Expanse
For as far as the eye can see
I am left wondering

God never promised us a life without pain
A life without hardship
A life without a hurting heart
And some fear

God has promised that he will lead us when the going gets tough
But we have to follow

"Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives your purpose and meaning." ~ Morrie Schwartz, as recorded by Mitch Albom in Tuesdays With Morrie.

What ultimately matters is the treasures you build up in heaven, rather than what you have on earth.

Psalm 723

On studying prayers in the Bible (among them being the Lord's prayer) the adult Bible study class that I lead was to answer the question: "What would you want to ask of God today?"  However, due to a great discussion, we didn't get to share our prayers that we wrote ahead of time with each other.  So I thought to share it with everyone here.  And of course, I wrote it like a poem.

Image: Rainer Knäpper, License: artlibre

You are there in the midst of the storm, dearest Lord.  
Over the thunder's roar and the blinding lightning, 
You make your presence known.  
You comfort us and you keep us safe in your arms.  
Even when all that we seem to feel is chaos
And all that we hear is the storm, help us, dear Lord.  
Please help us to remember that it was you who gave the storm its power.  
You created the thunderous roar.  
The winds blow and die away at your whim
And the lightning strikes where you decree.
We are strong in your presence,
Because you are guiding us with and through the storms of life.
Amen

So often we wonder what our life is supposed to be like
What we are supposed to do
What we are supposed to be

Too often we spend too much time wondering, and not enough time doing
Too often we sit and contemplate instead of taking a path
We're too afraid of choosing the wrong path
That we often miss the right path

Life is about trust
Life is about believing
Life is about hope and faith and love
Life is about living
Life is what happens to you while other plans are being made
As John Lennon said

So I challenge myself
Just as I challenge you
To take a step out of your comfort
And live a life that was meant to be lived

I have been thinking on this since I read it as a status on Facebook:

"In many cases, when a person says they'll pray for someone or that someone is in their prayers, 1) they don't, or 2) they do to make themselves feel as though they've contributed towards helping a cause."  This person then goes on to call the act of praying for others as a selfish ego boost.

I have a problem with this.  As a Christian, I am called to uplift others in prayers.  The very act of telling others that you are praying for them, if you are sincere about it, shows to those whom you pray for that they are thought about.  Sometimes, it is the only thing one can do.  I can't often physically assist others through a troubling time, or be with someone going through surgery, but I can let them know I am thinking about them and lift prayers to God to guide them.

Now I know that not everyone follows there same spiritual path, but to claim that something as simple as offering a prayer up to some supreme being is an act  of a selfish ego-boosting individual bothers me greatly. Yes, there are some who do it just to make themselves feel better, but I have met some very strong prayer warriors of many different walks of faith who do pray as a selfless act to aid in the well being of others. 

And since I have chosen to walk the way of the Christian, I leave you with these words: 

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances....." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18a (NRSV)

What is good about having a Bible
If I don't strive
To be alive
To live as God has wanted me to be
To see
That what I do and say
Reflects HIS way
I need to live in the Word
And not just read it