Or Did the Devil?
How to know
If I’m at fault?
Or would this person
Unremittingly
Find fault again?
O broken heart,
How many failings
Did I impart?
How many breakings
Were caused by me? —
Or did the devil
Stealthily deceive?
Posts tagged ‘forgiveness’
Strength
Every burden
Borne with grace
Advances all
The human race
Every cheek,
To other turned
Absorbs their violence —
Hate is spurned
Every insult
Not rebuked,
Will throw your enemies
For a loop
To not strike back,
Withhold revenge,
Shows strength and power
In the end
Suffering Servant
Weighed down
By our sin and suffering,
You sweated blood.
How did you persevere?
Knowing the evil within us,
You still loved us.
Having mercy,
You forgave.
You healed.
Confronting evil,
You were crucified.
Freely laying down your life,
You took it up again.
Savior of the world,
Save us!
Present Savior
Jesus my redeemer,
Healer of all wounds,
Strength amidst our weakness,
Defense against our doom.
Breath that brings refreshment,
Song that calms the soul,
Heart that brings forgiveness,
Words that make us whole.
Teaching us Your wisdom,
Holy Spirit’s gift —
Sacrificed all for us,
From hell our souls does lift.
Victor over evil,
Vanquished Satan’s power,
Present in our suffering,
In our darkest hour.
Evil has no power
When you present are.
Help us to remember
Your presence every hour.
Woman at the Well
No one else could make me see,
My faults, my failings,
Without embarrassing me.
I suddenly
Came face to face
With my selfishness.
I still don’t know
If I see it all.
Goodbye to a Friend (Reprise)
Lord, when the feelings end,
And things are still the same,
It takes some faith
For feelings great,
To love without pretense.
When things seem all awry,
When it’s so hard to try,
Must just express
Some bitterness,
And then let bitterness die.
Who did I think you were
That you should meet all needs?
You’re just a person
Whom I conversed with —
Not God, to Whom I plead.
Warmth in the Cold
Warmth in the cold — how often do we take it for granted?
A fire, a heater in our home, a warm jacket, a cap that covers our head and ears, a warm scarf, socks and shoes or boots, blankets, quilts, or comforters. And how about the warmth of a smile, a hug, a gentle voice, a forgiving or encouraging friend?
I once stayed a weekend at a cabin in Grass Valley, California. All the heating, cooking, and hot water was produced by burning wood. On mornings there would be a designated person who got up first and got the fire going for heating the cabin. People took turns because it wasn’t so pleasant getting up in the cold. Then, if you wanted to get clean in the shower, water had to be heated by burning wood. Cooking was a lot more work, too. In the United States and other places, we take our electric or gas heaters and ovens for granted.
So today, let’s be grateful for warmth. And Lord, help us to offer your warmth to someone today.
clarakatalin 
“For everyone has sinned …”
Once I was watching a documentary about the Nuremberg Trials (in which prominent Nazis were on trial for World War II war crimes). A Jewish man who was present related how he suddenly fainted during the testimony of one of the accused. When asked why he fainted, he said, “Suddenly I realized that I, too, was capable of the same horrible actions.”
We ALL need forgiveness. We cannot do any good without God’s help.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)
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