YESTERDAY'S FIASCO

It's nothing new, I guess.  I'm sure it's happened to you, too.  You spend hours composing something, saving it (at least you thought you did).  And, in this case, I go to post it on my blog and it's disappeared.  Angry?  Frustrated? Oh,yeah, I was those things and more!  That's happened to me before but it was the result of my not remembering to save it.  What can I say?  It is what it is and now I've attached a similar epistle to this blog entry.  This time it's been saved in a Word document so I know it will reach you.  I hope some of these sentiments might be ones that will make you think, remind you or perhaps, be words you need to hear right now.

WHOSE IN CONTROL

by Patty Lynn

 Life has a way of showing us that there are many things that are not within our control.

            We're caught "off guard" when difficulties come...

And all we want are answers, some clarity.

We look everywhere for those answers...but the questions at the forefront of it all are:

            "Why? Why me?  Why now?"

                        "Now, what do I do," we ask.

But answers to those questions don't come...

So we get busy, gathering information, trying to find the right path, the next path.

We pursue every avenue, look at every possibility...

It's what we must do in our attempt to solve the issues at hand...and then...if we're lucky,

            It dawns on us: "There's something missing from all this searching, and planning, and

questioning"...or better put, Someone.

That Someone, your God, is the only real answer...the only one who is in control!

 That might sound like so much religious Mumbo, Jumbo, but it is THE TRUTH.

            He told us so when He said: "I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life."

But these were not just some antiquated words from a time long ago.

True, they were spoken a long time ago, but, these old words were relevant then and...

            They are just as relevant today...because your God, the God who made you, spoke these words...

                        Through His Son, the Son He sent to redeem you, " a lost and condemned creature." 

That's what He called you, you know...

            But He didn't leave it at that...

 He unbelievably loved you so much that He put His own Son through the death and pain and suffering

 that You deserved...

            Suffering way bigger than what you're suffering now...yes, way bigger!

And if He did that, heaped that kind of pain and sorrow on His own beloved Son

So that you could be His Child, so that Jesus, His only Son, could be your brother...

            What more does He have to do...

                        To convince you...

                                    That He is in control?

Jesus is there waiting for you to trust Him, to call upon His name in prayer...

THE REST OF THE STORY...

The new format of Blogger has changed dramatically.  As a result, I lost a great deal of the preface for this poem.  I saved it twice and yet it is MIA.  So, with my apologies, I submit the poem that should have been attached to the previous blog.

SERENITY AND LIMITATIONS

by Patty Lynn

Serenity is what we seek,
Serenity in life.
A happiness and attitude
That gets us through our strife.

That's hard to find and yet we know
All's for a greater plan.
The "why" just isn't clear to us,
For we are merely man.

So when we're facing trials and tests
We often ask Him why.
We pray to understand it all,
But we get no reply.

"It should be simple, not complex.

And what would warrant this?
Do I deserve this sentence, God?
I'm facing the abyss."

But what He asks is faith and trust,
Though ours is failing fast.
I never thought that suffering
Would be the kind that lasts.

Just take this pill and you'll be fine.
Now isn't that the way?
How come it's taking oh, so long?
I'm praying every day!

Could this be my reality,
And could this be my lot?
How can this be, Lord, this is me.
Is this the best you've got?

And how can I go on like this.
What can you do to help?

I know that I'm not capable

To deal with this myself.

Now, could the answer simply be
I must depend on you?
That if I want serenity
I need acceptance too?

There is so much outside of me
That I cannot control.
God grant to accept that's true
Frustration takes its toll.

I turn it over, Lord to you,
The changes I can't make.
But for the others help me to...
Change those, for Jesus' sake.

But most important make me wise
So I can tell the difference,
For all of this I need your help.
I yearn for your assistance.

Serenity's allusive, Lord, 
Without these lessons learned.
Remind me each and everyday,
Your care and love's not earned.

So when I take upon myself
To solve my life's frustrations,
Grant courage to accept the fact
That I have limitations.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference."

LIMITATIONS OR ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES?

I think we all can identify times in our life when we wished we were in control of everything.  Whether it's health issues, career frustrations and the ever-present unexpected, we may think it's within our power to
"take the bull by the horns" and "fix" it all.  Let me tell you that the older you get and the more life experience you possess, you're not capable to fix it all.  If you're a person of faith you concede that God holds all the cards and without recognizing that, you're destined to hit a brick wall, the reality that you are not the controller you think you are.