Thinking Of My Friend

(Click on image to enlarge text)


We've all had those moments of anguish, sorrow, and defeat, and for some of us, it is not moments, or hours, days, weeks, or even months, but an indeterminable time of that feeling of total despair, and emptiness.

Those times when it feels that we are walking completely alone, no matter how brief the time span, when we are hurting to the very depth of our being, it can seem an eternity.

Our only consolation comes from knowing in Whom we have believed, and being fully persuaded, that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him. 2 Timothy 1:12

This one thing we know: God loves us with an everlasting love, and He knows our weaknesses, and our strengths. His word says that He will never put on us, more than we are able to bear, and He will be there by our side to help us, and to carry us when we are too weak to walk alone.

I love these words from the song, "The Love of God," because they are so true:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

This was written by Frederick M. Lehman in 1917, based on the Jewish poem, "Haddamut," written by Cantor Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai, in 1050, in Worms, Germany.

As I write this, I am thinking of my friend, Z, of geeeeeZ! blog. She is going through a difficult time right now, but she will be sustained by her faith, which was shared by her beloved husband, Mr. Z.

He knew, and experienced, the Love spoken of here.

I love you, Z.

Proper Attribution For Essay By Author Lee Pitts

To any of my readers who read a post I did awhile back, by the title of "Dirt Roads," I would like for you to be made aware of the fact that Paul Harvey is not the author of that wonderful essay, as I had thought. It seems that Mr. Harvey was very fond of the piece, and read it, publicly, quite often, but always gave Lee Pitts, the author who actually wrote it, proper credit for it...unfortunately, others like myself, not being aware of the real author, did not give Mr. Lee proper attribution. The essay is only one of many, in the book, "People Who Live at the End of Dirt Roads," and illustrated by Don Dane.

I apologize to Mr. Pitts, and recommend that if you haven't read the essay, that you will read it now, because it is so full of wisdom, and a wonderful memory jogger. If only what he wrote about those times were still true, today. Perhaps, somewhere, they still are, and I hope so, but I wonder.

You can check out information about the book here, and here, where you will be able to see that it is now a collector's item, but some used paperbacks may still be available.

Thank you, Mr. Pitts, for calling this to my attention. Now, I know that there is a whole book filled with these wonderful essays.

That's a picture of the book at the top of the page, found on Amazon.com and when you click on it there, at Amazon, you will be able to see the titles of all of the essays in the book.

Peace

Peace, as defined by the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary can mean many things, but the one I'm pursuing at this moment is "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions."

It isn't easy to obtain at the moment. As I watch, day by day, the unfolding events in the political world, fear, apprehension, and uncertainty become nagging, little undercurrents, in the process of my thinking, to the point where they become oppressive.

It is not easy to be at peace when one has no confidence in the newly elected leader of our nation. Never have I felt, nor sensed in others, such a sense of foreboding.

I know that no man can offer the peace that passes understanding, so I go to the One Who is able to do that.

Here are some words that offer, to me, a sense of peace. I hope they will mean something to you, too.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Isaiah 32:17)

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalms 4:8)

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (Isaiah 54:10)

*I posted this awhile ago, but in reading these scriptures, again, I felt comforted, so I posted it, once more.

May you feel peace, today, and new hope for tomorrow.