Immaculate White Smoke

Today we live in a world of technology. We send emails back and forth to people who we have never met and yet, we feel like we have made friends. This is good but there is something we need to keep in mind. With all its comforts and all our wonderful gadgets we are still missing something if we don’t know God’s email address. That would be JesusChrist.com. I have had several operations done to keep me here on earth but although I do thank the doctors for their work, I also praise God for the doctors.

There is a doctor’s office in my town that has a picture that I would love to have but I can’t even find a print of it online. A team of doctors are gathered around a patient on the operating table. Standing there beside them with his hand outstretched as if guiding the surgeon with the scalpel is Jesus, dressed in white. It is a wonderful and comforting picture.

Each time I had open heart surgery performed on me, I found myself wanting to ask God for protection but my heart knew he already knew what I needed. I found myself reciting the 23^rd. Psalm. That’s right, the one that starts out, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

It helped me remind myself that no matter what happened I would not be separated from him. We all have mountains like this to climb. Some are higher than others and some valleys are deeper. That is what I was thinking about when I wrote the next poem.

The Mountain

I saw a mountain standing tall and high

I ask the Lord to move it aside.

The mountain stayed and I wondered why.

So I ask my Lord to make it hide.

He said my child, I will do something more.

I will not move the mountain but give greater faith so you will dare

to climb the mountain that leads to Heavens door.

You will know such joy that you will no longer care

That the mountain was ever standing there.

We have all climbed those mountains. Jesus said if you have the faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains. However, he also said we would have days when we would feel sad or lonely. He never really promised to move mountains. The first question we need to ask is if it is his will that the mountain is moved. We too often ask God for things, comforts, love or even earthly riches. We should ask for eternity in his arms.

I Asked for Love

I asked God to give me comforts to fill my life with joy

He said, “Take comfort in your faith and live it day by day.

I asked God to ease my pain of problems that annoy.

He said, “If you felt no pain, you could not grow that way.”

I begged the Father to give me peace so I’d never want to cry.

He told me that my tears were not the problem for they could easily be wiped away.

I said, “Dear Lord, please give me riches so I will never sigh

‘I know not what tomorrow brings be it feast or famine I cannot say.’

His answer was a resounding ‘no’ but he quickly explained why.

He said, “The riches you will never lose are those not of this world you live in today.

True riches to you, my child are a life eternally with me up high.

No man can take that away from you

You need only to reach for me.

I will swipe you up into my arms, that’s all I need to do

And you will know love for eternity for these are true riches, you see.

At this point I stopped searching for things to ask my God to do.

I simply said, “I love you Lord for you have graciously taught me

That money cannot buy your love, no matter how I try.

You give it freely for you choose me and now your love I will not deny.

If you have kids, you really know the frustration of having one of them hanging onto your leg because they want you buy candy at the store and you said,

“You have had enough for one day.” They will throw temper tantrums and may even shout, “I hate you.” They don’t mean it. They simply are too young to realize what hate is. They are simply frustrated. This is why as a parent we need to be patient with them. They learn from us, you know. They will learn patience by watching us. They can also learn impatience or even hatred if they see us show these destructive attitudes. That is why it is important for us not only to preach what we believe but live it. Read this next poem.

Patience

I asked the Lord for patience,

He gave me sorrow and pain.

I asked the lord for greater strength,

He gave me calluses to my disdain.

I asked the Lord to give me peace,

I find none on the Earth.

I asked the Lord to give me hope,

He did with his son’s birth.

I asked the Lord for a closer walk

With his son to lead the way.

My prayers are nothing more than talk

If when he leads, I find I stray.

I find I ask for more and more

But do I ever give

To the one who suffered wounds so sore?

So that I may live?

Why do I not say “Thank you, Lord

For all the gifts you give

And promise not to ask for more

Than I need each day to live.

For Christ has taken on my sin

And he paid the price for me.

Why do I pray for Earthly Things?

And not for eternity?