Thoughts for Life: I Prayed that God Would Take Away

I prayed that God would take away

The pain that I was in
And then I prayed that He would also
Take away my sin

For in my mind I knew that I
Would blameless live for Him
If only all the pain was gone
That kept me in my sin

But then my patient Lord prepared
A path along the way
A very special detour
Where I could learn to pray

Not for the one I call myself

And all my special needs

But for the precious soul for whom

The blood of Christ still pleads

And then the more I prayed for them

The less I felt my pain

And every thought was prefaced with

The thought of Jesus's name

For as I read within God's word

The life that Jesus lived

I realized the more that He

Had suffered just to give

A pure example born of God

Of what we ought to be

Until at last He gave His all

And died upon a tree

And as I read these words to me

Of all Christ's suffering

I found a precious promise that

His Word is offering

That if I will allow Him to

He'll daily take my hand

And lead me through the obstacles

That block the promised land

The obstacles of my own will

That have control of me

And block the vision that the Lord

Desires I should see

The vision of a holy place

Where all is fresh and new

And every pain I ever had

Fulfilled its purpose to

Prepare my heart to love Him most

When He does come again

To cleanse the world of every pain

Eradicating sin

And then as I will see Christ's smile

And feel love's warmth in me

I'll thank Him for the way we came

Through every travesty

So do not be discouraged friend

Though life may seem severe

Just hold by faith His precious grace

That He has offered here

And trust that He does love you more

Than you can love yourself

And will provide your deepest needs

When you have lost all else

And when at last that trumpet sounds

You'll shout in victory

And thank the Lord for all He's done

To set this captive free

2 Corinthians 12:9 & Philippians 4:19

Lee Forbes

June 4/15

Father,

I need to be more compassionate. Please help me

see the pain in the lives of others. The more I

pray for them, the less I feel my pain. Show me how

to comfort others by letting them hear You in the

words I speak. Let them feel Your love in the way

I treat them. Let them see You in me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Today’s quote: Mary Southerland - "If we can’t prevent pain,

we can at least lessen the load with compassion. Allen Redpath wrote, 'You can never lighten the load unless you have first

felt the pressure in your own soul.' To develop compassion,

we must be willing to feel the pain of others, responding

as if it were our own."

Today’s Bible verse: Jer. 30:17 "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds."

Some thoughts today: Once we are saved, we will begin to love things. Everything will begin to have a beauty we hadn't seen before, especially God's creation. The Spirit of God will give us new impulses.

- When old thoughts come up of old ways, we're not to feed into those thoughts. We are to walk in newness of life, and reprogram our minds to think God's thoughts, as we learn of His ways. (Eph. 5:10, 17).

- Be sure to find a Bible-believing church to fellowship with believers, and to receive teaching from God's Word. Don't allow your frustrations in life keep you from attending. Pray you'll find help and hope there.

Only Jesus

"Who knows each moment how you feel?

Whose love for you is always real?

Who cares for you and guides your way?

Who holds your hand so you won't stray?

Jesus!

Who's there when others turn their backs?

Who helps you get your life on track?

Who always wants to be your friend?

On whom alone can you depend?

Jesus!

Who's there for you both day and night?

Who soothes your pain and makes things right?

Who walked the road to Calvary

And gave His life, so you’d be free?

Jesus!

Who is Our Savior and Our King,

Our Counselor-Our Everything?

Only Jesus!"

By Frances Gregory Pasch

Double Vision: Seeing God in Everyday Life through Devotions and Poetry

Published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.

(Used by permission)

devotions and poetry

9/1st- Tuesday’s post: #91 Spiritual Mapping in the Bible

C. Peter Wagner

3rd- Thursday's post: #92 Mapping Guadalajara

C. Peter Wagner

5th- Saturday's post: In a Moment

James H. Cagle

6th- Sunday evening's post: Come, Loving father

Debbie McEwen

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