The Comforter

Lord, will you take the pieces of my life and make them into something beautiful. I can't always see the design you have in mind for me, and that's okay, even though sometimes it doesn't feel okay.

In my heart I know the pattern you make will be just right for my life. Lord, some of the pieces of my life are wonderful and bright and I love those pieces. I wish every square of my life-quilt could be like that.

But some of my squares are ragged, faded and tear stained, and some speak of dark days when I wondered if there was any pattern at all to my life.

As I look back I see that you took those pieces and stitched them into place with stitches that were brighter and lovelier than the rest.

Lord, I want my life-quilt to be useful as well as beautiful. Not just something for people to admire but something to wrap the cold world up snug and cozy. I want my life-quilt to be called by one of Your most precious names, "The Comforter."

So Lord, will you take the pieces of my life and make them into something beautiful for You.

Anon

Precious Gifts From The Heart

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows. Consider it pure joy, my dear ones, whenever you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be complete not lacking anything, If you lack wisdom, ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault.
James 1: 17, 2-5

Lord, I wish for roses,
Perfuming my day.
For, walking on a petal strewn path
Would be such a happy way.

But, I find I don't have all I wish;
At least not, yet, awhile.
For, would You be desiring something better,
Found through a deeper trial?

Do you keep me from knowing all,
For, too much I'm unable to contain?
Are You showing me there's greater joy,
In learning faith through pain?

Are You letting me know a darkness,
So I will seek Your light;
To search until I find You, as the door,
To escape the gloom of night?

Will You allow me these limitations,
So I can learn the more,
Just as a jewel will shine
When tumbled to remove a flaw?

In new challenges that descend,
Shall I find You of a truth?
Will I learn, then, how to trust Your love,
Rather than all I can and cannot do?

Would You let me struggle,
To find the answers You can give?
And, if I ask, will You bestow the wisdom
That I will need to live?

For, if things don't come my way,
Will I learn a grateful heart;
To enter into a real joy,
For contentment that will last?

Is this key of gratitude,
What turns the bad things into good,
So that troubles become a blessing;
To grow just as I should?

For, life is such a journey
Where I may feel betrayed.
But, what understanding will I learn for others,
That are crying in the shade?

If it wasn't for the times
I learn my God is near,
I wouldn't know where to find the strength;
With faith to persevere.

For, everything I cannot know
Gives me so much to learn
And all the things I don't have, yet,
Become an expectant hope to yearn.

So, take me on Your path, dear Lord,
With Your roses, all the way.
Shower me with the loving gifts
That You have planned, today.

Give me, from Your heart of love,
All that You say to give away.
Shall I, then, thank You
For the heartaches, Lord?
For, they are really Your bouquet.

Anon

Stepping Stones

The Lord came to me like a dream one day and asked, "why do you sorrow?"
I answered, "Lord my life is so full of pain, I can't face one more tomorrow."

The Lord sat down beside me, and gently took my hand.
He said, "Let Me explain to you, and then you'll understand.

Each sorrow is a stepping stone you must surmount each day,
And every stepping stone you climb is a sorrow that's passed away.

The road of life is a mountainside, with crevices in which to be caught,
But as you struggle on your way, I, the Rock, will lend support.

Every stepping stone you climb, makes spirit and heart grow strong.
Exercising character and faith, this road seems painful and long.

The way is paved with stepping stones, to uplift your heart and soul,
Though difficult, they aid your way, to a City paved with gold.

I know that you are tired, for I too have walked this way,
My sorrows did they multiply, but I cleared many stones away.

I left My Rock to lift you up, I left behind My story.
To give you strength to make your climb, to that special place in glory.

And never fear, the Rock is here, you'll never climb this mountain alone,
Surmount life's sorrows, continue on, for they are but stepping stones.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

The Butterfly

A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther.

The man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. Something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the small opening of the cocoon are God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Not only that, we could never fly!