Castles in the Sand

What is joy? I asked myself.

What about the pain in my life?

Is joy to put it all on a shelf,

And pretend my heart contains no strife?

But that would be artificial,

For joy is not the denial of pain.

Life may not seem all that special,

But abundant life is far from plain.

Genuine joy is camaraderie with God-

To walk through life hand in hand;

To share it all, for denying pain is fraud.

It's sitting with God at a beach, making castles in the sand.

Joy is the realization of Love,

To know nothing better than this Friend;

Who to die on earth below left His home above,

To enjoy me for eternity without end.

It's returning this gift of love-

To fight for the One Who holds me in His Hand;

To look on His Face with the eyes of a dove,

To be in His presence and make castles in the sand.

~Khaitlin Critchfield

Hope Amidst the Dark

Despair has looked me in the eyes
And to my heart has whispered many lies.
It shut inside me many cries,
And asked me my life to despise.

So much darkness had surrounded me,
And for the life of me I could not see
The way to escape. Oh could it be
That pain was all my life would hold for me?

So I blindly clung to this thing called hope
And sometimes I really had to grope.
I was truly at the end of my rope
And it took all my strength to simply cope.

But see! I'm still alive today!
T'was Jesus Who helped me hope I say
And when I cannot see He leads me on the way
To joy and healing that's to come at break of day.

Though morn has not yet come for me,
E'en now you might hear me laugh with glee.
For as oft as my tear filled nights may be,
There truly is a song in the night for me!!!

Hope

Spring will come!

Winter won't last

Nor will the tear-stained night

 

And when it is past

Then joy will come.

Wounded Soldier

She stumbles, battle worn, weary and bleeding.

No one is here, no one is heeding.

Her heart is broken, there's no one there

To share her burdens and cares.

She's won the victory,

Resisted Satan again.

But she hurts. She hurts.

                            

She's been left all alone, all by herself,

They thought she could do it herself.

She crumples from pain,

In her own blood she has lain.

She's ready to pass out,

Ready to give up.

And she hurts. She hurts.

She lifts her voice and cries,

Maybe before she dies,

Someone will hear her plea

And her need will see.

Alas, she's in a closed room.

Who can hear?

Still she hurts. She hurts.

Blackness begins to envelope her.

Wait, listen, now she's sure,

Or is she? Did she really hear

Footsteps coming quite near?

The door is opening

And it's HIM!

And she bows. She bows.

Her Lord has come! He's COME!

She finds some strength, only some,

And falls at His feet.

His hand reaches down, His touch is sweet.

She knows she failed,

She should have praised.

And she weeps. She weeps.

"I should have praised your coming,

Lifted my voice with singing.

I know you would never leave me,

Never forsake me.

Please grant me Your forgiveness,

And please, I hurt so bad!"

And she asks. She asks.

"Lord, will you heal my wounds?"

She remembered His wounds,

The ones He bore for her.

She knows He understands for sure.

She looks into His Face,

And sees His love.

And she knows. She knows.

She knows He's forgiven her misdeed,

And that He always heeds

Her every cry,

And she need not be shy

Nor afraid of being turned away.

She knows she's loved.

Oh she's loved! She's loved.

He takes her by the hand,

He helps her to stand,

He lifts her into His arms,

Safe from all harms.

He holds her tight,

And carries her through.

And she's held. She's held.

At long last, One who fully understands.

Strong are the Hands

That hold her tight and sure

While He gently tells her

Of Love and kindness

Of forgiveness and Grace.

So she loves. She loves.

Her wounds are not yet healed,

But her heart is sealed

Sealed for the One she loves.

She forgives and loves,

While she obeys her Lord,

Her heart He heals.

And she LIVES! She lives.

K. Ann Critchfield

A New Year

A new year is finally here
Lord help me not to fear
Two thousand twelve is gone
But has the pain past on?
Though I've deeply felt the pain
Think of what I've gained!
A knowledge that God is there
And oh yes He REALLY cares!!!
He'll never leave me nor forsake
Even though at times I ache
Help me Lord, You to praise
Let my heart stand amazed
At all You have done for me
Is this love for me? can it be?
That You left You're home above
My soul to save and love?
I know not what this year holds,
But I will trust as it unfolds
That You my soul will keep
When home or afar, awake or asleep.
Because, Lord, I do love You,
And Your promises will hold true.