For since He Himself was tested and suffered, He is able help those who are tested. Hebrews 2:18
No one knows exactly what you are going through right now. No one can totally understand your suffering, your pain. There is no one here on earth that can be the perfect comfort that you may need right now. What you are dealing with is unique to you.
There are a lot of people that have had similiar experiences, but we each experience life a little bit differently. The only person that can really provide the comfort and that knows you so well, and knows pain and suffering so well, is Jesus Christ.
The verse quoted above shows us that Jesus suffered (just read the Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke and John]) and He is uniquely equipped to relate to YOU. No matter who you are. Jesus suffered as a human and He understands. As God Jesus knows our hearts, our souls. He gives Himself the ability to relate, because He is all loving, and all compassionate. Jesus wants to be with you through this.
Invite Him into your life. Let Him help you. He knows you. He loves you. He's been there before, and He wants to be there for you. Let Him. It is the best decision you can make, the one that will bring the most healing to your life.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sweet Peace
There is darkness all around you, even in the middle of the day. The blackness of your soul, the depths of your fear, your pain, your feelings of worthlessness overwhelm even the brightest of sunny days. You are just trying to make it the next 5 minutes.
You look around and see all the things in the house that could help you end this miserable existence you have found yourself mired in. You wonder which is the easiest, which would be the best option. Ending it all seems like the answer.
Yet, you don't move. Your thoughts are switched to your friends. You know they care about you, even if they don't understand what you are feeling. You think of your parents and all that they would have to deal with. Then you remember a song your Grandma used to sing to you. A song that is from the days BEFORE. For you live in a BEFORE and AFTER existence.
The song says "Jesus love you this I know. For the Bible tells me so." A bit silly for an adult, but still the words reach you. You wonder if Jesus really does love you, and if so, WHY? And you call out "WHY?"
In your heart you hear "Because I love you humans enough to give you choice, to give you free will. I hate what you do with it. I hate how you hurt each other. I hate that it cost my Son his life. But, I love you and so does He. It is why He volunteered to go to the cross. I am God and I love you. Let me help you."
All of a sudden you feel a small sense of peace. You are still mired in darkness, your problems are not over, but you feel like maybe there is light. You feel the beginning of healing taking place. You no longer look around for ways to end it all, but you listen wanting to hear the voice more.
You know the journey is just beginning, but at least it isn't ending. That is God's promise. Jesus loves you and will help you. Yes YOU!! It doesn't matter the darkness, it doesn't matter if you are a victim or a perpetrator, Jesus is bigger, Jesus will guide you and help you to learn to walk in His way, to know His peace. It is offered for EVERYONE.
On that thought you get up and finally you see the beauty of the sun again.
You look around and see all the things in the house that could help you end this miserable existence you have found yourself mired in. You wonder which is the easiest, which would be the best option. Ending it all seems like the answer.
Yet, you don't move. Your thoughts are switched to your friends. You know they care about you, even if they don't understand what you are feeling. You think of your parents and all that they would have to deal with. Then you remember a song your Grandma used to sing to you. A song that is from the days BEFORE. For you live in a BEFORE and AFTER existence.
The song says "Jesus love you this I know. For the Bible tells me so." A bit silly for an adult, but still the words reach you. You wonder if Jesus really does love you, and if so, WHY? And you call out "WHY?"
In your heart you hear "Because I love you humans enough to give you choice, to give you free will. I hate what you do with it. I hate how you hurt each other. I hate that it cost my Son his life. But, I love you and so does He. It is why He volunteered to go to the cross. I am God and I love you. Let me help you."
All of a sudden you feel a small sense of peace. You are still mired in darkness, your problems are not over, but you feel like maybe there is light. You feel the beginning of healing taking place. You no longer look around for ways to end it all, but you listen wanting to hear the voice more.
You know the journey is just beginning, but at least it isn't ending. That is God's promise. Jesus loves you and will help you. Yes YOU!! It doesn't matter the darkness, it doesn't matter if you are a victim or a perpetrator, Jesus is bigger, Jesus will guide you and help you to learn to walk in His way, to know His peace. It is offered for EVERYONE.
On that thought you get up and finally you see the beauty of the sun again.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Beauty of Rebirth
With Autumn well on her way we are living during one of my favorite seasons. I love the cool crispness to the morning air, the approaching holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and the beautiful color here at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Autumn (a much better word than fall) is a wonderful time.
One of the things that strikes me is how God makes the trees so pretty and lets the leaves show off right before they die and fall to the ground, and then they sit there, a beautiful blanket adorning the ground, a reminder of how miraculous the trees looked not long before.
While the leaves fall and die, the tree remains alive, it just goes into hibernation mode to await Spring and the new leaves that it will bud, the new grandeur it will have.
We are like trees. Right before our abuse we are beautiful, we feel invincible, we could even be living to our full potential. As creatures of God, we are gorgeous. Then WHAM- abuse (of any form) happens and we shed our beauty. We move into hibernation/survival mode. We are bare, empty of what gave us our beauty, our joy.
Yet, like the trees we don't have to remain bare. We can choose to bud new leaves, to be reborn, to see the beauty in our lives, that God sees all the time. Abuse is like winter, it is cold and harsh. But, we don't have to live in winter forever. We can move into spring. We can be reborn.
It takes time, it takes work, and it doesn't happen overnight. Yet, in the end we can full of beautiful green leaves, we can be joyous and have an amazing life. It is our choice. It is the most courageous choice. It is easy to wallow in winter, in self pity. It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves. It is hard to take the steps and move on, but even a snow lover like myself doesn't want winter year round.
Gather up your courage, see the beauty around you, and then see that you too are beautiful.
One of the things that strikes me is how God makes the trees so pretty and lets the leaves show off right before they die and fall to the ground, and then they sit there, a beautiful blanket adorning the ground, a reminder of how miraculous the trees looked not long before.
While the leaves fall and die, the tree remains alive, it just goes into hibernation mode to await Spring and the new leaves that it will bud, the new grandeur it will have.
We are like trees. Right before our abuse we are beautiful, we feel invincible, we could even be living to our full potential. As creatures of God, we are gorgeous. Then WHAM- abuse (of any form) happens and we shed our beauty. We move into hibernation/survival mode. We are bare, empty of what gave us our beauty, our joy.
Yet, like the trees we don't have to remain bare. We can choose to bud new leaves, to be reborn, to see the beauty in our lives, that God sees all the time. Abuse is like winter, it is cold and harsh. But, we don't have to live in winter forever. We can move into spring. We can be reborn.
It takes time, it takes work, and it doesn't happen overnight. Yet, in the end we can full of beautiful green leaves, we can be joyous and have an amazing life. It is our choice. It is the most courageous choice. It is easy to wallow in winter, in self pity. It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves. It is hard to take the steps and move on, but even a snow lover like myself doesn't want winter year round.
Gather up your courage, see the beauty around you, and then see that you too are beautiful.
Friday, September 30, 2011
I've Got Joy!
Right now I am sitting all cozy in my bed, with my husband beside me (asleep) and our cat curled up at my feet. Our little daughter is kicking away in my uterus. It is a pretty idyllic start to a Friday, a blessing indeed.
10 years ago, heck 5 or even 3 years ago I could not have imagined that I'd be able to enjoy such mornings. My rape took so much away. The girl I was before died the night of my rape. Out of the ashes I had to be reborn, I had to figure out how I was going to navigate, to survive in a world that was suddenly no longer safe.
At first I thought I was beginning to make a new life, and then I saw the true nature of my bf and I allowed myself to plunge into the world of abuse, where I was stuck for far too long. What I thought was living was really just getting by.
Finally, I left the situation. I saw a Bible sitting on my shelf, dusty and unread. I opened it and it fed my soul. The love of Christ reached out to me. I then went on a journey. I had been raised in a Christian home, I was working for a Christian organization, but still I hadn't made Christ my own. I had to discover for myself that Jesus was true.
My journey was fascinating and in the end it led me to so much peace. It was not a quick journey, but it was what I needed. No longer was I getting by, but I was finally taking the steps to becoming a rape and abuse victor. No longer was I "the girl that was raped". I was "the girl that Jesus loves". My whole outlook changed, how I identified myself changed. No longer was it an event, but it was God that gave me my identity.
Slowly God developed inside me a heart for others that have been there, that are there. Others that are traveling the road of rape/abuse experience. I want to show people that God wants to give us our identity, our value, and His joy.
Here I sit all cozy and surrounded by those I love, awaiting the birth of my daughter Yet, beyond the walls of my home are 1000's of women that need Christ, 1000's that are hurting, from a 1000 different hurts.
We struggle to find the answer, the solution to our pain, when it is just a prayer away. Our answer is contained within the Bible. It is a Savior on a cross. It is that same Savior coming down, resting in a grave, only to emerge victorious, alive and able to handle all that life has. It is that Savior saying "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest."
-JLP-
10 years ago, heck 5 or even 3 years ago I could not have imagined that I'd be able to enjoy such mornings. My rape took so much away. The girl I was before died the night of my rape. Out of the ashes I had to be reborn, I had to figure out how I was going to navigate, to survive in a world that was suddenly no longer safe.
At first I thought I was beginning to make a new life, and then I saw the true nature of my bf and I allowed myself to plunge into the world of abuse, where I was stuck for far too long. What I thought was living was really just getting by.
Finally, I left the situation. I saw a Bible sitting on my shelf, dusty and unread. I opened it and it fed my soul. The love of Christ reached out to me. I then went on a journey. I had been raised in a Christian home, I was working for a Christian organization, but still I hadn't made Christ my own. I had to discover for myself that Jesus was true.
My journey was fascinating and in the end it led me to so much peace. It was not a quick journey, but it was what I needed. No longer was I getting by, but I was finally taking the steps to becoming a rape and abuse victor. No longer was I "the girl that was raped". I was "the girl that Jesus loves". My whole outlook changed, how I identified myself changed. No longer was it an event, but it was God that gave me my identity.
Slowly God developed inside me a heart for others that have been there, that are there. Others that are traveling the road of rape/abuse experience. I want to show people that God wants to give us our identity, our value, and His joy.
Here I sit all cozy and surrounded by those I love, awaiting the birth of my daughter Yet, beyond the walls of my home are 1000's of women that need Christ, 1000's that are hurting, from a 1000 different hurts.
We struggle to find the answer, the solution to our pain, when it is just a prayer away. Our answer is contained within the Bible. It is a Savior on a cross. It is that same Savior coming down, resting in a grave, only to emerge victorious, alive and able to handle all that life has. It is that Savior saying "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest."
-JLP-
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
You DON'T Deserve it!!!
One of Satan's biggest lies that he tells women is that we deserve what we get in life. That what is thrown our way is just. He uses the karma lie. Whatever is happening to you must be deserved, you must have done something wrong, it is fate that you are dealing with this.
This lie is perpetuated and blown up for many women that are living in abusive situations. Many of them really do believe the lie, they believe that it is their fault when their partner abuses them, that they provoked it, or disobeyed, or did something and the abuse is earned.
Another fallacy for many women in abusive situations is that this is just how life is. All guys are like this. These women were most likely raised in homes where abuse took place, and that is what they know. It is reality for them.
Both of these situations are lies and come straight from Satan. I know my Sophomore year of college when I was living in an abusive situation (and abuse can take many forms, it isn't always physical) I thought that it was what I deserved. I also told myself "well at least he isn't hurting someone else. I can handle it, I can't handle if he hurts one of my friends."
My thinking was screwed up. But, I had to own and believe that I deserved better before things would change. The abuser most likely will not change. We can pray for them and hope that they will, but most likely unless the woman owns that the situation is unsafe, that it is wrong, there is no impetus for him to change. I had to be the one to leave, I had to own it.
Just like all other women have to. It is scary, it is hard, and it is in a way humiliating. It hurts our pride to admit to ourselves how low we are, how low our self-esteem is. The first steps are always the worst.
But, the truth is simply: NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED... NO ONE!!! We are all beloved creations and children of God, the King of Kings. We are all royalty. He sees each of us, and He loves us. He wants to give us joy, peace, security, happiness, all the things that abuse steals.
God is consistent, He is patient and loving. You don't have to fear His moods, wonder what will happen tonight. You can let your guard down when you are with him. He also wants to show you that there are so many wonderful people out there that want to help, that want to love you.
There is a man (or woman) out there that God has for you. One that will treat you like the precious person you really one. There is some one out there that you can be with and not have to fear, someone that is a joy to come home to, that can bring real laughter to your soul, healing to you. Abuse is not right, abuse is the antithesis of love.
Choose to take the steps (I know they are scary, I've been there) to leaving the situation. Open yourself up for love, joy, and a life that isn't lived in fear. It is the hardest, most wonderful thing you can do for yourself and for your kids (if you have any).
-JLP-
This lie is perpetuated and blown up for many women that are living in abusive situations. Many of them really do believe the lie, they believe that it is their fault when their partner abuses them, that they provoked it, or disobeyed, or did something and the abuse is earned.
Another fallacy for many women in abusive situations is that this is just how life is. All guys are like this. These women were most likely raised in homes where abuse took place, and that is what they know. It is reality for them.
Both of these situations are lies and come straight from Satan. I know my Sophomore year of college when I was living in an abusive situation (and abuse can take many forms, it isn't always physical) I thought that it was what I deserved. I also told myself "well at least he isn't hurting someone else. I can handle it, I can't handle if he hurts one of my friends."
My thinking was screwed up. But, I had to own and believe that I deserved better before things would change. The abuser most likely will not change. We can pray for them and hope that they will, but most likely unless the woman owns that the situation is unsafe, that it is wrong, there is no impetus for him to change. I had to be the one to leave, I had to own it.
Just like all other women have to. It is scary, it is hard, and it is in a way humiliating. It hurts our pride to admit to ourselves how low we are, how low our self-esteem is. The first steps are always the worst.
But, the truth is simply: NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED... NO ONE!!! We are all beloved creations and children of God, the King of Kings. We are all royalty. He sees each of us, and He loves us. He wants to give us joy, peace, security, happiness, all the things that abuse steals.
God is consistent, He is patient and loving. You don't have to fear His moods, wonder what will happen tonight. You can let your guard down when you are with him. He also wants to show you that there are so many wonderful people out there that want to help, that want to love you.
There is a man (or woman) out there that God has for you. One that will treat you like the precious person you really one. There is some one out there that you can be with and not have to fear, someone that is a joy to come home to, that can bring real laughter to your soul, healing to you. Abuse is not right, abuse is the antithesis of love.
Choose to take the steps (I know they are scary, I've been there) to leaving the situation. Open yourself up for love, joy, and a life that isn't lived in fear. It is the hardest, most wonderful thing you can do for yourself and for your kids (if you have any).
-JLP-
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Where WASN'T God???
When bad things happen, when we don't understand what is going on, we tend to blame God. We ask, "Where was God when __________ happened?" Most assuredly that question has been asked in regards to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Yet, as natural as that question is, and as important as it is for each of us to realize how God works, there is a better question to ask. The better question is to ask, "Where wasn't God when _________ happened?" For you see, God is in control and God is everywhere.
God was in the Twin Towers, guiding THOUSANDS to safety and holding up the towers so many people could get out. God was at ground zero guiding search and rescue workers to the locations of buried survivors. God was at the Pentagon holding the fire back, reinforcing walls. God was on flight 93 giving courage and peace to passengers and allowing them to call family members.
God was there, holding us and protecting us all as we mourned. He was reminding us that evil is only temporary. It is drastic, it has eternal consequences, but evil's presence on this earth is only temporary.
God was there when I was raped and then when I was abused. God was there when you were hurting, when you were scared. God is there now, waiting to be invited to help and comfort you.
God WASN'T in the lives of the terrorists. They had already said NO to Him.
Here is the secret! God is in control and the ending, the conclusion of all this pain and suffering is that Jesus wins. We have been given free will and we use it to hurt each other. So few use it for God's glory, but in the end God WILL get the glory. Satan and evil will be cast into Hell forever, and those of us that have chosen Christ will get to live in a new Heaven, walk around a new earth.
It will be a place of nothing but glory. No sin, no pain, no fear. Just reigning and praising the Lamb, the good, holy and perfect one. That is the hope that we have. Knowledge of how this ends, trusting God to continue to work it all out, that is how America will continue to heal and grow.
Personally, grabbing hold of the rope God is offering you, the peace that comes through a relationship with Christ. Knowing Him, that is how YOU will heal from the pain you are enduring. There is nothing like hope to lighten a dark day. Nothing like sweet anticipation of joy, of laughter to help heal a broken heart and spirit.
God wasn't in the lives of those that chose evil, that chose to say "No thanks" to His Son's gift. But God can be in your life. Will you let Him in? He stands at the door and knocks. He is there. Let Him in.
-JLP-
Monday, September 5, 2011
A Tear Made Lake
One of the things we all learn is that life is full of tears. There is so much out that that seeks to rob us of the joy that God wants to infuse in us. Not only is there: rape, abuse, murder, kidnappings, but there is also death. The deaths of those that we love. No one gets out of this grand adventure alive.
There is enough heartache that we could make our own tear filled lakes with our life time of tears. It is hard. It's been hard from the time that Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden. We try to keep our loved ones close, to protect them and to protect ourselves. We shy away from the pain.
Yet, it is in these times of trial, in the heartache that we are most open to God, most vulnerable and willing to let God love us. So, use these times. Use the trials to draw closer to Him. But then in the celebrations don't leave Him behind. Invite Him into those as well and you will see just have gorgeous they really are.
The hard times are less hard with God, the celebration are more celebratory and all the in between is more peaceful. By not living with Christ you are denying yourself so much. It took me years and lots of pain, fear, disillusionment and frustration to realize that Christ is the answer.
Not matter how much you are hurting God wants to help you. God will take your load. God will bring light to the darkness engulfing you. God will make beauty from the lake of tears you cry. You just have to let Him. That is one of the amazing things. He is God, and He doesn't want any of us to perish, but He loves us so much that He lets it be our choice!
Cry those tears, be honest with how you feel, let it out and then let God show you the beauty of love and refreshment.
"The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul" Psalm 23: 1-3a (NKJV)
There is enough heartache that we could make our own tear filled lakes with our life time of tears. It is hard. It's been hard from the time that Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden. We try to keep our loved ones close, to protect them and to protect ourselves. We shy away from the pain.
Yet, it is in these times of trial, in the heartache that we are most open to God, most vulnerable and willing to let God love us. So, use these times. Use the trials to draw closer to Him. But then in the celebrations don't leave Him behind. Invite Him into those as well and you will see just have gorgeous they really are.
The hard times are less hard with God, the celebration are more celebratory and all the in between is more peaceful. By not living with Christ you are denying yourself so much. It took me years and lots of pain, fear, disillusionment and frustration to realize that Christ is the answer.
Not matter how much you are hurting God wants to help you. God will take your load. God will bring light to the darkness engulfing you. God will make beauty from the lake of tears you cry. You just have to let Him. That is one of the amazing things. He is God, and He doesn't want any of us to perish, but He loves us so much that He lets it be our choice!
Cry those tears, be honest with how you feel, let it out and then let God show you the beauty of love and refreshment.
"The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul" Psalm 23: 1-3a (NKJV)
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Not Worthless!!!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
When I was first dealing with the aftermath of my rape and abuse I felt totally abandoned by God and worthless. If God loved me why didn't He protect me. Obviously what I had been taught was wrong. I wasn't all that important to God. I was just another human, just one of BILLIONS to roam this earth. God had more important things to deal with than my problems.
I was mired in self-pity, fear, shame, anger, confusion, doubt and abandonment. Yeah, I was like many victims, maybe even you! I put on a mask. I went about my life. I even kept going to church because that was what I knew. Yet inside I wasn't buying it.
I was too busy dealing with being raped to begin to recover from the rape. I met a boy and when he was sober he made me feel special. To him I was worthwhile. But he wasn't sober often enough and when he was drunk he was mean. But, I figured if he was hurting me he wasn't hurting someone else, and what else was I good for?
One night he attacked my best friend. It was that event that woke me up. I spent the night actually reading the Bible. I read about Rahab, Ruth, King David, and Jesus. I saw God's plan. It was then that God said to me, "Child you are not worthless. You are my precious daughter."
I saw once and for all that God has been working throughout history to show each of us just how important we are. God values and loves each individual. The night I was raped, God was there hurting for me and for the evil the men allowed in their souls.
God takes us where we are: prostitutes, widows, adulterers, murderers, victims, celebrities and He says "I have a bigger plan for you. I want to show you my love. You need it so very much. You are mine."
God loves each of us so much that He died in our place! Not only did he die, but read about how and you will see love and just how priceless you are!
Yes, in this world there is pain, fear, confusion, shame, guilt, darkness, and a whole lotta bad stuff. But we can overcome it by clinging to the promise of Christ. He already defeated it all, and He offers each of us hope. Hope is what I needed most to begin to recover from rape. I needed a reason to go on.
I found that God doesn't see me as worthless, He sees me as priceless. There is no length He won't go to show me, to show YOU! This world has trouble, but after our lives our over we face a glorious future! It is ours for taking, and you know what, there is nothing like hope and security to begin the process of healing.
I encourage you to seek God, to seek Jesus and through Him begin to heal.
-JLP-
John 16:33
When I was first dealing with the aftermath of my rape and abuse I felt totally abandoned by God and worthless. If God loved me why didn't He protect me. Obviously what I had been taught was wrong. I wasn't all that important to God. I was just another human, just one of BILLIONS to roam this earth. God had more important things to deal with than my problems.
I was mired in self-pity, fear, shame, anger, confusion, doubt and abandonment. Yeah, I was like many victims, maybe even you! I put on a mask. I went about my life. I even kept going to church because that was what I knew. Yet inside I wasn't buying it.
I was too busy dealing with being raped to begin to recover from the rape. I met a boy and when he was sober he made me feel special. To him I was worthwhile. But he wasn't sober often enough and when he was drunk he was mean. But, I figured if he was hurting me he wasn't hurting someone else, and what else was I good for?
One night he attacked my best friend. It was that event that woke me up. I spent the night actually reading the Bible. I read about Rahab, Ruth, King David, and Jesus. I saw God's plan. It was then that God said to me, "Child you are not worthless. You are my precious daughter."
I saw once and for all that God has been working throughout history to show each of us just how important we are. God values and loves each individual. The night I was raped, God was there hurting for me and for the evil the men allowed in their souls.
God takes us where we are: prostitutes, widows, adulterers, murderers, victims, celebrities and He says "I have a bigger plan for you. I want to show you my love. You need it so very much. You are mine."
God loves each of us so much that He died in our place! Not only did he die, but read about how and you will see love and just how priceless you are!
Yes, in this world there is pain, fear, confusion, shame, guilt, darkness, and a whole lotta bad stuff. But we can overcome it by clinging to the promise of Christ. He already defeated it all, and He offers each of us hope. Hope is what I needed most to begin to recover from rape. I needed a reason to go on.
I found that God doesn't see me as worthless, He sees me as priceless. There is no length He won't go to show me, to show YOU! This world has trouble, but after our lives our over we face a glorious future! It is ours for taking, and you know what, there is nothing like hope and security to begin the process of healing.
I encourage you to seek God, to seek Jesus and through Him begin to heal.
-JLP-
Sunday, August 17, 2008
He May Not...
He may not straighten the path,
But He will guide you through the curves!
He may not ease all your heartache,
But He will catch all your tears!
He may not move the sun from behind the clouds,
But He will provide a lamp for your dark path.
He may not allow you to sing a single not on key,
But He will love every minute you sing praise to Him.
He may not prevent the trial from occurring,
But He will be your best advocate, and a fair judge.
Jesus may not make life easy and carefree for His beloved,
But He will forgive, redeem, defend, comfort and guide them.
So many emotions are floating through me right now. Most of them are of a morose nature- and it feels like no matter what I do, I have this nagging sense of sadness about me, sometimes right on the surface, sometimes buried deep. Would I love for Jesus to remove and guide to true joy and some momentary happiness? Of course, but if not I will always Praise the Lord, for I serve a risen Savior! My joy depends not on the lifting of the sadness, but the firm knowledge and belief that "some bright morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away, to a place on God's celestial shore!" It may not happen this morning, it may not happen in this lifetime, but it will eventually happen, and eternally I face a zillion life times of getting to dance for, sing to, bow do and adore my GOD, My JESUS! I get to spend forever and a day with my Lover, Friend, Jehovah, my Jesus, my All and All!
Already thinking about that helps. I know that He may not remove the pain in this lifetime, but I know that He will be right here with me, going through it as well. For He has promised me that "I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you." How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song will ever be!
O may those thousand tongues start singing of our Great Redeemers praise! I for one will sing of His love forever, I will sing of His love forever! Over the mountains and the seas, I love to tell the story- because I know tis true! He is a mighty fortress, a bulwark never failing, but he is also my vision, the Lord of my heart!
Even if we go through 70 years of pain and sorrow, 70 years of life that seems horrendously dreadful, may we still join Paul in the conviction that NO MATTER WHAT, WE WILL PRAISE the LORD!
Because He may not... But He always will work for our good!
-JLK/PRT-
But He will guide you through the curves!
He may not ease all your heartache,
But He will catch all your tears!
He may not move the sun from behind the clouds,
But He will provide a lamp for your dark path.
He may not allow you to sing a single not on key,
But He will love every minute you sing praise to Him.
He may not prevent the trial from occurring,
But He will be your best advocate, and a fair judge.
Jesus may not make life easy and carefree for His beloved,
But He will forgive, redeem, defend, comfort and guide them.
So many emotions are floating through me right now. Most of them are of a morose nature- and it feels like no matter what I do, I have this nagging sense of sadness about me, sometimes right on the surface, sometimes buried deep. Would I love for Jesus to remove and guide to true joy and some momentary happiness? Of course, but if not I will always Praise the Lord, for I serve a risen Savior! My joy depends not on the lifting of the sadness, but the firm knowledge and belief that "some bright morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away, to a place on God's celestial shore!" It may not happen this morning, it may not happen in this lifetime, but it will eventually happen, and eternally I face a zillion life times of getting to dance for, sing to, bow do and adore my GOD, My JESUS! I get to spend forever and a day with my Lover, Friend, Jehovah, my Jesus, my All and All!
Already thinking about that helps. I know that He may not remove the pain in this lifetime, but I know that He will be right here with me, going through it as well. For He has promised me that "I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you." How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song will ever be!
O may those thousand tongues start singing of our Great Redeemers praise! I for one will sing of His love forever, I will sing of His love forever! Over the mountains and the seas, I love to tell the story- because I know tis true! He is a mighty fortress, a bulwark never failing, but he is also my vision, the Lord of my heart!
Even if we go through 70 years of pain and sorrow, 70 years of life that seems horrendously dreadful, may we still join Paul in the conviction that NO MATTER WHAT, WE WILL PRAISE the LORD!
Because He may not... But He always will work for our good!
-JLK/PRT-
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Haikus
Time Passes
Time passes on earth
Bad things happen to us all
We must deal with them.
I Cry
I cry and I cry
Heaven seems to be silent
Where art Thou, O God?
I Remember
You may see me laugh
I remember my old joy
my zest for this life.
The Son Shines
The Son shines brightly
I raise my head to His warmth
I will praise Him now.
Be Thou
Be Thou my vision
Guide me through my life today
Lead me where You will
Time passes on earth
Bad things happen to us all
We must deal with them.
I Cry
I cry and I cry
Heaven seems to be silent
Where art Thou, O God?
I Remember
You may see me laugh
I remember my old joy
my zest for this life.
The Son Shines
The Son shines brightly
I raise my head to His warmth
I will praise Him now.
Be Thou
Be Thou my vision
Guide me through my life today
Lead me where You will
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