Such A Gift

“Jesus,” she whispers.  It’s not the beginning of a prayer.  It’s the whole thing.  She whispers again, “Jesus.”

The room is cold.  The matt she is lying on is thin.  She pulls the threadbare blanket up under her chin, hugs her knees to her chest, and smiles.   Oh, she is rich!

“How can someone so small be given such a gift?” she wonders.   Think of it!  Queens have only pretty rags.  Princes have only tasty crumbs.  But she – a little liebling whom no one will ever notice – owns the world with one word.

“Jesus.”

Cherie D

Jack & Diane: A Parable of Grace and New Life

Once upon a time Jack and Diane went down separate paths. One walked a narrow path and one took a wide path. As life would have it they found folks to love, children to raise and shared life. Through the storms of life and the wounds and brokenness, their marriages were well on to death before they ended. Broken dreams and vows that as a matter of life blew away in the wind of time like the dust in a hot prairie wind. READ MORE

Encouragement From A Friend

I received this email the other day, from someone very close to me.  She works in the medical field, and after 41 years working with sick people, and all the  many problems that go with that, it’s really starting to get to her. The following  is the  very short, and distressing email, followed by  my response.

” I am tired of having to Smile and be Strong, and that is that. ”

I hear you, and I am sorry that you have to endure it. God must have a really good reason for it in your life. Ask Him to share it with you. You’d be amazed how it feels to have the God of the Universe kneel down beside one of His children and share stuff with them. You just want to jump and sing and shout. This because you have heard something important from Him, not because your still frustrated.

Rick

The Hair Cut

Every month, one time I visit the beauty salon in my living area to get my hair cut.  At that time when I visited the hair shop was August, so it was very hot weather in Korea.  When I visited there, nobody stayed except a woman cutter.  When she cutted my hair almost half of my hair, she rapidly READ MORE

Calling All Cowards

Oh, how he loves cowards!  How he is drawn to them.  Irresistibly.  They are his favorites.  Those who sit in corners at parties.  Those who try to look like they don’t mind being alone.  Those who would rather be at home.  Those who simply stay away.

Oh how he loves cowards!  The ones who can’t look up.  Those who mumble and shuffle and swallow hard.  Those who think of the right thing to say after everyone has left.   Those who promise READ MORE

The Broken Chair

When I was a child I used to think that God’s love was conditional upon my being good enough. Today I have learned otherwise. As I have grown and struggled along with the knowledge that I will always fall short of even my own expectations that I set for myself, I now know that I am still accepted in the beloved. Meaning, God loves me in spite of how despicable I may see myself.

I can still remember when I first had this revelation of God’s unconditional love towards me. It was an “ah-ha moment” because I just didn’t expect it. I was in such a READ MORE

The Olive Branch and The Hammer

I tried to carry the weight on my shoulders. The burden you told me to cast away. I tried to swing with all my might. But the sword was to much to bear. I only shattered others. My hands fell by my sides. In despair I weeped. Only to realize in amazing glory. This sword I was not meant to carry. The truth is hidden in the depth of your glory. But it is so simple, why didn’t I see? I could not see what was right there in front of me? The need for Justice is not my right to bear. Holy Spirit you see in truth. Holy Father you judge faithfully. You alone Jesus hold that sword.

B.D.P

The Last Couple Years

The last couple years my life as a Christ follower have taken a Big turn.  I know this might sound dramatic, but it’s not.  It has been a little by little change.  It started after I was awakened to some  new paradigms concerning God’s Love and Grace.  These  were things that I had learned early on as a new Christian, back in May of 1974.  It’s hard for me to fathom, that I had to come all the way back to the beginning  to find what I was looking for. READ MORE

Winding Staircase

Winding staircase building in our hearts;
Up we go, your face we see.
We do not notice, no way back;
The stairs have crumbled, no freedom in the past.
Up, to the stars you take us;
Death lost its sting;
Life with us;
Friend, Savior, Jesus …

B.D.P

Forgiveness – Dale Lang

On April 28th 1999, barely a week after the Columbine massacre, two students were shot in their school, one fatally. Dale Lang tells the story from a father’s point of view, and shares the power of healing in forgiveness.

After 11 years and countless schools, conventions, prayer breakfast, we are pleased to be able to share through video the story that has touch many lives . There are 5 parts (see below).

READ MORE

Daddy

Daddy I’m sitting on Your foot Holding on Your leg, sure is fun When we play, You always have time! You trip and fall, we wrestle In the grass, I shriek with glee As You tickle me! We rest under a tree, my head On Your knee, running Your fingers Through my hair. I love You Daddy, I worship You! Our hearts become one, I love You Lord! You are my God, there is no other!

David R

Earthquake

A shadow stretches across our land.

In it’s twilight we huddle in fear.

Ideology has become our identity.

Together we huddle in comfort.

We look up to the heavens and wonder why sun does not shine?

READ MORE

Riker’s Song

(First Game)
Daddy…  what’s going on?
Daddy who are all the faces?
I’m not so sure about this Daddy but I’m sure about you.

So many children Daddy.
I’ve never played soccer Daddy.
I’m not sure about this Daddy but I am sure about you. READ MORE

I Love You

Falling

Do you think I can stop needing you? Can a mother push away her only child? Can a man stop the beating of his own heart? If you knew…if you only knew…

Blessed child, you who changed me forever, no one moves me the way you do. I do weep. I do. At the sound of your name. READ MORE

The Story of Zac Smith

Lost & Found

I was lost, now I’m found.  Everything seemed pointless and I was wandering aimlessly.  Why go to work?  Why go back to school?  Why get out of bed in the morning?  What’s the point?  Then I met Jesus.  It wasn’t the first time, but it sure felt like it; rekindling those embers in my soul till they billowed into a raging fire.  Maybe it was the first time?  Maybe I’d only known about Him previously?  I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter.  It changed me; saved me; infused my life with color.  Some things still seemed pointless, but not me.  I didn’t feel pointless anymore.  He didn’t take away all my frustrations and life hasn’t been easy.  But I’m not pointless anymore.  And He walks with me through the pointless things, the difficult things, and the empty things; and they seem somehow less empty.  That is Jesus in my life.  It makes all the difference in the world to me.

Here In Your Presence

Here in Your presence, I come with broken heart, Oh restorer of my soul. I humbly come on my face into Your presence, Glory to the King of Kings, Oh lifter of my head, the lifter of my weary broken heart.

For You alone are Holy, knowing the ache of my heart, how I long to see You, to walk hand in hand on mountain path. To rest in your lap, head on Your chest, letting Your heartbeat drown all noise and worry out. READ MORE

The Journey

The Wise Men must have known it all along, but in our day men come to find out the truth of it in bits and pieces. The secret is simple; if you want to find the Saviour, you must set out in search of Him. Unlike the world where mankind used to live, it isn’t easy to find Him down here. This is unfriendly territory, there is no guiding star. The fact is if left to his own devices, man will rise no higher than the environment in which he lives. We live in an earthly world where, for the time being, the adversary rules. Without a constant premeditated effort toward righteousness, we ourselves fall back to earthly living. To rise above such a Fall, man must go in search of One who has the power to redeem. Much like the wise men, our search will require the crossing of deserts, hunger, thirst, fatigue and a lifetime of obedience and sacrifice. During the search we will be told there is no King, or another is the rightful King. In the end, if the pattern of our lives is consistent with our search, we will find Him; we will meet Him face to face. The key to our quest or search lies in the journey. It will not matter that we find Him if we have not, during the process, strived to become like Him.

Alf R

Last Night I was Sleeping

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk? READ MORE

A Sparrows Tale

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Mt 10:29

Once upon a time a Momma bird hatched new baby sparrows. One sparrow was bigger and stronger than the other sparrows of the nest. With time, he grew faster, grew grander than his compatriots. There was so little this sparrow couldn’t do and became legendary among the other sparrows. Creatures of the air and land would come from all over to watch this one amazing sparrow fly, soar and sing. Like all things great, many loved him. Many wanted to be like him. Many wanted to be in his presence as it somehow made them more popular, important and special, well, at least so they thought. As many loved our hero the sparrow, others disliked him. Others were critical of him calling him to standards that no mere sparrow could ever live up to. The higher he flew, the louder he sang, the bigger a flock he drew, the more the criticism and out cry for un-sparrow like perfection. READ MORE

Healing Song

The Healing Song is one of many of Andre LeFebvre’s songs which seems to create an atmosphere within my heart that I can experience God in a profoundly peaceful and restorative way.  It is to me a melodious embrace which God has used  to lift off the burdens of the day and to touch deeply, the more profound hurts from the bumps along the journey.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Doldrums

Strange how the clouds come in; swirling gently around hills, caressing the land as they descend into the valleys of green; before long they have smothered the entire verdant landscape.  A quiet lays heavily upon the fields, and all seems motionless.  So is my mind now—again, for it seems all too regular these days.  Almost as a drunken stupor veiling my cogency with its heavy influence, a quiet hush imprints itself upon my occasionally frenetic thoughts; momentum is lost in that haze, and all attempts at forging new thoughts, new paths, new articulations—fall flat and silent long before their time. READ MORE

Completion

There was nothing but God in the beginning, and it was perfect just like that. Yet, he made a hole in himself, removed his own rib, and made us. With that choice, he created – for the very first time – longing. For suddenly, he wanted. His heart would never be whole again until joined to us. Why would he choose to desire? Why would be abstain from wholeness, fasting from fulfillment, until reunited with his helpmate? So that we could know the pleasure he gave up – the pleasure of completion.

by Cherie D

Echo