Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
February 2004 Part 1

“[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” —Colossians 1:15-17

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”—Psalm 127:1-2

Mankind was created with a desire for purpose in life. A desire to be something more than the dust we came from. And in the history of the world we have looked for fulfillment in many different ways. We look for fulfillment in pleasure, in fame, and in power, but none of these bring lasting value.

The one and only place where fulfillment will be found is in the All-in-All, the One who by His very nature IS fulfillment to life—the all-powerful, all-present Living God. When we seek for fulfillment and purpose within ourselves we will wither away, but when we find our purpose in the will of the Creator we find ourselves part of an eternal plan that extends way beyond our time on this earth.

So today when you look for life to have value, turn not to pleasure, or to fitting in with the crowd, or to fame or money or power, but turn to Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Only through Him will you find purpose to life.

“It is only in God that the soul has room. In knowing Him is life and gladness. The secret of your own heart you can never know. But you can know Him who knows its secrets. As the world of delight surrounds and enters your bodily frame, so does God surround your soul and live in it. To be at home with the awful source of your being, through the childlike faith which He not only permits, but requires, and is ever teaching to you, or rather seeking to rouse up in you, is the only cure for such feelings as those that at any moment trouble you. Do not say it is too high for you. God made you in his own image, therefore capable of understanding him. For this final end he sent his Son, that the Father might with him come into you, and dwell with you.” —George MacDonald

To One Unsatisfied

When, with all the loved around thee,
Still thy heart says, “I am lonely,”
It is well; the truth hath found thee:
Rest is with the Father only.

—George MacDonald

Suns

Sadness pulls my heart from me—
All is pain and vacancy—
Around me flows a misty sea
Of anguish bent on scalding me—

What is this ground I’m standing on?
What care I if I see the dawn?
Why should a weary foot go on
If the journey stays so hard and long?

Another tear on another face—
Why must I wallow in this place?
I forget the smell, the very taste,
Of what it’s like to feel a grace—

Then suddenly the Suns arise—
With blinding glory in my eyes—
All is pure, and all is light—
A bold and dauntless burning white—

What right had I to doubt Your name?
Your grace has always been the same—
And I exist—my voice, my pain—
Because for me Your glory came—

—Joanna Spencer
© Joanna J. Spencer. Used with permission.

When He Grasped

The storms that sore afflict my boat
Surround me.
This tempest upon which I float
Will drown me.
I roll about and scream and shout,
“Someone help!”
But see, the waves will drown me out.
My strength melts.
I grasp and grab whate’er I see.
Naught will hold.
I whirl about desperately
For control.

Say! through the spray I see His face
Come calmly.
His quiet and undaunted pace
Alarms me.
He calls my name and draws near still;
I’m frantic.
I quail, unsure of what He wills,
I panic.
And all at once my boat shatters
Before Him.
All I’ve trusted no more matters;
I must swim.

But I have no strength left: I’m weak
And sinking.
The billows smother me I shriek
Still sinking...
And all at once I feel a touch,
Then I’m pulled.
I can’t resist. I’m wearied much
From the cold.
His pierced, once-bleeding, nail-marred hands
Carry me.
He lays me softly on the sand:
So gently...

I fear no more His steady gaze.
I gaze back.
His look chides me, as if it says,
“Faith you lacked.”
I sorrowfully hang my head
And I weep.
He simply says, “Trust me instead.
You’re my sheep.”
Before Him like a once-lost lamb
Myself cast.
I ne’er again mistrust His hands
And their grasp.

—Samuel Popiel

What Really Matters

We left the pastures long ago,
It’s been a while since rain came down—
And though sometimes we’ve suffered thirst,
And longed for grass that isn’t brown,
I know it really hasn’t mattered…

As long as you are with me, Jesus,
Your water springs from every stone,
And though my body may be dying
No need my spirit’s ever known!
And nothing else will really matter!

We’re walking down the narrow path,
And with each step I have to die,
But oh, the joy of every step,
’Cause as I learn to self deny
I just get closer every day
To everything that really matters!

—Benjamin Graber

A Warrior For God

People today long to find worth.
Some people turn to fame, to pleasures.
They look for satisfaction in many ways.
By turning to power, and to treasures.

But some people already know
The only way to find purpose—
The One and Only Way—
Is by turning to Christ Jesus.

By becoming a warrior for God—
Willing to give your life for another
A warrior for God—
Aiming to honor fathers and mothers.

A warrior for God—
Ready each day to do battle and to fight
A warrior for God
A person in search of not wrong but right.

A warrior for God—
Freely giving all God’s given to you
A warrior for God—
Turning to The Only One that is True.

A warrior for God—
Loving each person without regard
A warrior for God—
Loving even though it’s sometimes hard.

A warrior for God—
Dedicating your life to get the job done
A warrior for God—
Following our All in All, God’s only Son.

So how will you find your worth?
By turning to fame, to pleasures?
Will you look for satisfaction in many ways?
Turn to power, and to treasure?

Or will you be a warrior for God?
Find your fulfillment in our Risen Lord?
I beg you, my friend, be a Warrior for God.
Make your choice today—it’s not to be ignored!

—Terra Mandrell
© Terra Mandrell. Used with permission.
http://members.tripod.com/tmgardengal/home page.htm

When God Draws Close

In the still hours of the night,
When all the world is sleeping,
Many souls are in despair ~
In the darkness softly weeping.

Some are gripped by loneliness,
Missing loved ones gone.
Life doesn’t seem worth living.
It’s a struggle to carry on.

Others are fighting harsh pain,
Crying out for relief.
They try to keep on praying.
But, it’s hard to hold on to belief.

Yet, it’s in the darkest hours,
Until the morning light.
God draws close, to those who suffer,
In the stillness of the night.

He longs to give them comfort,
Take every pain away,
Enfolds them in His loving arms
’Til the night turns into day.

© 2004 by Marian Jones
Used with permission
http://www.geocities.com/marians_words_of_life/homepage.html

The Goal

In God alone, the perfect end,
Wilt thou find thyself or friend.

—George MacDonald

Foot on Earth

How could the stones hold their breath?
How could the birds hold their song?
How could the dirt hold itself to the ground
As God in the flesh walked thereon?

Why didn’t the stars twinkle tunes?
Why didn’t the grass leap and praise?
Why didn’t Earth burst forth song as He stood—
Why didn’t the sun shine all day?

For why else do the birds breathe and fly?
Why else does the grass bloom and grow?
Why else do the stars glitter up in the sky,
Except for our Lord Christ to know?

And why should I not twinkle tunes?
And why should I not leap and praise?
And why should I not burst forth full in song?
For the He is what fills up my days!

—Joanna Spencer
© Joanna J. Spencer. Used with permission.

Eternal Gifts

Leaving His infinity
He grasped our weak mortality,
Enduring human pain and grief
To bring eternity to me.

Giving us a place to live
Beyond the worthless dust we hold,
Holding warmth and comfort out
If we but choose to leave the cold!

He has paved a path for us
If we, mere men, decide to go;
His eternal love to guide—
Oh, why do we hesitate so?

—Benjamin Graber

Who Shall Deliver Me?

God strengthen me to bear myself;
That heaviest weight of all to bear,
Inalienable weight of care.

All others are outside myself;
I lock the door and bar them out,
The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.

I lock my door upon myself,
And bar them out; but who shall wall
Self from myself, most loathed of all?

If I could once lay down myself,
And start self-purged upon the race
That all must run! Death runs apace.

If I could set aside myself,
And start with lightened heart upon
The road by all men overgone!

God harden me against myself,
This coward with pathetic voice
Who craves for ease, and rest, and joys:

Myself, arch-traitor to myself;
My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe,
My clog whatever road I go.

Yet One there is can curb myself,
Can roll the strangling load from me,
Break off the yoke and set me free.

—Christina Rossetti

Just Jesus

The only thing that matters, this very day,
It is the One that I need to hear me pray.

‘Just Jesus’ is the only one that can forgive my sin.
That is the way that my prayer life began.

‘Just Jesus’ loved me enough for me to have eternal life.
That brings me much comfort as I kneel to pray,
Knowing He cares what I have to say.

‘Just Jesus’ can guide me and keep me safe;
As I stroll trough another day,
Hoping not to make too many mistakes.

‘Just Jesus’ is enough to turn the frown into a smile,
When I think of the price He paid and is alive.

‘Just Jesus’ can fill the emptiness that often comes my way.
He holds my hand and comforts me through the fears of dismay.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:35, 37

If you have any comments or questions, or if you have a poem to share, please send an e-mail to bgraber@neo.rr.com

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