Why Does A Prayer Have to Be Grand and Flowery?

Why does a prayer have to be grand and flowery? The best prayers come out of struggles. Broken, desperate hearts say the best prayers. Cause these prayers come from the deepest parts of the heart. From the innermost chambers, where no one is allowed. This plea, this cry was was what Christ Himself appealed to the Father. "My God, My God, Why has thou forsaken me?'" If the Son can feel like that in His storm, does the Father not understand we who are far less do? Paul said, "This too, shall pass." But it seems like it never does, doesn't it. There's always a new storm over the horizon. Bow your head, and push on.....

Don't Let Someone Steal Your Joy and Happiness

My father use to say, "Don't let someone steal your joy and happiness. Don't allow them to determne how you feel." I wonder through the pain how this concept truly works cause no man is an island. And your reflection of who are is by how others react to you. Yet, my dad had transcended this. He had reached a point in his life where he made a choice. A choice to be happy in spite of the painful darts life threw at him. And as I carry his and my brothers crosses and endure the ...struggles they endured. I realize on this path, they went before me. They left provisions of knowledge and wisdom to help guide me on this path. Roadmarkers to strengthen and encourage my heart. And a guidebook with these words written on the inside,"Godspeed and safe journey toward home. Though the sun maybe setting and the pain seems unbearable. Our Lord said, Pain endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
by
Lance Gargus

You Put the Ring There, You Take It Back

It was a Saturday like this that we eloped. No plans, no worries. We made a promise that day. She looked with all the love in her eyes. Adoring me and never breaking her gaze at me. Our eyes never broke the stare. The gold ring shined a yellow luster representing the purity of our love. She placed it on my finger sliding it to the end. Smiling at me with such happiness in her eyes.
The beginning of a life together.
...

The ending of a life together.
It was a Saturday like this that we ended. No plans, all worries. A promise was broke that day. She had no love in her eyes. It had grown cold. She no longer adored me but adored another. She couldnt even look at me. Our eyes no longer met. The gold ring had lost its luster and shine representing the darknening of our love. I said," If you don't love me, you put the ring there, you take it back." With no tears, and no thoughts or feelings, she slid the wedding ring off my hand to the end of my finger. My heart stopped for a moment. Looking at me with nothing in her eyes, she left.
Today would have been my 20th wedding anniversary. My first since the divorce. They say first events for any tragedy is hard. You know what, they were right. To feel is to be human, to hurt is human, let noone in this life belittle you or make you feel like your hurt and pain are not real. It's personal to each one of us. Their day will come. Try not to have a hard heart like them when it does.
My story is my story, one of hundreds, but it is my story and I'm pretty good at telling it. May something I share help someone realize that their not alone in their loss and suffering. Share this story with someone who needs it.

Pursuit Of Material Gain

"But the soul renounced shall abide in the boundlessness of God's life. This is liberty, this is prosperity. The more we lose, the more we gain."
Author:Watchman Nee

As the darkness subsides, slipping off softly in panoramic softness; it does so in spite of whatever prevailing, strong winds present.

Leaving behind the hint of a new day. Alive with the wonderful mysteries that each new day before, has never brought forth.

How refreshing it could be if we were always beholding this blessed phenomenon, before the world has awakened to begin the clamor and din and pollution.

Man handles, or has the same basic philosophy about the world as he does about his life, it's to be used until burned out in pursuit of material gain.

by

James Gargus

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Phillipians 3:7