The Picture

Standing in bedroom last night talking to my wife,
I can see the heartbreak in her eyes.
She had been wanting something for so long and
all signs pointed to it’s coming. She looks at me and asks,
“Why does God not like me?” I tell her right away,
“God loves you more than anyone ever could.”

She says, “Why did He break His promise to me?
I have wanted this for so long and I knew that the Pastor
on TV was speaking to me. I knew it was time.”
I told her, “God does not break promises and trust
His word and not the words of man.” She counters,
“He speaks through people though.”
“Yes He does”, I said, “He may have been speaking to someone else.”

Then she was silent. I have never seen her faith so tested and her heart so torn before.
I then looked up at this very old picture that her Grandmother had given to us.
It was a picture of Jesus with two sheep, one on each side of Him and He was holding a lamb in His arms. I told my wife as I pointed to the picture, “I would do anything to take away your hurt, but only He can repair the tear in your heart.”

My wife looks at me with tears in her eyes and says, “He does not speak to me. He only stands there with that lamb in His arms.” In the most gentle and loving way I could speak to her I said, “Sweetheart, that lamb in His arms is you.”

Christ is The Way Out of Any Issue or Struggle

How many mornings have rolled out of bed and the first thing you do is start to worry about issues that just will not go away? You cannot get around the fact that this or that issue has not been resolved and it just drives you insane!

Why not make your first thought something like, “God has blessed me with this day and He will provide, guide, and support me through any and all situations that arise. He is my Father and I am His child and He will never leave or forsake me.”

We all have our ups and downs, but I have found that when you do not worry and let God have full control over the situation, the problem will take care of itself. Christ said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

So with that in mind, Jesus proclaims that He is the only way to the Father, the only way to Heaven, the only truth, the only way to peace in your life, and the only way to climb out of any struggle you are caught up in. That is reassuring to know that you have a Creator, Mentor, Father, and Best Friend that will walk with you each step of your life.

I find many times that when I start to doubt, that is when things start to get worse for myself. I have banged my head on the mantle of my life so many times, I should be unrecognizable by now. God allows us to struggle at times because it turns our focus towards Him.

We should always focus on God, but as human beings and the billions of distractions that are thrown at us everyday, it can be very difficult. I just know that any and every time I start to lose sight of Christ and His glory, he puts me in my place and lets me endure a hardship that makes me run back to Him flailing my arms and screaming like a little girl 🙂 .

That is the beauty of the love of Christ. No matter how many times we screw up, backslide, or do something stupid, He is always right behind us waiting for us to fall into his loving arms. God knows that we will falter, even before we do so, but He knows our hearts and yearning to become better for the body of Christ as a whole.

God tells us to use the gifts that He has given us and I know that I have wasted so much time not using mine. I am going to change that because I feel that God should not reward someone who is neglecting the gifts given to them. That has been my problem for so long now. I’ve been afraid to use what God has given me to glorify and spread His kingdom. How stupid and selfish am I?

I just know that I love Christ with everything within me. I just want my attitude, persona, and mind to follow to that accord. I have seen many valleys, struggles, (what have you in my time) and God has always, ALWAYS given me a way out.

If you are struggling, hurting, or needing guidance – PRAY. Talk to God as your best friend, as your Father. He already knows what you need, He is just waiting for you to ask for it. Just remember that He will do things in His time, not ours.

We must keep Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior first in our lives. Then He will show us the way out of any struggle that we endure.

My Random Quotes

Sharing a few things that pop in my head from time to time…

“I have no validation. “I” within Christ gives me a valid, meaningful life.”

“I cannot stand love. I cannot stand it to the point that I cannot live without it.”

“I do not give a damn what this world thinks. I only have to please God, so take your hate elsewhere.”

“Through all of my trials and downfalls, He is always right there waiting.”

“It really is amazing how much your ears open when your mouth is shut.”

“If you find that you love yourself more than others, you have sealed your destiny.”

“Pray for this man that fails to stop and tumbles over every cliff.”

“When you find success in faith, you find success in your life.
Just remember your success depends on where your faith is.”

“You don’t need your cake, why have it and eat it?”

“If the words God has blessed me with, brings one soul to Christ,
then it would be the greatest compliment to my life.”

“You have never laid eyes upon me, but I love and pray for you all.”

The Empty Alabaster

The alabaster of my vitality is broken,
and my life is now torn from shreds of despair.
My heart mourns as no words can be spoken
and from this damage, dear God, can you repair?

This anguish, my breath still, shallow,
and my will to persevere is close to end.
That within the confines of your trust I follow
and my soul is yours to bless and renew again.

This tear in my heart is gaping, so painful,
and I pray that you fill it with your light.
My essence is trampled from this burden I pull
and my life needs your armor in this fight.

My alabaster is empty, it’s lost its savor
and these trials bring the depths of who I am.
That God seals my heart with the thread of the Savior,
that my life, and my alabaster will be filled again.

Hope Chest

My hope chest is filled with recollections of my past;
Full of trinkets, lost loves, and portraits of my semblance.
As I rummage and discard items, their meanings now amiss;
I keep safe the treasures of my life’s pleasant remembrance.

The worn letters and memories fade as the days that pass;
To revisit them in full array of colorful splendor they impart.
That time has brought tarnish, but blessed thoughts to cherish;
This hope chest of my entity that resides within my heart.

Stephanie’s Song (This Could Be You)

It is Sunday morning, she weeps at church.
Not a one realizes the destruction, the hurt.
No need to repress, the wells have dried.
Not one can fathom these tears she’s cried.

They are countless, the seas have overflowed.
She cannot quiver this pain no matter where she goes.
She needs to run, to ascend to the sky.
Even there, she knows, she has no where to hide.

She seeks seclusion, the side of the dark moon.
She feels withering; her flower, it no longer blooms.
She just needs to remember when her world goes bad,
He’s the best brother, father, friend that she’s ever had.

Stephanie is beautiful this time of year,
but she only hears what she wants to hear.
Tell her that she is magnificent and wonderful,
she blesses anyone no matter where she goes.

Seasons go forth, seasons relent, she has seen them all.
New life is coming, but with her everything falls.
The glorious twinkle, God’s precious child.
That through her fallings, we still find Stephanie’s smile.