Christian Reflection and Prayer

by Josh Wilson

I try to catch my breath
It hasn't happened yet
I'm wide awake in the middle of the night scared to death
So I prayed God, would You make this stop
Father please hold on to me, You're all I've got

Carry me, carry me, carry me now
From my sinking sand to Your solid ground
The only way I'm ever gonna make it out
Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now
God carry me, carry me, carry me now

Jesus calm my heart
Come near me please
Lord don't let these worries get the best of me
Oh I believe, that You're still here with me
Cause You meant what You said when You said You'd never leave

Carry me, carry me, carry me now
From my sinking sand to Your solid ground
The only way I'm ever gonna make it out
Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now
God carry me, carry me, carry me now

Carry me
God carry me
Carry me
God carry me

I'm at the end of myself
I know I've got nothing left
Feels like I'm stuck in the valley of the shadow of death
And I've been down here so long
I just can't find my way out
Oh God I don't stand a chance
Unless You carry me now
God carry me now

Carry me, carry me, carry me now
From my sinking sand to Your solid ground
The only way I'm ever gonna make it out
Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now
God carry me, carry me, carry me now

Carry me now
Carry me now
Carry me now
Carry me now

Scripture:

"…we who are still alive and remain on earth will be
caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air
and remain with him forever."
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT

"The story is told of an old missionary couple
returning to the States after many years of thankless
service in Africa. They happened to be on the same
ship to New York as President Theodore Roosevelt,
who was returning from a big game hunt in Africa. As
the ship pulled past the Statue of Liberty and into the
dock, huge crowds were gathered to welcome him
home. The press was out in full force, and thousands
of people had come to get a glimpse of the president.

In the middle of the chaos, the aged missionary
couple fought their way through the crowds with their
large suitcases in tow. Silently they hailed a cab and
made their way to a cheap hotel. The missionary sat
on the bed and said to his wife, "It just doesn't seem
right. We gave our lives to Christ to win souls for the
Kingdom in Africa, and when we arrive home there is
no one here to meet us. The president shoots a few
animals and receives a royal welcome."

His wife sat beside him on the bed and said softly,
"That's because we're not home yet, dear."

It may seem at times as if our work for Christ is going
unnoticed. Faith doesn't bring a lot of praise on this
earth. But that's only because our trip is not yet over.

Our day will come, you can be sure. And when it does,
the ceremony will last for an eternity.

Imagine someone is a compulsive gambler. It’s hard to
overcome any addiction, and this person tries
unsuccessfully to break out of the gambling cycle.
Then one day, he hits rock bottom. He is deeply in debt
and his wife leaves him. The man feels incredible pain
and regret. He feels it so intensely that he resolves, like
never before, to break his habit once and for all. Every
time he is tempted to revert to his old ways, he thinks
of the pain he once knew. He beats his habit, rebuilds
his life, and finds himself stronger than ever before.
What brought him down leads to his pathway up.

Instead of being upset at our inability to change, let’s
use our frustration as the reason to change. The very
shovel that dug our ditch can become the very tool that
helps us dig our way out.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)