Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts

Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Lord is Near

Pressed beyond measure; yes, pressed to great length,
Pressed so intensely, beyond my own strength,
Pressed in my body and pressed in my soul,
Pressed in my mind till the dark surges roll,
Pressure from foes and pressure from dear friends,
Pressure on pressure till my life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God,
Pressed into loving His staff and His rod,
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living my life for the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

(This was passed on to me by a lovely saint. I don't know the author, but it must have been someone like Paul who said, "Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." Come, Lord Jesus.)

Monday, July 21, 2008

The Lord is near

When my heart is weary I often turn to my "book mentors" Elisabeth Elliot and Amy Carmichael. What sweet fellowship they provide--turning my thoughts from self to God.

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,
What matter beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee?

Hold us quiet through the age-long minute
While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:
Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?
Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?
--Amy Carmichael

The Lord is near.