Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
May 2005

“…And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” —Hebrews 11:32-12:1

What’s that In Your Hand?

When Moses had fears for the journey,
God asked him, “What’s that in your hand?”
“It’s only a rod,” said Moses;
But God had a miracle planned,
And marvelous things were accomplished
With that plain and simple rod.
It became an awesome weapon
When fully surrendered to God.

When David faced mighty Goliath,
God asked, “What’s that in your hand?”
“It’s only a sling,” said David;
but God showed him how he could stand
And face unafraid on the hillside
That Philistine nine feet tall.
And soon the giant Goliath
Lay dead from a pebble so small.

To Bunyan in Bedford Prison. God asked,
“What’s that in your hand?”
“It’s only a pen,” John answered.
But led by the Spirit’s command
He penned the book “Pilgrim’s Progress”;
A blessing surviving the years.
So a pen to the Lord consecrated
Has helped conquer doubting and fears.

And still God is asking the question
Of us, “What’s that in your hand?”
It might be a small gift He’s given;
It doesn’t have to be grand,
But if it is used for His glory,
His multiple blessings we’ll know.
And as we surrender to Jesus,
His love and His peace He’ll bestow.

The Death of a Dream

You said to wait, and so I waited,
And saw my dreams come true at last—
Your gift, a son, was all I wanted;
The joy washed clean a painful past—

And as the dream matured each day,
I smiled as he would run and play;
The benefits of faith are great—
But You had something new to say—

“Go sacrifice your only son”—
The order for a dream to die—
And I, the servant of the King,
Must go, and cannot question why.

To walk in faith seems foolishness,
But You have promised faithfully—
I raise my knife to kill my son,
Ensured that You will rescue me.

—Benjamin Graber

Joshua, the Spirit-Filled One

God loves us
Unconditionally,
As He loved
Moses and Joshua,
The son of Nun.

Joshua took
Him at His word.
He believed the Lord’s
Whisper when it he heard.

Joshua accepted
It with no doubt.
He didn’t ask why or
Complain or pout.

Oh! If we could
Be like him.
Joshua,
The spirit-filled one.
We’d grow
In God’s image,
And inherit His kingdom.
Then, we’d depend on His son!

Sweet Manna
Exodus 16:4

I’ve been feasting on sweet manna,
Fed at the a Master’s hand;
As, through His Holy word, I wander,
Seeing what He planned.

I savor each and every morsel
And, in my heart, I ponder, there,
His word to open ~ so I can feed
And understand, through prayer.

He has planned for me a feast,
Held within this book;
To study, to read, and be led by ~
Not just for me to look.

There, within the pages,
How He provides for His very own;
Enough sweet manna, for my journey,
To get me safely home.

Feasting on sweet manna
(Thus, being fed each day),
Open through the scripture.
Hear what they had to say.

Hear how the Hebrew children
Picked manna from the morning dew.
God provided just enough,
Their day to see them through.

I come, seeking Holy manna,
In early hours, to be fed;
Sufficient unto my day,
Strength for what may lay ahead.

I need never go hungry.
There’s manna for my need.
Here, in the morning hours,
On the precious word I feed.

Manna straight from heaven,
As at the Lord’s table I do eat
With His word in my hands.
In sweet communion, thus, we meet.

Bless this holy manna, Lord,
To my life for strength, by measure,
As I feed on this sweet manna;
Into my heart, a glorious treasure.

As I would ask God to bless
My earthly food, each day,
Over this provided manna, also,
I bow my head to pray.

I’m feasting at His table, as the wine
Of knowledge He begins to pour.
Filling, oh, so filling;
This and so much more.

My day is never quite complete
Until I have my daily fill,
Savoring my sweet manna
As I seek my Master’s will.

Sweet manna, heaven’s answer
Written in His word,
Rains down from heaven’s table;
The sweetest thing I’ve heard.

Are you feasting on sweet manna
That is found in the morning dew?
Manna from His table,
He rains down for you.

Sweet manna: God’s supply, food for thought.
It brings comfort, joy, and more;
Sufficient for all your needs and all you hunger for.

EXODUS 16:4
THEN SAID THE LORD TO MOSES,
BEHOLD, I WILL RAIN BREAD FROM HEAVEN FOR YOU. AND THE PEOPLE
SHALL GATHER A CERTAIN MEASURE, EACH DAY. THAT I MAY
PROVE WHETHER THEY WILL WALK IN MY LAWS OR NOT.

Penetrating the Walls

In human wisdom we attack
With spear in hand against the walls
An army couldn’t penetrate,
A giant several stories tall—

So foolishly we cast our lives
On hopeless tries to conquer wrong,
Avoiding all the plans of God
We think don’t seem to quite belong—

Though it might seem foolishness
To walk in circles ’round and ’round,
It’s only when we follow God
The mighty walls go tumbling down.

—Benjamin Graber

And God Promised Noah

And God promised Noah
The four seasons would remain.
Winter, spring, summer, fall
The routine would be the same.

And God promised Noah
He would rule over the land.
All living creatures
Would be controlled by man.

And God promised Noah
Waters would not stretch
Out over the earth again,
To destroy man, nature’s worth.

And God promised Noah
The clouds would be a reminder
Of His covenant with mankind.
The hues of the rainbow He refined.

Finding Wisdom

Wisdom cries out in the street,
But I can’t seem to find her…
Is it true that while I wander
My foolishness will bind her?

Her evasiveness confused
So many who have spied her,
Also, men who know her face
So often have denied her!

I can’t detect her in the street—
I’ll find her home instead!
Following her steps, I find
To God my search has led!

—Benjamin Graber

“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

Visit our web page at http://home.neo.rr.com/thegraberclan/Fts/morethanconquerors.htm to read past issues of “More Than Conquerors”.

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