In the Weavers Hand

Not until each loom is silent,

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the pattern

And explain the reason why

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weavers skillfull hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

For the pattern which He planned.

...that we may trust Him

Why the pain and suffering?

Why do we have to watch others bang their heads against walls? Make the same mistakes over and over again, and wonder if and when they will ever learn? You've done it once, do you have to do it again? Are you trying to waste your life?

I watch it happen continually. Sometimes it hits closer to home than I would like. Why can't that stuff stay out here? Why can't it stay out of my world? But it doesn't...

I liken it to the scene in Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan where the pilgrims where shown to a room where a man was going through straw and trash on the ground hunting for something...something... some treasure. He kept on combing through that stubble looking for something that he would never find. He utterly refused to look up. If he had of, he would have seen the angel standing above him holding the crown of life out to him. But he would not.

Pain and suffering can soften us. It can make us comforters to others in their pain. It can make us more patient and understanding. It oft makes us tender. Don't let it make you hard and bitter for it can. Instead let it do its molding work. God is working something in each of our lives. Trust in His will and His Sovereignty. And always remember that in the pain we bear, Christ bears a part that none can bear below. We do not go through suffering alone, Christ walks the whole way with us being our Guide and stay. And He knows the way, because He walked it all before.

Things that hurt and things that mar
Shape the man for perfect praise;
Shock and strain and ruin are
Friendlier than the smiling days.

Why do we have to see the death of loved ones?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

"Some good men have to die so that others will be saved."

Why? This is an often asked question. Why does it have to be that way? Because sometimes that is what it takes to wake some people up. Sometimes people need a jolt like that before they will turn to God, realizing their need of a Saviour. We wish it didn't have to be that way. But God knows best. And He knows why He allows the crooked ways, that we cannot see why. That we cannot see around the next bend, that everything looks dark. He allows it so that we will trust Him more. So that we will lean on Him for our daily strength. When we don't understand, that is the time to cast it all on Him, that He knoweth best and He will guide us through each day.

We must wait till He explains,
Because we know that Jesus reigns.

It puzzles me; but Lord, Thou understandest,
And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out the best -
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.

Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on Thee,
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee.

So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle,
And trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand.
F. E. M. I.

Where Are You Standing?

A life that is on fire be only our hearts' desire.

Where are you standing? Today as I cleaned the kitchen I was thinking...

So many people don't realize...they want God but they want the world also, so they try to mix it. It doesn't work. When you mix hot and cold, what do you get? Not hot, not cold, but lukewarm. What does God say He will do with those who are lukewarm? "I will vomit you out of my mouth..." Rev. 3:16

God obviously does not have a very high opinion of those who are lukewarm. Be one or the other, but don't try to mix them for it doesn't work.

I know, we don't like to be different. We don't like to stand apart. But that is what God is calling us to do! That is what we are here for! To show unto others that there is something better and higher than the "norm!" If we don't act any different than 'everybody' else, how will that bring glory to God? How will that honor our Creator? If we go to church one day a week and the rest of the time do what we want, how will that glorify God? People will just say, "They arn't any different than me, why do I have to be a Christian? They haven't anything better." ....Neither hot nor cold, just somewhere in the middle....

Friends, we must live, act, talk, dress, and be a living light of Christ. We must not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. We have to be different. To let Christ live out His life within us, making us sons and daughters of the most High. We need to live as though we are Christians. So that people will look and say, "He/she is different, I can tell by looking at them, they have something I don't have....I want to know what it is." Not so that they look at us and say, "I don't want to be like him/her; what's wrong with them anyhow?" How would that be honoring to God?

Seek the Lord, ask Him to kindle a fire in your life, a fire for God. A glowing, hot one. That all those passing by will be able to feel the warmth.

If we are not standing now in times of 'ease,' how will we stand in hard times? Will we have the oil to to carry us through? Or will we run out of oil like the foolish virgins? Will we be lukewarm? Or glowing hot? Will we be strong or weak? Will we stand firm on the solid rock or fall on the sinking sand? Which will you be? Which do you want to be? Which is God calling you to be?