March 2007

Keep Watch And Pray

"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow,"
Jesus told his apostles that night.
"Stay here, keep watch, as I'm praying."
But they could not their drowsiness fight.

In agony Christ prayed, "Dear Father,
If you're willing take this cup from me.
Yet not my will but thine be done."
And He knew what God's answer would be.

An angel from heaven came to Him,
To stengthen Him without a sound.
And in anguish Christ prayed even harder
Till sweat dropped like blood to the ground.

Three times Jesus pled with his Father;
Three times God ignored his appeal;
Three times His apostles slept soundly;
Jesus fate was sealed by God's will.

"Keep watch and pray," says our Savior
So that into sins snare you won't fall.
The spirit is willing, the body is weak,
But Christ Jesus is Lord of it all.

©2001 Patricia Broyles Gohlke
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Overcoming

"I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me!" That is what the Bible says. And it applies to all people who believe, even to us who are disabled! If we trust the Lord, and doing what He would have us do, He will provide everything we need. It may not come as quickly as we would want. It may not even be on time, as we see it with our finite minds. Nevertheless, God is all knowing; He can see our past, present, and future! What's more, He works all things for our good.

We may be stretched sometimes. God does allow us to be tried, because He loves us and wants to see us grow in Him. I know those experiences are really hard sometimes, sometimes they are downright painful! However, God is Faithful! Stretching brings us closer to Him.

As a disabled person, I know life can be really difficult sometimes. I admit I was born disabled and thus have no idea what's it's like to go from being able to do whatever you want, to doing nothing. I can imagine that it is a shock to you. All of the sudden, you are confined to a body that will not function the way you would like. Sometimes that confinement is a wheelchair, a crutch, or even a bed! You likely have no idea what you're to do now.

The first thing I would suggest is to pray. Get to know the Father better. God has a plan for each of us. What is His plan for you, that is the question we all need to figure out! In His time, He will show each one of us what He has for us to do.

The second suggestion I'd make is look around you. What needs to be done that you can do now? Does your family need prayer? They likely have to make adjustments of their own to your disability. Does someone around you need to talk? Sometimes listening is the thing that will mean the most to someone.

In conclusion, I'd encourage you not to give up! God knows where you are, what you're going through right now. And He is more than able to do in us everything He sees fit! Trust Him and He will lead and guide you.

© Sarah Ellen Coiner
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He Understood My Worth...

In fullness love I gave
Unconditionally my all was yours
When your dreams were a flickering distance away
I ran the miles with you,
and some for you.
When the world forgot you
I was the soft spot to break your fall
And when finally your star rose
I raised your flag higher,
and celebrated your joy.

Your gratitude was a quiver of pain and hurt,
aimed at the very core of my heart.
Your ungracious spirit like an arrow,
chose my most tender spot and like a hunter
waiting for his kill,you stood by,
until my pride,my self worth and my dreams
had taken their last breath.Finally like one
not a stranger to inflicting pain,
you shoved past my broken spirit,
your gloating feet carelessly strutting,
leaving a gaping wound in my heart.

At the edges of my darkest corner,
stood one waiting patiently in love,
one who saw beyond my shriveled spirit
and acknowleged my need.
Tenderly he nursed my festuring wound,
and carried me on wings of love
through my years of tears.
When pain overwhelmed and my spirit failed
he reminded me that gold is made pure
through fire.

Like pure gold I stand tall today,
glimmering in renewed strength.
Today the one who loved me selflessly,
and restored my hope,gives me the voice to say:
My nothingness to you is a rare diamond to someone else.

Thank you Lord.

Sweet Or Sour?

Picture if you will, an experiment of sorts. In a carefully controlled environment, two unlabeled and identical metal barrels standing side by side on a small pallet. Both had been exposed to the same atmosphere, same humidity and temperature. With a signal from the scientist in charge, his assistants press the button that will set into motion a curious machine that has been set to give both barrels an identical hard knock one after the other. As both barrels fall onto their side, their contents slowly seep out through a crack along one seam.

From one, acid spills onto the wooden pallet, burning a hole through the wood and sending a sickingly sour odor through the air. From the other, scented sweet oil drips down the pallet, its subtle yet enduring scent eventually overcoming the sour stench and the sheen of the oil adding a certain lustre to the wood of the pallet, bringing out a beauty that had not been apparent before its touch.

When the hard knocks of life wounds you, what pours out? The acid of bitterness stored up from past unforgiven and undealt with offenses against you or the sweet fragrance of forgiveness and a heart surrendered to Christ? It's never too late to ask the Master to create in you a clean heart...so you can be an instrument of healing and encouragement to not only yourself but to those around you.

Luke 6:45(NIV)
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

© Katherine Walden
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I Have A Friend In You Jesus

Drowning, swirling
Where am I going? The pool is taking me under
I raise my arms to pray
but all that happens is a wave of discomfort
What is happening to me?
I want to live Help me I'm thinking
Thank God you come along
and save me I have a friend in you
Jesus

© 2006 Monique Hart

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