WHEN STORM CLOUDS GATHER

Our church family at McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee, Georgia just lost a very special lady. Her name was Laura Ide and she is gone much too soon. Her sweet spirit, love and encouragement that she shared with everyone will be TRULY missed....and the only good thing we can say about her passing is that she is now at home with her Heavenly Father....which got me to thinking after my Quiet time this morning.

There our three kinds of people in this world...the Optimist; the Pessimist; and the Realist. I like to think that most of God's people fall in that third category. Why? Because we know that LIFE IS HARD AND THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE; BUT MORE THAN THAT...BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOD'S PEOPLE. And in this fallen and sin-sick world, it will be that way until Christ returns; however, Christ told us He would NEVER LEAVE US....and more than that, HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD. I pray that today's poem that follows allows you to reflect on that simple thought....WE WHO BELIEVE ARE IN THE FATHER'S HANDS....and one day, like our Godly sister, Laura, we will be home with our Father. AMEN!

Living for today....longing for THAT DAY,

WPQ

WHEN STORM CLOUDS GATHER....

When the sun begins to disappear,

As clouds come into view....

You have a few choices

Of what you can prepare to do.

You can grab your umbrella

And prepare for the storm to come;

Or you can march into the darkness

To the beat of your pounding drum.

You can wait for the flash of lightning

Or the thunder overhead....

You can lie still and motionless,

Pretending your are dead.

You can gather those around you

Who with you will face the storm;

Knowing that sometimes in life,

You must abandon the so-called "norm."

You can ever be the optimist

That this storm will soon pass by....

Or as a gloomy pessimist,

You can hang your head and cry.

But if you put your faith and trust

In the Father who reigns on high,

You will not always see things as rosy

Or be the first not willing to try.

For we know that in this world of woe,

Sometimes dark clouds fill the sky;

But we know that as a child of God,

THE FATHER WOULD NEVER LIE!!!

For He has made each of us a promise

To never forsake us nor walk away;

For He and Heaven's throng are waiting

For the coming of THAT DAY.....

The day when the angel shouts

And we hear the trumpet sound....

And EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO HIM

In Heaven, we're gathered round.

To sing our praises with the angels

On that far and distant shore.....

At last we're home with Jesus

And the storms shall be no more!!!!

WPQ © March 2022

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

The  first verse of this age-old hymn, IT IS WELLWITH MY SOUL, says , "When peace like a river, attendeth my way. When sorrow like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."   For many of us that is hard to fathom as we struggle from one day to the next in the quandary of what is occurring in our world today. We ask ourselves, "Is there such a thing as peace; and if so, where can it be found?"

 I live two blocks from the Hiwassee River that runs through our small town of Hayesville, NC. I have walked by this gently flowing river and have truly felt a sense of calm and peace as it serenely winds its way along the gentle slopes of the river bed, making its way into Georgia. It is truly a peaceful experience as you watch the river cascade over fallen trees, broken limbs and large river rocks; however, after a few days of rain here in the mountains, this peaceful tributary becomes a raging, torrent of rushing water that sweeps anything and everything in its path to a different and unfamiliar place of rest...and that is the way the rivers that run through our lives do us...ever changing the landscape and taking away our calm, peaceful lives; often filling our lives with torment and pain.

 

 But we have someone who knows where and how the river will run...and He is always near to help us forge the river to get to the other side...to once again restore the calm and peace that keeps us sane. That peace allows us to lend a helping hand to others who do not know the peace that passes all understanding. I pray that you know that peace today and that you know the Author of all PEACE, JESUS CHRIST. If not, He is waiting for you to call upon His Name and to give your life to Him so that you may know HIS PEACE. Jesus said, " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV

 It is easy to be afraid in today's world...so much violence and bloodshed around the world, and often in our own towns and cities. But Christ came to bring peace to the troubled heart and to create in those who would follow Him, a NEW and GLORIFIED PERSON. That could be you TODAY...you just need to call out for Jesus...and if you need someone to introduce you,

 I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THAT INTRODUCTION. If you already know HIM, then WONDERFUL...the poem that follows is to encourage and to share.  God Bless..

 

The River Of Life

 

The raging river of life flows

Uncharted around each bend

And you need not fear the journey,

If you know where the river ends.

 

The river flows to the throne of God

For those who know His grace;

You will find peace and sweet repose

When you look in the Savior's face.

 

Excerpt from HIS THOUGHTS, MY WORDS

A  Book of Poetry by W. PATRICK QUEEN