Let's Find the Cure

How many times have we sought a cure, how often have we tried to find comfort in things that are other than God?

Life hurts, badly. Many a time we seek comfort for those hurts in things other than God. I have now realized that; that's a sin. To seek comfort in something other than God when we are bruised and battered is wrong, not to mention disappointing.

God created things that give us pleasure, but those things are incapable of giving us contentment. Full satisfaction is impossible without Christ.

Contentment is only achieved knowing this: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

When life doesn't go as planned (or rather for us pessimists; exactly as we expected) we need to turn to the cross.

Bible reading won't "work". It's not a cure. Only Jesus is that cure. You can't do a certain amount of things in a specific order to get yourself to feel better. No, it's realizing that it's okay that you aren't god. Learning to say "not my will but yours." Speak to Jesus, let him speak to you, through his word, yes. But, don't go to the Bible, open it and demand words of comfort. When you come to Jesus you don't deserve anything, not one thing. But Jesus decided to die for you. THAT'S comfort. Rest in that. Know that Jesus loves you, will never forsake you, knows what's best for you, and knows exactly what he's doing in your life... even when you don't.

Slow Down

This chest is full of memories

Of gold and silver tears

I’ll give you more to own than

All of this

And I’ll give you more than years

For you were once a child of innocence

And I see you just the same

Your burdens couldn’t win or

Lose a thing

Oh, I’d tell you once again

But you’re always on the run

Slow your breath down

Just take it slow

Find your heart now, oh

You can trust and love again

Slow your breath down, just take it slow

Find your smile now, oh

You can trust and love again

If you leave I’ll still be close to you

When all your fears rain down

I’ll take you back a thousand times again

I’ll take you as my own

I would sing you songs of innocence

‘Til the light of morning comes

‘Til the rays of gold and honey cover you

In the sweetness of the dawn

But you’re always on the run

You’re not alone

You’re now a part of me

You feel the cure

I’ll feel the toil it brought you ~Future of Forestry

Dreamscape

From a friend who is writing for our churches College and Career class, loved it so much I asked him if I could post it. It sorta reminds me of "Trust You":

[A young man's dreamscape. Out of the blackness there comes a Voice.]

You stand alone
Or so you are told
Or so you say
But that is not so
I have chosen you
Though you are fallen
Though you have much sorrow
You are not through

[The young man sees his past. Empty and void. A meaningless existence where his sole purpose was to fulfill his own ambitions]

You were alone
You were dead
You were a slave
You were undone
You were adrift
You were depraved
The rebel against Me
The one who mocked Me

[More past experiences replay themselves in front of his eyes. All his past failures. The broken family. The corrupt friends. The ruined lives. The late nights.]

But this was not the end for you
There was more in life you had to do
I had a plan
I had a path
And so I pulled you up out that pit
I gave you a new soul and spirit

[The young man travels along through his past after his transformation.]

From broken to banished
I will give you a new family
Your old friends have vanished
I will give you friends to last eternity
Your life was aimless
I will give you goals to achieve
Your spirit was shattered
I will reforge it, and restrengthen it

[The man has visions of what may lie ahead. He is scared. He knows that it will be difficult and has doubts about his ability to accomplish his tasks. But the Voice speaks again.]

Yes you are right
This will not be an easy fight
The darkness is strong
It has a will, malevolent and deep
The darkness is cunning
And will not be broken easily
It is strong, a cancer to all
And often it may seem hopeless to fight on

[The young man wakes up. It is morning. The Voice speaks to him again, a feeling of warmth and peace around him.]

But there is one thing the darkness cannot defeat
And this is My power over darkness
And this is My command to you
Love will be the darkness' defeat
Love is a movement
Love is a revolution
The redemption, as I loved you
The innovation, as by it I have changed you
Love is a candlelight in the dark
For all to see, near and far
You are to be that light
Go now, forgiven and strengthened by My might

A Friend

A Friend ...

Accepts you as you are.
Believes in you.
Calls you just to say "hi."
Doesn't give up on you.
Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
Forgives your mistakes.
Gives unconditionally.
Helps you.
Invites you over.
Just likes being with you.
Keeps you close at heart.
Loves you for who you are.
Makes a difference in your life.
Never judges you.
Offers support.
Picks you up.
Quiets your fears.
Raises your spirits.
Says nice things about you.
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
Understands you.
Values you.
Walks beside you.
X-plains things you don't understand.
Yells when you won't listen.
Zaps you back to reality.

Mark Lowery