and you’re tired and weary and  can’t see the end,

                                Hold on!

When the dream you had seems tattered and gone,

you can’t turn back and can’t move on,

                                 Hold on!

when all you held dear is left far behind

and all you seek you can’t seem to find,

                                 Hold on!

God knows your struggle, your heartache and pain,

the tears that you shed are never in vain.

                                 Hold on!

God’s grace is sufficient…he’ll cause you to stand.

The Lord walks beside you and offers his hand.

                                Hold on!

*from: Faith Lifts: When Life Lets You Down  by Gayle Ottemiller

“Forgive as you have been forgiven.”

Fighting to shut out these words

I remind God what pain cannot forget.

“Must I?”

Wounds too deep to voice still weep;

beside that sea of tears, salt pillars rise.

Revenge would reply: “I can’t forgive.”

But God said I must.

“Father, forgive.”

Jesus’ words flow from the cross.

Words to me, through me…

and one more prisoner is set free.

Undoubtedly he had reasons

he had to see believe.

How do you believe impossibility?

Peter denied You…

I know how that feels.

Sometimes you must deny

just to deal with life, and death.

That’s reality.

But Judas?

Lord, he betrayed You!

Am I akin to him too?

Say it isn’t true!

As people gathered, folding chairs waited in rows facing the small staging area. The chairs filled up quickly. As I was deciding to leave, a ballerina walked on stage and began warming up. Her demeanor and grace compelled me to stay. Heading for the one empty chair nearby I realized someone behind me needed a seat more and I stepped back out of the way.

Soon I was seated in an old wheelchair without arms or leg rests. The tires were not firmly attached and every so often the chair would unexpectedly roll forward and hit someone, or a wheel fell off and needed to be reattached.

As I struggled with the chair, a woman approached carrying many small colorful packages. She handed them to me and I began to sort them by size, shape, and color, but just couldn’t get it together. Stacks fell over and boxes dropped left and right. I thought, “What in the world am I doing here? I can’t move around without causing a problem, can’t hold on to anything, can’t do anything right! Why in the world am I here?

Turning to leave the room I spotted a young man seated nearby. He was in tears and began telling the long, sad story of his life. “But I’ve been watching you,” he said. “You gave up a seat to one in need. You’ve kept on in spite of the obstacles surrounding you, things not of your doing; things that have been unexpectedly handed to you. Why?”

As my eyes were taken off of my problems and on to his need, the answer became clear. It wasn’t about the obstacles or problems, or the way I handled things (or not). It wasn’t about the plans I thought I’d missed or messed up, or how many times I fumbled the task, or how it looked to others.

It’s about God at work in you and me; about him building his character in us, the character of Jesus. It’s not about us at all, but about Him. It’s not about who we are, or what handicaps or gifts we have, or how many times we fail, or how many prizes we’ve won.  It’s about God and his plans for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Look to God in faith and expectation. Put your hope in him. He will not fail or disappoint.

                                                                            Gayle Ottemiller – 2/21/13

wandering,

stream-side pondering

waves of “Why?”

and wiser ways of God.

Alone.

Looking past so many blessings

near at hand

I couldn’t/wouldn’t understand

how God would ever love me.

Alone.

Rock skipping promises,

suddenly I saw it there

a perfect, heart-shaped stone.

The message God laid at my feet

was clear: “I am always here…”

And grace set sail

my heart of stone.

 *from Faith Lifts: When Life Lets You Down  (Winepress) 2010

Determination is a young paraplegic man crossing the finish line of a 10 mile marathon using only his arms to operate an adapted bicycle.

Determination is the young woman with cancer who vows, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” as she enters a third round of chemotherapy.

It has been said the Christian way is a marathon, not a sprint. We are in this for the long run, the duration of our lives; by faith we will finish the race. God, who began the good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. By His grace and in His strength we can face any challenge this year may bring and stand victorious at the finish line.

We will do so by steadfastly fixing our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith, obediently following His instructions as we study the Word, and facing all things with an attitude of gratitude for Christ’s finished work on the cross.

cast and crew mobilized.

As singers warm up

hallelujahs arise.

The audience gathers

hearts open wide,

the Word goes forth

God’s Son has arrived!

Jesus, for one brief moment
I saw you as a tiny babe
Cradled in my arms…
A thought so startling, so new
I turned away.
A more familiar view…
You stand at the door and knock.
“No room here,” I say.
but you pursue until I turn around,
and now You hold this child
in your arms for all eternity.

clarion call…

shepherds sign.

One star shining bright

led three wisemen

through the night.

One promise, Fathers Word

Spirit breathed

Son secured.

One savior Jesus Christ,

humbly born

one silent night.

One life freely given

one way provided;

sin forgiven.

Every single snowflake,

each simple drop of dew.

 A new-born baby’s cry,

and a kitten’s mew.

Thank you.

For each infinitesimal grain of sand,

your whispered “I love you.”

For things surpassing our imagination

like points of refracted light

bound in radiant bows

thrown across the sky.

For hummingbirds flight fantastic;

bumblebees that should not fly but do.

Father, most of all,

for your most amazing grace

Thank you.