Grief 2 Great Day – Christian Grief Support for Women, Questioning God in Grief, Life after Loss, Hope in Grief

SHOW NOTES

When I heard people talking about Thanksgiving or Christmas, the anxiety would rise, and the dread would increase.  I wish I could have escaped all the happy holiday things. 

But, short of escaping (which is fine if you need to), I want to share how to include your loved one into your Thanksgiving.  I’m going to share 10 ways, but then we’ll discuss the importance of how these ideas are used to build your loved one’s legacy.

Bring pen and paper, because I’m talking a little faster than usual and I don’t want you to miss anything that might spark an idea or even a little hope.

WORD of the Week  

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

Song of the Week

Even When it Hurts – Hillsong United    https://youtu.be/hrSJwO5dJXg

The holidays will be here soon.  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Annie’s Story…

Her mother died when she was 3-years old, giving birth to her baby sister.
Her father died when she was 6.
Before he died, he made arrangements for a childless couple to raise Annie and her little sister.

As a teenager, the rheumatoid arthritis set in.
And by the time she was in her twenties, she was permanently crippled by it, sent to live in a long-term care facility for the rest of her life, in part because her foster parents had also died.

Gnarled hands, twisted fingers.
Permanently in a wheelchair.
Unable to meet her own most basic needs.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are coming!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey, felt the pain of grief and thought they wouldn't make it. Be encouraged by their stories and progress!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

We read the Bible verse that God will make all things come together for our good. Well, how in the world is what you are going through good?  How can it ever be good?  This is where I struggled in the beginning.  I read about a Christian singer who lost her husband in a diving accident. I could so relate with the pain and confusion and then she shared how she had to trust in God and was given hope. 

She, like Monica while she was sick, had a hope I couldn’t rely on.  I had moments of hope but not an underlying confidence in God. I thought that all the success stories – all the giants in the faith were blessed and loved by God in a way that I would never understand.  But I held on to those stories and replayed what they did when they were hurting. 

After over a year of fighting it out with God – and those were some tough days – my heart softened, and I began to trust God.  I went back to those stories and started to believe that God is no respecter of persons – that if he did it for them – He would do it for me.

Do you believe that yet?  Boy, when you get a hold of that kind of confidence aka trust in God and HIS plan, then you’ll see progress.  Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever walk through but on the other side you’ll be able to say – God will make all things come together for my good. Today I’m talking about one way to build that very needed hope!

WORD of the Week  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Song of the Week  My Prayer for You - Alisa Turner

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are coming!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey, felt the pain of grief and thought they wouldn't make it. Be encouraged by their stories and progress!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Thermostat or thermometer?

A left-handed compliment.
An unasked, negative critique of what I am wearing.
A joke at my expense that hits too close to home.
A lousy driver.
Another interruption.
An illness.
A person who lets me down – again.

The daily stuff of life – the stuff that comes from living in a fallen, sinful world.
It happens.

And I get to choose.
Will I be a thermometer? Or a thermostat?

A thermometer registers the current temperature.
A thermostat sets the temperature and regulates it.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are coming!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey, felt the pain of grief and thought they wouldn't make it. Be encouraged by their stories and progress!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Last week we touched on the balancing act of grief – how to push and when to rest. I also shared an important truth that, once you grab a hold of, will help every day in grief and give you glimpses of a good future.

Along your journey – how do you measure progress?  What do you use to compare your today to?  Emotions change so much and in grief, they are exceptionally high and low, so you can’t count on them. 

Today, we’ll talk more about how to know with confidence that you are making progress in the grief process.  This understanding may not make your journey any quicker, but then again – maybe it will! 

WORD of the Week     May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Song of the Week   It Is Well – Anthony Evans

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are coming!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey, felt the pain of grief and thought they wouldn't make it. Be encouraged by their stories and progress!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

God loves you.

He sent Jesus to die to take the punishment for your sin because He wants to have a relationship with you.

Yes, you. No caveats – and no exceptions. If you already knew that and have accepted it as fact in your life, then tell someone else. By word and by deed. If you are not sure how to reach those close to you or far away, let’s talk. There are some awesome ways for you to make an eternal impact in your neighborhood and around the world.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Grief is such a balancing act between resting and pushing. 

And while you are in the beginning year or so of your journey – nothing feels like it’s under your control.  After all you had no control over losing your loved one – you had no control over how it happened and when it happened.

Today I want to share a game-changing sign I was given that helped begin a conversation with God and a realization of what I was feeling versus what I was capable of.  This, right here, is the balancing act....it is the work of grief.

Your JourneyWorks this week is powerful!  If you act upon it, you will see your attitude, your perspective, and your confidence change. You will begin to believe that you can ‘make it through this!'

WORD of the Week    I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me   Philippians 4:13

Song of the Week   Say I Won’t by Mercy Me

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Paul said it this way: “Whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10)

According to God’s Word, that should be the overarching theme of my to-do list – and the list of every Christ-follower.

Whatever I do today – from the marvelous to the mundane – should be done for the glory of God.

In other words, everything I do today should serve to point either myself or others to HIS greatness, HIS goodness, HIS character, HIS heart.

It is easy to see how preparing the lesson for Sunday or writing this blog can be done for the glory of God. (It is also easy for both of those things to be about MY glory, not His.)

But how can I clean the cat’s box for the glory of God??

And what about all those other ordinary things that fill my days – like dishes and taking out the trash, answering e-mails and sitting in meetings, driving to and from work, running errands – how can I do those things for the glory of God?

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

When the sacred is torn from your life and you survive. Wow!  Do those words resonate with you today? 

Today we’ll look at Natalie Grant’s song, Held as we look at the promises of God for you right now as you struggle to make sense of losing your ‘sacred person.’ 

There is a truth in love alert for this episode but as you walk further along your grief journey, you’ll need to hear this for your healing.

WORD of the Week  Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10 (Message)

Song of the Week   Held by Natalie Grant

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.    2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT

Hmm…unpacking that a bit…what does it mean?  

And, more importantly, what does it look like?

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Let me start by saying that if you have healthy boundaries around your life, this episode won’t be as useful.  BUT, if you are like most people and dare, I say Christian women mostly and you are one ‘yes’ away from complete exhaustion, then this episode is for you.

The title of Funnel and Vessel is from a counselor that Jeff and I were seeing, and it hit home so much that even years later, it continued to resonate.  When he first shared this idea, I was like, ‘Yeah – that’s what I’m talking about’ and that acknowledgment was helpful.

I didn’t act though, I just let it sit in my head and frustrated myself when I continued to say yes to all the things I really didn’t want to say. And that is at the heart of this issue with boundaries – saying yes when you really don’t want to…. 

Today I’ll ask you some hard questions – questions I had to ask myself so that your life is not dictated by others; but instead – you live and breathe for an audience of one!

WORD of the Week   “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Galatians 1:10

Song of the Week   This Journey is My Own by Sara Groves

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

“Abba, I need Your eyes today to see the people who cross my path.
Your ears to hear not just their words but their hearts.
And I need Your heart to love them with YOUR love.
Not my faulty and feeble love.
But Yours.

I need Your eyes today to see past the behavior I dislike so that I can see that this is another person who is created in Your image, someone You desperately and dearly love, someone for whom Christ died.

I need Your ears to hear past the rhetoric – whether it matches my internal script or not – so that I can hear the person behind the words. Even the ugly, vile, disturbing words. I need to hear the cries for You that are woven through the words they choose. And I need to speak back Your Words – Words of Truth, life, health, peace, healing, love, understanding, grace, and kindness – regardless of what they have spoken.

I need Your heart for every person in my path today.
The ones that look like me.
And sound like me.
And dress like me.
And believe like me.
And the ones who don’t.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

…This made me think about life in grief. 

My existence was myopic on my grief. It was nearsighted on my loss, pain, confusion, anger with the Lord. It was all I could see.  It was all I focused on.  In the beginning of grief, this is very normal because everything (if you knew the loss was coming or not) is traumatic and the body has to survive, process what has happened and still function. It’s overwhelming and there’s nothing else you can see at that point. 

As you walk through the grief journey, there will be times when you have the option to think about, pray about, see other things that are not loss related and I struggled to choose to take my eyes off of my grief. Everything was filtered through my loss and that kept me nearsighted on pain, questions, frustration and anger. 

Today I’ll share what will help you continue to process & heal are the same things that help nearsighted people see in the distance…or see a bigger picture. 

WORD of the Week   We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
but God’s purpose prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (Message)

Song of the Week   Hallelujah Anyway by Charly Perry

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

Memorable Quote:

People like to say, “God helps them who help themselves!”
And what they mean by that is, “We like it when people work hard and pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”

But the biblical reality is that God helps those who realize they are helpless.
Lost.
And in constant need of Him.
And His help is not just in the form of Saving Grace. Saving Grace is truly amazing. It stepped in, along with its sister, Mercy, when I deserved nothing but the wrath of God for my sin.

And Mercy put my punishment on Jesus. While Grace stood with open arms, inviting me to come into fellowship with God.

That is Saving Grace. And that is awesome.

But God also provides a different Grace.

A living, sustaining, “I-even-care-about-smoke-detectors” Grace. A daily Grace for even the things that are, at best, mundane. A Sustaining Grace.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

If you are new to the podcast, let me share a quick overview of the summit I am talking about.  The Holiday Grief Relief Summit is a way to ‘escape’ the normal holiday season. See when the holidays come, and they are coming – there’s a whole ‘nother level of feeling your loss. You can’t escape the happy holiday marketing that is everywhere – even in the big box stores now (what in the world, Hobby Lobby) – and the true meaning of Christmas is not only lost on our culture but it’s hard to grasp in grief.  It becomes the period of time that is incredibly heavy and doubly hard. Family traditions and social times around the holidays accentuate loss, and you may feel anger, jealousy or envious of those who are clueless to the type of pain you are dealing with…which feels like everyone.

So, the Holiday Grief Relief summit was created to help you escape and be around those who aren’t hard to be around - where other Christian women who get it - share their journeys (and journeys-in-progress) to give you great hope to survive the holidays and to know that you can breathe, laugh and truly live again.

WORD of the Week

Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.  James 5:10-11 (Message)

Song of the Week   I Can Feel You by Bethel Music

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

You can…but you won’t.
Why won’t you, God?

You are able to heal my friend.
But so far, You have not.
Why not?

You are able to change my financial circumstances.
But You are choosing not to – at least, so far.
What’s up with that?

You are able to heal the marriage.
Keep the baby from miscarrying.
Cure the cancer.
Provide the money.
Send that godly husband to the lonely, godly girl.

I know You are able because You have done it before.
It’s recorded in the pages of Your Word.
Miracles.
Lots of them.

And I know because You have done it in the 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth.
I have read the testimonies.
Heard them with my own ears.
Seen them with my own eyes.

So where are you now, God?
Because You can.
I know You can.
But You aren’t.
You haven’t.
And it feels like You won’t.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the struggle is not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES (part 2)

On Sunday, Zach Lloyd was here and shared his inspiring journey with God and how he became a lifestyle – anti-diet – coach. 

He told us about struggling with addiction and depression and how his aunt played a role in leading him to God.  If you did not hear that episode, please go back and listen to it.

Today, Zach will share his expertise on becoming healthy and it might surprise you since it’s not what you are used to hearing.  What you are walking through is incredibly hard and Zach understands how life can be debilitating!

What you are walking toward (navigating this unfamiliar world without your loved one and creating your new identity in it) will absolutely be made better if you’ll take care of your physical body in the best way you are able.

If you have any questions for Zach, join the private FB group and I’ll make sure they get to Zach to be answered.  If any question is important to you, then it’s important to Zach!   

Listen today to see how great changes come from small steps in health and in grief.

WORD of the Week   (chosen by Zach Lloyd)  "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God." John 1:1

Songs of the Week (chosen by Zach Lloyd)

UP! Forrest Frank & Connor Price

Good to Know by Zach Williams

All things Zach Lloyd:

Free Gift!  Zach's End Calorie CountingToolkit: https://bit.ly/EndCalCounting

Website:  https://zachlloydcoaching.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9rYOAoCGonrZpdWxSl6oUQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachlloydcoaching/

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

So today, you get to hear from our first ‘guy’ on the podcast.  :-) 

We’re gonna talk with Zach Lloyd. He is a Lifestyle – anti-diet – coach.  He emailed me after listening to an episode of Grief 2 Great Day, so he had my attention with that fact. But as we emailed and then met via Zoom, I was excited to share not only WHAT he does with you but WHO he is. 

I’ve said many times that after going through grief, I can also tell if someone has been through something in their life because, if they allow it, God will bring growth, maturity and most importantly a higher perspective. Well, that’s what I see in Zach. 

You might be thinking - who cares about health right now?  I want you to because it will help you!  See, even though I knew what to do, I wish I had met someone like Zach back then.

Someone to help support the small steps, to encourage with an understanding of how hard it can be to get out of bed and to keep me accountable. He’s been through hard times which have shaped who he is.

Listen today to see how great changes come from small steps in health and in grief.

WORD of the Week   (chosen by Zach Lloyd)  "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God." John 1:1

Songs of the Week (chosen by Zach Lloyd)

UP! Forrest Frank & Connor Price

Good to Know by Zach Williams

All things Zach Lloyd:

Free Gift!  Zach's End Calorie CountingToolkit: https://bit.ly/EndCalCounting

Website:  https://zachlloydcoaching.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9rYOAoCGonrZpdWxSl6oUQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachlloydcoaching/

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Because a tiny baby was born to a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem, one day I can get all my questions answered.
I can chat with Joseph about how he felt.
I can talk to the wise men about their journeys – the exciting one to Bethlehem via Jerusalem and the covert one as they returned home another way to escape King Herod.

I can meet Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
I can ask Mary to share her side of the story.
Beginning at the stable – but continuing to the cross.
I can ask her what it felt like to watch her firstborn son be slaughtered 33 years after that night in Bethlehem.
And how she felt when she came upon the empty tomb three days later.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Candy Chang on creating Before I Die in New Orleans:

I lived a block away from an abandoned house that had been collecting dust and graffiti for years. I wondered if I could make it a nicer space for my neighborhood and make a tribute to Joan by creating a space to restore perspective. I made a homemade stencil that said, “Before I die, I want to _____.”

With help from old and new friends, I painted the side of this crumbling house with chalkboard paint and stenciled it with this prompt so that anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on death and life, and share their personal aspirations in public.

It was all an experiment, and I didn’t know what to expect. Because it was cheap to make, I thought it would be no big deal if it didn’t work out.

By the next day, the wall was entirely filled and it kept growing: Before I die I want to… sing for millions, abandon all insecurities, get my wife back, eat all the carbs I want, hold her one more time, be completely myself. The gamut of humanity was on full display, and the wall became an honest mess of the longing, fear, insecurity, gratitude, humor, pain, and grace you find in every community. I saw how much I was not alone as I tried to make sense of my life, and the wall became in icebreaker for meaningful conversations on death and emotional health. Seeing some private corner of your psyche reflected in someone else’s handwriting on a public wall can be incredibly reassuring on an individual level, and it’s a step towards seeing ourselves in one another.

WORD of the Week    This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven. Hebrews 6:19

Song of the Week  I Have to Believe by Karen Wheaton  

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

1. God will still be Sovereign. Seated on His throne. In charge. At work. No matter who is elected.
2. God will not be surprised by who is elected. Daniel, who worked diligently for the government who had overthrown his homeland and destroyed it, wrote these words about God: He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.” (Daniel 2)…..
   
   

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Today is a short but practical way to feel better and who doesn’t want to feel better in grief?

I’m gonna talk a little more about the “RISE” part of pray, read and rise.  I’ve shared with you that the greatest actions you can take in grief are praying (no matter what that sounds like); reading the Bible (no matter how little you are able to) and Rising.

The Rise portion is of great value to your journey – not only for the future – but for right now.  See, exercise has been shown to be as effective as Prozac for depression.  And exercise comes with only good side effects such as better (or deeper sleep)……

WORD of the Week    A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22  

Song of the Week   Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

……In prayer, I want it to be that I ask and God instantly answers.
In a way I understand.
Clearly.
In a way I like.
To my satisfaction.

In learning, I want it to be that I read the Bible briefly, casually, in a few spare moments and become a spiritual giant.
Understanding it all clearly.
Applying it all perfectly.
Completely transformed in an instant.

In relationships, I want it to be that I do things God’s way and instantly have no conflict.

I forgive or am forgiven, and everything is instantly restored.
I have a tough conversation, and everyone ends up on the same page after a few moments.

I choose love and they choose love, and we all live happily ever after.

In spiritual growth, I want it to be that I pop in a few great quotes from other godly people – or even a great book on the Christian life – and I am suddenly transformed.

Encouraged.
Uplifted.
Changed completely.
All better now.

Beep! The stew is done!
Without an extended period of heat.

Without it taking half of forever…..

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Cuss words – the definition is to say words that aren’t polite because you’re angry. That’s the definition.

In grief, there are words we do not want to say or hear because when we do hear them, it creates all kinds of emotions – anger, offense and did I mention anger?  On a good day in grief, the biggest of these cuss words can cause you to shut down.  Well, that was my experience, but maybe it’s different for you.

Let’s see.  When I tell you that at some point, you’re gonna have to accept what has happened, how does that hit your heart?  My reaction was pure rebellion because in my mind, the word acceptance meant ‘agreeing with’ or ‘approving of’ and I had no intention of doing either of those things.

This is where I thought my faith was lacking – that if I had more faith (at that point, I felt I had none), so if I had any faith, then I could accept what God allowed.  But coming to a place of acceptance is the crazy ride of grief.   There’s so much rolled up in that word and that’s what I want to talk about today:  What is included in ‘acceptance’ what, it really means, and 3 reasons grief cuss words such as acceptance will help you rebuild a life.

WORD of the Week   Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And weboast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but wealso glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:2-4

Song of the Week   Trust in God

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But here is what I love:
I know that God loves me.
I am His beloved daughter.  And He delights in showing me the path I should take – if and when I let Him.

So my job is to incline the ear of my heart to Him.
To take the time to read His Word so I recognize His Voice.
To spend time in prayer so that I know what His presence and His peace are like.

To hold up my thoughts, urgings or promptings against the background of those things to “test the spirits”.
And then to wait on Him for clarity of thought, for that “peace that passes understanding” before I act.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, this isn’t the episode that was scheduled for today because I wanted to share something I thought was incredibly important and something I touched on last week.

Lately several of you have shared being ‘unencouraged’ by others in daily life - some of those people being Christians.  I know if I’m hearing from more than 4 or 5 people, that many others are experiencing the same thing. I find that I’m real sensitive when it comes to this subject because I’ve experienced both the helpful and the hurtful comments people make.   

Today and the reason for this episode – in the last week I was reading some of the posts in the FB group – and they made me emotional because of the love and care that is shown. 

I want to share some of the comments because you may not be a part of the group, but you may need to hear these! 

WORD of the Week   Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.  Proverbs 18:21  

Song of the Week   Speak Life by TobyMac

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me 

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

I am out of alignment.
And it causes pain throughout the Body.
When I do not align my feet properly, I feel in it my arches, knees, hips and back.

And when I do not align my life with God’s Word, I feel it all over.

When I pick and choose what the Bible says – or rather, what I want it to say – by taking verses out of context, I am out of alignment.

When I know what the Bible plainly says – like “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3) – but choose to live like I am the only one who actually matters, I am out of alignment.

When I don’t really read or study my Bible for myself but instead live on the words of humans without checking them against the Truth of scripture, I am out of alignment.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

… The second month was different…no longer exhausted from caretaking but exhausted emotionally.  I was surrounded by my peeps but less so (because after all, people had to return to their lives).  I thought (quite literally I was going to die). I really did – but I kept breathing and even that was hard. 

I didn’t understand how I kept waking up in the morning.  What kind of purpose did my life have now?  My fights began in earnest: the fight to get out of bed, to take a shower, and to care about any of those things. My fight with God also began…why, why, why?  How could you let that happen, God?  Why would you let that happen?

I understood and was drawn to Psalms more than ever in my life. Before I was all about Proverbs because that book told me how to live a godly life.  It fit my religious life.  But now Psalms and Job and all the anguish and lamenting.  I understood it but I saw my situation differently.  David lamented but praised while I lamented, blamed, accused and asked for understanding.  I told God that 43 years was enough, and I had no purpose, so I was fine if my time was up too…

But God….

WORD of the Week  “I came naked from my mother’s womb,” he said, “and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 Living Translation

Song of the Week  The Story I'll Tell (feat. Naomi Raine) | Maverick City Music  

Part of the lyrics:  I’ll testify of the battles you have won!   My God did not fail – it’s the story I’ll tell!  I’ll look back over the years and see your hands on it!!

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But one day I will see Jesus face to face.

And one day I will understand.
Because I will see the big picture.
And I will fall at His feet and worship Him because I will see how He, indeed, worked “all things together” for my good and His glory – because I am His.

A hymn writer put it this way:
“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!”

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

If this is your first time listening, Monica is the reason you are listening – she was my best friend but much more like a sister, mentor, mom and encourager for almost 20 years. 

She was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and in the 6 months that she lived, walked out a faith that most (including me called crazy).  I was honored to be her caretaker and lived out the most awful and awesome 6 months with her.

This week I share the chapter on ‘Going After God’ in the Dying to Be Healed Book.  This will describe my ugly faith journey because of Monica’s crazy faith. Last week, I shared the chapter on ‘What is Faith Then?’ I want to show you what I saw as I reflected on her journey that helped me on mine.   

Your faith is being tested and there is no right or wrong to feel…you feel what you feel, so don’t worry if you question God more than you praise him. Grief will flip life and everything you believe on its head.  What’s important now is that you take action in the right direction…

If you want to read more about Monica or her journey, go to the website, grief-the number2-great day.com and click on the book tab.  This is not a book on grief, it is a book about faith in the hardest of circumstances and may be helpful to you!

WORD of the Week    “God has a plan for each and every one of us if we are willing to listen and give Him control of our lives (Jeremiah 29:11).”

Song of the Week  Rescue by Lauren Daigle    

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

If this is your first time listening, Monica is the reason you are listening – she was my best friend but much more like a sister, mentor, mom and encourager for almost 20 years. 

She was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and in the 6 months that she lived, walked out a faith that most (including me called crazy).  I was honored to be her caretaker and lived out the most awful and awesome 6 months with her.

This week I want to share the chapter on What is Faith Then? In the Dying to Be Healed book. I want to show you what I saw as I reflected on her journey that helped me on mine.  Next week, I’ll share the chapter on Going After God. This will describe my ugly faith journey because of Monica’s crazy faith. 

Your faith is being tested now and there is no right or wrong to feel…you feel what you feel, so don’t worry if you question God more than you praise him. Grief will flip life and everything you believe on its head.  What’s important now is that you take action in the right direction…

If you want to read more about Monica or her journey, go to the website, grief-the number2-great day.com and click on the book tab.  This is not a book on grief, it is a book about faith in the hardest of circumstances and may be helpful to you!

WORD of the Week   “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)

Song of the Week   This I Know by Monica King  (posted on FB)

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

I forget Whose I am.
That my Daddy is Sovereign, Lord over all, in charge at all times and never, ever unaware of my circumstances.

I forget the equipment He has given me to navigate my life.
A full tank of gas that is continuously replenished from His own supply. Or, as Paul put it in Ephesians 1, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me.

A fully-functioning, never-wrong, always-connected GPS also known as the Holy Spirit of the Living God dwelling inside of me. He will always guide, always comfort, always correct. I just have to ask.

A full supply of food and drink, always available from the Bread of Life Himself, the Living Water that always satisfies.

And even a paper road map, the Word of God. Always there to give direction. Always there to confirm the GPS, even as the GPS confirms it.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But then there is the God of the Bible.

The One Who has revealed Himself in the pages of Scripture.
The God Who IS – not the One I think He is.
Or even the One I want Him to be.

God the Father, seated on His throne.
Sovereign over all things.

With ultimate control of every circumstance.
ALL powerful.
ALL knowing.
Completely pure.
Holy.
Perfect in all His ways.

The One who “…who changes the times and the seasons” and “…removes kings and establishes kings.” (Daniel 2:21)
The One who makes “the king’s heart like channels of water” in His hand, turning it “whichever way He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1, AMP)
The One Who “delights in every detail of our lives”. (Psalm 37:23, NLT)
The One Who “daily carries us in His arms” (Psalm 68:19, NLT)
The One Who showed us His holiness in the giving of the Law, knowing we would break it.

And then also gave us His One and Only Son as the substitute for our punishment, knowing He did not want to live without us.

And that is just the beginning of Who the Bible says He is.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

I don’t like all the changes it will take to become healthy.  Living daily life holds its own challenges before undertaking real change and to try to live daily life and change reminds me of when I went through grief.  And it is what I hear from a lot of you as well.

How are you expected to walk through grief and continue to carry on normal life?  My health changes are time consuming and a mental challenge at times, but going through grief is a complete upheaval of what was – it is coming to terms with what is - and then walking into the unchartered territory of what will be.

Because of continuous injuries (that I’m not at all salty about), we’ve started stretching too!  How much more do I have to do to not hurt?  If that statement doesn’t describe going through grief, I don’t know what does. 

Now, if you take away nothing else in this episode listen to these 3 statements to help you persevere in what seems like the endless days of grief.

WORD of the Week   "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6–7).

Song of the Week    Walk with Jesus by Consumed by Fire

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Jeremiah put it this way: “God’s mercies are new every morning.”
God created us to love fresh starts.
And so He created the rhythm of our days to give us a new beginning each morning.  To begin anew each day.

Was yesterday a bad day?

Perhaps my circumstances were not what I would have liked.
Perhaps I failed to conquer that one sin, that ongoing temptation.
Perhaps I spent the day nursing a bad attitude.

Or operating strictly in my own strength.
Perhaps I snapped at someone I loved.
Or perhaps I chose to give them the cold shoulder.

Yesterday is gone.
And today is a fresh start.
Because His mercies are new every morning.
Because great is His faithfulness.
Because “weeping may last for the night but joy comes in the morning”.
Because today I can choose to “set my mind on things above” rather than on the things of earth.
Because “this is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home

SHOW NOTES

Grief is something no one wants to go through. And before I went through it, it death wasn’t something I wanted to talk about.  A year before Monica died, our hospital’s hospice house was built and there was a grand opening, and all staff were encouraged to go. Monica was a nurse case manager who had previously referred many patients to out-of-the county inpatient hospices, so this was a great thing for our community. 

Though the building was new, spacious and beautiful, we never went because of my uncomfortableness with the idea of death and dying.  I felt that if I talked about it or worse yet – walk into a hospice house – it would happen.

Because of our uncomfortableness with grief and our desire not to talk about it, there hadn’t been research into dying until 1969. So, let me share a little background on how the Stages of Grief came to be and how they were NEVER intended to help people go through grief. 

Today I’m talking about who the Stages of Grief were intended for; why this is important for your journey and how to manage your emotional rollercoaster far better than using the Stages of Grief.

WORD of the Week    

I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse! Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember? When I told my story, you responded, train me well in your deep wisdom. Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders. My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn; build me up again by your Word. Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner. I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; God, don’t let me down! I’ll run the course you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how. Psalm 119:25-32 (Message)

Song of the Week   Even If by Anthony Evans

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Everything I have is a gift from His good hand of grace.
The obvious stuff like stuff – my house, my car, my clothing, my money.
And the less tangible stuff – my time, my abilities, my freedom, laughter, friendships, family.

Not to mention the thousands of things I take for granted most of the time – the air in my lungs, my eyesight, the ability to walk, stand, and sit up on my own.

And the even-more-behind-the-scenes gifts like the automatic processes of my body that I rarely ponder until they are hindered – breathing, blinking, my heart beating, brain waves, nerves firing.

Every bit of that – and so much more – is a good gift from a good God.

And every bit of that is utterly dependent upon Him, whether I recognize that fact or not.

Paul put it this way. He said, “In Him we live and move and exist.” (Acts 17)

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Walking through grief will be the hardest thing you ever do – for many reasons including losing your identity because you can no longer by the you - you were before your loved one died; or not knowing how to live a life different than the one you have lived for years or what you had expected to live with them.  Also, the loss will never leave you.  This is important because first, I don’t want to freak you out thinking that it will never get better – it will.  But this is important in what we are talking about when it comes to crossroads moments after loss.

And before I get into what I want to share, please do not make any life-altering decisions for at least the first year. Your life has been altered and so has your brain because of grief. The brain is changed in grief, and it needs time to heal as well.  So, to say you are not in your right mind in the first year of grief is pretty accurate.  Because of that, no big financial decisions, selling the house decisions, relationship decisions should be made right now. If you have to sell property or move, then you have to but if you don’t have to – don’t.

I have gotten a lot of questions about dating recently.  The questions have been specifically from women who have lost their husbands. However, beginning new relationships for anyone going through grief also applies here.

Today - the question is – how long should I wait until I date again?

WORD of the Week   Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. 7 Don't assume that you know it all.  Proverbs 3:5-7 message

Song of the Week  Have Thine Own Way by Lynda Randall

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But I am not always with Him.
I forget that He is right here.
Loving me.
Enjoying me.
Wanting to spend time with me.
Seeking my heart.
Painting rainbows, sunsets, and flowers for my enjoyment.
Providing sweet treats for my taste buds and my soul.
Willing to listen every moment.
Willing to guide every decision I make.
Willing to give me all I need, all the time.
Thankfully, His presence is not based on my remembrance of Him.
He is there whether I see Him or not.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

As Christians we are all flawed, like the rest of humanity. And, as Christians, we should grieve differently. But, if we are still very human, what does ‘grieving differently’ look like and how do you find the kind of help that takes you to God rather toward the world. 

Finding people who will help you heal are SO important right now and you may find that some friends/family who you thought would always be there for you – aren’t.  And on the flip side, you probably have met or will meet those you never expected to be a part of your life who become vital to your healing.

This is not by mistake. In grief, I saw God use circumstances to refine my world and what I call my inner circle.

Today we’re going to talk about the hallmarks of Godly friends to help you in your healing through grief. 

WORD of the Week   Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20   

Song of the Week   My Prayer for You by Alisa Turner

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Others would quickly throw up their hands and take a seat in a corner, rocking back and forth, moaning about the problem to all who would listen. They would even go so far as to say, “Well, obviously the King has forgotten about me. After all, He is so busy with His whole Kingdom and I am just a little steward. No one cares – and especially not the King! After all, if He cared about me, I wouldn’t have problems to overcome.” What they forgot was that the King was all wise. He knew his enemy and had control over what problems He allowed the enemy to cause.  

Because, you see, the King had a deeper and wiser plan than the enemy. He knew that each problem the enemy caused could be a precious lesson for the steward, a way to help his or her corner of the Kingdom thrive. And He had already promised that to the stewards – “Whatever the enemy intends for evil, I will work together for good for you because you are a steward of my Kingdom. And even the problems you bring on yourself – even those, I will bring something beautiful from, if you will let me.”

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Nobody wants to attend a funeral – regardless of who it is.  But – when it’s your loved one that the funeral is being scheduled for and it’s gonna be you on the front row?  Well – that’s a whole different ball game!

Is this really happening?  Did we just schedule a date for their funeral?  It all seems surreal, but no amount of protest can change the fact that it has been scheduled.

Beyond the shock of this event – how do you get through the day; the activities before and after and how do you navigate other’s emotions when you are just trying to breathe?

Today we’ll talk about how to get through the service of your loved one and if you are listening to this, you have probably already walked through this incredibly hard day.  Listen anyway because there are very practical and helpful actions for you to take in the days, weeks and months after.

WORD of the Week   the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV)

Song of the Week  I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin 

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

I say that I believe that God is real.
I say a lot of things about Him.
He is good.
Everything He does is right.
He is Sovereign, the Most High God, in complete control.
He is worthy of all my praise.
He is a good, good Father and He loves me.
He hates sin – all sin.
He loves people – all people.
He is the Creator and as such, gets to set the rules. All of the rules.

But do these beliefs even inform my actions – let alone determine them?

I say, “I believe that God is good and everything He does is right.”
But then something goes wrong and I immediately doubt His love for me.
Or something goes wrong and I immediately go into fix-it mode, without stopping to pray or even to think about what His Word might say on this matter.
Or something goes wrong and I outwardly smile but inwardly start to fret about how it.

So, do I really believe that “God is good and everything He does is right”? Or is it lip-service?

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Today is a great day because I get to introduce Cheri Eilers to you. Now, if you are in the Grief Group for Christian Women (private FB group), you have been blessed by her warm and caring welcomes.  But today everyone gets to hear Cheri’s story.

Cheri’s husband of over 40 years died and soon after, her mother did also.  She will share with you how these losses took her to a ‘crisis of faith,’ and what happened next.

I believe you will be able to relate to the emotional pain and spiritual questioning and I pray you will be encouraged to hold on as she shares the hope from God that makes healing possible.

WORD of the Week   And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  Isaiah 61:3

Song of the Week   "Scars" by I Am They

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Learn from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

When people do not meet my expectations, I have choices.  I can be offended and then choose to forgive.  Or I can be offended and then choose not to forgive (which, of course, would be sin).  Or, I can choose to not be offended at all, remembering that we are all flawed sinners and choosing to believe the best about that person.  (And yes, sometimes I have to call the other person on their behavior – but most of the time the offense committed falls under, “Love covers a multitude of sins.”.)  But when GOD does not meet my expectations, I have only one correct choice.

And that is to trust Him.

To believe that He has the big picture in mind.

To remember that this world is incredibly temporary.

To “set my mind on things above” (Colossians 3), remembering that in the not-too-distant future, I will be at Home with him and all of these troubles will be what Paul calls them – “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4).

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

What’s it like to hear from an old friend? You may not have talked for a while – months, years even decades but when you do reconnect…isn’t it amazing how you can pick right back up like no time had passed?

There may not have been a lot of contact, but there is a great connection.  That’s how your relationship with God may be in grief.  You may not want or be able to have a lot of contact right now, but I promise, you are still so very connected!

Remember how happy you are to talk with that old friend? Now imagine how happy God is to hear from you especially when you are going through the hardest time of life. He’s ecstatic and it doesn’t matter if it’s been a while.

Today I’ll share my reconnection with an old friend and 3 promises for you to hold onto while going through grief to help ease the pressure of how much contact you should have with God right now.

WORD of the Week  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.   Matthew 28:20  

Song of the Week   Why God by Austin French

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

As an adult, I still have that same over-active brain.
And it still loves to do its most creative, grueling and unreasonable workouts between 1 and 2 AM.

I don’t imagine disasters like house fires now.
Instead, the brain kicks in with a to-do list. And a problems list. And a “how-are-we-going-to-deal-with-THAT?” list.

During the day I do a much better job catching the lists when they start to march through my mind. I wrestle them to the ground by using these steps:

Write down what needs to be done.
Pray over it, releasing it to God.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Today, I’m excited to share Juli Boit with you! 

Juli Boit is an author, community builder, and nonprofit leader working at the intersection of faith, global health, and human dignity. For eighteen years, Juli has lived and worked in Africa, founding and serving as International Director of Living Room International, a community-led nonprofit providing hospice and palliative care services to adults and children in Western Kenya.

A Family Nurse Practitioner, Juli has combined her dual passions of healthcare and social justice into a unique expression of love that provides desperately needed services in an underserved community. That said, Juli would be the first to add she’s the one who has been loved the most by her patients and neighbors in her home village of Kipkaren—most notably by Titus, her Kenyan husband, and their children Sharon, Alice, Ella, Geoffrey, and Ryan.

What she is doing in Kenya is needed and exceptional!  To learn more about Juli and the important work she is doing please visit her website: https://juliboit.com/ 

WORD of the Week   Love is Patient, Love is Kind… I Corinthians 13

Song of the Week  The Greatest of These is Love by Larnelle Harris   

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now -“The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

I want to want just You, God.
Not what You can do.
Not what You can give me.
Just You.

I want to love You simply because You are God.
My Creator.
My King.
THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Great I AM.
The Rock.
My Fortress, Strong Tower, Deliverer.
And, more than any of that, my Savior.

I want to love You simply because You chose to love me first.
I want to love You because You saw my life before time began and made a plan to redeem me, to take the justly deserved punishment for my sins, to give me eternal life, to call me Your precious child.
I want to love You for Your goodness, Your kindness, Your mercy and grace.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

When I heard that Mandisa had died, I was so shocked…then very sad that someone I never met – but who had a profound impact on my grief journey – was no longer with us. 

It took me right back to her song, “He is With You” and one of the darkest moments of my fight with God – a God I didn’t understand – a God I was starting to question even existed. 

This song was what, I believe, God used to help soften my heart toward him and turn the greatest fight of my life (with Him) to a crossroad moment where I decided he was real, he was good, and He was with me! 

Thank you Mandisa and thank you Lord for using such a beautiful soul to help bring light to my darkness!

WORD of the Week  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.  Ecclesiastes 3:1  

Song of the Week  He is With You by Mandisa

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Your Father in heaven is a good, good Dad.
He adores you!
He is crazy about you.
AND HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU.
Because He made you.
And He sees every moment of time, past, present and future.
He sees it all.
And He knows the very best ways to guide you through it all.
He has been kind enough to lay it out in His Word.
How to live.
How to handle your money.
How to raise your kids.
How to do marriage well.
How to treat people who mistreat you.
How to treat your boss, no matter your job.
How to deal with your sexuality.
How to navigate through temptation.
How to dress – even how to handle alcohol and food!
And what to do when you blow it in any area.
It is ALL in there!

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

What does health have to do with what you are going through?  After all, who cares about being healthy when you’ve lost your loved one?  The short answer is that you should. 

One of the biggest similarities between grief and health in my experience is the “when” question!  When will it change, when will it be done? 

Today we’ll talk about the ‘measuring stick’ of change. We’ll talk about how we tend to look at the wrong measure for healing in grief and for getting healthy in our physical bodies.

And, most importantly, I’m going to remind you of the one thing you have that many don’t. I’ve had a reminder of the stark contrast of those of you listening to this podcast versus others! 

WORD of the Week   For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 (amplified)

Song of the Week   Press On by Mandisa

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

“But here is the real power in the “why behind the what” that goes well beyond working with kids. It is a powerful tool for dealing with temptation in your own life.

God has set boundaries over us to keep us safe and help us to accomplish the purposes He planned in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2). Those boundaries are clearly laid out in Scripture. And He always, always tells us the “why behind the what” when it comes to those boundaries.”

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

What does health have to do with what you are going through?  After all, who cares about being healthy when you’ve lost your loved one?  The short answer is that you should.  I’m not talking about the long-term results because getting active while in the day-to-day life of grief will do three things for you: improve your emotions, decrease overwhelm and give you a healthy distraction or break from the heaviness of what you must deal with. 

I wish I could tell you how I did that and how much it helped, but as you know my fight with God took all my energy the first 2 years and even when I was able to push, I didn’t.  If that’s you today, that’s perfectly alright, but what if you could feel better with minimal effort? 

Today we’ll talk about ‘challenging the impossible’ and I’ll share where I am in my health journey which started in earnest in February of this year. This is important for my long-term health, but it’s also the last thing I never took control of after Monica died.

Going through grief, you are equipping yourself to improve your health because the processes are similar. And, if you improve your health, you will help your daily emotions.   

WORD of the Week   For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 (amplified)

Song of the Week   Happy Dance by MercyMe

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

“When pressure and stress bear down on me, I delight in Your Word.”
David clung to the promises of God.

He consciously remembered the history of God’s people as well as his personal history with the Lord.  As he chose to remember God’s Word, he heard God’s voice – above the tumult that was his life.

And he not only knew it in his head, he cradled it in his heart.
But even that would have been useless if he had not applied it to his life.
He lived God’s commands.

Even when it was hard.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

When you lose a loved one, there is no question that you will question some things.  I don’t care how close a relationship you have or don’t have with God, you will question things from his existence to your faith and everything in between because your loved one has died.  This is where your plans, the life you were living and expecting to continue to live ‘bump into the sovereignty of God.’

That bump for me made me question my questions and his goodness. It made me question whether he was there and listening because Monica’s faith was not rewarded, she was not healed and she suffered the 6 months before she died. What kind of God allows that?

It doesn’t matter where you are today in your relationship with God because great transformation is possible for you!  Yes, you can get through the day without crying (it took me over a year), Yes, you can think about your loved one without falling apart and yes, you do still have a future because God is real, he is good, and he has plans for you!

Today, I’ll share how to spiritually handle unanswered prayers and how to build a deep faith even in grief. God will not waste your pain!!  

WORD of the Week   Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4

Song of the Week   Stay Strong by Danny Gokey

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me 

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But then came the rain.  And the weeds popping up all over again.

Because that is what rain does.  It brings to light what is truly planted just beneath the surface.  In all my vehement hoeing, I neglected to take out the roots of the weeds.  And even though I was zealous, I was not careful and absolute.  And when the rains came, they showed my labors for what they were.

How like my life!  When the sun is shining and my circumstances are all I think they should be, it is easy to disguise the true contents of my heart. 

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

We know we shouldn’t worry about things – that ‘giving it to God’ is the only way to truly calm our anxieties.  In life before grief, you may have tried hard to ‘stop worrying,’ to stop being in control of the things you had no control over, but it wasn’t easy.  Now, in grief…well – that’s a whole different deal. Your loss and how it occurred can cause you to fear new things while amplifying the fears we already had.

The song of the week (Letting Go) has lyrics that speak to this: "Maybe I don’t have to see what the future holds to trust Your promises to me. In my weakness You are strong. And in the moments when I feel powerless, you are closest to me then.”

Today I’m going to share a situation in my life – just a few weeks ago – that illustrates this point. I was disappointed in my reaction because it reminded me of when I walked through grief and tried to control everything on my own. Instead, I should have given it to God and had faith to let him handle the outcome.

WORD of the Week    Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  Phil 4:6-7

Song of the Week  Letting Go by Switch Music

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

God. Loves. You.
You. Are. Loved.

Because, for once in your life, this love is not based on your performance – or lack thereof.

It is based in His.
His performance.
His character.
His heart.
His choice.

God loves you because of Who He is.
Because He chooses to do so.
And He refuses not to.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Even in grief, there are choices to make. You don’t feel like you have a choice in many of the things which brought you to this point and you’re right. Life is not easy and there are times when you have no control over what happens to you. 

What you do have a choice over is what to do when those things happen.  Grief, in my opinion, is the hardest thing you will ever go through and for most of us, there are many losses in our lifetime.

What do you do now?  After the shock wears off, it is up to you to choose to continue to live. If you’re thinking, “I want to get out of the bed, but I just can’t,” please rethink that statement.  If you are physically able to get out of bed, then the truth is, you feel too overwhelmed to face the day.  

Today we’ll talk about 3 hard decisions you must make as you walk through grief. Are they hard? Yes!  Are they worth it?  YES!

WORD of the Week   Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  John 8:31-32

Song of the Week  Trust in God by Aware Worship (featuring Mark Gutierrez)  

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But I often forget.

I forget that this world is not my home. I forget that I am a stranger in a strange land. I forget that I am not living for the here and now but for eternity. I forget to “seek first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness”. I forget that many, many of the people around me do not have a personal relationship with God. They have not been forgiven because they have not asked. They have not seen prayers answered because they do not believe. I forget that I have one purpose and one purpose only – to glorify God.

This life is not about me. My comfort. My happiness. My successes. Or my failures. My struggles. My needs. This life is not about me. It is a short, temporary journey leading to an eternal home. And that is not just true about me – it is true about every person I meet. Their lives, like mine, are “flowers quickly fading”. And their lives, like mine, are short, temporary journeys that will end in an eternal destination – life with God forever or life separated from Him. My sole purpose in life is to be a gigantic, glowing, flashing sign that says, “God loves you.

He wants to be your friend. I know because He says so in His Word, and because He is my friend – let me point the way to Him.”

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Do you visit the grave of your loved one?

Death is the ultimate divide between our past and our future (John Piper).  When we walk through grief, we aren’t thinking about these profound insights. Trying to make sense of ‘what is’ and ‘what was’ is part of what takes us to visit the grave of our loved ones.  It can also help us process our new reality.

Today, I’ll share ways that visiting their grave are unhealthy and unhelpful and ways that going to your loved one’s grave is healthy, helpful and honoring.  

And, if you do not have a physical grave to visit, I’ll share how this can apply to you too.

WORD of the Week  To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Song of the Week  He’ll Do It Again by Karen Wheaton

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

I have to take every problem, every situation, every decision, every thought and align them with God’s Word.

I have to take a giant step back and ask God to give me His perspective on each thing, person, circumstance, decision.

I have to put on the glasses of what I say I believe and actually apply the words to the reality, choosing to trust that His perspective, ways, thoughts and plans are better than my own.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Today we’ll continue the conversation about using dependence on God to achieve what seems impossible. 

I’ve asked before, what seems impossible in your life today?  Is it that life will ever be good or even normal again?  Maybe your impossible is that the tears will actually stop after feeling like you cried an ocean.

What if I told you that those things and more ARE possible for you! Yes you!  If you are a child of God, this is available to you, even after going through a life-shattering loss! 

I’m also gonna give you more details about how you can join me in my health journey! If you are wondering why I would think care about health right now when you’re just trying to get through the day – well, it’s because what I learned in my grief journey can help you in yours. 

This is not about you running a marathon but understanding that grief (and health) are not sprints!  This is about how you show up for yourself; it’s about how you push through the “who cares” and the “I cant’s” of grief to build a healthy physical, emotional and spiritual foundation for life you still have to live. Don’t settle for watching life go by – because you have a gift, you have a purpose, and you are here for more!

WORD of the Week    For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  1 John 5:4

Song of the Week   Stronger by Mandisa

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

Truth:  God not only promises to meet my needs, He promises to never, ever leave me or forsake me. I cannot make Him go away – even when I want to do so! I cannot make Him stop loving me, even when I stop loving myself. (Hebrews 13; John 10)

And that would be enough. But He does still more.

Not only does He not destroy me, His rebel creation, He long ago provided a way to redeem me.

And He not only redeems me – but then He bids me to come to Him with all I need.

And He not only says to come boldly, but He promises me His presence. Daily. Forever.

And then He does even more. He takes all this wonder even farther….

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Today we’ll begin a conversation about using dependence on God to achieve what seems impossible.  When we do that, we become an overcomer.

So, as I’ve asked before, what seems impossible in your life today?  Is it that life will ever be good or even normal again?  Maybe your impossible is that the tears will actually stop after feeling like you cried an ocean.

What if I told you that those things and more ARE possible for you! Yes you!  If you are a child of God, this is available to you, even after going through a life-shattering loss! 

I’m also gonna tell you how you can join me in my health journey! If you are wondering why I would think care about health right now when you’re just trying to get through the day – well, it’s because what I learned in my grief journey can help you in yours. 

This is not about you running a marathon but understanding that grief (and health) are not sprints!  It’s about how you show up for yourself; it’s about how you push through the “who cares” and the “I cant's” of grief to build a healthy physical, emotional and spiritual foundation for life you still have to live. Don’t settle for watching life go by – because you have a gift, you have a purpose, and you are here for more!

WORD of the Week    Because Christ lives, we can live a life here on earth, not void of pain and temptation, but surrounded with the promise that God is “near to the broken-hearted and saves crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Song of the Week  Mount Druitt Conquerors - Because He Lives (Samoan)

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

The “Truth” side of the equation is not how I feel about Truth or my version of it.

The “Truth” side is based in Scripture, in God’s Word, in what HE says is true. I don’t usually put references for verses when I am doing this in my journal. But I wanted you to see that none of those are my ideas.

In fact, if I replace my emotions with truth of my own making that is not based in the Word of God, then I have simply jumped from one barrier to another. This is why it is so very, very important to spend time in Word of God often – so that you can know Truth and apply it to your everyday world. 

Because when I spend time getting to know God as He is, as He has revealed Himself in His Word, then I can replace my feelings with Truth – and I can soar above the barriers.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the struggle is not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Last week we talked about being a conqueror and this week it’s gonna be about being an overcomer. Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten that you are dealing with grief, but I’m not talking about what you are supposed to muster up in your own strength which may feel opposite of how your current days.

My grief journey, as you know, began with fighting God for more than a full year, so this is not the Easter message you are used to hearing.  The Resurrection of Jesus didn’t move me during that season – it was the other less inspiring aspects that drew me to God.

This Easter your hope can’t be in trying harder or all the things you think you ‘should’ do or ‘should’ feel. Your hope can’t be found in the past (because it’s gone) or the future (when hopefully things will change). It can only be found in Jesus.

WORD of the Week   I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Song of the Week  I Thirst by Tatiana

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

God is good.
And everything He does is right.

Do you believe that?

If you do, it will revolutionize your life.

If you don’t, it will paralyze your faith and demoralize your life.

It was the lie – the first lie ever uttered on earth – that the serpent spoke to Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3)

In other words, “Does God really know what He is doing? Does He really have your best interest at heart? Perhaps He is keeping something from you…or you from something…that is really, really good. Because, after all, your eyes and ears tell you that you know better…”

God is NOT good and He does not know what He is doing.

Walking by sight always leads to the same conclusion – this is a mess and God made a mistake.

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Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

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SHOW NOTES

In grief we feel weak and weary. We feel captive to our emotions because sometimes there’s no controlling the tears or meltdowns.  We wish we could be just a little bit stronger, a little bit further along – a little bit anything but what we are.

The idea of being a conqueror right now is almost comical because we feel far from that.  The truth is grief is hard beyond anything we’ve done in our lives, and we don’t take the time to give ourselves grace or honor the process.

Today we’ll talk about what turning into the conqueror looks like in your life. This isn’t something you do alone – you partner with God to achieve what has been impossible in your life.

WORD of the Week

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Genesis 50:20

Song of the Week  Don’t Stop Praying by Matthew West

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily! Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

That takes intentionality.
That takes choosing.

And that is not based on convenience, how I feel or whatever better thing has come up.  It is a choice to be committed.

Just like I can choose to commit to working out regularly, which will result in great benefit for my body, I can choose to commit to gathering with the Body of Christ regularly, which will result in great benefit for that Body.

It takes discipline and commitment. But the payoff is great.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Most days in grief we feel weak and weary. We feel captive to our emotions because sometimes there’s no controlling the tears or meltdowns.  We wish we could be just a little bit stronger, a little bit further along – a little bit anything but what we are.

The idea of being a conqueror right now is almost comical because we feel far from that.  The truth is grief is hard beyond anything we’ve done in our lives, and we don’t take the time to give ourselves grace or honor the process.

Today we’ll talk about what being captive means and how it’s much bigger than our individual grief…it’s about spiritual warfare and I want you to understand that the part you play is extremely important! 

WORD of the Week

Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:4-6

Song of the Week  Stay Strong by Danny Gokey

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily!  Welcome to Coffee & Kathy, this is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

But I am nothing without my Conductor.

He is the glue that holds my life together, bringing just the right music at the right time, the right dance partners at the right place.

He sets the pace.  Six days of work and one of rest.

He brings in the instruments to make beautiful music; sometimes in a minor key; often in lilting, joyful tones; always the right music at the right time. 

But without Him keeping the rhythm of my life, it would all fall apart.

Paul said it this way: “In Him, we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17)

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over, but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

The pain of grief overshadows everything in the beginning of your journey.  It becomes the lens through which all things are filtered. 

So, it’s not surprising that you may have anger, confusion, a million questions or even doubt your faith. It can even cause you to doubt God’s existence.

So, reading the Bible in those first ‘moments’ (which could be weeks or months) becomes different and harder, for a lot of reasons.  The thing is, that building your relationship with God and allowing him to comfort you and heal your heart is the single best thing to do. And that is done through praying and reading the Bible.

Today, I’ll share how to read and pray while you could care less about doing anything and overwhelmed with pain.

WORD of the Week

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  Philippians 4:6-7

Song of the Week  Broken Hallelujah by Mandisa

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The holidays are over, but the struggle is NOT!  Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, Hey Framily and welcome to Coffee & Kathy.  This is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

You cannot choose what others do or say.
And you cannot choose your emotions.
But you can choose your reactions.
And your attitudes.
And your actions.

And the best part? The same power that multiplied the loaves and fishes is at work in you. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead have given you everything you need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1) You have the power inside of you, not from who you are, but from WHOSE you are.
So you are able to choose.
And so am I.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

The Holidays are Over but the Struggle is Not!  Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Moving from confusion of why you lost your loved one or how they died or anything that leads you to get stuck in, “this is NOT how it was supposed to be” makes acceptance that God’s plan for our life is ultimately the plan harder (even though we can’t see it or understand it). 

The process to get from why? To what now? is just that – a process. For some, it’s quicker than for others, but for ALL, it’s not easy and it’s never as fast as we’d like it.

However, in these valleys is where you build a reliance and a relationship on God like never before. 

Today, we’ll talk about how to make the process LONGER – something no one wants to do!!

WORDs of the Week

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  Psalm 33:11

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

Song of the Week  The Struggle by Zach Williams 

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well, hey Framily and welcome to Coffee & Kathy!

This is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).  

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Quote:

You may feel insignificant or alone, down or discouraged today.

And you are, indeed, a “flower quickly fading”, “a vapor”, “a mist”, according to Scripture.  But you are useful to the Creator, a cloud of His creation, set apart for His purposes.

Just keep trusting Him and then sit back and see what He can do with YOU, His cloud.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Hear healing testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

When you lose someone, you love, your brain does some strange things. 

God made our amazing bodies and what happens to your brain after the death of a loved one is a protective measure. But it leaves you confused and unsure of everything.  Also, in grief you have to make some basic and sometimes huge decisions, so how do you do that when you hardly know what day it is?

God will guide you – but how do you trust Him when making these important decisions?  Listen today for 3 practical ways to trust God in your uncertainty.

WORD of the Week

Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.  Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; GOD probes for what is good.  Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. Proverbs 16:1-3

Song of the Week  Trust in God by Aware Worship  

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

Well Hey Framily and welcome to Coffee & Kathy!

This is Stef from the Grief 2 Great Day Podcast.  You are listening to our weekly devotional episode.

These weekly devotionals are a way for you to get quiet, grab some coffee, tea, or green smoothie and listen as I read from Kathy’s Blog entitled, “Learned Along the Way.”  She was an incredibly wise, funny and fully committed Christ follower. 

Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever face, don’t ever let anyone diminish that – but let’s also not diminish the power of God’s Word and the transformational healing He will do in your life. I am a living testimony of going from pitiful (heartbroken, years of tears, angry at God & the world, overwhelmed and confused) to powerful (at peace, joyful and strong in my trust, hope and faith in God).   

You are not alone and your today does not have to be your forever!  Oh, I’m so glad you’re here today!  What you need to do now is be still and just listen.

Memorable Passage:

But since when do people expect the pot to cook for them?
Where does it make sense that the pipe creates the water that flows through it?
Who in their right mind is more excited about the container holding the treasure than the treasure in it?

Because You, God, are the Master Chef, creating the gourmet meal.
I am the pot You use to make the masterpiece.

You are the Living Water that chases away drought, washes away dirt, quenches thirst.  I am the pipe that the Water flows through.

You are the Infinite Treasure, the Invaluable Gift.
I am the box that simply holds the gift open for others to see.

The pressure is off.

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Hear testimonies from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

How do I get relief from this endless pain?  How do I stop being angry or asking why or trying to do the million things that seem impossible? 

Grief is like that movie ‘Groundhog Day’ – the same thing day after day after day. It seems like there’s only changes for the worse and that kind of routine starts to wear on you after a while. It also erodes your hope for a future that is different.

There are three things that will help when you feel like all ya got is grief, that life can’t get better, and that God has forgotten you.  These things will relieve some of the expectation pressure, help you in your interactions with God and serve as a reminder that tomorrow can and will be different!

WORD of the Week   And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.  John 16:22

Song of the Week    Never Ever Give Up by Matthew West

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Hear from Those Who Have Walked Your Journey!  Holiday Grief Relief Summit (replay recording)

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

In 2023 I began the year with the ‘best of’ from the year before and it was well received. So, I’m doing the same thing this year. I’m re-airing the best 5 episodes of 2023. 

One of the scariest things for me when I was going through grief was getting stuck.  Initially I didn’t know what to do to get through in a healthy way, so I did a lot of the wrong things.  I knew that life would never be the same, but I feared that I would never have a life again.

I can tell you there are helpful and healing things you can do – a lot of which I’ve talked about in previous episodes.  But there are also things that can help keep you stuck.

Today, I’m going to share 3 things you may be doing that will keep you from healing.  Listen to see if you are doing any of them and if you are, how to change that!

WORD of the Week   But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Is 40:31.

Song of the Week  Gonna Be Alright by Ryan Ellis

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

In 2023 I began the year with the ‘best of’ from the year before and it was well received. So, I’m doing the same thing this year. I’m re-airing the best 5 episodes of 2023. 

Nights are the worst when your mind won’t stop racing.  Your thoughts which were once your own seem to take you over.  It’s not just thoughts at that point, it’s anxiety and fear and the darkness of night amplifies those feelings.

You’ve tried a million times to turn it off – to shut the loop down but nothing seems to work.  You might have even tried meditating on the scripture (for a couple of days) and still nothing.

Today, I’ll share why what you’re wanting (the racing thoughts to stop and for sleep to come or getting through the day better or building a relationship with God) seems to elude you in grief.  And, more importantly, I’ll talk about how to turn that ship around and point it toward progress.

WORD of the week    Be Still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Song of the Week  Be Still by Hillsong Worship

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home           

SHOW NOTES

In 2023 I began the year with the ‘best of’ from the year before and it was well received. So, I’m doing the same thing this year. I’m re-airing the best 5 episodes of 2023. 

If you think gutting it through grief or falling in a hole during grief will make the pain stop or result in better days, you need to listen to this episode.

Our expectations of the grief process are based on emotional expectations or the pressure of what our faith should do in our journey.  Grief is really not a topic people want to talk about, so there are so many things we don’t know as we travel this difficult road.

What about your brain?  Remember that commercial about – this is your brain and then they showed a frying pan and said, this is your brain on drugs?  Well, grief also physically affects your brain.  Today we’ll talk about how it affects your brain which will give you a little relief and hopefully increase the grace you give yourself in grief.

WORD of the week    Be Still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Song of the Week  Be Still by Hillsong Worship

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home           

SHOW NOTES

In 2023 I began the year with the ‘best of’ from the year before and it was well received. So, I’m doing the same thing this year. I’m re-airing the best 5 episodes of 2023.  

Today is a ‘Story of Hope’ episode with Stephanie Flohr. Her husband, Dan was diagnosed with cancer in August 2018 and died 21 months later in 2020.

I know some of you listening today are in a dark and scary place.  You may feel that nothing will ever change, and you are sick of hurting.

If you are looking for something to help you hold on, listen to this episode for hope because Stephanie was where you may be.  There is a way out – there is a different life – there is still a plan and a purpose for your life.

WORD of the week  

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Song of the Week   It’s Quite a Valley by Brian Free & Assurance

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home           

SHOW NOTES

In 2023 I began the year with the ‘best of’ from the year before and it was well received. So, I’m doing the same thing this year. I’m re-airing the best 5 episodes of 2023. 

When you hear happy anniversary, it’s usually a happy thing.

But anniversaries in grief are not happy – they are things we begin to feel anxious about a week before, they are hard to walk through, and you might be exhausted the week after.

If the anniversary of your loved one’s death is coming up, listen to this episode for some practical ways to honor your loved one while not forgetting what a significant day this is in your life and your healing.

WORD of the week    Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23 

Song of the Week    Song of a Broken Heart – Casting Crowns

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And download the FREE Introduction Seminar:  “Loss, Grief and Healing”

Take Action Now!  “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

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SHOW NOTES

A new year but the same pain is another frustrating fact of grief.  It reinforces that it’ll NEVER be over.  But I’m here to tell you that while the second year isn’t the end of grief (and that tidbit may help free you), there are changes to expect.

If this is in fact a second year for you or if it’s the second month, it’s important for you to listen today to know what to expect in your second year of grief.  This is not all flowers and rainbows, but it should give you hope!

WORD of the Week   

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19 

Song of the Week

You Know My Name by Tash Cobbs Leonard

https://youtu.be/t7owFiihXgg

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Learn More -  “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home

GriefShare - Grief Recovery Support Groups - GriefShare

SHOW NOTES

Thanks for hanging out with me today, on Christmas.  I know you’re probably struggling today, so I want to walk through the lyrics of our ‘Song of the Week’ and share 5 Bible verses to remind you why there is still hope.

Had I not gone through the kind of pain that took my breath away, and made me doubt I’d EVER stop crying, I wouldn’t be telling you how possible it is – regardless of how it feels to you today.

I would read the successful journeys from grief 2 great days of others, and I thought, yeah, that’s them – it’ll never happen for me.  But God is no respecter of persons, so I too went from pitiful to peaceful and He gave me a calling I never expected. 

Regardless of how hopeless you feel today - you can still hope for a future where you can breathe again – where you can laugh again and where you can live again. 

WORD of the Week   Romans 12:12   Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation and continuing constant in prayer.

Song of the Week   Not your typical Christmas song, so listen and see if you can’t relate to the words.

Somewhere in Your Silent Night by Casting Crowns – https://youtu.be/nT-5cP4BeoI

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Learn More -  “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home

GriefShare - Grief Recovery Support Groups - GriefShare

SHOW NOTES

The holidays are a real grief milestone – much like your loved one’s birthday, day of death and anniversaries.  You know they are coming and yet there is no good way to prepare for how you will feel and how to make it through.

I felt a lot of anxiety, sadness and guilt as the holidays neared.  The guilt came from knowing that as a Christian, I should be so focused and thankful for the reason we celebrate Christmas.  But all I wanted was to crawl in a hole until December 26th. 

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about letting go of guilt and how to cope with everyone else’s annoying happiness.  Sorry, not sorry – it’s truth.

WORD of the Week  Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Song of the Week

Spirit Lead Me by Influence Music https://youtu.be/hz34EOBKZ_A

Connect with Me

Learn More -  “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home

GriefShare - Grief Recovery Support Groups - GriefShare

SHOW NOTES

In the first two years of grief, you will have more ‘bad’ days than good.  You’ll feel like things will never change, that you are once again back to square one.  It’s so hard but it’s also a normal response to losing your loved one – the one you can’t figure out how to live without.

The pain is so great on some days that you don’t think you can continue because even when you have a good day or even a good week, the tsunami of grief is once again crashing over you.  Where did that come from?  Why did it happen again?

Today we’ll talk about those days that suck – they are awful and exhausting and hope-deflating and all the things that make you want to be anyone but you, right now.  There are ways to make these days better, but you also need to know what is required of you to make that happen.

WORD of the Week   Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Song of the Week  Christmas Hits Different by Tobymac feat. Tasha Layton

Get the Holiday Grief Relief Summit Recordings Here!

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

In life before grief, you probably dealt with self-limiting thoughts that keep you overthinking things.   In grief, you’re gonna deal with self-limiting thoughts and all doubts that have ever crossed your mind.  You will struggle with those thoughts more than usual which will tempt you to find comfort quickly in unhealthy behaviors. 

Let me go ahead and tell you that finding comfort in unhealthy habits (be they old or new) will complicate your life and prolong your grief.  Yes, there will be days where you feel extremely weak and comfort in the wrong things will feel like the right or only thing that will help.

Grief is hard enough, don’t make life harder on yourself.  In this episode, I’m going to talk about some of those habits and 3 healthy ways to NOT go to or return to them. 

WORD of the Week  Matthew 11:28-30

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

Song of the Week

The Struggle by Zach Williams  https://youtu.be/e3DFQ75CpHc

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SHOW NOTES

Has it been shocking to you that grief has been harder than you thought?  That it’s taking SO much longer than you imagined and that it seems like it will never end? 

Well, the first holidays (and possibly the second) will be as shocking and make you feel the same way.

In preparation for your first holidays, I’m going to share:

• 3 things to prepare for
• 3 things to help you get through and,
• 3 things to consider doing differently this year

WORD of the Week  

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7 

Song of the Week

Even When it Hurts – Hillsong United    https://youtu.be/hrSJwO5dJXg

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Learn More -  “What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

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Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

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SHOW NOTES - This is a replay from Thanksgiving 2022

Today is Thanksgiving and it may be a day you just want over with, so giving thanks isn’t so easy.  And, when you are getting lost in your feelings, it’s hard to do the thing that will change all things.  I’m talking about being in God’s word.

Today, I want you to know that you aren’t alone, that you are loved.  Just sit back and listen as I read God’s word and a few quotes to help you through this day.  God is still good, and He still has a purpose for your life.

WORD of the Week  

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8

Song of the Week

Spirit Lead Me by Influence Music https://youtu.be/hz34EOBKZ_A

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Learn More -“What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One” Workshop

Schedule Individual Online Grief Coaching

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GriefShare - Grief Recovery Support Groups - GriefShare

SHOW NOTES

This week, I’ll be answering a question that I receive a lot.  It’s actually a question I had, and it was the fear I had. Because grief was so painful and made me question everything, I was convinced that life would never be good again, that it would be painful, sad, and hopeless.

Because grief is so overwhelming, it’s easy to feel this way.  And when things don’t change day after day and month after month, we start worrying that grief has become our new reality.

I’ll share how to know if you are making progress, how to know if you are stuck and need help.  I’ll share some things that will prolong your grief walk and share what will bring hope and healing.

WORD of the Week   Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Song of the Week  God Help Me by Unspoken   

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Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

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SHOW NOTES

You are going through grief right now but life around you goes on as it always has.  That in itself seems wrong, but are you dealing with the same expectations from others in a different way? 

As Christians we tend to take on others’ problems in an unhealthy way because we feel or were taught, we are supposed to.  But are we?   

In grief, for the first time in my life, I had boundaries.  During grief, I didn’t care who thought I was being selfish or what anyone thought of me because I didn’t have enough energy to do anything but make it through the day myself. 

Today we’ll look at how to set healthy boundaries in grief and for the rest of your life.  And I’ll tell you the answer to “how do I know when to say yes and when to say no?”

WORD of the Week   Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Song of the Week  Matter by King & Country

Holiday Grief Relief Summit – Get your free ticket!

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

SHOW NOTES

We read the Bible verse that God will make all things come together for our good. Well, how in the world is what you are going through good?  How can it ever be good?  This is where I struggled in the beginning.  I read about a Christian singer who lost her husband in a diving accident. I could so relate with the pain and confusion and then she shared how she had to trust in God and was given hope.

She, like Monica while she was sick, had a hope I couldn’t rely on.  I had moments of hope but not an underlying confidence in God. I thought that all the success stories – all the giants in the faith were blessed and loved by God in a way that I would never understand.  But I held on to those stories and replayed what they did when they were hurting.  After over a year of fighting it out with God – and those were some tough days – my heart softened, and I began to trust God.  I went back to those stories and started to believe that God is no respecter of persons – that if he did it for them – He would do it for me.

Do you believe that yet?  Boy, when you get a hold of that kind of confidence aka trust in God and HIS plan, then you’ll see progress.  Grief is the hardest thing you’ll ever walk through but on the other side you’ll be able to say – God will make all things come together for my good. Today I’m talking about one way to build that very needed hope!

WORD of the Week  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Song of the Week  My Prayer for You - Alisa Turner

Holiday Grief Relief Summit – Get your free ticket!

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Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

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Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

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SHOW NOTES

What do you do when you are exhausted but can’t sleep.  Where does your mind take you?

It is not uncommon to experience insomnia when going through grief.  And, when you don’t rest, it magnifies the overwhelm, the confusion, irritability and all the grief stuff.

So, how do you get a decent rest in grief? 

We’ll talk about some practical steps to help the symptom of not being able to sleep but we’ll also talk about what is at the root of it.

WORD of the Week  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Song of the Week  The Garden by Kari Jobe – you crush all my fears!

Holiday Grief Relief Summit – Get your free ticket!

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

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SHOW NOTES

How many times have you prayed for this pain to stop?  And yet the tears keep falling. 

How many times have you prayed for help getting through another difficult hour or day?  And the mornings - are still overwhelming.

Are your prayers being heard?  Nothing seems to change; nothing seems to be getting better – and you start to wonder- does God even care?

Today we’ll talk about what ‘going after God’ means and what you can expect if you do!

WORD of the Week  But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.  Luke 5:15   When Jesus was on earth an in human form, he also needed to pray and to have time alone to be with His father.  How much more do we need this.

Song of the Week  Holy Forever by CeCe Winans

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Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

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SHOW NOTES

We’re wrapping up the cousin Jesus to Abba Father series today, but I want to take a second to remind you (and me) that our relationship with God shouldn’t be like a distant cousin – only calling when there’s family news.  We need to remember that we are daughters of the most high God – we call him Abba father.

It doesn’t matter how far you’ve gotten from the Abba Father relationship – it doesn’t matter how much you have blamed God for your loss – or questioned him on why he let it happen or why you have to walk through yet another rough season. 

You may feel like your life as you knew it is over and you may want to quit 10 times a day.  But the good news and the thing I pray I share on a weekly basis is there is hope. I met a man this week who was on death row – literally – but is now out of prison, has a family and is helping others who are still incarcerated. God is all about restoration! 

Listen today for a great reminder on how to stay close to God – as Abba Father.

WORD of the Week   Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5–6

Song of the Week  God Help Me by Unspoken  

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Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

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Learned Along the Way Blog by Kathy Live Like You’re Loved | learnedalongthewayblog (wordpress.com)

SHOW NOTES

I can give you a list of times in my life that I felt responsible for the outcome of things.  When I was young, I felt like I had to keep the peace in the family; growing up, I felt I had to keep those I was in relationships with happy.  Or, even getting the jobs I applied for, making the money I needed to keep a roof over my head. 

The thing about all those circumstances I mentioned is that failure is inherently built in and so I struggled with never doing or being enough.  And in all those circumstances, the outcome was never my responsibility. My level of thinking was as high as I could reach or what I could accomplish on my own and that kind of life is tiring.

After Monica died, I saw how crazy it was to think I had control over any of it. It took her death and her example of being certain of God’s provision and started on a journey to stop working so hard to make everything happen.   When I began Grief 2 Great Day, I made a conscious decision not to do that. I still had to work hard but I gave the outcome to God.  And it’s so much better.   I’m not fully healed of this issue but certainly far from where I was.

The irony with us humans is that we try to control all the things we cannot and yet take no responsibility for the things we do have control over.  Well, maybe not you, but that has been my experience.

Listen today to see how life can be when you allow God to control the outcome of your circumstances but of your life as well.

WORD of the Week  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things – all the things of life – will be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33

Song of the Week  First by Lauren Daigle

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Learned Along the Way Blog by Kathy learnedalongthewayblog (wordpress.com)

SHOW NOTES

I grew up in church, I was baptized, and I called my self a Christian.  But what does 'being a Christian' mean to you?

I was saved – I did begin a relationship with God at a young age, but I never grew my relationship with God. I read devotions, sometimes the Bible and I did pray though not regularly.  My Christianity was more religion than relationship and I’m not sure I recognized that until Monica died.

In grief, I couldn’t see a future or any kind of life beyond my sorrow. That came with questioning and anger. But what I saw in Monica’s sickness was not religion and it changed the worst days of her life to where she told people she was getting stronger as her physical body became weaker.

So, after 4 decades of religion, I began growing a relationship with God. I’ll show you the difference and if you have more religion than relationship, share the power that comes with relationship for your grief journey.

WORD of the Week   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

Song of the Week  Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone) [Live at Linger Conference] People & Songs ft Josh Sherman

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Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

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Learned Along the Way Blog by Kathy

Live Like You’re Loved | learnedalongthewayblog (wordpress.com)

SHOW NOTES

I grew up in church, I was baptized, and I called my self a Christian.  But what does that mean to you? 

I was saved – I did begin a relationship with God at a young age, but I never grew my relationship with God. I read devotions, sometimes the Bible and I did pray though not regularly.  My Christianity was more religion than relationship and I’m not sure I recognized that until Monica died.

In grief, I couldn’t see a future or any kind of life beyond my sorrow. That came with questioning and anger. But what I saw in Monica’s sickness was not religion and it changed the worst days of her life to where she told people she was getting stronger as her physical body became weaker.

So, after 4 decades of religion, I began growing a relationship with God. I’ll show you the difference and if you have more religion than relationship, share the power that comes with relationship for your grief journey.

WORD of the Week   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

Song of the Week  Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone) [Live at Linger Conference] People & Songs ft Josh Sherman

Grief 2 Great Day Website - Connect with Me

Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

Join The Grief Group for Christian Women on Facebook

Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

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SHOW NOTES

Your journey of grief is confusing enough but if you add in certain emotions, it makes it harder to distinguish what is grief and what isn’t.

Two of the emotions – which are related to each other – are guilt and regret.  If you feel at all guilty about something that you think you’ve done wrong to your loved one, it’s hard to let get of the regret.  That regret almost feels like paying penance for what you think you’ve done. 

Don’t let the devil use these emotions against you to keep you from healing and from moving forward.   

Listen today as I share how guilt and regret almost cost the life a man I knew and the importance of allowing the power of the cross to set you free from it.

WORD of the Week  

Do not remember the former things or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19

Song of the Week  I’m Still Here by Mandisa

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SHOW NOTES

Dependency can add to the loss and confusion you feel in grief.

At 43 years of age, I had to figure out just who I was.  I could tell you that I liked Christian or country music or that my favorite color was blue, but beyond that, I had been more like a chameleon as I adapted to whatever everyone expected of me.

I’ll share the flip side of such dependency too. If the relationship with your loved one was more negatively dependent, you may not realize that beyond healing from the loss of your person, you must heal from the lack of relationship you expected.

Listen today to see if you are still stuck in the patterns of the past and how to walk into a freer existence with more confidence as you rebuild your life.

WORD of the Week  

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.  Psalm 118:8-9

Song of the Week  You’re Still God by Phillipa Hanna

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SHOW NOTES

Last week, I shared a little more of my life before grief.  When you go through grief, a lot of your past can come to the surface whether it’s positive or negative. 

My perception of God was skewed as I had religion but not strong relationship with Him.  I needed someone to lash out at, so between blaming God and myself, there was a lot of junk to deal with.

In grief, I felt so broken, but what I realized was that God broke me open.  He gave me an example in Monica of what real faith looks like when you have a real relationship with God. 

This week I share the Wow of God – the amazing transformation he made in my life – my entire life from the journey of grief.   

WORD of the Week  

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Romans 5:1-2

Song of the Week  Peace by Anna Golden    

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SHOW NOTES

Over the last 3 weeks we talked about what rules your thoughts, your hopes, and your actions.  There are things you may be doing that will keep you stuck in your grief and stagnant in your life. If you missed any of these, it’ll be worth your time to check them out.

This week, I want to share a little more of my journey before grief which probably contributed to my constant 'why' questioning for the first year. The questions continued but changed to asking God 'how?'. How was I supposed to make it through? How was I going to find purpose and how would He use this for good?

These questions are fair to ask, but you don’t want to get stuck in them because it leaves you vulnerable to Satan desires for your life.

WORDs of the Week  

Make no mistake, Satan will use your vulnerability in grief to try and turn you against your creator.

• John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
• Luke 22:31 - Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.
• I Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Song of the Week  My Response by Phil Thompson (ft. Jubilee Worship)

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A couple weeks ago, we started talking about your mindset in terms of what rules your thoughts, your hopes and your actions.  There are things you may be doing that will keep you stuck in your grief and stagnant in your life. These are thought prisons.  The first one was living in the past versus learning from the past. The second one was the illusion of control.

Today, I’ll be sharing the third thought prison that might have ruled your life in the past - but now, in grief, it is keeping you from moving forward. We’re talking about victimhood.  

Find out if you have an issue with blaming others for how you feel or what you act on.  And, if so, find out why you are wasting precious energy and what to do about it.

WORD of the Week     Psalm 144:1-2

Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
My faithfulness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my savior,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.

Song of the Week  Victor's Crown by Darlene Zschech 

God has overcome the world and as a daughter of the most High God, you too are an overcomer!

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Read about Monica’s entire Journey, Dying to Be Healed - Book - Grief2GreatDay

Visit my Church –Opendoor Church | Home  

Last week we started talking about your mindset in terms of what rules your thoughts, your hopes and your actions.  There are things you may be doing that will keep you stuck in your grief and stagnant in your life. These are thought prisons.  The first one was living in the past versus learning from the past.

Today, I’ll be sharing the second of the three thought prisons that might have ruled your life before but now, in grief, is keeping you from moving forward.

We’re talking about control.  Find out if you have issue with needing to be in control and what do you can do about it?

WORD of the Week  

The Lord is my light and my salvation — Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life — Whom shall I dread?. Psalm 27:1

Song of the Week  Control by Highlands Worship   

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Last week we talked about how to make your grief journey harder and this week we go a little deeper into your mindset in terms of what rules your thoughts, your hopes and your actions. 

There are things you may be doing that will keep you stuck in your grief and stagnant in your life. These are thought prisons. 

Today, I’ll be sharing one of the three thought prisons that might have ruled your life before but now, in grief, it's keeping you from moving forward.  

This episode comes with a truth-in-love alert, so be prepared to hear things you may not want to. But know that I share them only for your benefit because I care about you and your healing!

WORD of the Week   For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Song of the Week  Whatever Your Plan is by Josie Buchanan  

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One of the scariest things for me when I was going through grief was getting stuck.  Initially I didn’t know what to do to get through in a healthy way, so I did a lot of the wrong things.  I knew that life would never be the same, but I feared that I would never have a life again.

I can tell you there are helpful and healing things you can do – a lot of which I’ve talked about in previous episodes.  But there are also things that can help keep you stuck.

Today, I’m going to share 3 things you may be doing that will keep you from healing.  Listen to see if you are doing any of them and if you are, how to change that!

WORD of the Week   But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Is 40:31.

Song of the Week  Gonna Be Alright by Ryan Ellis

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Over the last month or so we’ve talked about faith and feelings over faith and that can get heavy. 

So, for a second week, we’re switching gears to give the emotional and spiritual parts of us a break and we’ll focus on the physical.  Now, we are spiritual beings living in a physical body, so there is a great connection.

Please note the ‘turtle’ in the title…that is a big reminder that nothing we do in grief will come quickly, so when we talk about getting stronger physically, it is also at a turtle’s pace.  Your identity is probably in question right now, so I’m also sharing a movie that while is about running is more about finding your identity in the one who created you. 

WORD of the Week

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Song of the Week  Enough by Koryn Hawthorne from the movie Overcomer. Watch the video and the Movie!  

Movie of the Week (just this week)  Overcomer by the Kendrick Brothers

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For the last month or so we’ve talked about faith and feelings over faith and that can get heavy if we are willing to put time and effort into reflecting on where we are currently and where we'd like to be. 

Remember, we’ll never reach perfection, but the desire of getting closer to God to live by faith (instead of feelings) is always important.

Today, we’ll switch gears to give the emotional and spiritual parts of us a break and we’ll focus on the physical.  Now, we are spiritual beings living in a physical body, so there is a great connection.

Please note the ‘turtle’ in the title…that is a big reminder that nothing we do in grief will come quickly, so when we talk about getting stronger physically, it is also at a turtle’s pace.

WORD of the Week

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Song of the Week  Press On by Mandisa

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Last week I shared what God says faith is.  This week, I’ll share what I learned about faith in a current day example – it transformed my life forever.

As Christians, we believe in a God whom we have never seen, and as long as our faith fits what we are able to comprehend and see with our eyes, we consider ourselves faith filled. Should faith be so small as to fit in our back pockets, to be pulled out only during crises?

Faith must be experienced, and after you do, mere words cannot contain its depth. Faith doesn’t mean talking about how good God is when you haven’t a care in the world.

Faith holds hope for a better tomorrow, no matter what today brings. It opens the heart to loving beyond itself and acknowledges the vastness of a God who created the incredible intricacies of our lives.

WORD of the Week Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Song of the Week  Help Me God by Kathy Tricolli

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Click Here to take Action Now - “The First Year of Grief. How to Survive with Hope and Heal.”

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For the last four weeks we’ve talked about faith and feelings.  My assumption has been that we are all on the same page about what faith in God even means and what it looks like in daily life.

You have already shown great faith by believing in God. However, in grief that belief can turn to questioning and anger. When I experienced those things, it made me think that I had no faith and that I was doing the opposite of pleasing God and felt great guilt.

I don’t want you to feel guilt, so today we’ll explore what faith in God means as you walk through grief. And I’ll spend time in Hebrews 11 where there is great power, hope, confidence for you!

WORD of the Week Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Song of the Week  That’s the Power by Hillsong Worship

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Regardless of the length of time in grief – all the ‘work’ is like a constant bootcamp.  You are in unfamiliar territory; you are being pushed to perform while you’re exhausted and doubting everything.

Regular bootcamps focus on the physical but your bootcamp – the grief bootcamp is physical too, but it is more so, spiritual. 

Remember, we do not war with flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, the ruler of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Do you not think the devil won’t use this time of vulnerability and doubt to come after you?

The good news is that you only need a mustard seed of faith – so listen today to find out how to take that ‘little bit of faith you have’ and grow it.

WORD of the Week   If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Song of the Week  Faith of a Mustard Seed by WorshipMob original by Colten & Claudia May

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What is Faith Yo-Yo?

In the last 2 episodes we talked about faith and feelings.  How our feelings, our emotions are a part of us, but they aren’t always truth. So, to live above your feelings and circumstances, you must allow faith to guide your steps. Faith – that hope or confidence of what is not yet seen – is based on the Word of God and that’s truth.

This week, I want to stay on the topic of faith but look at it from a different perspective. 

WORD of the week  Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  I Chronicles 16:11   

Song of the Week  Thank God I Do by Lauren Daigle

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The struggle is real, and it never seems to end.  Dealing with the pain, confusion and overwhelm of grief is compounded with the fight for your faith.  Nothing in life will test your faith like death. 

God is the same yesterday, today and forever, so when we question Him, it isn’t because He has changed, or harmed us.  Our questions, our anger with God come because our view of Him changes.  We question because we don’t understand, and we hurt but we cannot forget His character and love toward us.

God is not just our finite experience of Him or He would be a higher human being, not God, the creator of the universe. 

Dealing with emotions we’ve never felt before makes holding on to our faith hard.  In this episode we’ll talk about the difference between our feelings and faith and how to not allow your feelings to override your faith.

WORD of the week  

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Song of the Week  Still God by Anne Wilson

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The struggle is real, and it never seems to end.  Dealing with the pain, confusion and overwhelm of grief is compounded with the fight for your faith.  Nothing in life will test your faith like death. 

God is the same yesterday, today and forever, so when we question Him, it isn’t because He has changed, or harmed us.  Our questions, our anger with God come because our view of Him changes.  We question because we don’t understand, because we hurt but we cannot forget His character and love toward us.

God is not just our finite experience of Him or He would be a higher human being, not God, the creator of the universe. 

Dealing with emotions we’ve never felt before makes holding on to our faith hard.  In this episode we’ll talk about the difference between our feelings and faith and how to not allow your feelings to override your faith.

WORD of the week   

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Song of the Week    The Word by Sara Groves

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I heard a song this week and I thought of you!  For those of you who are struggling with how the pain of grief is trying to steal your hope, today’s episode is for you! 

A song I heard reminded me - took me right back to those ‘bad’ days that seem to grow into bad weeks - of how God changed my life…from darkness into light.

You can’t be passive on your journey, so I’m sharing 2 things to help you 'hold on' during those days while taking the next best step.

WORD of the week  
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.   Psalm 71:20-21  

And, the song of the Week is  You’re Going to Be Okay by Brian and Jenn Johnson

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Today is another one of those milestone days – aka, hard, painful, stressful, anxiety-provoking...did I mention painful days? 

If your mom or someone who was a mother to you has died, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I’m going to share ways to honor your best friend – your go-to person, your cheerleader and advocate for life.  I’ll also share ways for you to get through the day with comfort and peace. 

The goal is getting through the day, but these ideas will help you heal, so please breathe, listen, and act on, at least one of these.

WORD of the week  

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.   Psalm 71:20-21

Song of the Week   I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin

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A break from the normal episode as I provide a little comic relief today and share our perfectly planned anniversary trip.  As you well know – all the planning in the world doesn’t guarantee that things turn perfect or even like you want.  I don’t say this as a downer, but in this world, perfect is unattainable.

Because God has called me to do this grief work, I tend to relate most things to going through grief.  And, to the hope God gives even in the worst moments of life.

As I share our trip, I’m also going to share two important points to help you as you are walking through grief.

WORD of the week  

The heart of a man plans his ways, by the Lord establishes his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

Song of the Week   Do it Again by Anthony Evans

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Today is a ‘Story of Hope’ episode with Stephanie Flohr. Her husband, Dan was diagnosed with cancer in August 2018 and died 21 months later in 2020.

I know some of you listening today are in a dark or scary place.  You may feel that nothing will ever change, and you are sick of hurting.

If you are looking for something to help you hold on, listen to this episode for hope because Stephanie was where you may be.  There is a way out – there is a different life – there is still a plan and a purpose for your life.

WORD of the week   

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Song of the Week   It’s Quite a Valley by Brian Free & Assurance

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Have you ever felt uncomfortable in your grief?  Like you have to be quiet when you want to share, or you get on your own nerves feeling pain and having strange thoughts.  If so, today will help you. 

Our culture doesn’t want to talk about grief because it’s too uncomfortable and almost taboo.  And, to jump in and sit with someone who is grieving is more uncomfortable because instead of just being with them, we want to fix the sadness, fix the situation and if we can’t fix it then we feel like we are failing. 

The cultural issue and the effects of grief make you feel like you are crazy and then you don’t feel like you’re allowed to feel what you feel.  Today, we’re going to talk about giving yourself permission to grieve as you need to.

WORD of the Week     

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Song of the Week   Audience of One by Sara Groves

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The Word of the Week is Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are they that mourn, taught Jesus, for they shall be comforted.  There is also a verse talking about how we, as believers, don’t grieve as the world does because we grieve with hope – hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a purpose and hope in seeing our loved ones again.

As you are grieving, how do you get to the point of feeling ‘blessed’ and being able to say that your hope is more like a confidence in the plans of God for your life?  Today you may just be feeling pain and the idea of a future is too far. 

Today, I’m going to share some resources with you to help you walk out the journey you never wanted to take.  To know that you are not alone and to feel the hope you desperately need.

WORD of the Week   Blessed are they that mourn,” taught Jesus, “for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Song of the Week   Jireh – Elevation Worship & Maverick City  

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When you hear happy anniversary, it’s usually a happy thing.

But anniversaries in grief are not happy – they are things we begin to feel anxious about a week before, they are hard to walk through and you might be exhausted the week after.

If the anniversary of your loved one’s death is coming up, listen to this episode for some practical ways to honor your loved one while not forgetting what a significant day this is in your life and your healing.

WORD of the week    Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23 

Song of the Week    Song of a Broken Heart – Casting Crowns

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When I was going through grief, I couldn’t see a good (much less great) future.  I couldn’t see much beyond my grief.  I listened in church to how God heals the wounds of every shattered heart (Proverbs 14:73) and TD Jakes who said, "it is the breaking of life that produces the blessing of life." I listened to Joyce Meyer remind me that God would replace beauty where there was once ashes.

I needed to hear these things but, in the beginning, I didn’t believe them. I thought it was true for other people but not for me.  However, when my relationship with God became closer, I was reminded of all those things I had watched and wished for.  Further on, I saw them as a possibility for my life and further along, it became my life.

Today we’ll talk about how God can use your current brokenness for great future blessing.  And, if you can’t believe it today, listen and let a seed be planted.

WORD of the week    Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Luke 12:6-7

Song of the Week  Broken but I’m Healed by Byron Cage

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Your biggest job, your responsibility right now, is to do all the things that lead to your healing.  That, by the way, is a full-time job! 

So, what do you do when those well-meaning, unhelpful people come along and make the process harder?  What do you do when you look at your phone, see their name and cringe? 

You have value, you are allowed to have boundaries and not let everyone 'in' your circle.  Let’s talk about how today!

WORD of the week    Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Luke 12:6-7

Song of the Week  Broken but I’m Healed by Byron Cage

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Nights are the worst when your mind won’t stop racing!  Your thoughts, which were once your own, seem to take you over.  But, it’s not just thoughts at that point, it’s anxiety and fear and the darkness of night which amplifies those feelings.

You’ve tried a million times to turn it off – to shut the loop down but nothing seems to work.  You might have even tried meditating on the scripture and still nothing.

Today, I’ll share why what you’re wanting (the racing thoughts to stop and for sleep to come or getting through the day better or building a relationship with God) seems to elude you in grief.  And, more importantly, I’ll talk about how to turn that ship around and point it toward progress.

WORD of the week    Be Still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Song of the Week  Be Still by Hillsong Worship

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If you think gutting it through grief or falling in a hole during grief will make the pain stop or result in better days, you need to listen to this episode.

Our expectations of the grief process are based on emotional expectations or the pressure of what we think our faith should do in our journey.  Grief is really not a topic people want to talk about, so there are so many things that aren't shared as we travel this difficult road.

What about your brain?  Remember that commercial about – this is your brain and then they showed a frying pan and said, this is your brain on drugs?  Well, grief also physically affects your brain.  Today we’ll talk about how it affects your brain which will give you a little relief and hopefully increase the grace you give yourself in grief.

WORD of the week    Be Still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Song of the Week  Be Still by Hillsong Worship

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You know it's easy to see the good in the good times – when life is going well. In grief, I realized how I had taken so many of these 'normal' days for granted. But, when life is hard or worse yet, when we are going through a life-changing grief, finding anything to be thankful for can be a challenge to say the least.

Gratitude in grief is not just hard, it is necessary! If you want to feed hope for a better tomorrow, you have to find the good in today. Gratitude for the blessings you still have needs to be recognized and focused on.

The Best Part of Your Day (BPOD) isn't always easy to find, but it is always there. You woke up this morning and that means you are here for a reason.

​

WORD of the Week  

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Song of the Week  Gratitude by Brandon Lake   

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You know it's easy to see the good in the good times – when life is going well. In grief, I realized how I had taken so many of these 'normal' days for granted. But, when life is hard or worse yet, when we are going through a life-changing grief, finding anything to be thankful for can be a challenge to say the least.

Gratitude in grief is not just hard, it is necessary! If you want to feed hope for a better tomorrow, you have to find the good in today. Gratitude for the blessings you still have needs to be recognized and focused on.

The Best Part of Your Day (BPOD) isn't always easy to find, but it is always there. You woke up this morning and that means you are here for a reason.

​

WORD of the Week  

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Song of the Week  Gratitude by Brandon Lake   

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When I was going through grief, I thought I was going crazy, I struggled to breathe, I felt lost as my life was never going to be the same.  In my mind my life was never going to be good again.  I wasn’t a mess – I was a hot mess. 

How then could I think that the debilitating grief would be over in a couple of months?  And when it wasn’t, I felt weak and pitiful and like I was failing at everything including grief.

I knew the stages of grief, but they didn’t help me walk through the daily life of grief.  This is what we’ll talk about today to help prepare you for what you are going through now and what you can hope for your future.

WORD of the week    

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Song of the Week  Shoulders by For King & Country

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When I was going through grief, I thought I was going crazy, I struggled to breathe, I felt lost as my life was never going to be the same.  In my mind my life was never going to be good again.  I wasn’t a mess – I was a hot mess. 

How then could I think that the debilitating grief would be over in a couple of months?  And when it wasn’t, I felt weak and pitiful and like I was failing at everything including grief.

I knew the stages of grief, but they didn’t help me walk through the daily life of grief.  This is what we’ll talk about today to help prepare you for what you are going through now and what you can hope for your future.

WORD of the week    

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Song of the Week  Shoulders by For King & Country

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If you listened to the last episode of Grief to Great day you have an idea about where you stand in terms of accepting this new life you’ve been handed.  Notice I didn’t say, this new life you’re excited about.

If you are close to or are experiencing acceptance (not agreement or approval) and the questioning no longer takes you over, then you may be looking for the next step of this new life. 

In today’s episode we’ll talk about what is at the foundation of a meaningful life and how to start building it today.  You have a purpose and God has a plan, so get ready to look toward the future.

WORD of the week   Mark 11:25 (message)

And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive - only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Song of the Week  Forgiveness by Matthew West

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In grief everything is amplified especially confusion and frustration.  If you are struggling with blame toward someone who has hurt you or your loved one, if there is anguish because you can’t stop thinking about an injustice, today will be important for you to hear.

If the ‘someone’ you have the most anger toward is God or you have regrets when it comes to your loved one’s death, then what we talk about could set you free from that.

You know grief is hard enough but if you stay in anger, you will stay stuck.  I’m gonna say it again – if you stay in anger, you will stay stuck.  There is a better way I want to remind you of in this episode.

WORD of the week   Mark 11:25 (message)

And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive - only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Song of the Week  Forgiveness by Matthew West

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When the sickening, can’t catch-your-breath grief is in your rear mirror (you know, where there’s a little distance between you and those feelings), you will still have hard days, you will still think that it’ll never end, but you will also have new thoughts and feelings.

When the new thoughts and feelings come, you have made a lot of progress on your journey.  Today, I want to share three things to help you understand where you are and what is ahead. 

A couple things you won’t want to hear, but transition is hope-filled and will prepare you for what lies ahead.

WORD of the Week

For we live by faith and not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7

Song of the Week  Stand in Faith by Danney Gokey

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