I just don't even know where to begin. Ed Horn, a friend of ours from church, passed away yesterday afternoon. The Horn family has been sharing their experience with us since October 2005 when Ed was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29.
29. Who would've ever dreamed they would have to endure so much by the age of 30. Life, so short and so fragile. Times like these certainly remind us not to take life for granted. Through the Horns journey, thousands and thousands of people have shared thoughts through posts on the website. So many of them sharing similar experiences, yet full of wisdom and hope. Sharing scriptures and songs filled with the truths and promises of God. I often struggled for the right words to share with the family, wishing that I had hidden his word in my heart a little better. Wanting desperately to pull from one of the many scriptures or songs committed to my memory, but nothing could come to mind. Too many thoughts, too many questions.
Sharing this experience with Kelley takes my back to my own experience with loss. My father. He passed away 2 years ago this August. As Scott mentioned in his blog...there are so many people that are far more deserving of life. When we lose them, it makes us question. Why would God take them from us, from the people who love them, those who need them the most. I am so glad for the people God puts in our lives to support us during those times. People that help you cling to the truth during your times of doubt. Thankfully God is flooding Kelley and her family with that kind of support.
The following is lengthy, but well worth it if you have the time. I read through the postings over the last few days and jotted down some of the scriptures and songs that people are sharing. We could all use a little TRUTH, during these and other difficult times.
For the sake of time, I will only share one of the songs that my close friend Carrie Bettinger remembered sharing with Ed.
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect. We can only know the power that He holds, when we truly see how deep our weakness goes. His strength in us begins, Where ours comes to an end. He hears our humble cry and proves again. His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
Ps 29:11
The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Is 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Jn 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
2 Cor 5:1-2
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.
1 Jn 3:2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Mt 11:28-29
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
2 Cor 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Num 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Ps 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Prov 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
1 Pet 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Lam 3:18-25
So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD. I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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. I say to myself, The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
Ps 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Phil 3:20 - 4:1
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
2 Cor 4:7-8
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.
2 Cor 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
1 Thes 4:13-14, 16-18
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Heb 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we areĆyet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Ps 118:6
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Ps 22:8
He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.
Ps 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Is 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Rom 5:1-5
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. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Ps 143:1,8,10.
O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Ps 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Rev 4:15-17
...they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Ps 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.