The Ways We Want

Faith can sit down before mysteries and say 'The Lord is good'.

(From the book Consolation by Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman)

'Our grief can never be greater than God's.'

(from my oldest sister who called this morning)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, 

a worker who does not need to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Tim.2:15

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Right now I believe many in our church family feel

utterly heartbroken, leaving nothing remaining but 

to entrust our broken pieces to the Hands of the Potter/Healer!

Oh Lord, your ways are not our ways...

Then search and know our hearts;

Try and know our anxieties;

 And see if there is any wicked way in us,

And lead us in the way everlasting.

(Ps.139:23-24)

The ways that we would orchestrate through fancy's earth-dimmed lures

Would oft serve to alleviate what faith alone endures 

Because we cannot comprehend God's thoughts, misunderstood 

Or how He guards Want's ways that wend in conflict to our good  

For though our spirit boasts of noble mind, the flesh is weak 

We are not nat'rally inclined to want what we should seek

 Or to be boldly unashamed to take God at His Word

The ways we want would rush untamed to ruin undeterred 

 God, rich in love and mercy, ordains ways beyond our ken

He guides us through Time's sin-cursed vein to victory. Amen

Our grief is His; where sorrows fret He sorrows all the more

Sometimes we are prone to forget where earth-dimmed views implore  

...then, because what we suffer God has suffered too, He grants

His Comforter; a buffer against darts of Circumstance

We need you, Lord, to intercede, in ways where we would roam

Without Your rod and staff to lead us safely Home, sweet Home

Janet Martin