Based on Matthew 8: 19-22
Jesus tells us to follow Him
We say, I will follow You
wherever You go, BUT …
first let me do this
let me do that
and Jesus says,
Let another one do whatever
You Follow Me.
(c) May 29, 2017
May 29, 2017
Will you follow Jesus first every time?
Jesus tells us to follow Him
We say, I will follow You
wherever You go, BUT …
first let me do this
let me do that
and Jesus says,
Let another one do whatever
You Follow Me.
May 23, 2017
Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner?"
Today's devotional reading in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman is taken from Psalm 107, followed by a poem written many years ago by Antoinette Wilson. Following that are my thoughts, based on the same psalm.
"They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses." - Psalm 107:27-28
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner"
Is where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed, and numb?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner,"
Is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember - at “Wits End Corner”
The Burden-Bearer stands.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wits' End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses." - Psalm 107:27-28
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner"
Is where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed, and numb?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner,"
Is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember - at “Wits End Corner”
The Burden-Bearer stands.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wits' End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.
circa 1900s, Antoinette Wilson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We cry out, in anguish,
and the Lord hears
He delivers us from our distresses
Do we thank Him,
shower Him with praise
for His provision, His blessings, His goodness?
or
do we continue to sit in darkness,
now knowing what to do
at our wits end,
and the Lord hears
He delivers us from our distresses
Do we thank Him,
shower Him with praise
for His provision, His blessings, His goodness?
or
do we continue to sit in darkness,
now knowing what to do
at our wits end,
bound in one affliction after another
Do we rebel against God,
against God's word
Are we filled with hatred
and contempt
Do we have no use for God
for His wisdom
Again and again
when it is too much
we cry out,
in anguish,
to the Lord
and the Lord,
who loves us so,
saves us,
heals us
Do we thank Him
shower Him with praise
for ALL He is
Do we really care
how very much He loves us?
Do we rebel against God,
against God's word
Are we filled with hatred
and contempt
Do we have no use for God
for His wisdom
Again and again
when it is too much
we cry out,
in anguish,
to the Lord
and the Lord,
who loves us so,
saves us,
heals us
Do we thank Him
shower Him with praise
for ALL He is
Do we really care
how very much He loves us?
or have you forgotten
He sent His Son, Jesus,
to die for you.
He sent His Son, Jesus,
to die for you.
(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 23, 2017
May 22, 2017
Tormented ... yes, but God is our defense
We are tormented
daily, and more frequently too
Our enemy is everywhere
Do we look to The One
who is our salvation
or are we glued to our own self
trying to make the best of things
laying hope in our fellow tormentor (s)
to come to their senses,
understand the stupidity
of their ways
Tormentors
rejoice
holding themselves higher
than another
are they children of the devil - a fallen angel,
who seeks to destroy
or do they live in a pretend world
where they can hide their own fears
from even themselves
Turn,
turn from the fallenness
you have sunk to
Turn to
the God of Grace
The One
who says,
I AM Your salvation.
Jesus is He.
His words, my pen
to you, to me:
Without Me,
you are nothing.
You have nothing.
You stagger about,
caught up in doing nothing
that is pleasing to Me.
You live to self.
You say you are a believer.
But even the devil believes.
You cry.
Is it I, the Lord, to whom you cry?
Is your trust in Me?
Are you thankful for what I Have Provided?
I AM He
who surrounds you,
who is always with you.
But,
Without your attentive focus on ME,
you will not see
My Ways at work
My Wondrous Glory
you will not notice
My Love for you
you will not hear
My Concern for you
you will not feel
My Comforting Embrace.
Turn from, turn away.
Your purpose for your life
is in Me. Turn to Me.
Turn to Jesus.
Based on Psalm 56:1-11 (I originally read this from the New King James version. Here, God's word is taken from The Message)
"Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do? They don't let up— they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse. They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me. Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people! You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side. I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise GOD. Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?"
daily, and more frequently too
Our enemy is everywhere
Do we look to The One
who is our salvation
or are we glued to our own self
trying to make the best of things
laying hope in our fellow tormentor (s)
to come to their senses,
understand the stupidity
of their ways
Tormentors
rejoice
holding themselves higher
than another
are they children of the devil - a fallen angel,
who seeks to destroy
or do they live in a pretend world
where they can hide their own fears
from even themselves
Turn,
turn from the fallenness
you have sunk to
Turn to
the God of Grace
The One
who says,
I AM Your salvation.
Jesus is He.
His words, my pen
to you, to me:
Without Me,
you are nothing.
You have nothing.
You stagger about,
caught up in doing nothing
that is pleasing to Me.
You live to self.
You say you are a believer.
But even the devil believes.
You cry.
Is it I, the Lord, to whom you cry?
Is your trust in Me?
Are you thankful for what I Have Provided?
I AM He
who surrounds you,
who is always with you.
But,
Without your attentive focus on ME,
you will not see
My Ways at work
My Wondrous Glory
you will not notice
My Love for you
you will not hear
My Concern for you
you will not feel
My Comforting Embrace.
Turn from, turn away.
Your purpose for your life
is in Me. Turn to Me.
Turn to Jesus.
(c) May 22, 2017
"Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do? They don't let up— they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse. They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me. Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people! You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side. I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise GOD. Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?"
May 04, 2017
His way
It is His way
even tho we disobey
He takes away
and gives anew
The storm gathers momentum
We think all is lost
and we are without hope
But the Lord God is the Master
He creates us
from the dust of the ground
and breathes into us Life
We are unique and His much-loved
masterpiece.
even tho we disobey
He takes away
and gives anew
The storm gathers momentum
We think all is lost
and we are without hope
But the Lord God is the Master
He creates us
from the dust of the ground
and breathes into us Life
We are unique and His much-loved
masterpiece.
(c) May 4, 2017
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