Poems for the JourneY
Poems by Elisa Sangiorgio, Inspirations by God
Contents:
3. Check it out- Michael English
4. Prayer Requests...a note from my friend
5. On the lighter side- "How to lie to your bathroom scale"
First, I want to thank you for your prayers for my friend. I am including a thank you note from her, which is under "prayer request." Thank you for praying for me, too, and your encouragement. I was much better after I sent out the request. I know and fully believe God is in control of my life and situation. When I get that way it takes a day or two, but it's soon gone. Majority of the time, I am a pretty optimistic person and fully relying on the Lord for it all. What a joy it is to know I can cast every burden and care on Him. I don't know how people do it without Him!! I also appreciate the fact that I can turn to my Christian friends for prayer and encouragement!! Knowing people like you really care is a big help. God is good...ALL the time, even in the midst of the hardest circumstance. Thank you again.
I know many of us, including myself, are quick to criticize other Christians when they fall. We are ready to take the log out of their eye, and forget we, too, have one in our own. We are even guilty of judging them for something we do ourselves. It's called being hypocritical. God warns us about that in Matthew 7:4..."How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" We are then quick to condemn, instead of forgiving and remembering we, too, have been forgiven, even when we still continue to sin. God cannot forgive us if we cannot forgive our own brother. Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Luke 17:3...So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." We'll be the ones to suffer if we hold that bitterness inside. We must forgive and continue to pray for that person that they would turn back to Christ. When they do, and are truly changed, welcome them back and love them the way Christ loves us, unconditionally, because love hardly notices when others do wrong. I'm thankful to my father for instilling in me, at a young age, that I should always forgive. I am human, and have a hard time, like any other person, when others do me wrong,
but I have always been quick to forgive and forget. I have a lot of people I could be bitter at, but I choose to forgive them, because, I too, am a sinner saved by God's amazing grace. So, next time someone does you wrong or falls...
He sat there all alone in his thoughts,
too afraid to say a word.
the room was filled with silent faces,
not a single sound could be heard.
Would these believers accept him back?
Trust that he is a different man?
His sins, as theirs, had been washed away,
by the cleansing blood of the Lamb.
"I'm changed, I'm forgiven!" He cried out in joy,
tears falling down on his face.
Not a single eye in the room was dry,
as their friend they warmly embraced.
Touched by their love, he cried for a while,
Then turned and said with relief,
"How long I have waited for this very day,
how good God has been to me."
Too many times we point the finger,
and forget the log in our eye.
Too many times we forget we are sinners,
we're too quick to criticize.
But how many times have we told God we're sorry?
And every time our Saviour forgives?
How many times did He ever forsake you?
And He'll be there for as long as you live.
God can't forgive us, if we don't forgive others,
so let's start by changing right now.
One day we shall stand before His great throne,
At His feet, we shall humbly bow,
"We're changed, We're forgiven!" we'll cry out in joy,
as tears fall down on our face.
Not a single eye in Heaven will be dry,
as Jesus we warmly embrace.
Touched by His love, we'll cry for a while,
Then turn and say with relief,
"How long I have waited for this very day,
My God, you've been so good to me."
If you could continue to pray for the girl(s) at work. She read the books, but didn't say much, just, "I read them, and I just thought, 'She's so cute, I just love her.'" Pray God works in her heart. I know it's not up to me to save her, but to plant seeds. Pray I say the right words should she have any questions. Thanks...Well, here is the letter from my friend that has the cyst on her leg...Please continue to pray for her and thank you again....
Hi Kiddo!
I'm home! Just got here a little bit, but not out of the woods yet. Will see the doc on Friday morning. If it's not better, he'll lance it in the office. If it gets worse before Friday - could be back in there. Pray that doesn't happen. Brian(her husband) brought all the lovely notes from your friends. Please tell them how much I appreciate the notes and prayers. They really blessed me - in a way I can't even begin to tell you.
Will call you tomorrow.
Love ya lots,
Jeanne(for those of you who know my other friend Jeannie from WV, this is a different Jeanne)
The man that inspired the poem...many of you may know his story...If you don't, he went through a lot of what I said. He repented and was welcomed back with open arms. I think his story is on the site somewhere, so check it out! :) MichaelEnglish.com OR http://www.michaelenglish.com/
Tell me you don't do this....:)
"How To Lie To The Bathroom Scale"
Weigh yourself with clothes on, after dinner...as well as in the morning, without clothes, before breakfast, because it's nice to see how much weight you've lost overnight.
Never weigh yourself with wet hair.
When weighing, remove everything, including glasses. In this case, blurred vision is an asset. Don't forget the earrings, these things can weigh at least a pound.
Use cheap scales only, never the medical kind, because they are always five pounds off... to your advantage, of course.
Always go to the bathroom first.
Stand with arms raised, making pressure on the scale lighter.
Don't eat or drink in the morning until AFTER you've weighed in, completely naked, of course.
Weigh yourself after a haircut, this is good for at least half a pound of hair (hopefully).
Exhale with all your might BEFORE stepping onto the scale (air has to weigh something, right?)
Start out with just one foot on the scale, then holding onto the towel rack in front of you, slowly edge your other foot on and slowly let off of the rack. Admittedly, this takes time, but it's worth it. You will weigh at least two pounds less than if you'd stepped on normally.
We are all on a journey through life. Some of us get lost, some search for the truth, some have found the truth, and sometimes we all need a little "service station" along the way to continue on. These poems were written for that purpose; for those seeking to find life, for those who have it, but need a little lift, for those who have strayed and need directions back, and for those who just need a little encouragement. It is for every day living, experiences, heartaches that lead us to the realization that God is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. I pray my poems minister to your heart, and give you the energy, direction and encouragement that you need. If you ever wished to be removed, please send me an e-mail and I will remove you, no hard feelings. :) God bless.
