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