Sin

by

The Healer

As I sit at my desk
     and pray for a friend.
My mind starts to long for
     the day sickness will end.
With all of our wisdom
     and inventions of man.
We still are unable
     to make life what we plan.
Our world is full of
     sickness and strife.
You try to avoid it
     but it gets in your life. 

No one’s immune,
     at least it would seem.
If you think that you are,
     you live in a dream.
Yes, sickness and hurt
     come in myriad forms.
From babies to seniors,
     even in college dorms.
While there are many
     results that strike fear.
One of the worst is
     when “cancer” you hear. 

There’s still much unknown
     of what goes on inside.
When rogue cells take over
     and start to divide.
Some multiply quickly,
    destroying as they go.
Others seem more casual,
    they move steady and slow.
It doesn’t matter,
     they both work the same.
To conquer the body,
     seems to be their whole aim. 

Before it sounds hopeless,
     there is some good news.
When you recognize it,
     and to fight it you choose.
The battle’s not easy
     but it’s worth the fight.
To walk each day fully
     in the power of God’s might.
He surrounds you with people,
     the arms of His love.
And calls for your mind
     to be fixed on above. 

God is much bigger
     than the cancer within.
He also is greater
     than all of our sin.
To cure the body
     so that it is made whole.
Does absolutely no good
     if we ignore the soul!
For life here on this earth
     is fleeting at best.
For those who are in Christ,
     will eventually find rest! 

So as I pray daily
     for a friend who’s in need.
I pray for a cure
     and for wellness I plead.
I pray it for her,
     who has cancer within.
I pray it for others
     who are trapped by their sin.
For a healthy body,
     is what I do pray.
For all those with cancer
     and for the church of today! 

©  2014 by Tom Lemler

As I was spending time this morning praying for a friend who has cancer, God put this poem in my mind.  As I was praying for healing, God reminded me that I ought to hate the destructive nature of sin even more than I hate cancer.  God’s arm is not too short to bring healing and restoration to our physical body, even from the effects of cancer, but any physical healing is still only temporary.  The spiritual healing that God desires for all of us to receive from His hand can restore us completely and eternally!  I pray that this poem brings comfort, encouragement, and challenge to your life when you struggle with sickness and hurt.  I also pray that it is a help to you as God’s power sets you free from the bondage of sin.

In prayer,
Tom

by

The Story

There is a true story
      that I have been told.
I do love to hear it,
      it never gets old.
It’s the story of Jesus
      and of His great love.
How He came to earth,
      descending from above.
He had a purpose
      and followed a plan.
His love came to save us
      as He became man.

Love was not created,
      it always has been.
From the very beginning,
      God knew we could sin.
But even with this fact,
      He gave us His breath.
Then gave man instructions
      so he could avoid death.
Satan did tempt Eve
      to eat from the tree.
She called out to Adam,
     “Come, eat with me.”

When they had eaten,
      the fruit on that day.
Their eyes became opened,
      they did disobey.
God came and asked them,
     “Just what have you done?”
I can almost hear them,
     “We were just having fun.”
But fun times were over,
      at least like they’d had.
It did not take long
      for life to be sad.

Life was not easy,
      because of their sin.
God said He would solve it,
      they didn’t know when.
Many years later,
      at just the right time.
God sent us a Savior,
      the story’s sublime!
Born in a stable,
      was God’s only Son.
The wise men acknowledged
      that He was the One.

He lived His life perfect
      and sinless and pure.
He always kept focused
      on what He must endure.
To sacrifice His life,
      to be hung on a tree.
His death had a purpose
      for you and for me.
But death could not keep Him
      bound up in the grave.
He rose up victorious,
      from death He can save.

From the beginning,
      when God called us “man”.
To show us His love
      was always His plan.
He died to save us
      and set us apart.
He wants us to seek Him
      with all of our heart.
We have the power
      to overcome death.
When our life is filled with
      His Holy Spirit’s breath!

This is the story
      that I like to hear.
It always reminds me
      that I need not fear.
His love from beginning
      will last to the end.
His love draws me to Him
      and calls me His friend.
A friend to this sinner
      is what He has been.
So I long for heaven,
      I don’t know just when.
©

I was in the middle of sweeping floors, cleaning, and singing to God when this poem filled my mind.  One of my favorite hymns is “I Love To Tell the Story” but I’m not even sure if that is what I was singing when this poem showed up.  I had to stop and type it out so I can go back to cleaning and singing.   I pray that this ministers in the way God desires for it to and that it brings glory to His name.

In prayer,
Tom