You’ll Never Be Alone

Written as I am nursing a yucky cold, can’t sleep, lost my voice, realizing that we’re only ¼ of the way done with Paul’s treatment plan, have to sleep in the guest room because I don't want to infect him, tired & discouraged, and wishing we could be done with it already. Where’s the fast forward button? (yea ..I know…Serious pity party! and I'm the only guest!)
Praise God that He never leaves me to myself!

When you’re in the valley of the shadow of death,
It seems like the journey will last forever;
You almost feel like a change of scenery
Will never happen, never.
The song that used to fill my heart
Is nowhere to be found.
Instead it’s a faded distant hum
No pleasure in its monotonous sound.

I look far into the horizon and
Wish the end would quickly come.
Yet the difficult path in which I tread
Can only be walked and never run.
“But running is so much faster,
is quicker, don’t you see…
Can’t I just run through?
It would be much easier for me!”

Yet the jagged rocks and cracks
Will surely bring me down
And longer in this valley,
I will have to stay around.
For the valley is dark and cold
And there’s no end in sight:
"I hate feeling stuck,
I hate it with all my might

“Look! Many are able to roam about
On those lush plains so free,
They bask in the sun and
Carry on so merrily.
They think, live, and do
without one single thought..
of fear, of illness,
or of suffering loss.”

“Listen, my child, I know you’re tired
And your heart is growing weary,
Sit down here for awhile;
Don’t be in such a hurry!
Let me wipe away your tears
And take away all your frustrations;
Let me hold you close
And remove all your aggravations.”

“I have so much to show you
In this valley that you would not see,
Unless I lead you carefully,
Unless you walk with Me.
Treasures in the darkness
To you I shall unfold.
Yes, child, I know it’s dark,
But don’t let go of My Hold!”

“I’ll teach you how to move through the night,
And trust My eyes instead of yours.
You will not falter one fatal step;
Just trust Me on this rocky course.
I’ll point out all the beauty that abounds
In this valley that you dread.
Vastness of riches, beauty untold
Pleasures for you I’ve prepared!”

“The fragrance you smell that is so sweet
Is not coming from those flowers;
That aroma comes from communing with Me
Delighting in My Presence and My Power.
The water that beckons your parched soul to come
Is not found from that cool stream so clean,
But quench your thirst on the Living Water
Drink me in, My All-Sufficient supply, to lean.”

“The faint beam of light that pierces the darkness
Which you hope will warm you up a might,
Dimly compares to the brightness of My Son,
His glorious radiance will shine through the night!
And when from the chill
you seek shelter in that cave of old,
You will find that your safest refuge is
With you in My Arms enfold.”

“So child don’t run ahead of Me
By My side you must stay,
‘Cause one day when on the heights you stand,
You will cherish this day.
For you have received lessons
That can’t be learned on your own
A lesson that every child of Mine must be taught
Is simply that you’ll never be alone.”

“No matter what this life brings you
Whether in comfort, in need, or in pain,
You will know that I am with You
For I will not forsake My own Name!
I will be Your Refuge,
Your Comforter, Provider and Friend,
Cling to Me, for I will never forsake you,
I Am Faithful to end!”

written by Arlene Miranda, 2008

Having Been with Jesus

Thursday, January 17, 2008

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men. They were mere fishermen. Yet the people saw something different about them, especially their critics, all who were of high priestly descent (v.6). They saw a confidence and assurance which, they had to acknowledge, came from a source outside of them. They began to recognize them as having been with Jesus! Who can dispute against a changed life? Who can refute against a personal testimony and win? The rulers and elders and scribes of that day couldn’t. Surely it must be true for today, too.

But then I think, “Do I live as one who can be recognized as having been with Jesus? Can people observe the confidence that comes only from You, Lord?” I do pray that this would be true of me; I pray this all the time, it seems! And yet, at times, I still have my doubts. There has been enough circumstances lately that make me feel quite at a loss and not too sure how my weaknesses and inadequacies are supposed to look like God’s strength and power. Sometimes I do get it, usually when someone else is going through a fiery trial and I see that He is their Strength and Refuge but it surely is another thing when I’m going through it and I’m in such great need to experience His very real Presence of Help and Strength and Peace in time of trouble.

“LORD, please gird me with Your strength and put within me Your confidence that I am so desperately in need of!” Everyday I face opposition!
I battle with fear of what’s to come and what to do when the unexpected happens.
I battle with my inability to understand cancer and chemotherapy and its scary side effects.
I battle with time management of what should be my “normal routine” as I feel pulled in different directions. Is there really such a thing as “normal”?
I battle with feelings of inadequacy and ineffectiveness.
I even battle feeling guilty for being so overwhelmed by my present circumstances because I know that there are many whose struggles are far more greater than ours.

But if there was one who could tell you not to worry or be afraid because he’s got everything in control and won’t allow you to have more than you can handle (Matthew 6:27; 1 Corinthians 10:13)…
Or if there was one who told you that you don’t have to try to understand it all and become a pharmacist overnight because he’s intimately acquainted with how our body works and knows exactly what it needs (Psalm 139:13-16)…
If there was one who told you that he knows all the deeds that must be accomplished by you because he’s ordained them & made you perfectly fitted to do them, not one more nor less (Philippians 1:6, 2:13; Ephesians 2:10; James 1:2-4)…
If this one told you that your abilities and accomplishments or lack thereof doesn’t change his love and acceptance of you (Jeremiah 31:3; Titus 3:4-5)…
If there was one who told you that every single little care and concern of yours down to losing one single strand of hair was his genuine concern too because he’s compassionate and mindful of our frailty (Matthew 10:30; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 103:13-14; Matthew 6)…
Then I would have to say that I do know of One who has told me these things; He told me again of them today. I have been with my Jesus and He’s not going to let me go.

The Great Physician

Earlier this week, I read this verse: "And the news about Him spread….and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains...and He healed them." Matthew 4:24

Praise God that my Great Physician is Jesus! O Lord, have mercy and heal me! I know He can do it if it's His will for me. I know that it may be months of treatments but one thing's for sure: He will carry me through. I've been praying that He would and will continue to use this to stir, grip, and motivate me, in love and not fear, to serve Him the rest of my days as they have already been numbered. Even if He heals me quickly may I not lose the sense of urgency He has put in my heart to glorify Him...and may I not lose sight of why He's allowed me to undergo this trial: it's so that "the works of God might be displayed in me (John 9:1-3)." -Paul