Thinking of you today sis.

Dear Brenda, I'm very sorry to read of the sad loss of your beloved sister Mary, and although I don't know you; I want to offer my deepest sympathy to you and your family. Please accept my condolences without taking offence, because I care. And I hope that you will find some comfort in these verses and hope to see your beloved Mary again in the resurrection! We have this wonderful promise found at Acts 24:15, "that there is going to be a resurrection." Many unexpected deaths are due to what the Bible calls, "time and unexpected events (Or “unforeseen occurrence) overtake them all." - Ecclesiastes 9:11b Our loving God doesn’t cause sad things to happen to our loved ones, as James 1:13 helps us to understand, ‘When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.’” 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 speaks of God as “the God of all comfort who comforts (Or “encourages.”) us in all our trials ("Or tribulation.”) " 1 Peter 5:7 lets us know that we can “throw all our anxiety (Or “cares; worries.”) upon (God), because he cares.” Isaiah 65:17b tells us that "the former things will not be called to mind, (or, be remembered) Nor will they come up into the heart.” - Thus the heartbreak that we experience now, won’t even be remembered after Jehovah God resurrects our loved ones; thereby undoing the sad effects of death and the pain being separated from them brings. While on earth, Jesus resurrected his friend Lazarus back to life, speaking of his death as being 'sleep' and saying he was going to 'awaken' him. - John 11:11-14 reads, "After he said these things, he added: “Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am traveling there to awaken him.” The disciples then said to him: “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get well.” Jesus, however, had spoken about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly: “Lazarus has died." Jesus then raised him back to life again. - Please also read John 11:23, 25, 38-45. Jesus also resurrected a young man, the only son of a widow, and a 12 yr. old girl; and so we know that he has the power to resurrect our loved ones too in the future when the time comes for the resurrection! - (Luke 7:11-17; Luke 8:40-56) Revelation 21:4 promises, “And (God) will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” - Just imagine -a world with no tears of sorrow, no pain, and no death! And no sickness of any kind as Isaiah 33:24 promises, “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” Then just imagine the joy when loved ones are resurrected and Psalms 37:10, 11, 29 gives us insight into the conditions that will be experienced by those living on the earth then; "Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, and they will not be there. But the meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it." - It will be a paradise where we can have the opportunity to live together forever in perfect peace, health, and happiness with our loved ones! Jesus gave us hope of a time when all suffering will end. He taught his followers to pray: “ “You must pray, then, this way: “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. (Or “be held sacred; be treated as holy.”) Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth- Matthew 6:9, 10 - When God’s Kingdom comes, there will be no more suffering or death on the earth, just as there is no suffering or death in heaven! I hope that you are able to find comfort in your precious memories, and I hope that these and other verses will help too. Romans 15:4 tells us, "For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. For more comfort; to read the article, "Coping With the Loss of a Loved One" - Please go to www.jw.org and near the top of the page on the site; please click on 'publications' then look to the left and click on ‘magazines’ and then look to the right in Display box to the right where it says ‘latest‘; scroll to 2011 and click on search, and then please scroll down 3 rows, and click on the PDF format for "Coping With the Loss of a Loved One" found in the April Awake; and you’ll be able to open this magazine to read the article in its entirety. This article shares what has helped others to cope with their grief. On pages 8 & 9, in this article, it says: Thinking about the Bible-based hope of a resurrection can be the greatest comfort while grieving the loss of a loved one. That is what Lauren, a woman whose teenage brother died in an accident, found to be true. “No matter how bad I felt,” she says, “I would pick up the Bible and read, even if it was just one verse. I picked verses that were particularly encouraging, and I read them over and over again. I took comfort, for example, from Jesus’ words to Martha after Lazarus’ death. He said to her: her: ‘Your brother will rise.’”—John 11:23. Three subjects in the article are: "An Almost Unbearable Loss" "Coming to Terms With Death" and "Help for Those Who Grieve" This is one of the most comforting magazines that I've read and I hope you will read this article and find some comfort in what has helped others to cope with their overwhelming losses. To read the very comforting small Bible tract, "Can the dead really live again?" - Please go back and click on 'publications' and then please look to the left and click on 'books and brochures' and then to the right and click on page 2 then in the first row is this small tract. Take care, Sincerely Yours, Cindy Boyer

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May the peace of the Lord be with you.