What Are You Doing Today?

Are you in prison, or even in a dungeon, perhaps? Where are you in your mind, your heart, your spirit? Do you feel trapped, overwhelmed, pressured, frantic, lonely or in despair? Does it feel like no one understands, and maybe they don't either because of problems of their own? Do you feel like you have no one to turn to and every time you move forward you hit against a brick wall or a tangle of thorns? You're facing darkness, which causes frustration, a hopeless feeling while seeing no way out. "Someone put the lights out in the tunnel, but it wasn't me," you say. I've gone through that, too. Maybe not to the extent some of you have, but I know what it is like to be in a fog, in emotional distress, so may I offer you a hand to hold? Oh, my, I feel so inadequate to get my message across! I know there are folks out there who are suffering, they are part of the Broken Hearted Anonymous Communities and are on the fringes of life. I'd reach out my hands imploringly "let me help you, let me help carry your burden," but I am so inadequate. But, fortunately, there is hope. Even though those of us that care feel so helpless to do enough, there is someone who can help. Have you met Jesus? Do you know that He is the dearest, most faithful Friend of all? Did you know He is the great Burden Bearer, the Healer? Do you know that He is reaching out to comfort you? Did you? He wants to remove all those worries, vices, and what not all that you are carrying, replace them with His love and His peace then hold you close to His bosom. Did you know that? Will you let Him do it? I know, it takes a step of faith, but you can trust Him, I promise. I found out for myself. I promise, you can trust Him, and when you are ready to start walking again, he will take your hand if you let Him, He will guide you through the dark valleys, the storms and the desert. Trust Him. I know it's true because He did it for me. And oh, here's a great post-script. When you walk hand in hand with Him long enough, you will discover that as one song says 'there is joy in the journey, good times in the going.' In all their afflictions He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them and He carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 Afflicted: Troubled, Suffering, Hurt, Tormented, Plagued, Stricken, Aggrieved, Distressed

Fog-Bog

The fog was thick like walls around
Impen'tratable and deep
And there was I so sick and sore
And too inclined to weep.

But move I must so slowly walked
With weary feet and mind,
The trail was slanting lower still
But I was feeling blind.

How long I plod this downward trek
I cannot think or say,
I longed to feel a hand in mine ,
A Guide to lead the way.

I dimly knew that God was kind
And won't forsake His own
But demons taunted in that mist
Which made me sigh and groan.

Yet when I felt all hope was gone
And I had lost the road
I weakly said "I'll not give up"
I'll trust in Christ my Lord. 

POST SCRIPT:
I'm standing now on Blessings' Peak
(An angel brought me there.)
Rainbows of hope swirl all around
The Lord God answers prayer.
Marilyn Friesen

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When Saying Sorry isn't the Answer

Thank you Google plus for the lovely image.

 Aylett had been clinging to the feet of the King every blessed minute since returning to the Glass Castle. How he had patience with her, I now not, but she said ‘sorry’ countless times without feeling the desired peace and joy she had known formerly.

                One day Iris beckoned to her.

                “Come with me, you have been holed up in the castle too long and your face has grown wan and sad.”

                Aylett gazed anxiously at the King and communicated silently with Him. Is this the voice of the tempter?

                Go and my Presence will be with thee. Aylett could hardly believe her ears. She looked at Iris but could tell she hadn’t heard the secret message. She looked worriedly at the King but He seemed to be smiling in approval, so hesitantly followed her friend into the bright, clean out of doors.

                The guard spoke jovially to them as he lowered the sky tram and wished them a good day.

 Aylett bit her lip and wondered why he didn’t caution them against straying from the Path of Righteousness.

                After they  had walked awhile, Iris remarked that the road was much smoother than the last time they had gone for a jaunt.

                “Oh, I,I  hadn’t even noticed,” Aylett stammered, “I was too busy looking for snakes.”

                “Oh don’t worry about the snakes,” Iris linked her arm into Aylett’s. “We sounded the alarm loud and clear with our shrieking last time and the workmen have been busy upgrading the road ever since. The chance of even seeing a snake is one in a million."

                “And it would be me that would trip on it,” Aylett  sighed woefully.

                Iris turned to face her friend squarely. “What ails you, my friend,” she asked? “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

                Aylett hung her head, and scuffed her toe against the rocks.

                Iris lightly touched her shoulder. “C'mon, you can tell me.”

                When Aylett’s  tears started to flow  Iris brushed them away with hr hanky then handed it to her petite companion.

                “Is it because we went to the Enchanted Forest?”

                Aylett nodded, “I feel so bad…”

                “Aylett, do you know that isn’t really the Enchanted Forest? This whole area belongs to the King of Love. The guard told me that one day."

                Aylett’s eyes widened with an amazed ‘are you kidding me’ look. “Then why did we get lost? Why did the insects pester us so?”

                “Because we went on our own, we didn’t follow our guide; because we lingered too long.”

                Aylett took a deep breath. “Are you wishing to go again?”

                “Only if you want to. I think you should try to get over your fears.”

                “It takes a lot of faith to, to step over that stile and enter that site once again. I don’t know if I am brave enough.”

                “Here we are. Doesn’t it look beautiful in the light of the rising sun?”

                Aylett nodded uncertainly.

                “Let’s use our charming whistles and ask for a guide.”

                They both did so but Iris privately thought that Aylett blew harder and longer than was strictly necessary on the delicate instrument.

                Almost immediately Aylett saw a glimpse of shining wings that reassured her and seemed to be showing them what path to take. Iris didn’t receive any physical assurance of His Presence but neither did she need it.

                As the day grew warmer, Iris was pleased to notice that Aylett was cautiously at first, but then more freely shedding her fears.

Because they were attentive to their guide they had lots of fun, made some new friends who were pleasant and cheerful, and all around had a good time.

                When the Guide beckoned them to come back to the Castle because it was growing late, it was Aylett of all people who wasn’t quite ready.

                “We don’t want to get lost like last time,” Iris said half-jokingly.

                “Oh, no, no,” Aylett exclaimed and skipped over to join her chum.

                The path through the darkening forest was beautiful and inviting, and Aylett felt safe following the now visibly glowing presence of their guide.

                “Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,” They sang and faintly in the distance could hear the other girls join in,

                Anywhere, anywhere, fear I cannot know, Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.”

Notes:

How do you like this addition to the story? Were you disappointed with how part one ended? If so why or why not? Does this seem like a realistic example of what Christian life could or should be like?

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Are You Carrying Too Much?

Hey, did it ever occur to you that you might be doing it all wrong? Okay, I’ll correct that, maybe it’s only me that is mistaken.