, because recovery has to do with being a survivor.\u00a0 Some people resolve their crises and survive.\u00a0 But some do not.\u00a0 What makes the difference?<\/strong><strong><br \/>\nYour book &#8220;Recovering from the Losses of Life&#8221;, chapter 8, offers exceptional material on this subject.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>First, let us define a survivor:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n1.) A survivor is a person who plans ahead, if at all possible, to be prepared for a transition, loss or crisis.\u00a0 Survivors have found ways to cope with what they experience.<br \/>\nLife is full of predictable transitions that have the potential for being major losses unless the question, \u201cHow can I best prepare for this and what will it mean to me?\u201d is answered.\u00a0 Typical transitions are identity adjustments at fairly predictable stages of life for both men and women.\u00a0 Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Those who have children will experience the empty nest, and for some couples this is a major and intense loss and adjustment.\u00a0 Fewer choices to make, less confusion and noise.\u00a0 Old habits, patterns of shopping, cooking, scheduling, all will change.\u00a0 Needs formerly filled by children will be directed to someone else for fulfillment, like communication, affection, companionship.\u00a0 Often the empty nest hits at the same time as the mid-life crisis which increases the likelihood of marital problems.\u00a0 If this is true, then this problem should be anticipated and handled in advance.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Retirement is a major loss for many people and yet very few anticipate and plan for this event.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Physical changes or deterioration can be handled well in advance.\u00a0 How?\u00a0 Remember, if you cannot change the problem \u2013 change your attitude!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>2.) Survivors are those who have learned from the wisdom and experience of others.\u00a0 They do not try to carry the load themselves but look to others for insights which they lack.\u00a0 Find the accepting people and those who know how to minister to you during a loss because . . . <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; They do not get shocked easily and accept your human feelings.<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n&#8211; They are not embarrassed by your tears.<br \/>\n&#8211; They do not give unwanted advice.<br \/>\n&#8211; They are affectionate with you according to your needs.<br \/>\n&#8211; They help you recall your strength when you have forgotten you have strength.<br \/>\n&#8211; They treat you like an adult who can make your own decisions.<br \/>\n&#8211; They may become angry with you but do not attack your character.<br \/>\n&#8211; They respect your courage and sense of determination.<br \/>\n&#8211; They understand the stages of grief and that grief is normal.<br \/>\n&#8211; They too may have been through difficult times and can share those.<br \/>\n&#8211; They try to understand what your feelings mean to you.<br \/>\n&#8211; They are faithful to commitments and promises.<br \/>\n&#8211; They pray with you and for you.<br \/>\n&#8211; They do not spiritualize everything.<br \/>\n&#8211; They are sensitive to where you are spiritually.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you find these people and cultivate their friendship before a crisis hits?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> Remember<\/strong> <strong>the \u201cGolden Rule\u201d, to treat people the way you want to be treated.\u00a0\u00a0 NOT:\u00a0 Treat people the way they treat you!\u00a0\u00a0Luke 6:31 \u201cDo to others as you would have them do to you.\u201d\u00a0 Read this verse in context, see <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke%206:27-36;&amp;version=31;\"><strong>Luke 6:27-36<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3.) Those who are able to stay on top of the losses in life are not complainers.\u00a0 They handle their feelings well and even though there may be periodic bouts with feeling sorry for themselves, they do not whine, grumble, complain or become bitter.\u00a0 They seem to have discovered the futility of this attitude earlier in their lives.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>4) and 5) go together: Survivors are those who have role models and they desire to learn and grow.\u00a0 These role models inspire them through the way in which they handle adversity in their own lives.\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\nThe survivors observe what their role models did, how they did it and look carefully at the underlying attitudes.\u00a0 <\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>6.) Blame is absent from a survivor\u2019s life.\u00a0 Blame is a very easy trap to fall into.\u00a0 Often blame stems from our own feelings of guilt or personal responsibility even though we were not that responsible.\u00a0 If a child dies in a car accident, the parents may blame one another, the manufacturer of the car, the doctors, the medic, or God.\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\nIn some cases, other people may in fact be responsible, but to fasten our feelings on that issue will keep us stuck in our grief.\u00a0 So much blame is uncalled for and has little bases in reality.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>7.) When a major crisis or loss occurs, survivors are able in due time to develop a way to cope with the loss.\u00a0 They identify the problems and learn to respond as though their lives were somewhat within their control.\u00a0 They do not give up on themselves or on life itself.\u00a0 They come to the place where they are able to say, \u201cLet\u2019s see what can be done to survive.\u201d, or as my dear\u00a0permanently disabled\u00a0friend put it, \u201cThe choice is simple, either you get better or bitter\u201d, or to quote Barbary Johnson one more time, \u201cPain is inevitable but misery is optional.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>8.) Survivors find a way to live life in spite of what has happened to them.\u00a0 Remember last week\u2019s study from Daniel \u201cEven if He does not\u201d! &#8211; They find some way to either excel in an area or to express themselves.\u00a0 One of the pitchers, Jim Abbott, who used to play for the Anaheim Angels major league baseball team has just one good arm, and yet he has overcome that loss.\u00a0 It took years but he never gave up.\u00a0 Determination is a necessary trait to survive.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>9.) Even in the midst of grief, survivors can still enjoy life at times and <\/strong><strong>laugh.\u00a0 Yes, it is possible to laugh even when you are hurting.\u00a0 Sometimes we laugh at something a deceased person said or did when alive.\u00a0 Or we laugh at ourselves which can lessen the pain of the loss.\u00a0 Often after a funeral, there is laughter as people visit with one another.<br \/>\nLet me ask you:\u00a0 How do YOU feel when you or someone else laugh during a time of grief?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>10.) The person who survives has the ability to be flexible and adapt to new situations.\u00a0 He\/she is able to discover strength through a given adversity.\u00a0 This person is able to come up with ways to respond to what has happened to him or her.\u00a0 A survivor does not persist in living life just one way but is willing and able to adapt.\u00a0 A survivor is a person who does not always respond to a situation the same way.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>11.) Survivors have faith.\u00a0 Developing a faith perspective on life is the foundation for survival and recovery.\u00a0 Trusting theology also helps us accept what happens in life.\u00a0 We do not always understand life or like life as it happens, but we do learn to accept it.\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\nOr do you understand a cancer ward filled with children under the age of 10?\u00a0 Or the young mother of 3 run down by a drunken driver?\u00a0 Or what about the businessman who was honest and followed the biblical teachings for his company, and failed?<br \/>\nYou don\u2019t understand these situations and neither do I.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Some Christians live by self-made assumptions.\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\nFor example:<br \/>\n&#8211; If God loves me then I can expect life to be fair.<br \/>\n&#8211; In Genesis 1:28, God tells\u00a0us to rule over the earth, so I can control what happens to me.<br \/>\n-If I follow Christ and his teachings, no tragedy will happen to me.<br \/>\n-God promised\u00a0abundant life to Christians, so I will become old and I will be rich!<br \/>\n&#8211; You are suffering?\u00a0 Then you must have been sinning.<br \/>\n&#8211; If you tithe, God will bless you financially.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It is so important to deal with questions and issues of life before the deep hurts of life confront us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When we don\u2019t, either God gets the blame or we feel something is wrong with God!\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Try to remember:\u00a0<\/strong><strong><br \/>\na.)\u00a0 What questions did you raise about God and His presence when you experienced a major loss?<br \/>\nb.)\u00a0 What scriptures were difficult to understand?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Every coin has two sides:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\nThe other side of blaming God is the trap of believing that we are special because of our relationship with Him or because we believe him, or have worked for Him, and therefore He will insulate us from the misfortunes of life.<br \/>\nPAIN-DEATH-TRAGEDY-SUFFERING &#8211;\u00a0When they hit us we feel tormented, and the age-old questions emerge: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Why does God allow suffering?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Where is He in our suffering? <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Does it have any meaning?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Richard Rohr, O.F.M., a Franciscan friar, offers these thoughts<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><strong> Death is not just physical dying, but going to the full depth of things (life), hitting the bottom, falling beyond where you are in control. And in that sense, we all probably go through many deaths in our lifetime. These death blows to the ego\/self are tipping points, opportunities to choose transformation. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people turn either bitter and look for someone to blame. So their \u2018hitting bottom\u2019 is indeed death for them, because they close themselves to growth and new life.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>But if you instead do choose to walk through the depths\/ the valley \u2014 even the depths of your own sin and mistakes \u2014 you will come out the other side, knowing you\u2019ve been taken there by a Source larger than yourself. Surely this is what it means to be saved. It means you\u2019ve allowed and accepted the mystery of transformation, which is always pure gift.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If we are to speak of miracles, the most miraculous thing of all is that God uses the very thing that would normally destroy you\u2014the tragic, the sorrowful, the painful, the unjust\u2014to transform and enlighten you. This is a human transformation to a much higher level of love and consciousness. You have been plucked from the flames of any would-be death to your soul, and you have become a very different kind of human being in this world. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Spirituality is always eventually about what you do with your pain. It seems our culture has lost its own spiritual foundation and center, and as a result we no longer know what to do with universal pain (which Jesus bore on the cross). If we do not transform our pain, we will always transmit it\u2014to our partner, our spouse, our children, our friends, our coworkers, our \u201cenemies.\u201d Usually we project it outward and blame someone else for causing our pain.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This pattern of temporary suffering, falling apart, hitting bottom precedes every transition to a new level of faith, hope, and love.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>John Killinger shares an interesting relationship between how we handle the difficulties of life and how we worship:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n\u201cSomehow, joy arises from loss and suffering and toil.\u00a0 It is much deeper than the surface of existence; it has to do with the whole structure of life.\u00a0 It is the perfume of the rose that is crushed, . . .\u00a0 Don\u2019t misunderstand me.\u00a0 I am not suggesting that God sends adversity to enhance our appreciation of life or to make us more aware of His nearness.\u00a0 Nor am I implying that the fullness of life comes only to those who have passed through deep waters.\u00a0 Rather, I am saying that God is present in all of life, including its tragedies.\u00a0 His presence transforms even these agonizing experiences into opportunities for worship.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And Richard Exley, a pastor, continues the thought:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n\u201cWe don\u2019t worship God because of our losses, but in spite of them.\u00a0 We don\u2019t praise Him for the tragedies, but in them.\u00a0 Like Job, we hear God speak to us out of the (our) storm. (Job 38:1).\u00a0\u00a0 Like the disciples at sea in a small boat, caught in a severe storm, we too see Jesus coming to us in the (our) night.\u00a0 We hear Him say, \u201cTake courage!\u00a0 It is I.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d\u00a0 (Matthew 14:27)\u00a0\u00a0Please, read Matthew 14:9-14 and 22-33<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>If you have lived for any length of time, you have probably had opportunity to see the different ways people respond to adversity.\u00a0 The same tragedy can make one person better and another bitter.\u00a0 What makes the difference?\u00a0 Choice of attitude developed across a lifetime through spiritual disciplines.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The\u00a0EXPERIENCE OF\u00a0WORSHIP provides a deep resource we need to draw upon when everything around falls apart.\u00a0 In worship, the emphases and focus is <u>not<\/u> upon the person but upon God.\u00a0 Do you see that your theology will affect how you respond to loss?\u00a0 Your response to life\u2019s losses will be directly determined by your understanding of God and how you have worshipped.\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\nWe human beings usually put FAITH IN FORMULAS.\u00a0 We feel comfortable with predictability, regularity, and assurance.\u00a0 We also want God to be this way.\u00a0 So, we try to create Him in the image of what we want Him to be and what we want Him to do.\u00a0 It\u2019s like a clay vase trying to create the potter.\u00a0 And when God does not conform to what we have created Him to be, then we get angry and exclaim that there is no God out there.\u00a0 And in a sense we are right, the God we create does not exist &#8211; &#8220;thank God&#8217;!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You and I cannot predict what God will do.\u00a0 Paul reminds us of that in Romans 11:33,<br \/>\n\u201cO the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!\u00a0 How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!\u201d<\/strong><strong><br \/>\nGod isn&#8217;t non-caring or busy elsewhere.\u00a0 He is neither insensitive nor punitive.\u00a0 He is loving and sensitive.<br \/>\nGod allows us to experience different situations, this is for our growth.\u00a0 God has arranged the seasons of nature to produce growth and He arranges \u201cexperiences of the seasons\u201d for our lives for growth also.\u00a0 Some days bring sunshine and some bring storms.\u00a0 Both are necessary.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-952\" src=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image059-1.jpg\" alt=\"image059\" width=\"278\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image059-1.jpg 278w, https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image059-1-216x300.jpg 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px\" \/><br \/>\nHe knows the amounts of negative or positive pressure that we can handle.<br \/>\n1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us He will, \u201c. . . not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>God does let us feel pain and experience suffering, just as He allows us to live peacefully, enjoy health, and experience happiness.\u00a0 He allows death, but He also allows life.<br \/>\nHe permits choices, in a variety of circumstances, both good and bad.<br \/>\nHe does not always give us what WE think we need or want, but what will produce growth and fruit.<br \/>\nWe ask God, \u201cWhere are you?\u201d\u00a0 But He is always there in the midst of the crisis.<br \/>\nWe ask Him, \u201cWhen?\u00a0 When will You answer?\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-898\" src=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image061.jpg\" alt=\"image061\" width=\"361\" height=\"361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image061.jpg 361w, https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image061-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/image061-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 361px) 100vw, 361px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>As the psalmist cried, \u201cHow long, O Lord?\u00a0 Will you forget me forever?\u00a0 How long will you hide your face from me?\u00a0 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?\u00a0 How long will my enemy (my problem) triumph over me?\u201d\u00a0 ( Psalm 13:1-2).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>We want Him to act according to our timetable, but Scripture says, \u201cBe still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him\u201d (Psalm 37:7).<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> We become restless in waiting.\u00a0 And to block out the pain of waiting, we are often driven into frantic activity.\u00a0 This does not help, however, but resting before the Lord does.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Here is a quote from Larry Richards, &#8220;When it Hurts too much to Wait&#8221;, <\/strong><strong><br \/>\n&#8216;Often waiting is a time of darkening clouds.\u00a0 Our skies do not lighten.\u00a0 Instead, everything seems to become even grimmer.\u00a0 Yet the darkening of our skies may forecast the dawn.\u00a0 It is in the &#8230; deepening shadows that God\u2019s hidden work for us takes place.\u00a0 The present, no matter how painful, is of utmost importance.\u00a0 Somewhere, where our eyes cannot see and our ears are unable to hear, God is.<br \/>\n&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;&#8220;`And God is at work.&#8217;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You may not feel that God is doing anything to help you recover.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because we want recovery NOW.\u00a0 The instant solution philosophy of our society often invades a proper perspective of God.\u00a0 We complain about waiting for a few years, weeks or days but to God a day is like a 1000 years and a 1000 years an instant.\u00a0 God made time but is not bound by it.\u00a0 <\/strong><strong><br \/>\n(2 Peter 3:8, in context <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eklutheran.ca\/(2%20Peter%203:8)\"><strong>2 Peter 3:3-9<\/strong><\/a><strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The ability to develop a biblical perspective on our lives is perhaps best summarized in this verse:<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> \u201cConsider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing (or trying) of your faith produces endurance.\u201d\u00a0 (James 1:2-3).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It is one thing to read a passage like this, but it is another thing to put it into practice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does the word consider actually mean?\u00a0 This paraphrased version of the same verse might illustrate: \u201cMake up your mind to regard adversity as something to welcome or be glad about.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You have the power to decide what your attitude will be.\u00a0 You can approach it and say, \u201cThat\u2019s terrible.\u00a0 Totally upsetting.\u00a0 That is the last thing I wanted for my life.\u00a0 Why now?\u00a0 Why me?\u201d<\/strong><strong><br \/>\nThe other way of \u201cconsidering\u201d the same difficulty is to say, \u201cIt\u2019s not what I wanted or expected, but it is here.\u00a0 There are going to be some difficult times, but how can I make the best of them?\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t ever deny the pain or the hurt that you might have to go through, but always ask, \u201cLord, what can I learn from it?\u00a0 Lord, how can I grow through this?\u00a0 How can it be used for God\u2019s glory?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It is not an attitude of resignation &#8211; \u201cWell, I\u2019ll just give up.\u00a0 I\u2019m just stuck with this problem.\u00a0 That\u2019s the way life is.\u201d\u00a0 If you resign yourself, you will sit back and not put forth any effort.\u00a0 The verb tense consider indicates that you will have to go against your natural inclination to see the trial as a negative force.\u00a0 There will be some moments when you won\u2019t see it like that at all, and then you\u2019ll have to remind yourself, \u201cNo, I think there is a better way of responding to this.\u00a0 Lord, I really want You to help me see this, consider this, from a different perspective.\u201d\u00a0 And then your mind will shift to a more constructive response.\u00a0 This often takes a lot of work on your part.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>God created us with both the capacity and the freedom to determine how we will respond to those unexpected incidents that life brings our way.\u00a0 You may honestly wish that a certain event had never occurred.\u00a0 But you cannot change the fact.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> During crisis times as well as happy times of life, our stability comes from our Lord.\u00a0 God\u2019s Word says in Isaiah 33:6:<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> &#8220;He will be the sure foundation for your times,\u00a0a rich store of salvation (healing) and wisdom and knowledge;\u00a0the fear (awe) of the LORD is the key to this treasure.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Yes, recovery is possible.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Before doing the last session together, session #11,\u00a0please, take your time to read chapters #8 and #9 in your book &#8220;Recovering from the Losses of Life&#8221;.<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Let us close this session with prayer, I am choosing the words of Gerrit Scott Dawson in<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> CALLED BY A NEW NAME,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dear Lord, let the words of this poem sink into my heart:<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> \u201cI hear God\u2019s voice like this:<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> \u2018I have not abandoned you.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> Though your good health may have forsaken you, I have not.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> Those whom you love may have left you, but I did not.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> Your plans my have been thwarted, your vision marred, your dreams dashed.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> But I am still here, and I have a vision for your life greater that you can yet imagine.\u2019<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> Lord God, cause me to believe this.\u00a0 Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"maxbutton-9 maxbutton maxbutton-session-9\" href=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/?page_id=666\"><span class='mb-text'>Session 9<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<a class=\"maxbutton-11 maxbutton maxbutton-session-11\" href=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/?page_id=672\"><span class='mb-text'>Session 11<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- SUBCONTENT GOES HERE --> <!-- SUBCONTENT ENDS HERE --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;SURVIVORS&#8221; Hello and Welcome.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get started with prayer: Dear Lord, we give you all our pain and sorrow and guilt.\u00a0 We give you all our tears and heartaches.\u00a0 We remember that Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, that God works in all things and circumstances for the good of those who love Him.\u00a0 &#8230; <span class=\"more\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/?page_id=669\">[Read more&#8230;]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["entry","page","publish","author-eklpadmin","post-669"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=669"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2975,"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/669\/revisions\/2975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eklutheran.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}