He's In Better Hands Now

As I drop the oxygen mask from my hand,I comment,"He's in better hands now. He's safe from this moment on."

I watch the shadows of the night flee from the skyline. He reaches for the Hands one last time. The rays shine through the clouds as his soul is flying home. He had no doubt he was in better hands now. Times came when he would stand in awe at the mountains God moved. Yesterday was now gone for him. It felt like the breath of Jesus was right there in that room.


Remembering that moment seems like a lifetime ago to me. My life at present fills like I stand on shifting sand. I struggle to get my balance. My light has been darkened by the shadows of the night. I constantly reach for help. Through prayer I seek Him. My faith seems to run out. My prayer seems to go up and slap me back in the face. The night sun sets in my life and I feel fear. The silence is all around me.

Where else can go in these moments? Who has ever understood when no one else could? When words elude me? When prayers escape me? I sit still and know that he is God. I can't do anything else. I can't bring anymore. I've used up all my resources. I have nothing left. I surrender myself to better hands than mine.

by

Lance Gargus
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

Before My Lips Open Help Me To Check My Words

Even so the toungue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:5


Lord,

before my lips open help me to check my words. I don't want my speech to hurt anyone. May I please you with the words I speak.

Amen

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

27th Happy Anniversary Darling

Father and Mother mostly wrote love letters to each other instead of store bought cards. I like the thought of that. It makes me nostalgic. Longing for days gone by, and seeing first hand the love they shared together till the end. Here is the 27th Anniversary letter he wrote.

Happy Anniversary Darling,

I love you more now than ever; and you are prettier than ever.

These have been happy years, we've had our ups and downs but, all in all a very wonderful experience.

I pray our next 27 will be even more enjoyable.

All my love,

Jim

by

James Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

As The Winds Of Time Sweep Away The Days

As the winds of time sweep away the days,
I glance back at my life through a haze.
Remebering playgrounds, parks and friends,
Childhood days I thought would never end.
A moment shared in a game of catch,
Shall memory ever attach...
In long ago youthful eyes,
Catching the ball to my dad's surprise.

My first bike, my first wreck,
He picked me up, and said, "What the heck?"
Convinced me to give it one more try,
While, knees skinned, I forgot to cry.
Just the joy knowing he was there,
Making him proud my only care.
There was nothing I couldn't do,
My heart held fast that to be true.

Though teenage years were kind of rough,
I sure wasn't too big or tough.
You taught me to defend what's right
And never back down from a fight.
So I learned the hard way to stand,
Still, with each lump, I found your hand.
Drawing from you an inner strength,
And stubborn pride of equal length.
But there the line of fate was drawn,
As though I blinked and you were gone.

I found myself facing the sun,
Not man, not boy, fatherless, one.
Eyes blinded by a void inside,
I could not live that you had died.
Alas finding it to be true,
I could do nothing without you.

Please, Dad, today just hear my call,
I'm sorry that I dropped the ball.
My life is wrecked, my knees are skinned,
My emotions undisciplined.
I can't get up although I try,
Please don't be upset if I cry.
Though I can't fight what I can't see,
Please, Dad, say you're still proud of me.

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

I Turn My Heart Toward Home

Young people must learn that none of the exciting and entertaining fun things are worth it if they take you off the path that will lead you back home to your Heavenly Father.
William R. Bradford

The car door slams shut,

a page has been turned.

Now I must put into practice,

family lessons I had learned.

As first, my Heart turned toward Home.

The campus was huge and strange,

the college buildings tall and cold.

Somehow the sun had hidden itself from sight,

as the lonely scene unfolds.

Again, my Heart turns toward Home.

Strange people, they don't speak,

just pause, turn and stare,

at a small town clean cut youth,

who, at once they dubbed a square.

In alien territory, the Heart turns toward Home.

As I registered with the Dean,

I could tell by the books,

that the lessons these folks had learned

hadn't come from college textbooks.

Their Hearts were set against Home.

The dormitory grotesque and gray,

you got the sensation of a tomb.

The stench of tobacco and marijuana

filtered sickeningly into your room.

Again my Heart turns to my clean, healthy Home.

Oh, yes, the Heart doth yearn for Home.

Look toward Home, Oh, Heart.

Home Sweet Home.

by

James Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

God Kept Me

There have been times in my life when I thought I would completely loose my mind, but God kept me sane.


Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

At times in my life, I felt I couldn't go on, but the Lord kept me moving on.

Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Oh so many times I wanted to lash out at those who did me wrong, but the Lord kept my mouth shut.

Psalm 13
How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Sometimes it seems I just don't have enough money for all my bills, but God the lights on, the water on, the car insurance paid, everything needed paid.

Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

How many times can I count where I thought I would fall down and he kept me from falling.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

As my body grew weak, he strengthened me.

Matthew 11:28-30 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Oh, what a marvelous God to keep us even when were unworthy.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

Merciful Lord

Merciful Lord,it seems like the business world often values the ruthlessness of cutthroat tactics and dog eat dog environment. Some see it as the way to get ahead in business. Please, help me to do business the Christian way--gracious, not ruthless. My main objective is to please You, not others.
Amen.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,Soul Searching,Counseling

You Have Kept Me Here For A Reason

God,
You know I been though alot of things and many winds have blown me back and forth,
but You have always came through.

You have kept me here for a reason.
I have survived because You have a plan for me.
All my bad relationships, the consequences, the
hard times, the sad times, the death of my loved ones, the back
stabbing from my friends, the negative thoughts, or the lack of
support; I made it because I am blessed!

I recognize them as the illusions
they are, and sent from the enemy to kill my spirit, steal my joy, and
destroy my faith; For God is all there is. All else is a lie!

Rekindle that fire that others have doused out,oh Living God!

In the Most Precious Name,
Amen!
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

Hurting Each Other

How many times have you been shunned by others? How often have you extended a hand or spoken only to be ignored by that person? What about the moments when the words of another cuts you deep? Grow thicker skin is the world's response to such situations. Now what do we do when this situation is in the house of God? The house of mercy and understanding that is to extended to a hurting world. But now we have become the ones doing the hurting, hurting each other. More and more often we find people who have been hurt deeply within the family of God, leaving them worn and exhausted. More and more often we find believers, robbed of the joy Jesus promised in Him. When we find this hurt hanging on to our own bruised soul, it can make us want to leave the church and sometimes even want to "back burner" our God who seems to have allowed it all.

Sadly, we have come to accept that this is the way church is. There is an epidemic of fractured believers out there and we have actually come to accept this as the norm. So we either stay away and let our hearts become cold ... or we put on our Sunday best, call "forward march" and implement a new vision or program and hope the problems will just go away. The hurt in individual hearts and churches gets buried ... until it gets bumped again.

Let's face it, people in church can be unkind, judgemental, and even betray you. Leaving deepening wounds that are not soon forgotten. This kind of wound is horrible! We have a tendency to play down the problem and even discounting the wound.

Well, the point is, it hurt. It may not seem like much to others. But it hurt you badly or someone you know. And that's not OK, no matter how you look at it. It's very hurtful when someone in a church setting, which is suppose to be a Sanctuary from a hurtful world, acts in such an un-Christian like manner. That can create some very deep seeded bitterness.

Our Savior never intended the church to be like that. It is to be a place of encouragement. Our Lord built His church to be a place where we build each other up, where we inspire one another to do better, to love more deeply.

The Bible in Hebrews 10:24-25 says,"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another."

Unbelievers see how we hurt others and each other. "If that's how church is," they say,"I want no part of it."

This "silent killer" creeps in and eats away at the foundations of God's house. It picks us off one by one. The "silent killer" takes out the walking wounded by going deep; deep into the fabric of the mind, body, and soul. Negatively affecting the church until everyone drifts away, or it looses it's power, only to become cold and dead. Hurt is the one thing that the world gives us as believers. That is to be expected, but the church is the one place we go to be safe, accepted, forgiven, and free from conflict and pain.

Church is more than God's house, it's His home. Home is where you go back to when things get to be too much. Home is where your accepted, imperfections and all. Home is where you let your hair down. Home is where you bask in the love that a father has for his children. Home is where family has each others back. Finally, home is our shelter from the storms of this life.

Father, bring back the love that the first Saints felt for each other in Your home.

Sharing in each others suffering for Your Son's namesake. When one Saint hurt, they all hurt. Bring back that kind of love to us before it's too late. Let not one more brethren fall by the wayside. No more cliques, no more groups, no more walls to separate us from each other.

Give us hearts of flesh to replace these hearts of stone.

This I pray,

Amen.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

god and jesus love us

god and jesus love us . god made us i love god . i believe in god. seven is god's lucky number. god likes us when we love other people & ;nbs p; and neighbors and cousins and everything that lives in the world . people that cry god cheers them up and he wipes away their tears, god made plants and animals and water. praise god and love him. god believes in us that we may be&n bsp; able to trust in him . he ; likes it when we be good to other people and care about them . thank you for the stars and the sun . thank god for the air we breathe. god and jesus loves us and we love them .
love god and jesus and autumn

My little daughter Autumn typed this. She hopes you like it.
Lance
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

Rain Falling On A Tin Roof

and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Acts 14:17

"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”

Author: Taylor, Hudson

"Glad to see y'all."



The voice carried forward by a tone of genuine hospitality.

People gathered into the living room of the old home place. A place in need of repair in many spots. The years since the civil war had petrified the wood giving the place a nostalgic look.



"Get in here before you catch pneumonia from the rain," my momma urged to our relatives.



A storm had blown up with a much needed rain. The crops, especially the cotton, was in dire straits. The drought had turned everything to dust nearly. The few cows remaining in the dairy weren't complaining about the weather either.



"Listen to it come down,"she exclaimed,"The good Lord takes care of us when we believe."



The sounds of raindrops hitting the old tin roof relaxed everyone into a settled mood. Time was passed talking about family and friends. About how they were doing and to pass along a greeting from us. The children, mostly cousins, entertained themselves with games. Sitting on the front porch the sense of well being and contentment was all around us. No TV, computers, or in other media to distract us. Only one thing to listen to was the Grand Ole Opera that night. The various country singers would sing as the cool wind blowed. It was like the breath of God blowing away all of our cares for the week.



The week had been a hard one as we tried to make our crops. Our hands were blistered and our necks were scalded red from the sun. The sun has no mercy in a sky with no clouds. Salt from our sweat burned our eyes. Wiping away the only moisture we felt in those hot summer fields. God always supplies a refuge though. In the distance sat an old oak tree to give us shade. The few moments we got to block out the sun from us was much appreciated. Time was of the essence though; the crops weren't going to pick themselves. With no rain there wasn't much to pick and the cows were beginning to look a might poorly. But now, God had sent his rain.



The ground soaked it up. God sends His blessings when we need it most.



"Come and eat. Suppers ready,"was the call that brought us out of the trance. Staring at the rainfall is almost hypnotic at times. It seems to relax the troubled and weary soul of lives hardships.



We gathered to the table and said grace. Truly thankful to God for what we had. Even though we had little, we shared it with others. God blessed us and we were just returning the favor.



Eating our meal, it felt like we hadn't eaten in ages. As each family member got up, they thanked my mother for a wonderful meal. We returned to the porch to socialize a while longer. The down pour was letting up, and it was getting late. Moving through the house swiftly I lit the oil lamps for some light to see our family off. They had traveled a good distance to see us. We were much obliged by their company.



"Before you leave I want you to take these tomatoes," declared my momma.



We waved good bye and wished them well. As they moved further away I looked at momma, and seen tears in her eyes. She truly missed family when they left.



"Momma," I asked,"Why did you give them our best tomatoes?"



"God wants us to give the best we have to Him, and when we give all we have, even to the least, we give it to Him."



My momma wasn't educated. She had no degrees or anything. She could barely even read or write. But no philosopher or teacher could sum up God's heart like she could in just a few words. Those words of love and kindness I hold close to my heart.

by

Louise Gargus, my Mother
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

A Short Quote About Me

I fall on my face more than I fall on my knees.
by
Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

Dad Need A Hug

My thoughts whisk forward to a day in the future. A time when she is older. Looking more woman than girl to me. The days when she looks more like her mother as life passes before me. I can imagine the conversation as I carry her to school.

"What are you doing?" I would say to her while driving.

"Putting on makeup."

"In the car?"

"Yes," she says, "get used to it." Her sly smile revealing a double meaning.

The teenage years they say are the most trying. I don't believe I'll escape unscathed.

"Why didn't you put it on at home?"

"Because I can do it in the car on the way to school-saves me time."

Like her mother used to do she'll switch from a strange little triangle sponge to something that locks like a pencil with a fuzzy little worm attached to the end.

Glancing over at her I'll notice how steady her hands are even as I make turns and adjust speed with the traffic.

Those moments to come will be quite challenging for me as a dad. My little girl will reside in my heart and in picture frames scattered throughout our home. No longer will holding hands in public be possible nor will putting my arm around her. I know she will still love me, but this will be expressed in some new teenager code.

"I love you" will be replaced by a low-key, subtle blowing of a kiss across the room as she leaves with friends. Hugs will then only take place exclusively at home and followed by a couple quick pats on the back (the signal for "hug's over"). Sadly for me, the days when the hugs were for as long as she could sit in my lap will be behind me. I'll find myself thinking if only I held on a little longer. That day my arms will literally ache for the hugs where she'd try to squeeze the breath out of me or attempt to lift my feet off the ground.

Thoughts of her looking in the mirror at how tall she was on my shoulders. Her delicate arms wrapped around my neck, holding on for dear life. Progressing from sitting on my foot and wrapping around my leg as I walked with her- to dancing on my feet while her favorite song played.

Children growing up are a natural passage of time-but there's something special about a father's daughter that really drives it home. She is the apple of his eye-the one who he feels needs protecting. Even back in my time I can almost here the grains of sand accelerating through the proverbial hourglass--and there is nothing I can do to stop it. She'll walk down that aisle one day and I'll give her away. On the drive back home my mind will drift back like it does now to a different time and place. The cherished moments will surround and comfort me. Upon walking into my house I'll see her bedroom up the hall. Walking in I'll sit down on her bed. While no one is looking I'll stare out her window into the yard and dream of paradise lost to me.

As we pull up to the school she'll quickly close up her makeup case, while pushing it deeply back into her purse.

"Bye," I'll say. "Have a nice day."

She'll say something but her words will find themselves muffled against the outside noise.

Grabbing her purse and book bag she'll quickly jump out of the car and race off toward the school. For a moment I'll find myself watching her walk away.

"How," I'll wonder, "can my little girl be a young woman already?"

Putting the car back in gear I'll slowly pull away in thought. Gone will be the little girl who once begged me to walk her through the front door and all the way to her classroom. Gone, too, will be the little girl who timidly would hesitate at the doorway, turn and give me a hug before joining her classmates.

Coming back to reality I realize that it's not too late. Not too late to embrace, to embrace before it's nothing but memories.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

I Rest In the Love That is Divine

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

"To every toiling, heavy-laden sinner, Jesus says, ‘Come to me and rest’. But there are many toiling, heavy-laden believers, too. For them this same invitation is meant. Note well the words of Jesus, if you are heavy-laden with your service, and do not mistake it. It is not, ‘Go, labor on,’ as perhaps you imagine. On the contrary, it is stop, turn back, ‘Come to me and rest.’ Never, never did Christ send a heavy laden one to work; never, never did He send a hungry one, a weary one, a sick or sorrowing one, away on any service. For such the Bible only says, ‘Come, come, come.’ Author: Taylor, Hudson

I feel His gentle hands across my feverish brow as I pray,

Hell brews inside of me everyday.

His weary boy,

Longing for his first Joy.

Darkness chases me,

Lying deep in shadows of lament.

Every ounce of strength already spent.

Their hands want to choke me,

Longing to watch me fall.

To suffer while they laugh and kick,

While watching me crawl.

In my ear they whisper Death and solitude,

Driving me further away from You.

Pursuing me with lies and fears,

Trying to seperate me from the One I hold dear.

I struggle to pray,

Desperately trying to find the words to say.

They work together to distract my mind,

They hate You for loving all of mankind.

I feel their hands on my back,

Pulling me free of You.

Tears fall slowly,

As they try to tell me what to do.

I know I just have to mention Your name,

They spell bind me with fear and shame.

I can't move my lips,

I can't move my mind,

My folded hands are intertwined.

Infesting me,

Killing me with sharp tools,

And tightening ropes.

Humiliating me with false hope.

They lick their lips and watch me struggle,

A toy to them amongst the rubble.

I heard you coming before they did,

The mighty wind that can't be hid.

Filling my ears and all my senses,

Fiery bright light came that cleanses.

I hear the shrieks of bloody doom,

Of darkness driven out as love fills my room.

With the sword of love,

You cut me free.

No longer enchained by the dark ones devouring needs.

Why couldn't I have just uttered your name long ago?

Your gracious protection just waiting to bestow.

I can only look in your eyes and ask,

"Do you still love me seeing me beneath my mask?"

On bended knee my prayer words would falter,

Knowing all along to just lay it on Your altar.

Full of heaven's love your dove comes to me and says,

“Look beyond your beaten brow,

Victory lies before you now.

You never end,

You never die,

Look beyond your mortal eyes.

Reach beyond this life's fleeting rewards,

Embrace life, my love, forevermore."

Letting go of this body of mine,

I rest in the love that is Divine.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

Dear Sir...

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Peter 4:16

"Christian, remember the goodness of God in the frost of adversity."

Author: Spurgeon, Charles

Dear Sir,
You said I could write to you anytime I have any questions. Well, I have some.
Let me tell you first a little bit about me. I'm 14 years old and do go to church. I can't seem to find any Christians in the 9th grade.
Please, name some other teenagers you know about who are going through what I'm going through. And their addresses so I can write to them.
Sincerely,
Lance Gargus


This was written by my more youthful self back then. I wrote it to a gentleman, who had a youth magazine publication for young Christians. I sent a copy and kept the original. I never received a response. But, no matter, in the writing of this story I have found fellow believers. A few have stayed with me, while others continued on in a different direction. All have touched my life in some way. Letter answered by Someone much higher than who the letter was originally intended for.

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

A Prayer of Faith

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James 5:15

"Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down."

Author: Wesley, John

This prayer like the previous post was written when I was 13-14 years old. How I long for the child like faith lost at the setting sun of my childhood.

Here is the prayer from the archives of my childhood in my own words back then...

A Prayer of Faith

Lord, my God, I ask in Your name.

When You changed me I wasn't the same.

Your light filled my soul with glory divine.

That day I signed my soul to You.

You cleaned and rinsed it from unrighteousness.

You know what's best.

Our two generations are falling apart.

Jesus give them a kind, loving heart.

My Christian parents, Lord, let them lead me down the pathway that glows.

You are my mightiest friend.

Kids at school may hate me.

But, You are the One who died for me.

Be merciful to me a sinner, Lord, because without You I'm nothing more.

My Saviour give me strength to do Your will.

So it may be fulfilled.

There's room at the table.

No one acts like they want to harvest the crop.

Don't let Your manna stop.

There are deaths here.

But there won't be any up there.

There won't be any need for medicine and pills.

In heaven you will be able to throw it away and say big deal.

You won't suffer or hurt.

Because your body will go back to dirt.

Don't get mad and angry.

Jesus wasn't that way.

Can't you understand the time is now.

The Lord's coming back and how.

The popularity, your so called friends, the drugs, and your money will pass away.

Never to return another day.

Everybody came in this world with nothing and leave this world with nothing.

Without Him we are nothing.

Come to Him before it's too late.

Don't miss the date.

I pray the sinners to come to Him.

In Jesus precious name,

A-men.

by

Lance Gargus, at 13 years old

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

What Jesus Means to Me.

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 21:13

"My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece."
Author: Ignatius, of, Antioch, St.

I wrote this one, also, when I was 13 years old. Times when I was younger I put pen to paper to write out my thoughts and feelings. I hope to share these with you, the reader, and in some small measure pray that it enlightens you. Looking back in many ways helps us to look ahead, especially at a time when I felt the closest to God. I search now to recapture that first love feeling in my soul.

This is what I wrote way back then...

What Jesus Means to Me.

He means alot to me for dying on the Cross at Calvary for me, for washing away my sins, for giving up His life for me, and for leaving Heaven's magnificent glories. Thinking of this makes me sad cause I know I'm not worthy of anything. But, Jesus loves and cares about everybody.

It's often hard to talk to someone about God. I pray every night about the ones who do wrong that it's not too late for them.

One day, my Lord, is coming back. If everyone doesn't come to Him soon, it will be terrible. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Jesus made a way for us to come to a Holy God.

Sometimes when I feel like I have no friend in the world I look to Him. He said,"I will never leave nor forsake you even to the end of world. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall not be afraid." If in my life I may be about to die and death is knocking at my door I will not be afraid. When we get up there, we won't feel anymore pain or sorrow and no more parting with love ones. I'm weak without Him, but with Him I can go on.

Easter's coming and we should think of the true meaning of it. During this time we should pray for our nation. Stand up for God and don't be ashamed. He wasn't ashamed of you. He died for you. He had three, big old rusted spikes drove into His hands and feet. That wasn't the worst part for He became your sin and had God's wrath poured out on Him in your place.

Remember having your name on a church role doesn't save you but having your name in the Lamb's book of life. Sin is the prison that captures us all. But Jesus has the key that set me free.

His word will last forever and ever.

Amen.

by

Lance Gargus, at 13 years old

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching,Counseling

Sad Boy

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Ecclesiastes 7:3

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psalm 126:5

This is one of many writings I wrote when I was much younger. I was 12-13 years old when I wrote these. It was scattered among papers in a dresser drawer. My mother stumbled across them while house cleaning. Put away when I first began my Walk. Only to be forgotten as I got lost in the dark. Time putting these writings out of my memory. I got to a point where I told God I couldn't write anymore. He answered my prayer with my younger self. This has become a heart wrenching, yet, wonderful eye opening experience. Writing to discover my true soul has become my quest. The search now takes me down a different but hauntingly, familiar road.

Here is my words back then in one of my writings ...

Sad Boy


Once upon a time there was a sad boy, who had been ridiculed and made fun of.

At school it was real hard and rough.

He wasn't like the other boys and girls, because he didn't do the things they did.

He loved the Lord very much.

He just didn't pay any attention to the kids.

But it was awful rough.

His parents, his brother, and God were the only true friends he had in the world.

He worried alot about all the troubles he had at school and everything.

One night when he went to bed he had a dream.

In the dream he was at school, Jesus and his angels appeared in the sky.

There was a noise from a trumpet that could be heard all over the Earth.

He and others ascended to heaven.

He asked the Lord,"Why did you let all that happen to me at school? Where were you when I needed you?"

The Lord responded,"I was there.

I gave you that feeling of inner peace.

I walked with you.

I held your head up.

I put the smile on your face when you were down.

I picked you up when you fell.

I gave you the courage to accept the things you can change and the things you can't.

I helped you through your troubles and trials.

I was your friend when no one else cared for you.

I went so far I sent my Son to die for you.

I loved you!"

The boy awoke suddenly with a feeling of peace in his heart.

From that day forward he knew Jesus was always with him.

You know God helps us when we're down and out.

He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for you.
by
Lance Gargus, written at age 12-13 years old

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

My Daughter's Heart

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart...

Mark 12:30

"The right kind of heart is a kind heart like God's."
Author: Unknown

The innermost workings of my daughter's heart is brought to me on the wings of a dove. The beautiful white dove I had seen before was sitting on a telephone wire today. It sat on a wire overhanging the road I travel to work. About 100 feet from the building of my employment, almost like he was waiting on me. The few times I've seen him God always revealed something to me. There's no mistaking him for any other dove because he seemed to radiate a bright white. Maybe I'm the only one who sees it. I don't know. But there is always some message that accompanies him. A message that unfolds to me in a unique way. No light from heaven or any grand show, but like good news being whispered in your ear by a friend. My children, as are often times, the receptors of this news. Delivering it to me in a profound way. Later on, my 7 year old daughter, started talking about what her heart truly means.

Here it is in her words:

My heart makes me think of love.

Love makes me think of God.

God reminds me of Jesus.

Jesus brings the Holy Spirit to mind.

The Holy Spirit makes me think of Heaven.

Heaven makes me think of angels.

Angels bring us love.

Love is important.

God loves us.

God loves everyone.

God is the love that is in my heart.

by

Autumn Gargus, 7 years old

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

Resentment

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22

Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.

Author: Anonymous

Gracious Father,

You teach us in Your prayer to forgive. So how can I ask you to forgive me, if I cannot forgive others? Oh, how I want to be forgiven. I need to be forgiven. God, I think about all those folks that I have resented - from my childhood on. Help me to learn to forgive those who "did me wrong" in my growing up years. Take away this resentment that eats away at me like a cancer. Show me another way to live. In releasing this anger, allow me to filled with Your love for all.

On bended knee, before Your throne, I plead,

Amen.

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

The Ladder That Reached to the Clouds

and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven:
Genesis 28:12

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty."

Author:Unknown

One day with our kids, my brother and I found ourselves at a local park in our small town. Like we do so many times since I’ve had children, I sat on the park bench surrounded by swings, see saws, and monkey bars. It 's the kind of park that makes a grown man wish he was a kid again. Autumn, who's seven, always takes off for the big playground equipment. Her brother, who's two, followed close behind his sister. Both of them took off like a shot for the slide.

In my thoughts, I drifted back to when my daughter was smaller and first started coming here before Connor was born. That day she started off on the smallest slide. There was two different size slides at the park.

Watching her nervously, my brother remarked,"Why don't you go down with her?"

But I wanted to wait and watch. "Let's wait and see what happens,"I said. So we relaxed on that bench and watched. She climbed halfway up the ladder when she turned and looked back at me. I looked away. She pondered her options for a moment, then carefully backed down one step at a time.

"Bro , you ought to go help her out,"my brother said.

"Not yet," I replied, hoping the twinkle in my eye would reassure him that I wasn't just being careless.

She spent a few minutes at the bottom of the slide watching other kids climb up, whiz down, and run around to do it again. Finally her little mind was made up. She could do it. She climbed up...and slid down. Three times, in fact, with a big smile each time.

Then we watched her turn and head to the big one. The slide that seemed like a 100 stories to her. Now my brother  was getting anxious. "Lance, I don't think she should do that by herself. Do you?"

"No," I replied as calmly as possible. "But I don't think she will. Let's see what she does."

When Autumn reached the bottom of the giant slide, she turned and called out,"Daddy!" But I glanced away again, pretending I couldn't hear her.

She peered up the ladder. In her young imagination, it must have reached to the clouds. She watched a teenage girl of about 13 go hurtling down the slide. Then, against all odds, she decided to try. Step-by-step, hand over hand, she inched up the ladder. She hadn't reached a third of the way when she froze. By this time, the teenager was coming up behind her and yelled at her to get going. But Autumn couldn't. She couldn't go up or down. She had reached the point of certain failure.

I rushed over. "Are you okay, sweetie?" I asked from the bottom of the ladder.

She looked down at me, shaken but clinging to that ladder with steely determination. And I could tell she had a question ready.

"Dad, will you come down the slide with me?" she asked. The teenager was losing patience, but I wasn't about to let the moment go.

"Why, sweetheart?" I asked, peering up into her little face.

"I can't do it without you, Dad," she said, trembling. "It's too big for me!"

I stretched as high as I could to reach her and lifted her into my arms. Then we climbed that long ladder up to the clouds together. At the top, I put my little girl between my legs and wrapped my arms around her. Then we went zipping down the slide together, laughing all the way.

Now I watch my son's big sister guide his hand. Encouraging him on the small slide to attempt it. Nervously he trusts her. Building his courage. He whizzes down, and they laugh uncontrollably together. But when he reaches that point of failure, I'll be there to step in when he needs me.

That is how our Heavenly Father's hand is. "Father, please help me I can't do this alone! It's just too big!" He swoops in to help us. Your soul shouts afterwards,"God did that! He carried me through this! His power is mighty! His strength lifted me up to the clouds! And we soared like eagles together! Not me, but God did this! It's so wonderful!"

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

My Sanctuary

And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
Psalm 78:69

Making my way through the corn field, I catch a glance of the treehouse in the treetops. Autumn has set in. The corn stalks crunch underneath my feet as I brush them aside. The dull colors of the dead stalks fade away as I enter the woods. Replaced with the multitude of leaves displaying the colors of fall. The wind picks up and the sounds of the leaves rustling travels through the air. The treebranches sway back and forth as I'm cooled by the current. It's nice out today; not too hot and not too cool, just right. The sky is overcast with a grey haze. Birds cry out in flight overhead, signaling their leaving for a time.

Dad's off in the distance in another field. Ford tractor's make their own distinct sound, to me at least they do. His is quite old and worn. As the bushog grinds up the corn in the adjoining patch, I make my way to the top of my second home. Climbing on the pieces of old planks held in place by rusted nails. Triumphantly I stand at the top of my summit. Scattered sunbeams burst through the maze of tree growth.

How aesthetically beautiful to the beholder it is. Creation as she readies herself for her nap. Nature is God's majestic tabernacle. No man made building can compare to the splendor of this scene. The shadows are growing longer as the day starts to end. Still another hour before sunset.

Rustling again but this time from another source. A fawn has gotten separated from his mother. He shoves a pile of foliage back to reveal some sprigs of grass to eat. Crickets start their chirping as the great light lessens. The doe has found her offspring. Jumping away they rush back home before nightfall.

I've been here awhile as dark approaches. Shadows creep in as I sit with my back to the wall. Thoughts of the day's preceding events envelop me. Being a teenager comes with stresses and strains. But when the troubles disquiets my soul, I seek a refuge. The first stars have begun to make their appearance. The calming sounds has commenced to settling me. Reflections on my thoughts are brought about by God's presence here.

Moonlight has come to exhibit her magnificence. Illuminating light reveals a face to me of one in my future. I reach out my hand to touch her cheek. Upon opening my eyes the face becomes hidden. Sighing at this revelation my eyes wander heavenward. Wondering to myself, if there is another kindred spirit out there. Was this exquisite face a part of my life that is to come? All things in due time.

Pushing myself up off the floor to leave, I kinda hate to go back. This had become my sanctuary away from the fast pace. I would be back I reassured myself. Descending my way down the makeshift ladder, I took one last brief look at her as I proceeded up one of the columns of furrows. The top of my house coming into view as I hurried along. Approaching my front door, I imagined the dinner prepared with the last of summer's crops. My smile turned into a smirk of almost smugness. Words cannot express the gratification I felt to have my soul at rest. And the knowledge that I could return to my sanctuary.

But time leaves nothing untouched. People come and go in our lives, old places are replaced with new ones, and memories become faded with the years. Still I have those special moments I carry with me. When the world becomes too bitter and cold, I wrap them like a blanket around me. And lie back like I did so long ago into the arms of my Sanctuary.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

Flower Girl

as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Psalm 103:15

"'Who gathered this flower?' The gardener answered, 'The Master.' And his fellow servant held his peace." (on an epitaph)
Author: Unknown, Author

She walks through the garden of stones observing the names of each one. "Some of these graves belong to children, daddy," she remarked. "I know. Children use to not live to be adults like they do now. Diseases and lack of food killed many of them," I explained watching my son playing in the leaves.

The magnolia tree was having it's last bit of display before the fall. The smell was quite pleasant in the air. Temperatures were starting to cool in the late evenings. My daughter, with her always inquisitive look, was asking questions about the world around her. Even with my short answers, it was never enough for the ever curious girl. "These other people that died. Were they mommies and daddies?" came another question. Looking around at the various monuments and markers, I noticed the many ones of angels, praying hands, and all sorts of vestiges of heavenly displays. "Yes, I'm sure many were," I responded back noticing the sun shining its golden rays through the trees.

Looking into my child's eyes I saw tears. Gently cradling her head in my hands I searched her face. Her soft blue eyes expressed a tenderness that made me tear up. "Why are you crying?" I wondered. "Their families probably miss them very much," weepingly she spoke. Taking a deep breath to hold back the tears and to keep from choking up I searched for an answer. "Baby girl, most of the graves here, unlike your Papaw's and other family member's graves, don't have flowers on them. These people passed on a long time ago," I said, "They have no one left to remember them or to place flowers by their tombstones. I'm sorry, baby, but that happens to everyone as families go on." I proceeded to place the flowers on my father's grave and fix the flowers put on my other families'.

My wife stood by my side and wrapped her arm around my waist. All the while keeping a close eye on our wandering toddler near by. In my mind as I wandered back through memories, I abruptly awoken from my thoughts to notice my daughter and what she was doing. The cemetery had gathered up all the old flowers that had been blown off during a storm and placed them in a pile. My child had gotten into them. Gathering a large collection of blossoms in her little arms, she moved to each grave marker. Taking her tiny hands, she lovingly picked out what she thought was the right flower for each monument. Laying each one on top of the individual granite stones. Feeling my eyes upon her she responded, "This is a garden. I will remember each one with a flower, cause they aren't forgotten. God remembers them if others don't." Afterwards she returned to her work of planting her flower garden.

There are times in life when a father is most proud. That day I couldn't have been more impressed. She will accomplish and fail at many things in life as she grows. But, dear Lord, nothing she will ever do in this life will compare to the love You instill in her.

My cherished flower girl, will always be teaching me the boundless love God has for us. People I meet and still others I know guide me from one point in my life to the next. Encouraging me on my travels of soul searching in small ways. It often goes unnoticed by them. Still God allows others to reveal these hidden treasures to me. Shaping me as a potter shapes his vessel. Sometimes gently and sometimes harsh but always with love.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

I Think I Shall Write A Poem

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

1 John 1:4

I think,
I think I shall write a poem.
All about life, as I see it,
And just what it means to me.
About trees in the forest,
About the leaves upon those trees,
About the inhabitants (creatures) of that forest,
And of their joy of being free.
Have you ever seen a little squirrel,
scampering fearfully,
from the very presence of a person passing through?
And how,
beyond human comprehension,
he finds enough for bare existance.
Secures and stores for himself,
And for his family, too.
"I think" he's happily busy.
As I pause and observe the tiny honey bee working diligently,
he flits from vine to vine,
blossom to blossom,
gathering nectar by the hour.
He doesn't get tired or discouraged,
nor does he ever loaf.
Never pausing in his assignment to gather,
The sweetness, from the millions of colorful, pretty flowers.
"I think" he is happy.
I think of the meadow,
So peaceful, beautiful and green.
As it feeds those pretty cattle,
where they're content and so serene.
"I think" they're at peace.
I feel the wonderful,
invigorating,
exciting breeze as it tumbles through my hair.
It's presence can't be seen or grasped,
yet still,
I know it's there.
"I think" of the continuity in nature.
I walk through the valleys,
So lush with it's myriad of nature's verdant growth.
I climb the colorful, craggy hills,
to view the valleys and the hills;
to see,
to grasp,
to feel,
to descend.
I find myself aloof.
"I think" of the beauty of God's creation.
I hear the people,
I hear,
I feel their joys,
their fears,
and their pain.
They only try to make the best of their lives,
Because they won't pass this way again.
"I think" of compassion.
I think Life is great,
even with all the heartaches,
the tragedy,
and grief.
There's so much joy in sharing,
life's bounties in love.
It counterbalances all else,
in yourself and others,
belief.
"I think" of life and the great provision thereof.
by
James Gargus

"I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my Bible, I cannot even pray, I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust."
Author: Taylor, Hudson

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

Closer Than A Brother

There are friends who pretend to be friends,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 (RSV)

"Fair Weather Friends," are those who stay by you only during good times. My mother use to say, "You count your true friends on one hand with one or two fingers left over." When your on top of that mountain, everybody wants to slap your back or shake your hand. But if you slip and fall, see who's around you. As the bandwagon comes to the end of the road, they all jump off.

Is your true friend someone you can call upon any time of night or day? Or is he someone who only comes around when they have nothing else better to do?

Does he have your back when others face you down? Or is he one who takes the side of the one who is winning?

The only one I can find that even comes close in my life is my brother. Sure he becomes irritated at me at times, as all brothers do, but just let someone say something about me. They will get more than a piece of his mind.

This kind of bond and friendship is built over a lifetime of good and bad. You grow up together. Looking out for each other in an often relentless world. I know some brothers aren't like this, that is a sad fact. But the Bible knows that alot of brothers are. A friendship forged sometimes out of mutual strife. Good times don't build brothers, hard times do.

"He's like a brother to me. We were a band of brothers. He ain't heavy, he's my brother." These quotes are but a few in reference to brothers, and the link between them. To the outside world, it may seem fragile until this link is tried to be broken by an outsider. And to his dismay he finds out how really strong the link is.

Now we see how close brothers are, but the Bible says we have One closer than a brother. The one it's referring to is Christ. He is always available 24-7, you will never disturb Him, and he will go to bat for you no matter the obstacle.

I don't know about you, but I kind like the thought of having the Big Guy and my brother both watching out for me.

by
Lance Gargus
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

Good Intentions

the midst thereof being paved with love

Song of Solomon 3:10

Dear wife,
Our future was full of big plans that I had. I promised you that night I would give you the whole world somehow. Lord knows I tried making good on that promise. I was counting on being so much further by now. I see others with their big houses, cars, new clothes, and things, and wonder. I could never build you a castle tho I wanted too. You will always be the queen of my heart.

That night with tears in my eyes I gave you that engagement ring. I promised many things I thought we would do. My best ideas and plans are laid littered on a road that's paved with good intentions. Now it lays before me with broken dreams that never quite came true. This is the road I traveled on and looking back I see them. Letting each one slip right through my fingers. I just wanted show you how much I love you.

If somehow God would let you see my heart and soul, you could see that I had the best of intentions.

That night as we both cried you said,"I believe in you." Oh, how my heart breaks to think of you saying that. Others think I'm a loser cause I haven't accomplished much. But when I hold you in my arms, I feel like a winner as you hold me so tight. Your love and belief in me kept me trying. When no one else believed and all hope was gone, you stood by me.

You have always been there for me through the good and bad. You stay by my side no matter what. Any other woman would have left me, but you remain. Whenever I fall down, your there to pick me back up and help me stand. Why do you stay? I just don't know how you take it. You deserve so much better.

You could have chosen someone that would have left you set for life. He could bring you the whole world on a silver platter, and laid it at your feet. All I had to offer you that night was my love.

This little country house is the most I could offer you. We laugh when we bump into each other going down the hall cause it's so small. But, if it had more rooms, it would have more walls that would separate us more. We're so closed in we have to talk and communicate.

At night sometimes I hear you crying. You don't think I can hear you, but I do. To calm your fears we shadow dance. I see your silhouette in the moonlight realizing how lucky I am. Those occasional clouds we faced all had a silver lining.

But now I stand before you with the road stretched out in front of me. Not sure of which direction to take. At this crossroads in my life I pray to God that I can be the man that you truly deserve. How patient you have been waiting on me. Before I met you I wandered aimlessly in my life. God allowed all these things to happen to me for a reason. Each one was a sign post that lead me to you. You stood by the side of the road waiting on me. Nights I prayed underneath the stars for you, you were praying underneath those same stars for me.

And now you are here. Such a gentle soul at heart are you. When I fail, you just take my hand and softly say,"I understand." How on earth can I ever repay you for that? What can I bring you? What can I offer you with these poor man's hands? Every blister that forms a callous, every scar endured, every drop of blood shed, every sweat bead wiped away, every tear cried, every sleepless night worrying, every bit of pain endured, everything I do, I do it all for you, my love.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

Moved With Compassion

Lying face first on the ground, I spit the dirt out of my mouth as I raise my head. Rolling my eyes upward to see the crowd gathered round me. "Hit him again!" "He can't see without his glasses." "He's a nobody!" Wiping the blood away from my face, I struggle to see blurringly at the angry faces. I taste the salt from the blood of my busted lip. My body shakes as I try to stand only to stumble back down again. I hit my knees on the hard ground, but my bruised ribs ache the most. The taunting continues as different fists land blows all over me. Falling down I hit the ground with my face again.

"Why?" I ask,"What have I ever done to you?" "We just don't like you," is the reply back. And the kicking starts in on my sides again knocking the breath out of me. I can hardly breath. "Can't fight everybody. How can I make them stop? Too many. God make them stop." The thoughts I can barely form fill up my mind. Abruptly the kicks stop. No taunting sounds. No punches. No yelling. Nothing. Why? What's happen? I see them running. Someone extends a hand to me. I can't see him clearly. Is it a teacher come to stop this and help me up? My brother has helped me in the past if more than one bully jumped on me. But he's not here today. He's home sick. And his friends are in a grade ahead of me. They have a different recess time now. I don't have any friends.

"Thank you, whoever you are," I call out as he starts to leave. I try to stop him as I clamber to find my glasses. "Who are you?" I beg. Through bleary eyes I can make out a smile of this tall person. He says nothing, but helps me to the Principal's office. After arriving I get bandaged up by the school nurse. "Who did this to you?" the principal demanded. Shaking my head I explained I couldn't tell anything without my glasses. "Don't get on to that other boy. He was there to help me, when the other guys jumped me," I pleaded. "What other boy?" they questioned. "The tall one who ran the others off, and helped me up," I said. "You came up to the Principal's office by yourself," was their answer. "Don't know anything about any other kid."

Puzzled as to who that person was that day. I have wondered since then. It was probably the worst beating I had ever gotten from bullies before. In the past, I had often times fought to defend myself until my knuckles bled. Still have the scars from those days on the playground. But that one particular day someone took compassion on me. Who was this mysterious person that came to my aid? I may never know. Just as Christ had compassion for the suffering of others, this silent person felt a need to intervene on my behalf.

"Moved with compassion," is how the Bible describes Jesus attitude toward the needs of others. "ELEEO" is the Greek word for compassion. Meaning to show kindness or compassion. It's much more than showing a little bit of sympathy or a feeling of some what pity. This type is a yearning over the suffering of another person that is all consuming. This love is "agape" love, also known as God's divine love, that is non-discriminating in whom it loves. This compassionate love is projected from the deepest parts of our souls.

This type of love comes from the Holy Spirit living in believers flowing freely to others. True compassion is birthed in our hearts by the power of His presence. Agape love brings this compassion to heal past hurts, painful bitterness, emotional scars, physical problems, mental bondages, and relationship difficulties. But most of all it brings hope.

The hope that someone else cares. Your pain is their pain. When you hurt, they hurt. If we as believers have that inside us, we should hurt as well. God shares in our suffering and extends His compassion. Should we do any less for our brothers and sisters?

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand,
Mark 1:41

Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.

Author:William Cowper

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,
Soul Searching

Grandmother's Quotes

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9 (NIV)

God knows. I don't hate anyone. I just don't like their mean ways.

by

Myrtle Cantrell, my mamaw

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,

Soul Searching

Grandmother's Quotes

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3

If we miss Heaven,

we miss Everything.

by

Myrtle Cantrell, my Mamaw

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,

Soul Searching

Grandmother's Quotes

See that little house. It maybe more of a home than that big mansion up there on that hillside, if God dwells there.

by

Myrtle Cantrell, my Mamaw.

but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,

Soul Searching

God's Face

Our destiny is to be so intimately united with God that, as the mystics say, we not only see God’s face but also see with God’s face.
— Peter Kreeft, The God Who Loves You

My children sometimes get that sleep in their eyes, rubbing with little hands, wanting to stay awake. Finally, giving in they both settle in with their heads on my chest. I carry one in each arm. Why do I feel like my heart's gonna burst? I'm willing to die for these angels at rest. And why am I filled with unshakable faith when I look at these children so fragile and sweet? There's something eternal I see in their face. Something much more than their mother and me. Maybe something of God's face in the way they smile back at me.

Shouldn't we see God's face in others? His likeness maybe distorted at times on faces by sin. The devil likes to distort our eyesight of others. Look at people through God's eyesight. You can't help but love them then. My children being used by God helped me to see. My vision needed to be brought back into focus. Inside every adult whether a murderer, prostitute, drug dealer, liar, or whatever is a small child. That is how God wants us to be.

God is like a light. We are like mirrors. Some mirrors are new, like children. They reflect the light and the image the best. We adults have broken glass that is shattered beyond recognition. We distort the light and the image by reflecting it wildly about the place. When God comes up to the small child to look in the mirror, he sees a perfect reflection staring back at Him. Inside every broken and shattered mirror is the original. Lucifer, the father of lies, leads you to believe the illusion that you are broken beyond repair. Only Christ, God's handyman, can see the true condition of your mirror. He has the ability to restore it to it's original luster.

Once this luster is restored, the Christian gets together with other fixed mirrors to reflect the light of Christ off each other into the darkest, remotest corners of the earth. As adults our mirrors our bigger and once fixed shine brighter, but a child is the catalyst that starts off the whole chain reaction from God. Spreading around the four corners of the globe.

May Christ take the blinders off our eyes. And as the psalmist said in Psalms 17:5,"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." Hopefully, we can go to the mirror when we get up to start our day and truly see God's likeness staring back at us.

by

Lance Gargus

Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,

Soul Searching

Living Waters

And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem;

Zechariah 14:8

Standing in the water, it feels cold to my hot and tired feet. Shoes off I let the moving stream flow over them. The summer sun beating down on my neck. It's a extremely hot day. Kentucky is hot this time of year anyways, but with no cloud in sight for shade, it seems worse.

I move up the stream a piece to a shaded spot. Sitting on the rock on the bank, I admire this lovely area. The reason I had come to this place to begin with was to find a certain point along the stream. "Not sure what to look for or how to find it," was my only thought while wiping the sweat from my eyes. "Alright, God you know what I came here looking...," and before I could finish that prayer on my breath, there it was. My eyes beheld the site. The site where a location had been hewned out by many feet. The ground concaved in where believers from the past had stood. They had stood waiting to get baptized in that one special place in the stream. Rushing over to it, I stood. Touching the water, I let it roll along my fingertips. The sensation of living waters overwhelmed me.

Before me laid the place where my grandmother's church had baptized new believers. The church building has long since been torn down. The believers gone on to be with our Lord. But these living waters still moved on. The mark of their presence and belief shown here upon the Earth. Waiting for someone to be lead here again.

They weren't baptized in a baptistery or some other way inside. They went to the stream. The bible belt people knew the spiritual significance of the running waters. The waters were alive. If the water sat still, it would become stagnant and nasty. But as long as it ran over the rocks it was pure. The water carrying every bit of trash that fell in it far away.

We should be like the living waters. Never standing still with Christ, but moving toward Him lest we become stagnant and nasty. Like the rocks purified the water, the rocky troubles of life refine and purify our faith. Our sin like that trash in the water is carried down stream and dumped into the river. The river rushes faster into the sea. In the case of our sin, it is distributed into God's sea of forgetfulness. Never to be remembered anymore.

Rising up to stand, my knees popped a little. A sign I guess of the times. No longer as young as I was, but not old either. Just wear and tear of a body abused from working. I waded out into the waters up to my waist. Stepping into that sunk in place in the ground as the water preceded by, I closed my eyes. For a moment, I stood among God's people in heaven. The living waters came up in fountains for everyone to drink from. I could only get a sense of what they were doing. Mine wasn't the time to take that drink with them, not yet. My job still lies ahead of me. Getting out of the water I opened my eyes and proceeded on my way. Looking back I whispered on the breeze that had just now picked up,"I'll be back to drink that water with y'all. I promise." So my job of soul searching continues on in my heart...

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:

Revelation 7:17

by
Lance Gargus
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven,

Soul Searching