(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

 

When overwhelmed by the burden of life heaped on your soul

The load so weighty and ponderous you feel yourself growing old

About you endless choices – each one a different path

You know not which way to take – consequences make you gasp

 

Your lack of wisdom and of insight astounds and frightens you

You cannot see the outcome – you don’t know what to do

The one thing that you do grasp – eternity hangs on your choice

So how could you dare to make it without raising to GOD your voice?

 

For HE is LORD Eternal, all seeing and all knowing

None but HE can see the destination that you’re going

And you dare not make those weighty plans

Unless first you put your life in HIS hands

 

Why do you bear your burden on your own

When CHRIST has sworn to take it, to never leave you alone?

Little wonder that your soul it aches and groans

And despair seeks to consume you as you moan

 

Do you not believe that GOD in truth loves you?

Do you doubt to rescue you all that HE did do?

Do you view your SAVIOR’s might so small and slight?

Engulfed by nameless fears, in darkness you have no sight

 

O lift your weary heart and eyes in prayer to HIM

In trust your burden release to HIM Who bore YOUR sin

O let HIM raise you up in enduring strength and power

To guide your path through life, every moment every hour!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

Doubts, confusion, burdens, weariness …. are you overwhelmed by life, carrying a load The LORD never intended your frail person to bear? 

 

Psalm 55:16-18;22 “As for me, I will call upon GOD, and The LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud, and HE shall hear my voice. HE has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.” “Cast your burden on The LORD and HE shall sustain you; HE shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” 

 

Psalm 32:8 ”I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with MY eye.” 

 

The promises of GOD, how weighty and precious they are; how dependable and true!  HE promises to guide us, to sustain us, to hear our prayer - and to answer - but first we must run to HIM, yield our burdens, put our trust resolutely in HIM; and we must practise listening to HIM, hearing HIS voice as HE teaches and instructs us according to HIS inerrant Word, and leads us. And we must be willing to obey HIS counsel, HIS commands - knowing that HE only does us good, for truly does HE love us. Let HIM carry not only your heavy load of anxieties, fears, griefs and problems … , but let HIM carry you!

Learn to remain in HIM, in HIS Presence, sheltered by HIS side - guarded and protected in HIS embrace.

We need to remind ourselves that we have no need to fear what the future holds; we need only fear, hold in awe, and reverence HIM Who holds the future, and rest in the assurance that we are secure and safe in HIS loving hands!

 

Psalm 34:9 “Oh, fear The LORD you HIS saints! There is no want/lack to those who fear HIM.” 

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of GOD in HIM are Yes, and in HIM Amen, to the glory of GOD through us.”  

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

I see how desperate lost in sin you are,

Adrift at sea you list, from GOD, so far.

I hear HIS aching, longing sorrow sigh,

HE longs to lift you from your pit and set you high.

 

 

How HE yearns to save your ravaged life,

To set you at liberty from sin’s devastating strife.

HIS tender hand would wipe your tears and ease your cry,

Though in hardness and disdain HIS love you do defy.

 

 

You may stagger onward, destitute and blind,

Or have earth’s wealth, yet be tormented in mind.

All that this world would offer free to you,

For your eternal good not one thing can it do.

 

 

In darkness and aloneness your soul weeps,

You have fallen in an abyss with sides so deep,

Though endlessly you fight its walls to scale,

There is naught that you can do but fall and fail.

 

 

Your pride would scorn to take HIS rescuing hand,

To chart your own life’s course you think is grand.

At the notion of grace unearned you find you stumble,

A bitter pill to swallow for one so loathe to be humble.

 

 

The stain of sin has robbed your soul of sight,

Deceived you so you know not WHO you fight.

In bitterness and wrath you spurn HIS heart,

And flee your own redemption as from HIM you depart.

 

 

We are all of us in need of saving grace,

If we would but repent and seek HIS face.

HE has promised to be found by those who thirst,

In truth it is HIS heart that seeks ours first!

 

 

Do not yourself condemn to hell unending,

O do not be so cruel and proud, unbending.

Great GOD HIMSELF for you was slain and humbled,

HE took the weight of sin for all who stumbled.

 

 

When you sin and rebel you miss HIS perfect mark,

The mark of Light and Life HIS Love imparts.

And there is not one man upon this earth who hasn’t faltered,

Except Incarnate SON of GOD, whose atonement our future altered!

 

 

So let yourself by HIS great love be ever found,

HIS mercy and HIS kindness to you do they abound.

HE is a GOD delights to set you free from misery,

For in HIS SON HE gives you hope and eternal destiny!

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

Jeremiah 2:19 “‘Your own wickedness shall chasten and correct you, and your backslidings and desertion of faith shall reprove you. Know therefore and recognise that this is an evil and bitter thing. You have forsaken The LORD your GOD; you are indifferent to ME and the fear of ME is not in you,’ says The LORD of hosts.” (Amplified Bible)

 

Oh can you hear the heart of ALMIGHTY beating in every anguished word? HE Who is our Rescuer, our SAVIOR - aching for lost humanity, longing for us with an overpowering love that is incomprehensible, unearned, undeserved, desperate to sweep us to safety, to shelter us beneath the warmth of HIS mighty wings?

And can you hear the warning in these words? The advice of an All powerful, Ever-Loving GOD to lost sinners? Words we would be foolish to disregard, wise to heed - and forever thankful if we take them to heart and act on them!

HIS warning to us is two-fold: 1st - you have forsaken ME

                                           2nd - you are indifferent and the fear of ME is not in you.

 

Grace is freedom from sin - NOT freedom to sin!

Our almost universal lack of understanding of ‘grace’ and of the ‘fear and reverential awe’ of our Mighty GOD is costing us far more dearly than we grasp. To walk with our LORD in fear and awe is to walk in true safety, true liberality and freedom. GOD does not need our fear of HIM, HE knows HIS own power and might - we are the ones who need to fear and reverence HIM, for our sakes, it is our security that is at stake!

 

Isaiah 8:13-14a “The LORD Almighty is The One you are to regard as Holy, HE is The One you are to fear, HE is The One you are to dread, and HE will be a Sanctuary…” Our security is in our true understanding of WHO HE is - Awesome, ALMIGHTY KING of kings and LORD of Lords and our Glorious SAVIOR and Redeemer!   Leviticus 10:3a “…This is what The LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near ME I must be regarded as Holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’ 

It is our fear and dread of GOD that keeps us from sin; yes our understanding of HIS love keeps us secure, keeps us safe in the knowledge of how desired and cherished we are by our LORD, it keeps us close to HIS side even in the face of how terrifying and Holy HE truly is - something we would run from in utter terror if we weren’t so secure in HIS imputed righteousness and HIS love for, and adoration of, us. But it is our fear of HIM that would make us dread to willingly sin, dread to incur HIS displeasure. Naturally we also desire to obey and please the ones we love - but our innate selfishness doesn’t always make that an overriding motivation; a healthy awe and reverence is a necessary balance to our love. It keeps us from presuming upon HIS love in a way that reveals disrespect, a lack of understanding of HIS Holiness and power, and an unhealthy familiarity!

Understanding consequences - taking GOD seriously, not treating HIM as some cuddly, lovable, winking at sin, pushover! But as a sin hating, sinner loving, HOLY GOD! (Job 28:28 “And to man HE said. ‘Behold, the fear of The LORD, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding!’”)

 

Sin in the Greek is an archery term - it means “to miss the mark”, to not hit the bullseye. Whether we miss it by a little or a lot is irrelevant - the point is that we missed it and no other outcome is acceptable, we are in dire need of redemption. It is JESUS - EMMANUEL, Who through HIS innocent blood spilled upon The Cross on our behalf, Who comes and wraps HIS loving arms around us, clothing us in HIS righteousness, and covers our hands with HIS, lifts our arms and re-aims that arrow - hitting that bullseye of ‘perfection’, straight and true, on our behalf!

So let us hold this Awesome SAVIOR, Who sacrificed HIS own sinless Life for our sin filled ones, in the reverence and awe HE alone deserves - let us love what HE loves and hate what HE hates! Let us loathe sin - for it was sin that cost HIM HIS very Life, and sin that can cost us ours. Let us love and guard the righteousness and purity that HE died to secure for us, and let us treat with honor and gratitude the gift of a redeemed life that HE arose to impart to us!   

 

 

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

You are a child of The Risen KING,

Over your life a song of love does HE sing.

Your beauty takes HIS breath away,

HIS promise to you – HE will always stay.

 

 

For HE has searched both far and near,

For a way to wrap you in HIS care.

HE faced the cross, HE scorned the fear,

For to HIS heart you are most dear.

 

 

Now HE walks right by your side,

For from all harm, you HE will hide.

HIS arm about you, protecting you,

HE’ll destroy your foes, that’s what HE’ll do!

 

 

In HIS love and in HIS grace,

In HIS favour you are safe.

Trust HIM with your every breath,

This KING who from HIS glory left.

 

 

Open to HIM as to the sun does a flower,

Abandon yourself and trust in HIS power.

HIS love HE proved both then and now,

HE calls to you this minute, this hour!

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

GOD is calling you - nearer, to come closer, to go deeper, to greater intimacy. HE desires that you would know HIM, know HIS thoughts, HIS heart - and that you would cherish and greatly value and esteem what HE would share with you of HIMSELF.

But there is a cost, a pre-requisite to this depth of intimacy and trust, of openess and vulnerability. It is a vital ingredient that has become all but lost in a ’self’ focused, ’self’ absorbed christianity that puts man and not our GOD at the centre. And it has certainly become maligned and misunderstood. 

It is the fear of The LORD!

 

Psalm 25:14 “The secret of The LORD is with those who fear HIM and HE will show them HIS covenant.”

Psalm 33:18 “Behold the eye of The LORD is on those who fear HIM, on those who hope in HIS mercy.”

Isaiah 33:6b “…The fear of The LORD is HIS treasure.”

 

We need to approach GOD in an attitude of understanding WHO HE is, in an attitude of respect, reverence and awe - if we want to truly know HIS heart and have HIM trust us enough to share HIS thoughts and intentions with us. No hypocrisy, no pride or self-importance - and no playing games. We need to be humble, honest, open and transparent, and we need to trust HIM, to be willing for HIM to expose our innermost being.

The Bible tells us that “by the fear of The LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6) It is not a dread of HIM, but a dread of wronging HIM. In other words - the right kind of healthy fear of GOD will keep us from evil, or wrong doing, or sin, for we will dread to do anything that would grieve HIS heart or displease HIM.

 

Acts 9:31b “…And walking in the fear of The LORD and the comfort of The HOLY SPIRIT, they were multiplied.”

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD.”

 

 

Psalm 89:7 “GOD is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around HIM.”

 

If you desire to be one who walks closely with GOD, in HIS comfort and mercy, walking in grace and the knowledge of HIM, then you must be one who holds HIM in reverence and godly fear.

(Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of The LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of The HOLY ONE is understanding.”)

We rest in the gift of HIS unsurpassed love for us and we walk in holiness, in great awe and fear of HIM, seeking to honor and please HIM in all we say and do.

It is HIS treasure HE offers to us, for it is our safeguard in the Presence of HIS Awesome Glory and Holiness!
 

 

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

When shrouded by a weighty gloom

YOUR Presence lights that dismal room

When groping blindly in suffocation

YOU grip my hands and guide me in patience

 

YOUR voice it stills my panicked mind

Speaks life to my soul that faltered blind

YOUR gaze so warm it pierces me through

YOUR love so strong – YOU hold me in YOU

 

YOU lift me up and bring me out

O how could YOUR power I ever doubt

Never will YOU leave me there

Drowning in my nameless fear

 

Oppressive forces gather round

Like vultures to their bloodlust sound

They do not know to YOU I’m bound

That on YOUR Cross my life is found

 

I will never give up my trust in The Way

Though pernicious evil stalks me all my days

YOU have rendered it powerless – the work of the Cross

YOU’re my Treasure eternal – only my ‘flesh’ will be lost

 

Overcomer! This is YOUR Name

I will not fear, YOU remain the same

My life YOUR image will reflect

YOUR mercy and love I’ll not neglect

 

The carrion birds can circle their prey

Safe in YOUR heart will I always stay

They will never be able to touch my ‘life’

YOU are my Betrothed – I’m YOUR covenant ‘wife’!

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

Humanity is in a battle, an ancient, eternal battle - and our eternal destiny is at stake. For we are the prize being fought so fierecly over. But Oh what joy, our LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST is The Victor! The Cross was a stunning, resounding success - for on its bloodied beams The Precious SAVIOR crushed our ancient foe.

 

Nevertheless, as followers of JESUS The CHRIST, we are daily engaged in an ongoing battle; satan, the father of lies seeks to rob us of our implicit trust in the goodness, grace & power of our Great GOD - he is a master of lies, insinuations, of undermining our confidence in our SAVIOR. If he cannot stop us from following our MASTER and proclaiming HIS Good News, he will do everthing in his (limited) power to divert us, to weigh us down with the cares of this life - in short to render us ineffective! 

 

Oh that we would not find ourselves numbered amongst those CHRIST spoke about in HIS parable of the sower in Luke 8: 13-14 “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; & these have no root, who believe for a while & in time of temptation/testing fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out & are choked with cares, riches, & pleasures of life, & bring no fruit to maturity.”

Instead, let us strive to be those of whom HE says in Luke 8:15 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble & good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.“  

 

The cure, the antidote to this ‘poison’, is simple - it is determined , unwavering confidence & trust in our Mighty GOD. No one can ‘take’ our faith & confidence in our GOD from us - it is we, & we alone, who must ’choose’ to let go of it. Let us make a resolute committment NEVER to slide down that treacherous slope! No matter what gets hurled at us - let us refuse to doubt HIS goodness toward us, & let’s refuse to doubt the promise of HIS word when HE tells us that all things work together for our good because we are called by HIm & we love HIM! (Romans 8:28)

 

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

Can you hear the whisper stir your soul?

Great GOD Almighty is coming to make you whole.

SON of GOD came to earth stripped of glory, helpless babe at birth,

HE trod the path of suffering for those HE imbued with worth.

 

The greatest tale ever told has barely yet been heard,

The grand adventure writ by GOD encased within HIS Word.

Every soul ever born HIS imprint they do bear,

Each and every precious child, the object of HIS care.

 

HE gambled it all for humanities sake,

Impoverished HIMSELF, incomprehensible risk did HE take.

In victory HE conquered our sin and our death,

For HIS love it does reign and is All that is left!

 

Soon HE is returning riding in HIS glory,

To gather HIS own and begin eternities story!

The night it is all but over and done,

The Day is dawning, illumined by The SON!

 

Be watchful, be careful – arise and awake,

Don’t in lethargy your own destiny forsake,

Don’t let compromise your eternal reward steal,

In abandon and passion pursue HIM who is real!

 

Be ready for HIS return, it is nigh,

Without warning HE’ll descend from on high.

Live each moment as if it is your last,

Devoted to The CHRIST, to HIM alone hold fast!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

Isaiah 11:1-5;9-10 “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The SPIRIT of The LORD shall rest upon HIM, The SPIRIT of wisdom and understanding, The SPIRIT of counsel and might, The SPIRIT of knowledge and of the fear of The LORD. HIS delight is in the fear of The LORD, and HE shall not judge by the sight of HIS eyes, nor decide by the hearing of HIS ears; but with righteousness HE shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; HE shall strike the earth with the rod of HIS mouth, and with the breath of HIS lips HE shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of HIS loins, and faithfulness the belt of HIS waist.”  “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all MY Holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of The LORD as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek HIM, and HIS resting place shall be glorious.”

 

This is our SAVIOR, The LORD JESUS CHRIST! And HE is coming back for HIS people - oh that we would be ready and waiting for our worthy LORD! What a glorious future awaits us with HIM - our KING of Glory. A future where lions and calves, cows and bears, wolves and lambs will graze peacefully, side by side, led by a little child - for finally the earth will be full of the intimate knowldege of The Lord. This is our Loving GOD Incarnate - what a Glorious LORD awaits us to share HIS future: HE is wise and understanding, full of counsel and might, of knowledge and of the fear of The LORD (in fact HE delights in the fear of The LORD - so how much more ought we mere humans nurture and develop the fear of ALMIGHTY in our lives!). HE judges not on face value with only the evidence of HIS eyes or HIS ears, but with righteousness, it is a belt that girds HIS loins; the poor and the meek are under HIS protection, but watch out if wickedness is lord in your heart! Faithfulness is so much a part of Who HE is that it is the belt that girds HIS waist! What a GOD, what a SAVIOR - ought not our hearts to burn with longing for HIS Return! Ought not our hearts burn with desire to warn others to be ready for HIM - to be right with HIM; right in heart and right in relationship - reconciled to our SAVIOR, to their SAVIOR (for that is what HE would be!) 

 

The early church understood this hope, this promise, and they lived with their hearts seeking HIS return, scanning the horizon with expectancy - knowing one day soon HE would come back with a shout of glory to rule and reign. How eagerly they anticipated HIS Glorious Appearing; they ‘occupied’ diligently, urgently telling others of the hope of CHRIST that filled their days with purpose, joy and longing; being the hands and feet, the heart and the voice of GOD to all they shared life with.. But they also heeded Paul’s advice to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

They kept a clear head over Who they were living for, Whose Kingdom they belonged to, Who they wanted to please and where their loyalties lay! We are ever nearer to HIS return, how much more we need to heed this advice; to look for HIS coming - not with fear, anxiety or uncertainty, but with hope, longing and joy; and to keep ourselves pure of heart in our devotion to HIM, and our focus unflinching upon HIM, as we woo and warn those about us who may be sleeping, or worse- dead!

 

Ephesians 5:14-16 “Therefore HE says: ‘Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead, and CHRIST will give you light.’ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

“Let me give you a description of the Agape love-feast of GOD, let me tell you what HIS loving, benevolent affection is like – this love that is of HIM and from HIM:

This love has a long temper, not a short wick, it patiently endures and it suffers long – in difficulty and in duration. It’s longsuffering and it doesn’t lose heart; not only that, it’s slow to anger and to punish. It’s a long-spirited kind of love.

It’s also a love that is kind and useful – it shows itself to be useful to others and it acts benevolently.

This love from GOD doesn’t get all hot and bothered, all fired up with wanting what others have. It doesn’t envy and earnestly covet (selfishly and greedily) what others have or are. It doesn’t zealously seek or burn itself out trying to have or to be what others have or are. Nor does this love go around boasting about itself, it’s not a puffed up, self-inflated braggart, nor is it haughty and proud, vaunting itself over and above others.

This love will never be found behaving rudely or acting in any unbecoming or unseemly way. GOD’s love is always comely.

You won’t see Agape love plotting for its own benefit; it won’t seek and strive after its own conceits. It’s not like that, it’s not consumed with itself and it has no desire for, nor does it require ‘What’s in it for itself.’ And it isn’t the kind of love that gets roused to anger or exasperated or provoked by situations or people. It won’t get alongside you and then get all ‘sharp’ – all difficult and dangerous.

It is the kind of love that doesn’t count or number, or estimate and calculate the bad, the injurious, the worthless or even the evil that is done to it. Nor does it take an inventory or keep an account of the lack in others which reveals bad character; or of that which is ill or depraved. In other words this love doesn’t fill its mind and meditate on, or keep a mental list of all kinds of wicked things – even if it suffers as a result of these things.

 

This GOD-like love cannot be full of cheer, happy and calm, it can’t ‘be well’ and it can’t be glad about injustice and unrighteousness, or wrong being done. You won’t find it rejoicing in iniquity or being joyful over lack of uprightness or of not being right in character, act or life. But it can, and does, rejoice together with truth; and with sincerity and integrity of character. It sympathises in gladness with truthfulness – with the truth, unconcealed and manifest; that which is true, the veritable essence of a matter; this it congratulates.

And Agape love holds out and bears up against anything and everything with patience and forbearance. It protects and it preserves and it does this by covering and by keeping off whatever threatens the outworking and demonstration of this special kind of love. It suffers and endures patiently. It puts a ‘roof’ over whatever or whoever needs protecting, and it covers with its silence whatever requires its protection – it doesn’t shame or expose others, even if it has to be the one to endure suffering.

This love entrusts itself to GOD, its well-being to HIM, it is reliant upon and totally committed to CHRIST. This love believes in HIM and places its confidence in HIM – it credits Him with being completely trustworthy. This love also has faith, trust and confidence in others – it believes in them too. That’s the kind of love it is – the kind that believes in GOD, in ‘WHO’ HE is and is persuaded that it can depend and rely upon HIM and the kind of love that believes in the value of others – as GOD does!

And this love is marked by ‘hope’ – the people who love this way, with GOD’s love, are people of hope and expectation. They look to the future with assurance, anticipating it with pleasure and a favourable, confident expectation in all things, for that is what Agape love is like.

It is a love that perseveres and bears up courageously under suffering. You’ll find it staying put and remaining – it doesn’t run from trials and hardships, trying to escape or avoid them. Instead it abides, taking it all patiently as it undergoes suffering. It has fortitude and chooses to stay under the difficulty and burden of trials.

Finally, this love, this Agape GOD breathed love NEVER fails, you won’t find it dropping away, or being driven out of its course. It will NEVER be lost or become inefficient and it will NEVER perish or become powerless or ever be without effect. GOD’s love NEVER ‘falls out of’ love! ….

 

….So this is what I say to you – chase hard after this love, pursue it violently. Be given to this love, to follow after it and to press towards it always. Never give up, focus on it and be consumed by capturing it – this amazing love of GOD, and never let up in your pursuit of it; almost as if you’re ‘persecuting’ it!

 

….For GOD is Love – Agape – loving, benevolent, affectionate. A Love Feast!

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey ….

 

This is the heart of our SAVIOR - LOVE; powerful, self sacrificing, enduring love! So let’s heed the voice of our Great GOD - let’s pursue HIS love in all we say and do. Not the emotional, touchy feely imposter that often masquarades as love, but The FATHER’s love - a strong love that is not afraid to ‘take up its cross’ and lay down its own life, that is fearless, that serves, and a love that speaks the (sometimes) hard truth even if its painful to hear, because it cares more about the person than it does their ‘pride’!

 

1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of GOD; and everyone who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD. He who does not love does not know GOD, for GOD is love. In this the love of GOD was manifested toward us, the GOD has sent HIS Only Begotten SON into the world, that we might live through HIM. In this is love, not that we loved GOD but that HE loved us and sent HIS SON to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another!”

Romans 5:5 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of GOD has been poured out in our hearts by The HOLY SPIRIT Who was given to us.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

Anguish. It is a lonely place,

It isolates, obscuring sight of other’s face.

Blurs ones vision, as you try to run your race,

Sends you reeling like some drunken basket-case.

 

 

Its roots reach deep into your soul,

Threaten brokenness – will you ever be whole?

Heard so often, ‘With the punches in life roll’,

Where is healing for your heart so inconsoled?

 

 

Impatience! In their eyes do they disclose,

And the grief inside of you, it just froze,

Oh their words, ‘Get up, move on’, they slap you round,

You are trying, but someone else they shift the ground!

 

 

Despair and hopelessness – you have they found,

Failure, death and sorrow their grating sound!

If you’ll survive, then you must go to HIM who knows,

To the ONE, who gives you life when HE arose,

For it’s those with broken lives, the ones HE chose!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

Oh the comfort that it brings to know that JESUS - our LORD and SAVIOR, our Heavenly Bridegroom, our Friend, our Brother - our GOD, never turns away from us in tiresome irritation at our struggles, nor does HE shrug HIS shoulders in helplessness, unable or unwilling to help us. HE alone can and will relieve us of our burdens - if we will release them!

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart fail; but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!”

 

HE is full of longsuffering and patience - how blessed are we that this is so! 1 Corinthians 13 - the famed chapter on love, “Love is patient, love is kind ….”, is a description of Who GOD is, of What HE is like, for “GOD is love!” (1 John 4:16b)

 

There are times when we find the ‘ugliness’ of one another (especially if it’s directed towards us) too much to bear, and more than anything we want to run away and be free of them …. we can’t cope with it, and there are times when it is we who are full of ‘ugliness’ and others want to steer a very wide path around us (and we know how much that hurts) … Oh that we would learn to be like our SAVIOR, to stand lovingly and patiently by one another in our difficult seasons … 

 

For our LORD loves us and sticks by us even when there’s much that’s ‘ugly’ inside us. HE doesn’t say, “Yuk, I’m sick of being around you and your stinky attitides. I’m out of here, I want to get as far away from you as possible, I don’t want to get too close to you because I see stuff in you that’s ugly and foul and so far from MY standards and ways - and you’re too dull and blind to even realise it’s there!”

No, instead HE lovingly corrects and challenges us, HE enables us to change and HE pours HIS love in and upon us - therefore when we’re confronted with the ugliness in other’s lives (that they haven’t yet seen or dealt with, or yet ’cleaned up’) HE expects us likewise to stick by them and keep loving them; not to ‘agree’ with what might be wrong, but to show unconditional love and to gently reprove or counsel when and if HE provides the opportunity, and to speak the truth fearlessly in love! We’re not to seek to distance ourselves just because their ‘ugly’ areas may make our life difficult or uncomfortable, or they cost us and cause us pain, suffering or sorrow - GOD sticks resolute by us when we cause HIM pain, suffering and sorrow, and HE desires for us to be like JESUS in conduct and character! (And we are as guilty as each other in our ‘ugliness’ - whereas our faithful LORD and SAVIOR is sinless and perfect, so if anyone has the right to object - it is HE!)

NO, our Great and Gracious, Longsuffering SAVIOR does not abandon us - HE sticks steadfast by our side, enduring our ‘ugliness’ and gently speaks Words of Life to our shattered souls, and through it all HIS purpose and motivation is Love for us, and desire for our wholeness (and holiness!) in HIM!

 

1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

 

The truth is that I need YOU, every moment every day,

The closeness of YOUR Presence, whatever comes my way.

The comfort of YOUR voice as YOUR Word speaks to my soul,

YOUR loving restoration - of all that my rebellion stole.

 

 

The reality is I want YOU, more than life or breath,

Without YOU my world is empty and I have nothing left.

YOUR company it emblazons my deepest darkest hour,

YOUR Light and constant covering; YOU are matchless undimmed Power.

 

 

How could I ever thank YOU for the gift of knowing YOU?

I could not bear a future stripped of fellowship with YOU.

Into my heart YOU see, there is nothing hid from YOU,

I stand before YOU naked, exposed in all I do.

 

 

There is no safer place than sheltered beneath YOUR wing,

Known, uncovered, revealed – in freedom YOUR praises I sing.

No hidden shame that separates, no sin that keeps YOU out,

The redemptive work of Calvary, of YOUR grace O LORD I shout!

 

 

I will not live apart from YOU – an empty lifeless death,

I am desperate and lost without YOU – this I gladly will confess.

How could I ever give YOU, the praise that YOU deserve?

I can never do YOU justice, with my mere spoken words.

 

 

YOU are GOD, YOU’re Creator, FATHER and KING,

To YOU Beloved SAVIOUR a yielded life I do bring.

Every moment, every day, all I do and all I say,

For YOUR will do I live. O Holy GOD have YOUR way!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

We need CHRIST, desperately, more than we can begin to imagine.

We live in a world that worships ’self’ - “I did it my way”, independance. We are so often infected by a world that erroneously thinks that to need others, to need GOD, is a sign of weakness. We live lives of increasing isolation; erecting walls about ourselves of ‘protection’, that only serve to imprison us and keep others out - especially our GOD and CREATOR. 

To know you need GOD is not a weakness, it is a strength. It is coming to terms with the truth - we were created for HIM, to be in right relationship with HIM.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And HE said to me, ‘MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for CHRIST’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

GOD created us for ‘fellowship’ - a word that means connection, intimacy,to know and be known, to see and be seen, to love and be loved. Vulnerability, exposure, risk - first and foremost with our CREATOR GOD, and following a very close second, with one another, for we are one body in HIM. Not independant of CHRIST - but dependant upon HIM, HIS Cross, HIS Grace, HIS forgiveness. Not independant of one another, but interdependant with and upon each other.

 

1 Corinthians 1:9 “GOD is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST our LORD.” 

1 John 1:3,7 “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with The FATHER and with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.” “But if we walk in the light as HE is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON cleanses us from all sin.”

 

Trying to live without JESUS is like trying to breathe without oxygen - in truth we are dead, spiritually dead.

Trying to live without each other is like being a toe yet trying to be the whole body.

 

What an Amazing GOD of love the One True Living GOD is. What joy, meaning, purpose, peace and hope are to be discovered in HIS Presence. We can be so blinded by our pride - our “I don’t need anyone else” mentality. Let the love of GOD in CHRIST invade your inner world, let it blast away the darkness and flood you with HIS Light, HIS Life, HIS righteousness.

And if you haven’t already - discover the wonder of knowing HIM, of being reconciled to HIM through the Blood of CHRIST spilled for us upon the Cross of Calvary.

The joy of HIS matchless Presence is indescribable, irreplacable - eternal and everlasting!