MY SOUL

My soul has peace like a slow moving river.
My soul has joy like a rainbow.
My soul has hope like a sunrise.
My soul is blessed like a brilliant sunset.
My soul is filled with an ocean of God’s spirit.
My soul has a mountain of happiness.
My soul wants to sing out the glory of God’s love to the world.
All that is within me makes me content and complete in my soul

LOOKING FOR THE EDGE OF THE DESERT

For many years I have trudged across life’s desert barely making it from one water hole to the next.
Often wishing my life would end and just become food for the birds flying above me.
But by some divine intervention I somehow have survived and I am led to one more store of supplies.
After filling my cup once again I am off to seek an end to my lack.
Hoping this time to find a lush valley of abundance just over the next dune.
Topping the hill only confirms my worst fear, more desert.
I work and pray as never before for God to guide me to a land of plenty only to receive more of less.
I have come to the end of myself talking and crying aloud, “make it end, God”.
Somehow I again put one foot in front of the other to march forward in God’s army of faith and service.
I want to break away and run into the hills where there is a shade and green grass and cool flowing streams.
But God keeps me in the heat of battle facing one problem after another and meeting resistance to the goal He has set before me.
I am praying that I will make it through the day and somehow I do.
I have often wondered what it would be like to be free from want. To be wrapped in a cloak of plenty and not have to take it off again.
The years have taken their toll on me and my rough edges have become smooth from many years in the desert.
The dreams of abundance come less often now.
Somehow everything has less of an importance to it.
Just seeing the edge of the desert and knowing that it is there would probably be enough for me now.
Even if I do not reach the place that is thick with sweet grass and honey suckles I will know it is there for someone else and that the path that I took will make it easier for someone else to get there.
God did not tell me that life’s journey would be easy but He did say He would guide me, and He has.
Being in the desert has its rewards and they are treasures unto themselves.
The knowledge and wisdom of the world can only be found where there is nothing else to be found or to distract me.
The faith that is required to keep on going when reason says give up can only be discovered when there is only you and God left . The spiritual being grows its best when there are no material things holding it down.
Walking alone often seems uncomfortable until I became accustomed to it and then I realized that I am truly free to just be and I know that makes me happy.
Looking back across the many years of lack and dry times I see what God has guided me through and of the accomplishments that I have made. Suddenly I start to realize that I was living the in the land of plenty but it is just not what I had envisioned it to be in the beginning. I now accept the way things are and thank God for His mercy

AND THE WINDS OBEY HIM

Storms blow into our lives like hurricanes trying to destroy us or to at least separate us from our faith. We are tossed against others who in turn toss us aside. Our minds spin at the hurt we receive from the ones in which we had placed our trust.
As we rock and reel from side to side looking for a secure place, our faith’s foundation seems washed out from under us. We look and look for our Savior’s hand to cling to but to no avail. He appears to have abandoned us to the wind also.
We cry out his name only to receive more of the world’s rejection and more disappointments. Our tattered souls want no more of the struggles and heartaches that this life has to offer.
We reach out for anything or anyone to rescue us as we give way to the acceptance that our efforts have failed and our life has been lived in vain. Suddenly, we feel a presence of power surround us and the winds of sorrow cease and a light begins to shine upon our face as we truly see for the first time that even in our darkest hour there was someone with us all along.
What was happening to us was not for our destruction but was for our strengthening. What we saw as weakness and despair has truly become our foundation for greatness.
We now praise in the light the one who we once cursed in the dark because we now know that even the winds obey him, and his name is Jesus.

ANOTHER CHANCE

You have seen how your life can be changed in the wink of an eye and that each moment is a gift not to be taken lightly.
Now give back to God what is already his, you.
Only when you give your life to God can he bless your life and make of it something more wonderful and better than you can now imagine.
There is no experience greater than knowing that God is blessing you and those around you.
His love transcends all understanding and will fill you up with peace beyond price.
Once you have felt his joy over flowing your spirit you will realize that you have so much joy that you can now give it to others and still have more than enough for yourself.
You have been given what many people would love to have but can’t have.
Another chance.

BORN GIFTED

I was born with many gifts, some physical, some mental, and some spiritual.
I was born with gift of ignorance so I had to work, read and study hard to learn the knowledge I have gained.
I was born into a family of under achievers so they did not understand my desires, my goals or my dreams. They did not believe in me so I was forced to believe in myself and to look to God for strength and inspiration to go on even when I did not want to.
I was born with the gift of lack which meant that I had very little or nothing at all much of the time so I had to learn to make the best of what I did have.
I was born with the gift of plainness so I had to take care of my health and to make myself as nice looking as possible.
I was born with the gift of laziness. If I were ever to achieve my dreams I would have to overcome the desire to not work.
I was born with the gift of a fluttering tongue, one that never said anything important. I had to learn how to bridle it and to speak only when necessary and to be stilled when not needed.
I was born with the gift of foolishness and unwise decision making. I had to suffer the result of many mistakes and foolish vanities but eventually I learned from those errors and now I make wise choices that bring others and myself great benefits.
I was born with the gift of rebellion. I rebelled against authority, tradition and God. I was put under authority that was not to my liking. I was forced to honor tradition until it became a part of my life and I reluctantly accepted God because he first accepted me as I am.
Everyone is not born as gifted as I am but if you ask God for these same gifts then I am certain he will gladly give them to you.