As I Raise My Hands by Julie Short

Am I constantly about “My Father’s Business?” So immersed in, focused on, God, not wanting to be distracted by the world. I must not be here on earth for me, living MY life, but be a vessel God can

Use for His Kingdom.

I sometimes raise my hands in church, I thought as a surrender to God.

But, what does surrender mean? Doesn’t it mean giving up one’s self? According to the dictionary: To yield to the possession or power of another.

There have been many times in the last five years that I have said, if I had a white flag I would surrender.

I often wanted to surrender to the pain and agony of death of my daughter Kyra. I wanted to give up

Saying I can’t take the pain anymore.

So am I at a place where I am willing to totally give up myself, my dreams, my wishes, to give up me?

Only then will I be able to receive God when I raise my hands. Yes, this week I heard God say, raise your hands and receive me that I can live through you. Wow, I must be emptied out, I must surrender me, surrender all, only then can I receive God. I now see that we are pipe lines that God can use from heaven to pour out His mercy and grace, pour out His love. But He can only use me if I am empty; if I allow me- selfishness to clog me, the pipe- then God cannot use me. It is only when I surrender all

And receive God and allow Him to flow through me can I truly be what God intended.

I now see that when I raise my hands, I empty myself out and receive God, He then flows through and out into the world for others to see, experience.

My attitude must go,

Attitude according to the dictionary is: a manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing. Tendency or orientation.

Attitude according to God’s Word: Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.

I often find myself thinking and saying I need an “attitude adjustment”

Orient: To adjust with relation to, or bring in due relation to surroundings. To familiarize with new surroundings or circumstances. To direct or position towards a particular object.

I wonder if my attitude is based on my attempt to hold tightly onto myself. I can’t put into words how

The thought of raising my hands to receive God has affected me. Why can’t I give it/me all up and surrender all?

I think there are moments in the last few months that I have. I think it is a continual process; I continually die to self, give up self, surrender self and all to God. Only in those moments can I truly receive God and all He has to pour into and through me.

Why is it so hard to give up myself, it’s not like it has served me well?

Apart from God, I am broken, wretched, so why would I want to hold onto broken and wretched, when I

Can have unfathomable peace and joy?

It’s like I am holding onto me and I am a dead decaying carcass and I am protecting me screaming it’s mine and you can’t have it. Who would want it? God sent Jesus to die so he could remove the dead decaying carcass that is stopping up His pipe. He paid for us to free us to have victory over death. Yet, I continue to hold on. Yuck, what’s up with that?

I wonder if my bad attitude is a reflection of my holding onto a smelly decaying carcass. Would my attitude change if I surrendered the smelly carcass to God?

Your Pain by Julie Short

Today
Suddenly
I was
Able to
Feel
Your pain.

I was so lost
For so long
In my own
Pain

That I couldn’t
Even see
Yours.

I am sickened by
Your burden
Willing to use
All my wishes
To wipe your
Pain away.

It was at that moment
I realized
Why you had to walk away.
You felt my pain.

I want to be there
For you
To
Pray with you
And for you

And let you know
That God doesn’t
Leave us
And He makes
ALL things
Beautiful
In His time.

OVERWHELMED !!!!! by Donna (Ensign) Woods

HURRY!!...Get in the car.
Taking Madison to the E.R.
So much discomfort and pain,
Pray for no traffic or train.
Fever won't break...
How much can a baby take ?
Blood tests and x-rays...
Seem to take days !
My stomach...turning, churning...
As my mind is burning.
Feeling like I can't breathe
Praying God will answer and relieve.
Her tiny body swelling...
Waiting...waiting...no one's telling.
CAT scan reveals the news,
There are no choices in which to choose.
...Big tumor....must come out !
What is this Dr. talking about ????
She's only 14 months old...
Hanging on every word we're told
For an ambulance...there isn't time,
...They helicopter Life Line !!!
So weak I can't stand !
This was never planned !!
Waiting for Maddy...a surgery team...
This must be some horrible dream !!
Her fearful, pleading eyes...
Hearts breaking with her cries...
Reeling from shock, this can't be true
So desperate...nothing we can do !
I fall to the floor to pray...
"Please dear Lord, don't take her away !!"
Cry so hard and pray so much,
For our Savior's healing touch.

Friends by Tana LeMay

We meet many friends throughout our life time. Some are with us for many years, while others come and go. Some will always live in our memories. Others may be so fleeting, the memories hazy, we may not even recall their name. But each leave an impact, teaching us things about ourselves and the world around us.
I met my first friend in kindergarten. Her name was Katie. We were inseparable for the next three years. Katie had a vivid imagination. She taught me to dream, to find the magic in stories and songs. We "filmed" many movies in her backyard. Most involving a damsel in distress, rescued by her knight in shining armor. Yes, we loved those kind of fairy tales, with happy endings.
My friend Diana taught me that pain is a part of loving others. Her family moved to Newton when I was in second or third grade. Diana was a take charge person. Sometimes, a little bossy. She loved to play games; board games, outdoor games, anything with a little challenge. She only lived in Newton for a couple of years. I was heartbroken when she moved away, sure I would never have a friend like her again.
Diana's moving was an opportunity, though. A chance to widen my horizon. I was fortunate to be in a class of kids that got along well with each other. I attended many slumber parties with 10 to 20 giggling, loud, shrill girls. (Those parents were saints, or maybe just plain crazy.)
The first of my lifelong friends came into my life during junior high and high school. The four of us did everything together. You knew where one of us was, the other three would soon follow. We all live in separate communities now, but the strong ties of friendship remain. Time has not dissolved that link. We shared each other's joy of first love, college graduation, marriage, children, and our children's graduations. We've also shared each other's pain - news of debilitating illness, loss of loved ones, employment woes, etc. Miles may separate us, the busyness of life may keep us from speaking for a few weeks/months, but we each know we're only a phone call away.
All relationships require a gift of sacrifice, a willingness to take time to enjoy their lives. I've learned to cherish my friends, to be thankful for their presence, to appreciate whatever time we have together.

Proverbs 17:17 -
A friend loves at all times.

Scars by Theresa Zuber

My Savior healed a man’s shriveled hand (Matt 12:10-13), yet still chose to keep the scars in his own. Was it so Thomas could believe? Did Jesus know the nail prints in his hands would be such a moving reminder of the sacrifice he made? I wonder if his heavenly hands still bear the marks.

My life is sometimes jagged, painful & ugly. I’d like God to take away all evidence of these gaping wounds. But he knows that life’s trials are what shape my character and build my spiritual muscles. He wants me to look at these “scars” as beauty marks; reminders of the mercy, grace, faithfulness & love that he provides to carry me through.

Point of Grace has a song called, “Heal the Wound.” The chorus has this beautiful message: “Heal the wound but leave the scar; a reminder of how merciful you are. I am broken, torn apart. Take the pieces of this heart, heal the wound but leave the scar.”

Lord, I am so thankful for your mercy and grace. Help me to look upon painful times in my life and see only a beauty mark that reminds me of your love, healing power and your ability to make all things work for the good of those who love you. (Romans 8:28)