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

Autumn Bell Sheep

and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

The soul is healed by being with children.

Author: English Proverb

It has been said, “In the Holy Land they put a bell on one sheep and when it moves all the rest of the flock moves with him”. My young 7 year old daughter has become my bell sheep in a way. Her child like innocence has revealed God to me more than anything. Her believe is so simple and not obscured by everything else. It is straight forward and honest. She has no hidden agenda or bias in any form. She loves God and loves everyone openly. Feeling that everyone, no matter how bad, needs love. She believes anyone can change.

She wrote on a piece of paper, like she always does and secretly hands it to me. Pretending like it's a secret message only she and I know about. I open the latest one. Looking at it, it read,"I love you." Well, you know that does any father's heart good to read that. Of course, she informed me that there was more. I just needed to look again. There was her tender little words, which she informed me was a song she sings, saying,"I'm a little girl. I'm a little girl. I'm a little girl. Everyone loves me. Yes, they do." She informed me that this was true cause she loved everyone. I wondered about how this could be true to her. "Cause God loves me and we're suppose to love everybody," she was making me aware of. Words of wisdom from someone so young. The difference is she believes these words with no doubt in her mind. Our unbelief is our problem.

She has heeded to the calling of the Holy Spirit. Her ears are open to His bid to come follow the Shepard. My stubborn ears are closed at times. I don't hear the sound of the Shepard. I go wandering off like a dumb sheep toward a cliff. Never even realizing the Shepherd's warning. All of a sudden I hear the sound of a bell. The sound of the bell my Dad may have been talking to me about in a way on his deathbed. He said listen for the sound of God's bell. He said my daughter was special. And she is. I never would have thought she would be the one wearing the bell. Given by God I believe and placed there around her neck by my dad. My eyes couldn't see at the time nor my mind comprehend his words then. That she at times with her little bell would lead me back to the Shepherd's voice.

Lord, take me back to the place I once knew as a small child, when Your eyes were constantly watched over me. Lift my soul up, and carry me at the times when I become weary. Lay me down, and let me rest in Your care. Allow me to fall into the bed of faith You have prepared for me.

Amen.

by

Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

You Are A Christian

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1Timothy 2:1

The measure of a Christian is not in the height of his grasp but in the depth of his love. -- Clarence Jordan

"You are a Christian, would you pray for my children?" she inquired. Turning around I was shocked to see her standing there. "Who am I?" I thought.

"Why is she asking me? Do I exemplify being Christlike? I fall short so much. I do too much I feel to turn others away. God if You can use me to help her, then use me." was my thoughts as I struggled for the words to speak. I consider it a great honor and responsibility for someone to ask you out of everybody else to pray for them. "Lord, I'm not any kind of clergy. Not even a deacon. Yet, something of you Jesus shone through. And hid my shortcomings." These words reflected in my mind. I sputtered with my words at first."Yes, I will gladly pray for them," I remarked. She told me of a son in prison and another one living with his father. Her and her husband were separated, and he had died. She wanted prayer for her children's protection and comfort. As soon as this was said she walked off without a word except,"Thank you." She works another shift so I only see her from time to time. I bowed my head immediately then and prayed for all this. But, most importantly for all their souls.

God as I contemplate on this event, I send up this stumbling man's prayer.
"O precious Savior and Redeemer,
Help me to be your voice to those that hurt.
Let me be your tender touch to those suffering.
Allow me to hold out hope to the hopeless.
Grant me the ability to offer peace to those trapped in the chaos of this world.
To shine your light in the darkness without my failings obstructing it.
Use my hands and feet as an instrument in your melody of mercy.
May your Holy Spirit lead me where I need to go, not where my carnal mind wants to go.
Amen."
by
Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

Holding Hands

As I carry my son into the church house, I look at my wife beside me. She reaches for my hand to hold it. Holding my hand I realize the significance of this. Reaching out she connects with us both. Realizing what our love with God's help had created together.

I looked at her small hand in mine. Grasping it contently we walked in together. Sitting down on the pew, I looked at her hand in mine. My son snuggled up on my shoulder. If God hadn't made her for me,why does her hand fit so perfectly into mine? This thought runs through my mind. I take it in and dwell on it. Letting it soak in as I rub her hand. I look at our hands and she smiles as if to say,"My heart has been waiting for these days, my love."

Squeezing my hand to let me know,"Hey, you, I am here for you." My soul hopes, even until my death, to be holding her hand at the end of my days.

So much is said unspoken through holding hands. Such as my strength is your strength and together we will over come each others weaknesses. The two clasped hands seem to murge together as one. Stronger than the one hand by itself.

With hands held tight we form a chain linking families from the past and present together. Uniting two seperate families into one. God said for husband and wife to become one flesh, that is true.

There is times though, I feel like more than our physical hands hold each other. It seems that our very souls touch and hold each others hands even when we are apart. Words escape me sometimes, but how she makes me feel does not.
Her fingers are so long and skinny like mine. They are even shaped like mine. Making a perfect grasp around each individual finger.

How wonderful to be able to hold my best friend's hand. Walking with me and sometimes guiding me in the dark times of my life. Supporting me one day when I'm to old to make it by myself. At other times holding my hand, urging me to follow her when she wants to show me her love alone. Sometimes gripping my hand as tight as she can when she's scared and doesn't want to be alone. I grip back to reassure silently that we stand together. For when I fall she falls, when she stands I stand, but we do it together as one.

The best use of her hand is to hold it in the moonlight and dance together until dawn.

Holding hands is God's kind and loving way to allow us to express our love to each other. the day will come when she lets go of my hand and gives it to God at my death. Thank you, God, for the day when you give my hand back to her. Grasping it once again as we embrace never to be seperated again.

His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

Song of Solomon 2:6

"Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship. It's not about how much love you have in the beginning but how much love you build till the end."Source Unknown

by
Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

Prayer For Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:6-9

Nine requisites for contented living: Health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to support your needs. Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future - Goethe

Jesus,


Thanks for revealing to me that contentment is not a destination but a journey.


Rather than becoming discontented and searching for a better situation,


I pray I will focus on what you have given me.


May I see my cup as running over with your blessing.


Seeing that he who has God and many other things, has no more than he who has God only.


Being content as I was as a child in my father's arms.

Amen.

By

Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

The Word

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

The Word of God is a Person. When you read it, do you see words or do you see Him? --Jacquelyn K. Heasley

The Word of God was...

Betrayed

Arrested

Falsely Accused,

Denied,

Scourged,

Mocked,

Sentenced,

Nailed,

Finished,

Buried,

The Word of God is Risen .

by

Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

Prayer To Deal With Hurtful People

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:28


Great grief prays with great earnestness. Prayer is not a collection of balanced phrases; it is the pouring out of the soul. What is love if it be not fiery? What are prayers if the heart be not ablaze? They are the battles of the soul. In them men wrestle with principalities and powers... "The prayer that prevails is not the work of lips and fingertips. It is the cry of a broken heart and the travail of a stricken soul."
Samuel Chadwick

Heavenly Father,
help me deal lovingly with that tough person in my job
but guard me from the hurt that he can also cause.
Amen.
by
Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

Prayer To Control Anger

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

Ephesians 4:26

Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you are.

Cherie Carter-Scott

I beg you,

Heavenly Father,

to help me to be slower to anger than I am now,

to stop lashing out at others with harsh and angry words and if I do,

to seek their forgiveness immediately,

to be quick to forgive.

In Your Son's name,

Amen

by

Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

The Greatest Love

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

People need loving the most when they deserve it the least. --John Harrigan

This neat little trick could open up the door to witness to someone. Open your Bible up to the middle. Fold the pages without bending them. Only one on the left and one on the right. Curl both around and insert the ends back into the Bible. Notice that it makes a heart shape. Oh, the Great Love of God.

The Greatest Love... holds the world together.

... shows God and is not self-centered.

... displays the Greatest Power as a burning fire.

... exhibits the suffering Christ endured.

... governs all that God does.

... extends love to your neighbor, even the unlovable ones.

... reveals God's gift of patience, kindness, and humility as a hymn.

... binds all other loves together with His divine love.

... rebukes jealousy, boastfulness, arrogance, rudeness, and resentfulness.

... proves the cross of Calvary was given as a ransom for freedom.

... declares the worth of man by God making him in his own image.

... imparts faith that can face anything.

... discloses love of family, church, and others.

... uncovers the mysteries of life in words that are indescribable.

by Lance Gargus

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

Soul Searching

I Fall Down But I Get Back Up

We all fall down in life. Life has a tendency to knock the breath out of us. Do we just lie there? In Proverbs 24:16 it says :"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again."

One time we could understand. Two times we start to wonder. But seven times? God is not like a man. His mercy is unfathomable. He forgives more times than we can count. What do we do when we fall down? A just man gets right back up. He gets right back in line. He picks himself up. Starts walking back down that road. Back again to the mercy seat of God. Hitting our knees bowed before Him, we say,"Father forgive me. I've failed you again."

We all have messed up in life and had to get punished by our parents. They always seem to know about my mess up. And I always deserved punishment for it. "This hurts me more than it does you." I never understood that until I had children. There was that underlying Love behind that punishment.

Through it all, no matter how many times I messed up or how bad I was, they loved me. Never turning their backs on me. They would always give me another chance. Even when I had noone to call, they were just one phone call away. Waiting on me to call if I needed them. I was their child and nothing on Earth would change that.

God is like that with us. A understanding Father who knows our hearts before we speak it. Some people never had parents to love them. The relationship was torn or severed for some reason. They didn't have someone to run to. But I tell you, they do now.

A father of many chances. He's waiting on you. He patiently waits on all of us. Give the hurt to him. Let him pick you up.

My parents picked me up when I fell down. They fixed my toys when they were broken. When I got older, they helped fix my broken heart. You may not have experienced this growing up. But you have a Heavenly Father that is the great fixer, when it comes to matters of the heart.

You say, ‘you have no idea how many times I’ve messed up,’ it doesn’t matter – I’m introducing you to A God of Many Chances!

He cleans us up and dusts us off. We get back up everytime with His help. Thank you, God, that no matter how many times I fall. I get back up with your help. Then you will pick me up and carry me to your mercy seat.

Lord, I pray for You to help anyone who reads this today. Their lives may have been shattered by mistakes! People may have walked out of their lives and devastated them. This day we come before You for our friends who feel they failed too many times and can't turn to you. May the power of the Holy Spirit make Your presence known. May your comforter, the Holy Spirit, let them feel Your intense love! May they raise their head up. And see Jesus extended hand being given to them. Let them rise up and feel the merciful love You give.

In Your Precious and Holy Name, AMEN!

by Lance Gargus