Sharing from Cherry and On The Write Narrow Path

Please check out http://onthewritenarrowpath.blogspot.com/2010/07/praying-perfect-will-of-god.html  and http://onthewritenarrowpath.blogspot.com/2010/07/where-there-is-no-vision-people-perish.html  so well written and encouraging as Cherry shares her walk with us.

Between these posts you will find this moving poem by her----thank you, Cherry, for letting Jesus shine through you.
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My Cause For Joy     by Cherry Bieber
What bright and glorious thoughts do come
With the knowledge of the Holy One
To rest my cares upon His knee
Setting my eyes on Him and not me
To sing out with joy the music of life
Giving no power to pain or strife
With purpose embracing what lies ahead
Because with Him I've naught to dread
Sweet, the calm that covers me here
Quiet my soul, for my Father is near
Oh, that I could now impart
This message into every heart
Whose path meets mine as days go by
Whose eyes have known much need to cry
That I could say, "Rejoice in Him!"
And shine a light where there's is dim
So as my Lord says, "Regard today"
I will seek to know what He would say
To those who ask me why I sing
May my answer bring glory to my God and King

Before the Morning by Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to feel the things that hurt you?
If there’s a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Or maybe there are things you can’t see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending.
Someday, somehow you’ll see, you’ll see.

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
that you still have a reason to sing?
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
it can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light.
Press on and just fight the good fight.
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
it’s just the dark before the morning.

My friend, you know how this all ends,
and you know where you’re going.
You just don’t know how you’ll get there--
so say a prayer.

And hold on
‘cause there’s good for those who love God,
but life is not a snapshot.
It might take a little time, but you’ll see the bigger picture.

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
that you still have a reason to sing?
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling,
it can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.
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"Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.  O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.  For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Psalm 51:14-17

Praising God for His strength and peace during our agonies and our victories!

Overwhelming

For women, life can sometimes be over-whelming. We naturally have so much on our plates. There is always something to do next, and there is always someone else asking us to do one more thing to fill up our
busy lives.

Probably most of the things we need to do are good things, and so we can justify fitting in the “one more good thing” for everyone else, not realizing that we are actually adding too much to our already chaotic lives.

My purpose for writing this is not to give us all a pass on helping others out.  But from time to time when I am so overwhelmed by the things to do----I finally step back and look at the situations I am in.  I can quickly realize that I am doing too much outside the home--- and so my relationships and my home suffers.

The next decision for us is, what should we pull back from or pull out of?

It is relatively easy to decide to spend less time on the TV, the Internet, etc, but this can be a very difficult decision when dealing with people whom you care about (outside your family).  Sometimes people tend to overwhelm us with things to do for them, but we need to decide when to say, "no".

For me--- this is an on going struggle.  Dear readers, do you have any suggestions?

Meanwhile, let us remember the Proverbs 31 woman.  Let us use her as an example to strive for---not a legalistic measure.  Remember, it is from the LORD that we receive our strength-----and how wonderful to be able to smile at our unknown future while we are trusting Him.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.” Proverbs 31:25

May the mind of Christ, My Savior

We worshipped with this hymn today. I wanted to praise the LORD as I shared it with you!

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

May the mind of Christ, My Savior

By Kate Wilkinson

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
live in me from day to day,
by His love and power controlling
all I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing-
this is victory.

May I run the race before me,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me
as I seek the lost to win;
and may they forget the channel,
seeing only Him.

For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping

"I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.  My eye has wasted away with grief;  It has become old because of all my adversaries. Depart from me all who do iniquity, for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping, the LORD has heard my supplication, the LORD receives my prayer."
Psalm 6:6-9

What joy to know that the LORD loves His children.  He does not turn away, but inclines to hear, to comfort, and to act for His beloved.  We are not alone even when this is how we feel.

Years ago now, a friend showed me the lyrics to a Natalie Grant song which continues to encourage me today.  We are held by the One and Only.  He has not forgotten us in our troubles and pain, but is there with us---carrying us through it.

(part of the lyrics of Held follows)

Held           by Christa Wells

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive.
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell--
we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it and let the hatred numb our sorrows.
The wise hand opens slowly
To the lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive.
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell--
we'd be held.

If hope is born of suffering,
If this is only the beginning,
Can we not wait for one hour
Watching for our Savior?

This is what it means to be held........

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I can attest that the LORD does truly hold us in our great pain and agonies.  Because of Him we can get up and do next things even through great grief.  He is our strength and because of this we can glorify Him when we choose to respond rightly even when we are literally knocked to our knees by this life's troubles.  Allow Him to lift your head when the sacred is torn from your life and live in His strength.

"But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head."
Psalm 3:3

God works even when we are reluctant

Very often in my own fear and reluctance I forget to trust the sovereign God.  Today I read a new post from On The Write Narrow Path concerning trusting the LORD always.  Please take the time to read this wonderful encouragement. http://onthewritenarrowpath.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-only-god-knows.html

"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." Proverbs 25:11 

May each of us look at others differently with great love and compassion from Him.