Open Your Clenched Fist and Offer Your Hand Instead...

My husband and I had the wonderful experience of hearing Don Piper give his testimony on Saturday night. For those who might not know of Don Piper, he is the author of "Ninety Minutes in Heaven," and several other books. If you haven't read "Ninety Minutes in Heaven," run, don't walk, to the nearest book store and get it.

I received the book at a writing conference. After reading it, I offered it to my husband. He was having a difficult time accepting the limitations his health imposed on his activities. He was angry and bitter. My husband doesn't read books, but he read this one. I believe God was at work in our home. The book changed my husand's perspective and ultimately our lives. Now my husband realizes that he can still do things he likes to do. It may take a bit longer, but who puts a time limit on our actions but us? Having realistic goals based on our individual limits makes sense.

One of the things Don Piper said during his testimony really hit me. He said we could raise a clenched fist high and cry "Why, God?" But then he took that clenched fist and opened his fingers, extending his hand down and said, "Let me help you." What a wonderful thing to remember.

What good does it do to feel sorry for ourselves and place blame on God for the bad things that happen? Better that we take that negative energy and turn it into good. Offer your understanding, your support, and your love to others. You will be blessed so much more than if you dwell in anger and negativity.

We tend to forget all the wonderful things that God does for us...and many times we don't even notice them. However, God always listens to our prayers. And He answers, if we listen. Sometimes His answer is no, and sometimes it takes a long time for Him to answer. But isn't it wonderful to know that God ALWAYS listens to us?

A Little Rose Bush...

As I look out my window, I see a little rose bush covered with green leaves basking in the morning sunshine. Just two months ago, the bush looked dead. Snow buried the ground, and ice covered the branches. The bush painted a desolate picture.

Spring is one of the most loved seasons of the year. It's a promise of new beginnings, rebirth, and nature's beautiful bounty. The anticipation of the beauty to greet my view in a few short weeks lifts my spirits. I wonder if this is the same feeling that filled the hearts of those who looked at the empty tomb. Surely, God's promise had been fulfilled. Jesus had risen to give all who believe the promise of a new life in heaven.

Spring is here. Jesus is with us.

A Testimony to God's Grace

I have learned that Jesus always hears our prayers and he answers if we just listen. Usually my husband and I take turns saying grace, and many times he will ask me to do it because he says I pray more eloquently than he does. But, we should remember that Jesus hears what is in our hearts, not just the words we say aloud. It is what is inside that matters. Many people "speak" the words, but they do not carry the words within their hearts. Mere words are meaningless unless they are backed by a true belief, a true faith.

Joseph M. Scriven, in 1855, penned the following lyrics which are so very dear to my heart:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

It is a privilege to carry our burdens to God in prayer.

Since December, my husband has had a serious illness. His bladder stopped functioning and he was admitted to the hospital with acute renal failure. I found myself in constant prayer. I wasn't ready to lose my husband, but I knew that God was in control. Worse, I had retired from my job and only then learned that my husband was not eligible to enter into Medicare Part B. What were we to do? I turned the burdens to God and He lifted us up. The VA accepted my husband under hardship due to the drastic change in our income since we would only have our social security to live on. It took months of getting through all the necessary steps with various doctors to finally get my husband scheduled for surgery. But, we waited patiently knowing God was the ultimate physician. On March 29, my husband has surgery. We learned on April 6, that the surgery was successful! Finally, after nearly four months of having to live with a catheter, my husband is healed. God is so gracious! He knew the outcome, and we just had to trust in Him, be faithful, and patient.

I don't know how we would have survived if we hadn't turned to God in prayer. Hallelujah!

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Thank you, Mr. Scriven, for such a heartwarming reminder of the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A King's Burden

Today, I'd like to share a poem I wrote which I hope touches your heart on this glorious Easter Sunday.

A King's Burden
by Carol Ann Erhardt

Whenever life may get you down,
And you want to smile, but wear a frown,
And burdens heavy on you lay,
Your headache just won’t go away,
Just fall upon your knees and pray.

Beaten with a lead-tipped whip,
Skin laid bare in criss-crossed strips,
Fists of iron struck His face,
They mocked to put Him in His place,
A crown of thorns to add disgrace.

A wooden cross He bore alone,
Stumbling through the streets of stone,
They nailed Him to the cross that day,
He, who was born in a bed of hay,
“Forgive them Father,” he was heard to say.

They laid Him in a tomb so dark,
And rolled a stone upon its mark,
To seal His tomb would be in vain,
On Easter morn He rose again,
Leaving behind the earthly pain.

So when your life you start to dread,
Remember the whip with tips of lead,
The crown of thorns upon His head.

And when your heart is full of pain,
And you feel your life has been in vain,
Remember how He rose again.

And when your burdens heavy lay,
Remember the cross He bore that day,
Then fall down on your knees and pray.