Dearest Barbara,

 

How our hearts go out to you about your dear sister Joy.  As you yourself said it is so hard to know what to say at this time.  However, there is one thing we know we can say...better yet, that we can Shout:  Praise Immanuel, for Joy Lives! 

 

Joy Lives Now In His Presence: NOW AND FOREVERMORE!!! 

 

What more IS there to say?! That you will miss her? Yes!  That her life was hard, and that many tears have been and will yet be shed? Yes!  That there is enough guilt and sorrow and pain and regret to go around for all? Yes!  But, don't all these fade away when compared to this statement: Joy Lives ! 

 

In the words of Spurgeon: "One joy all joys shall far excel, To see Thy face, Immanuel. 

Your Joy is seeing His face RIGHT NOW!

 

Take comfort in that Barbara, and in knowing that we are just passing pilgrims, all on our way to join that happy throng who will live eternally "seeing His face."

 

On the same day John T posted your letter, Mike C. posted a link he called A Feast...the site, he said, was a feast of wisdom. This is the link  http://www.pbministries.org/Landmark_Baptist/Seminary/Bible_Study_Courses/Proverbs/DH_proverbs_chap03.htm 

 

At that site was another internal link which said Comfort in a Time of Sorrow. (http://www.pbministries.org/Comfort/index.htm). That is the title of a little book written to comfort. 

 

I had just finished visiting that site, came back to the Doves and read your post, which made me think that God had Mike C put the post there today, just when you needed it, and had me read it and see the little link of comforting words, just when you needed it.  This little book was written to comfort you with God's Own Word, and the words of others too; I think you will be especially interested in the little sentence by Calvin on Page 38 and by Chant, page 46.

 

At this link, you can read this little book online and let God's heart speak to yours:   http://www.pbministries.org/Comfort/preview.html

 

(When you click on this link, look at the toolbox at the bottom of the page and click the double arrows pointing Right.  The pages of the book will turn with each click and there is a Zoom tool in the toolbox if you need the print to be larger)

 

Below is one of the selections in this little book.  It is called "Immanuel" and I was surprised to read the last two lines, which speak of Joy.

 

We will pray for your unsaved family - they are not privy to the comfort God promises to you, His child.  We can pray that through His kind mercies, which are new every morning, (Lam3:22), He will send His comfort to them, and most especially that He will send His Spirit to woo them to Himself.

 

You, dearest Barbara, will be in our prayers, and May the Lord Bless You for the steadfast love and comfort you brought to Joy's life, and most especially for leading Joy to her Savior, Jesus Christ...Immanuel !

 

Take Comfort:  HE LIVES, and He is IMMANUEL ! 

 

 

"IMMANUEL,"
which being interpreted is, God with us"
(Matthew 1:23).

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

hen once I mourned a load of sin;
When conscience felt a wound within;
When all my works were thrown away;
When on my knees I knelt to pray,
Then, blissful hour, remembered well,
I learned Thy love, Immanuel.

When storms of sorrow toss my soul;
When waves of care around me roll;
When comforts sink, when joys shall flee;
When hopeless griefs shall gape for me,
One word the tempest's rage shall quell--
That word, Thy name, Immanuel.

 

When for the truth I suffer shame;
When foes pour scandal on my name;
When cruel taunts and jeers abound;
When "Bulls of Bashan" gird me round,
Secure within Thy tower I'll dwell--
That tower, Thy grace, Immanuel.

When hell enraged lifts up her roar;
When Satan stops my path before;
When fiends rejoice and wait my end;
When legioned hosts their arrows send,
Fear not, my soul, but hurl at hell
Thy battle-cry, Immanuel.

When down the hill of life I go;
When o'er my feet death's waters flow;
When in the deep'ning flood I sink;
When friends stand weeping on the brink,
I'll mingle with my last farewell
Thy lovely name, Immanuel.

When tears are banished from mine eye;
When fairer worlds than these are nigh;
When heaven shall fill my ravished sight;
When I shall bathe in sweet delight,
One joy all joys shall far excel,
To see Thy face, Immanuel