The Calling
April 13, 2008 at 3:15 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: choice, clay, condemnation, embrace, faith, Father, ground, Hope, mud, pride, restoration, shame, unbelief, walk
Here i am again. Right back where i started. A place i never wanted to return. Yet i am the one who returned. It was my choice to turn from Your way and step out on my own. Now my walk has become a stumble and the road has turned to mud. My feet of clay sink deeper and deeper into the mush and slime. Though the trip wearies me so and i know it doesn’t have to be this way, i trudge along anyway. Pride and unbelief weigh me down, making me sink deeper into the miry ground. I hear You calling my name but the tears in my eyes sting and remind me it was my folly that got me in this mess. Covered in this mud that is my shame, i doubt that i could ever be in Your presence again. As these thoughts fill my mind another thought comes. Only this thought does not condemn but it gives me hope and restores my faith. No, this isn’t my thought at all-it is Your voice that i hear! You tell me that You knew the choices i would make and the wrong turns i would take. You knew the day would come when my heart would stray til i became painfully aware that nothing else i pursue could ever take the place of You. When i could no longer bear the pain and there was nowhere else to turn You would take me back with arms wide open. Because of Your great love for me You allowed me to stray but You have never taken Your eyes off of me. Now You are calling me back. From my marshy pit i cry, “Father, frogive me for my rebellious pride that has brought me to this awful place. Bring me back to Your embrace and keep me at Your side!”. Already i feel my strength returning as You lift me from the mud and set my feet on solid ground. Thank You, most precious Heavenly Father!
cindyinsd said,
April 13, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Charis,
What a beautiful poem. I’m so glad I stumbled across it. It so says it all–as if you were reading my own heart. Thanks.
I don’t know about you, but I have struggled a lot with guilt over the past. I know that’s not God’s will–that’s why He sent Jesus. He wants us to get on with following Him, though without forgetting what He has done for us. I was studying 1 Corinthians 1. Verse 8 says,
“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
It’s not a very long verse, but God gave me a revelation that still touches my heart weeks later . . .
When we are born again, truly converted, it’s not just that God pretends we’re pure–not just that He forgives our impurity (though He does that), but that we really are new. We truly did die in Christ. We are actually in simple fact clean and new and pure and holy and perfect. It’s not that Jesus stands in front of us so that God doesn’t see our sin. Our sin is gone. We are genuinely pure.”
God’s strength,
Cindy
Charis said,
April 14, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Thank you, Cindy. I’m so glad you found my blog and so glad you enjoyed the poem. Guilt is definitely something i struggle with myself and more and more i realize i am not the only one. That was the reason for the poem and the reason i love to share through blogging. Thanks for sharing with me-it has encouraged me further. I do hope you will be back. I’d love to hear more from you too! God Bless, Charis
christy said,
April 15, 2008 at 11:13 am
That is very pretty!
you daghter said said,
April 15, 2008 at 12:58 pm
that is so true i am glad that you made you blog you have made so much friends like Cindy and inspirebrio and more well i love you keep up the good work!
Wendy Whitlow said,
April 15, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Well put. I enjoyed this very much.
Wendy
Charis said,
April 15, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Thank you Christy and Rachel. And thank you, Wendy; i’m glad you came back. It’s so good to hear from you again!
Mary Katherine said,
April 15, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Ok so we missed you this morning it was all on God’s unfailing love that God is the Good sheperd, our deliver, and our healer. Girl i have tried three different ways to write what I learned from week 8 so if you have not please stop and run through the work it is so very good.
Hope to see you soon mary katherine
Read Psalm 62:1-2 and 5-7
No matter how long any of us struggle, God is not giving up on us. He is our inexhaistible well of living water. Beth Moore
sherriwinfrey said,
April 16, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thanks for sharing Mary Katherine. I missed everyone yesterday as well and look forward to being back next week. Now, i am going to look at those Scritpure references! Thanks again, Mary Katherine.
Rswinfrey said,
April 16, 2008 at 9:58 am
sorry you missed the bible study!