poetry – Page 9 – Broken Believers

Limits of Mental Illness

Mental illness is so limited,

It cannot cripple love,

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode our faith.

It will never destroy peace.

It cannot.

It will never kill friendship,

It cannot suppress memories.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot steal eternal life.

It cannot conquer eternal life.

It cannot conquer your spirit.

Amen.

P.S. I have received some criticism over the contents of this post. The argument is that mental illness is very destructive, and that I’m misleading others by suggesting it isn’t. The thinking is that we dwell on the past and how it effects the present moment. I believe we have a mental illness. But I also believe more strongly so that Christ redeems us completely. “Because he lives,” goes the old hymn, “I can face tomorrow.”

In the “heat of the moment” the situation can seem overwhelming. Our illness can be completely devastating. However the Holy Spirit is yet to fully redeem us, yet we still must view this coming event as something triumphant and total. This life is not the end. What a relief to shed this mortal darkness!

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:3-4

Welcome He Who Limps

Pray don’t find fault with the man who limps

Or stumbles along the road

Unless you have worn the shoes that hurt

Or struggled beneath his load

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,

Though hidden away from view

Or the burden he bears, placed on your back,

Might cause you to stumble, too.

Don’t sneer at the man who’s down today

Unless you have felt the blow

That caused his fall, or felt the same

That only the fallen know.

You may be strong, but still the blows

That were his, if dealt to you

In the self same way at the self same time,

Might cause you to stagger, too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man who sins

Or pelt him with words or stones,

Unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,

That you have no sins of your own.

For you know perhaps, if the tempters voice

Should whisper as soft to you

As it did to him when he went astray,

‘Twould cause you to falter, too.

Poem written by an unknown author. But God knows and we’ll rest in that.

***

Alive and Kicking With a Limp (healthylivingwithanillness.wordpress.com)
A Tribute to Timmy (bongodogblog.com)

“Thy Mercy Beams I See”

apicofsky — The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

By: Charles Wesley

Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true and only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
Triumph over the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till thy mercy’s beams I see,
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

______

Wesley’s hymn resonates within. Being of a sad and melancholic temperment I find a deep assurance in these words that describe my issues so clearly. But He is my light, He scatters my unbelief and doubt. I will lean heavily on Jesus, as He leads me out of my darkness.

I pray that you would know His mercy and love for your soul. No matter what you’ve done or may do, His heart turns to you.

ybic, Bryan

cropped-christiangraffiti1-2

Morning Hymn (memoirandremains.wordpress.com)
Happiness is… (regenerationandrepentance.wordpress.com)
Love Divine (valleysandhieghts.wordpress.com)

Understanding People (Not Problems)

People of Understanding

“Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men . . .”

Ezra 8:18

***

Having understanding is a step towards compassion.

Oh Lord, we pray and seek You to be men and women of understanding.

And here’s a simple poem . . .

***

The Basics

I may not comprehend algebra
or scientific equations

or have the solutions for
complex complications

but I ask You Lord
to help me understand

to love and care about
the basic needs of fellow man.

***

Category: poetry