Suffering (From the Song of The Month Newsletter - Aug. 22, 2002)
This was from the "Song of The Month" Newsletter that I publish on my sites. It is the newsletter that I published after the death of our son. I am amazed at the grace that God has given to us even two years later.....
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Our son, Jonathan Isaiah Delgado, was born on August 22, 2002 at 10:00 Pm.
He died fifteen minutes later. Even as I write this, I am floored and wish it were a dream.
Jonathan means "Gift of God" Isaiah Means "Salvation of God"
We have a high priest familiar with our pain.
Romans 8:17
Now if we are children; then we are heirs -heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his suffering in order that we may also share in His Glory.
Quite honestly, my wife and I believe that we have never really suffered before. Most of my suffering, has been because of my choices. Yes there were things that have happened to each of us that were difficult, but never like this. This is something new. Something terrible. Something tragic.
So what does this mean? Are we to share in his Glory? Not in the way you could infer...
Paul Goes on to write...
I Consider our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectations for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
(Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NIV © Copyright 73, 78, 84 By International Bible society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved).
Suffering with the relationship of Christ has purpose. Look where it says, "In hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay. . ." I have been in bondage to decay. I have been in bondage (in the past, and well I am sure there are still more than a few God wants to clear out! ) to sins I held onto for dear life. Suffering has a way of refining us in a way no other way could.
Please do not get me wrong. We are not to suffer just to suffer.
We are invited to partake in the fellowship of His suffering so that His glory can be made known to all the world. Sort of like a club you always wanted to belong to, but when you are initiated into this club you are not sure if you want to be there. You see, He has and always will be familiar with our pain, but now we are a little more familiar with His.
We take comfort in knowing that God Himself lost a son and knows our pain intimately.
The truth is God's grace is sufficient.
Let me show you how His mercy has been enduring.
He has been preparing our hearts for over a year for this. To say that the death of our son was not a shock would be understating the facts. But somehow, after talking with my wife, we came to the conclusion that we "knew". Not the type of knowledge that would have scared us, but a still small voice over the last year has made these days bearable.
The truth is, The Holy Spirit interceded for us in song and dreams that have been given to us and our families for some time now.
Let me illustrate. Let's take the song "Quiet Me with Your Love"
This is a song I wrote for my son in January when we first found out my wife was pregnant. Based on Zeph. 3:17.
Quiet Me with Your Love,
My Jesus,
Quiet Me with Your Love,
My God.
There is none like you,
My Jesus,
None above your name,
My God.
Who has measured the waters
in the hallow of your hand
and all my days are numbered
in a way only you can comprehend
Who has measured the heavens
and counted the sands of the sea,
Who can forgive my transgressions
and still have room, for me.....
There have been other songs. In fact take a look at the past five months songs of the month. It is as if my soul was grieving already.
I heard a story of how silversmiths refine silver. They put it in the fire, over and over again until the master craftsman can see his face. Yesterday my wife said, with delight, with heartbreak and with trust, that we "look more like Jesus today than ever before" "Yes I said" and we wept.
God sometimes gives gifts wrapped in pain. This is a part of God that I am not too familiar with ir admitittedly that I can say I like. But it is still a part of Him that we trust. Because we choose to.
Please keep in prayers the blessed people who are mourning. That they indeed be comforted.
I will ask that you pray that Gods grace continue to grow us in the faith!
David and Tania Delgado
--------------------------
Our son, Jonathan Isaiah Delgado, was born on August 22, 2002 at 10:00 Pm.
He died fifteen minutes later. Even as I write this, I am floored and wish it were a dream.
Jonathan means "Gift of God" Isaiah Means "Salvation of God"
We have a high priest familiar with our pain.
Romans 8:17
Now if we are children; then we are heirs -heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his suffering in order that we may also share in His Glory.
Quite honestly, my wife and I believe that we have never really suffered before. Most of my suffering, has been because of my choices. Yes there were things that have happened to each of us that were difficult, but never like this. This is something new. Something terrible. Something tragic.
So what does this mean? Are we to share in his Glory? Not in the way you could infer...
Paul Goes on to write...
I Consider our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectations for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
(Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NIV © Copyright 73, 78, 84 By International Bible society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved).
Suffering with the relationship of Christ has purpose. Look where it says, "In hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay. . ." I have been in bondage to decay. I have been in bondage (in the past, and well I am sure there are still more than a few God wants to clear out! ) to sins I held onto for dear life. Suffering has a way of refining us in a way no other way could.
Please do not get me wrong. We are not to suffer just to suffer.
We are invited to partake in the fellowship of His suffering so that His glory can be made known to all the world. Sort of like a club you always wanted to belong to, but when you are initiated into this club you are not sure if you want to be there. You see, He has and always will be familiar with our pain, but now we are a little more familiar with His.
We take comfort in knowing that God Himself lost a son and knows our pain intimately.
The truth is God's grace is sufficient.
Let me show you how His mercy has been enduring.
He has been preparing our hearts for over a year for this. To say that the death of our son was not a shock would be understating the facts. But somehow, after talking with my wife, we came to the conclusion that we "knew". Not the type of knowledge that would have scared us, but a still small voice over the last year has made these days bearable.
The truth is, The Holy Spirit interceded for us in song and dreams that have been given to us and our families for some time now.
Let me illustrate. Let's take the song "Quiet Me with Your Love"
This is a song I wrote for my son in January when we first found out my wife was pregnant. Based on Zeph. 3:17.
Quiet Me with Your Love,
My Jesus,
Quiet Me with Your Love,
My God.
There is none like you,
My Jesus,
None above your name,
My God.
Who has measured the waters
in the hallow of your hand
and all my days are numbered
in a way only you can comprehend
Who has measured the heavens
and counted the sands of the sea,
Who can forgive my transgressions
and still have room, for me.....
There have been other songs. In fact take a look at the past five months songs of the month. It is as if my soul was grieving already.
I heard a story of how silversmiths refine silver. They put it in the fire, over and over again until the master craftsman can see his face. Yesterday my wife said, with delight, with heartbreak and with trust, that we "look more like Jesus today than ever before" "Yes I said" and we wept.
God sometimes gives gifts wrapped in pain. This is a part of God that I am not too familiar with ir admitittedly that I can say I like. But it is still a part of Him that we trust. Because we choose to.
Please keep in prayers the blessed people who are mourning. That they indeed be comforted.
I will ask that you pray that Gods grace continue to grow us in the faith!
David and Tania Delgado
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