Reflections on Grief and Spiritual Growth

Reflections on Grief and Spiritual Growth PDF Author: Andrew J. Weaver
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780687065080
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 183

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Book Description
Reflections on Grief and Spiritual Growth includes eighteen reflections by Protestant and Catholic writers, creative voices in the Christian community, who reflect on their experiences with grief and loss as a part of their faith journey. Each writer considers such questions as Ø What lessons and wisdom can be shared from his or her personal experiences with grief? Ø In what ways did these losses shape their lives and spiritual journeys? Ø What counsel does our Christian heritage offer us as we grieve the loss of a parent, spouse, child, marriage, job, or health? Ø How has mourning a loss diminished or deepened one's faith? Ø Have spiritual resources been helpful in addressing the anger, guilt and depression that is often a part of the grieving process? Ø Has faith been an asset or not as one faces the increasing and cumulative losses of growing older? Ø Have persons experienced spiritual growth or transformation from traumatic losses? An included study guide helps individuals and groups grapple with the reality of grief and loss in the context of their Christian faith so that we may better learn to grieve as those who have hope. Other titles of related interest: Reflections on Aging and Spiritual Growth #0687095190; Reflections on Forgiveness and Spiritual Growth #0687084067; Reflections on Marriage and Spiritual Growth #0687085438.

Reflections on Grief and Spiritual Growth

Reflections on Grief and Spiritual Growth PDF Author: Andrew J. Weaver
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780687065080
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 183

Get Book

Book Description
Reflections on Grief and Spiritual Growth includes eighteen reflections by Protestant and Catholic writers, creative voices in the Christian community, who reflect on their experiences with grief and loss as a part of their faith journey. Each writer considers such questions as Ø What lessons and wisdom can be shared from his or her personal experiences with grief? Ø In what ways did these losses shape their lives and spiritual journeys? Ø What counsel does our Christian heritage offer us as we grieve the loss of a parent, spouse, child, marriage, job, or health? Ø How has mourning a loss diminished or deepened one's faith? Ø Have spiritual resources been helpful in addressing the anger, guilt and depression that is often a part of the grieving process? Ø Has faith been an asset or not as one faces the increasing and cumulative losses of growing older? Ø Have persons experienced spiritual growth or transformation from traumatic losses? An included study guide helps individuals and groups grapple with the reality of grief and loss in the context of their Christian faith so that we may better learn to grieve as those who have hope. Other titles of related interest: Reflections on Aging and Spiritual Growth #0687095190; Reflections on Forgiveness and Spiritual Growth #0687084067; Reflections on Marriage and Spiritual Growth #0687085438.

Grief Light

Grief Light PDF Author: Julie Yarbrough
Publisher: WestBow Press
ISBN: 1490879609
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
Grief Light is for anyone who is grieving. From her personal perspective on the light side of grief, the author illuminates many of the universal truths of grief through practical, spiritual illustrations and examples from ordinary life. Written in an informal, approachable style, each brief meditation offers grief insight through the rich imagery of stories and scenes from everyday experience, supported by Scripture and a prayer idea. Through these positive, uplifting reflections on life and love and death, you will discern how your faith can grow as a gift of grief through the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. When you read these almost devotionals, you may think, Oh yes, that happened to me or Now I understand more about what it is Im feeling or I thought I was the only one whod ever experienced that or Theres really some plain talk here about human nature. Grief Light also addresses some of the more contemporary, yet seldom fully acknowledged issues that surround grief, including collective/communal grief, incomplete grief, compound grief, and complicated grief. The hope is that the heart and spiritual truths of Grief Light will guide you toward a better understanding of your grief and direct you away from the darkness, toward the light of new life.

Suffering Wisely and Well

Suffering Wisely and Well PDF Author: Eric Ortlund
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433576511
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 192

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Book Description
Why Suffering Exists: God's Purpose for Pain in the Life of Job and throughout Scripture Why does God allow suffering? The pain of suffering can be overwhelmingly mysterious, but the Bible does provide answers. Throughout Scripture, God allows trials in order to accomplish specific purposes in the lives of his people. When faced with suffering they experience spiritual growth; repentance from sin; or, as in the Old Testament story of Job, the chance to demonstrate devotion to God in the face of inexplicable agony. In Suffering Wisely and Well, Eric Ortlund explores different types of trials throughout Scripture, revealing the spiritual purpose for each and reassuring readers with God's promise of restoration. The majority of the book focuses on Job, one of the most well-known yet misunderstood stories of suffering. Ortlund thoughtfully analyzes the text chapter by chapter, including the doubt of Job's friends, God's response to Job's questions, and the meaning behind important imagery including references to Leviathan and Behemoth. Suffering Wisely and Well shows readers how to deepen their relationship with God during painful experiences in their own lives and how to comfort others who are hurting. Explores Lament and Redemption in Scripture: Helps readers understand how to interpret suffering from a Christian perspective Applicable: Each chapter ends with a "What Have We Learned?" summary Biblical Advice on Grief and Support: Teaches Christians how to avoid blame or legalism when addressing the suffering of others

Reflections of a Grieving Spouse

Reflections of a Grieving Spouse PDF Author: H. Norman Wright
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN: 0736933999
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
When author and counselor H. Norman Wright’s beloved wife, Joyce, passed away, he grieved the loss of his partner and the life they shared. Even in his state of sorrow, he knew he had to find a way to live without Joyce, to forge a hopeful path, and to move forward in God’s grace and strength. With vulnerability and emotional insight, Norm shares from his deeply personal journey and illuminates the way back to living when someone you love is gone. Readers who have lost their spouse will discover support and guidance as they work through anger, including anger at God, to ease toward God’s peace move away from denial and “what ifs” to move forward allow memories to provide comfort without getting stuck in the past create a healthy new, daily routine to care for themselves turn their new identity and life over to God’s leading and mercy This tender and inspirational book will help any reader who is grieving or who is walking alongside a grieving friend.

The Journey Through Grief

The Journey Through Grief PDF Author: Alan D. Wolfelt
Publisher: Companion Press
ISBN: 1617220973
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 57

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Book Description
This spiritual companion for mourners affirms their need to mourn and invites them to journey through their very unique and personal grief. Detailed are the six needs that all mourners must yield to and eventually embrace if they are to go on to find continued meaning in life and living, including the need to remember the deceased loved one and the need for support from others. Short explanations of each mourning need are followed by brief, spiritual passages that, when read slowly and reflectively, help mourners work through their unique thoughts and feelings. Also included in this revised edition are journaling sections for mourners to write out their personal responses to each of the six needs. This replaces 1879651114.

Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief

Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief PDF Author: Diamante Lavendar
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 1982205695
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 74

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Book Description
This earthly plane offers much for us to learn: happiness, wisdom, loss, heartbreak, and enlightenment. It is a Pandora's box of emotions, situations, opportunities, and failures, all wrapped into a package we call life. Nobody is immune, but everyone has the opportunity to grow tall or wither like a flower in harsh light. It's completely up to us how we choose to respond. Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief is a gleaning of insights from artist Diamante Lavender. For her, life has been a long, difficult road, but it has taught many poignant lessons. Her poetry collection is an exploration of the human soul, a traversing of situations that life throws at us. Diamante has always been intrigued by the ability to overcome and move on to bigger and better things. She writes to encourage hope and possibility in those who read her stories. If she can help others heal, as she has, then Diamante's work as an author and artist will have been well spent. She believes that everyone should try to leave a positive mark on the world, to make it a better place for all. Writing is the way that she is attempting to leave her markone story at a time.

Grieving Forward

Grieving Forward PDF Author: Susan Duke
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 0446562289
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
A mother addresses the issues of grieving in a poignant and personal journey toward healing.

It Is Not Enough

It Is Not Enough PDF Author: L B Ó Ceallaigh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
In the throes of grief, there are many of us who embrace more deeply our faith traditions and practices as a form of comfort, but some of us do not respond so ardently. This is especially so when we lose a dear loved one or child.Some of us, even after years of growth in our faith traditions and have faced helping others through tragedy, do not respond well to deep grief. We come to the realization that religious rituals-signs and seals of grace-- are not as powerful.When we try to express this, we are typically met with responses that are well meaning positive sentiment or blatant insult. We, especially as priests, pastors, imams etc., are looked down upon because of inability to cope with the pain and in faith see our loved one's death as Divine will.This just adds injury to injury for those of us that are both clergy, spouses, and parents. For we often are expected to be that resilient anchor, Yet even when one is not the clergy, the grieving person has this cultural, sub-cultural, and communal value imposed upon them, even when good natured, that says we need to move on.The well-meaning platitudes and assumptions that our faith will provide comfort and we are to just ignore the justified pain of loss is terrifying to us as grievers. This, again, is especially true when the loss was tragedy. There is frequently never a rubber meets the road moment where theology, faith, and the world around us truthfully collide as a mess that we must properly clean up.Instead, there is a call to theology that lacks depth because it is not pragmatic or practical because there is simply no way to be so pragmatic. Death is treated as so trite that it is more like a comma in the theology sentence about life.All the affectations we try to add or use as explanations become band aids on gaping lacerations or bloody crime scenes that we try to brush away under a rug. The simple answer, however, is that nothing short of the return of the loved one will ever fill that gap. This means it is never enough to fill the ache or loss.It is like trying to put the world's oceans into a beach pail. Our rituals must be understood in their finite nature to use them well. We must reflect on the sad and joyous aspects of finitude.Our traditions must reflect reality if they are to pertinent to life. Theology must hold its proper place with our signs and seals of grace, yes. Within that deep remembrance found there, however, they are not enough. Nevertheless, they are all we have.

Grieving with Hope

Grieving with Hope PDF Author: Samuel J. Hodges IV
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 0801014239
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
Drawing on the successful national recovery program GriefShare, grief experts offer practical direction and hope in the face of loss.

Blessen

Blessen PDF Author: Margaret Simon
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780984891528
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
Ever since a hurricane sent a water oak through the roof of Pawpee's house crippling her grandfather, ten-year-old Blessen LaFleur has lived with her mother and grandfather in a FEMA trailer on True Friend Road in St. Martinville, La. An accident involving her pet chicken, Blue, pushes Blessen into discoveries about faith, death, and her heritage.