All Will Be Well

I am, by no means, an "accomplished" songwriter or musician. All I know is that I love Jesus with all of my heart. More than that, I find myself pleading with Him to make my heart BIGGER so there will be even more love for Him. "Let me love You more!" is my plea. Out of that love flows songs of the heart. Jesus deserves to be worshiped continuously. Without ceasing. Without flaw.

I arrived home on Wednesday evening after a very sweet visit with my Sister Rachel and the Sky/Greenier family in Connecticut. The main goal was to honor two of my dearest friends (through Baby Showers) as they both welcome babies into the world this Spring. Throughout this week, through the craziness of planning/cleaning/baking/laughing/etc which come with any sort of party planning, I kept thinking about Eternity. But as the world is bouncing around like a chaotic Ping-pong ball--all I could think about was the incredible relief that will be found for those who truly love the Lord. When we cross over the threshold of Eternity, Cancer disappears. Leukemia, SIDS, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Alzheimers, Chronic Fatigue, Food Allergies--all of these things will vanish. Parent's that have miscarried will have their arms filled with the beautiful children they were parted from. There will never be any more need for tears of sorrow, or tears of goodbye. Anxiety, doubt, insecurity, hopelessness, depression--none of these things will be found in the Kingdom of God. 

Nothing but Joy. Unabashed JOY. Purity--no more "dirty jokes" or hurtful words. Patience--with everyone actually putting others above themselves. Can you imagine a world where everyone truly cares about your needs above their own? But not just YOURS. Everyone else's needs. True Kindness. Gentleness--the kind where you see a fierce Lion dozing quietly beside a peaceful little lamb. 

When I woke up this morning, I felt like there was a cloud of gloominess hanging over my head. I felt a bit "down" with parting from my sister, all the events in the news (forest fires nearby, etc), and just the normal every day struggles. But, when I sat down and truly cried out to the Lord--He heard me. I told Him all the weights on my heart, and He quietly listened. 

And He told me that "All will be well."

ALL. Everything will be well. Even if there are struggles today, He is in the process of working all things to an end. And there will be an end. But it is a BEAUTIFUL, victorious, glorious end. Then, to top it off, Jesus wrote me a song. So my prayer today is that you would be encouraged, strengthened in your heart, soul and mind, and filled with the Joyous anticipation of the Day when Jesus splits the sky--and makes all things well. 

All Will Be Well - by Anna Dumaresq

When I cross over Jordan, 

Through the gates of Heaven, 

What a glorious delight will fill my eyes. 

All pain and heartache, 

and every need for goodbye, 

will vanish as dew in morning sunlight.

Chorus:

And all will be well, 

All will be well!

As the burdens of this world

drift from sight

And the Glory of the King, 

Will be the Light of Heaven

With Jesus, finally by our side

--all will be well. 

When I see the children laughing

And those who've said goodbye, 

what a radiant Joy will flood my soul, 

For there in their midst

is Jesus--surrounded

As He gathers all His children close beside.

And as I finally stand before Him, 

What undeserved Mercy, 

As His tender hand of pardon

Stretches out!

And all of forever

what songs shall be lifted!

To the One who has come 

to set all things finally right.

Ch 2:

And made all things well!

All is now well!

As the burdens of this fallen world

are now vanish from our lives. 

And the Glory of the King, 

Will be the Light of Heaven!

With Jesus, Himself, has shown to be

the Way, the Truth, the Light

--And made all things well. 

In Him who is making all things right,

Oft' I'm Tempted

Oft I'm tempted to doubt Thee, Lord

To doubt all Thou hast planned, 

To shy away from Thy "unseen" care, 

To dodge Thy teaching hand. 

Oft I'm tempted to accuse Thee, Lord

When my own will is crossed, 

Or even to point a finger full of blame, 

And dwell upon what was lost. 

But oftn'er still--in sweet solitude, 

So moved my own heart shall be

Remembering Thy Mercy, Grace unreserved!

Thy Quiet, Steady Strength--and such Blessed Peace!

For in these days of testing, forward shall I press,

Oh ne'er again to doubt Thee!

Setting fast and fixed, my "gaze as flint",

Til' across Eternity's threshold, Thy tender hand shall lead me.

(c) Anna D. 2015

O Lord Jesus

I am weary, O Lord Jesus

"Come to me," You say "And I will grant you rest."
So here I am, with my tired head.

To lay upon Your chest.

I am scared, O Lord Jesus

"Fear not, little one," You say "For I have come near."

So here I am, with my timid heart

To relinquish every fear.

I'm unsure, O Lord Jesus

"This is the way," You say "Now walk boldly forward."
So here I am, eyes on You

My mighty victorious Lord.

I am weak, O Lord Jesus

"This is true," You say "But how strong am I!"
So here I am, leaning on your arm

hand in hand, head held high.

I'm faltering, O Lord Jesus

"Peace be still," You say "You are precious to Me."

So here I am, waiting on You

to establish every step in Victory.

The Seedling

Thou art the Gard'ner, 

Lord of my heart, 

This soul within Thy care, 

Is Thine to tend, to prune and hold, 

What Fruit Thou findeth there.

So with Thy hands, 

Plant "Faith", the seed

Down, deep into the soil.

 Cover, pat and water 'til

Settled deeply in my soul.

Bursting forth--the Sun!

Beating hot and dry, 

It comes to test Thy tiny seed, 

Which, taking root,

Presses up t'wards the Light. 

Birds of the Air, 

Begin to circle 'round,

Pecking and claw feet scratching, 

Eagerly search the fertile dirt, 

to prevent this seed from lasting. 

Next, springs forth weeds,

Chaff of envy, snares of doubt, 

Growing swiftly beside the seed, 

To seek gain only for itself, 

And choke this little seed out!

But deep, deep down

In that same fertile soil

The protected seed of Faith, 

Though tiny in size, 

Still strengthens and grows.

'Til Victory, yea!

The seed pushes forth, 

From the dark and tilled ground, 

And 'neath Thy loving eyes, O Gardner, 

A fresh, strong shoot is found. 

What then Little Plant?

Where doth thine uncertain course lie?

To grow more, still--steady and strong, 

'Neath Jesus' tender hand

and to bear true Fruit of Life!

Then tarry not, Dear Heart, 

Thru beating rays, birds or desert Sun, 

Press forward, up and on!

For under Jesus' care YOU are,

The Fight--soon finished, and thy work--soon done!

Love, 

[Photo Cred: Google]

Rose from Brier

These last few weeks, I have really been combating fatigue--physical and spiritual. I am really tired. When I get tired physically, it is really challenging to have good quiet times with the Lord because of falling asleep! Yikes! (BUT, I am working on that whole schedule thing)

These last few weeks, I have also been working on organizing our Church Library and stumbling across some AWESOME books. I mean awesome. The first one to pique my interest was a small, worn book by Amy Carmichael (it's listed in my "What I'm Reading" Page) that she wrote while she, herself, was sick in bed. So often, as we listen to missionaries and pastors, we forget that they are actually people too. I think that one of the most touching things about this little book is the fact that she is honest. Here Amy lies, just a few rooms away from hundreds of kids that love her to bits and need her--and she has no strength to "be of use" besides sending notes of encouragement. For someone who is a "go getter", that is the definition of agony. She voices her disappointments, but also turns it into a lesson of finding the joy she learned while lying there--staring at the walls. It is pretty incredible.

All this to say, I want to share something with you! Whether you are battling illness, tiredness, or even just having a rough week, I really pray that you are encouraged by this little blip from her book!

Roses from Brier (Chapter 8)

[...] I cannot say that I love my chains (illness) in any literal sense whatever, nor do I feel that we are meant to do so. Our Lord did not tell the women who was bound to love the cords that bound her. But, [...] I believe that He can give it to us to find something truly lovable in that which (while he allows it to continue) is His will for us.

Disappointments, for example: in a quiet procession these weary little things have entered this room. After the foot began to mend other troubles came, one after the other, pulling me up just when it seemed as though I might soon begin to walk. As each corner was turned we thought it would be the last--but there was always another.

But one of the first of these disappointments was lighted by something so sweet and dear that I knew at once it could not only be for me, but MUST be for you who know so very much more than I do of such matters.

One of our Fellowship members was at home on furlough, and he was to return to us on Feb. 25; I had set my heart on being up and ready to meet him and the new brother, whom he was bringing with him. I was sure that I should be at the Welcome Service when (a special) song was to be sung. For a month or so before hat date it had seemed that this would be. Then hope gradually faded. I was still in bed when they came, not even in a chair. 

That morning, while the chiming bells of welcome were being rung from the tower, I was far more in the midst of that beloved crowd in the House of Prayer than here. And I ached to be there really, not just in spirit--ached till everything was one ache; then, each word as clear as though it slid down the clear chiming bells, this little song sang within me:

Thou has not that, My Child, but Thou hast ME, 

And am I not alone enough for thee?

I know it all, know how thy heart was set

Upon this Joy which is not given yet.

And well I know how through the wistful days, 

Thou walkest all the dear familiar ways, 

As unregarded as a breath of air, 

but there in love and longing--always there.

I know it all; but from thy brier shall blow

A rose for others. 

If it were not so I would have told thee.

Come, then, say to me, 

My Lord, My Love, I am Content with Thee.

"From thy brier shall blow a rose for others." In the hills of South India, there are tall and beautiful bushes of wild roses. The roses are larger than ours at home and of an unforgettable sweetness. But they were not called to mind by these words. I saw rather a little, low, very prickly bush in an old-fashioned English garden; it was covered with inconspicuous pink roses. But the wonder of the bush was its all pervading fragrance, for it was a sweet-brier. And I saw one who has long been in the land where no thorns grow, cutting a spray from the bush, stripping the thorns off and giving it to me. May these, for whom a rose from my brier may be caused to blow [...], always find no pricking thorn on the stem of this rose from my brier.

I think that when He whom our soul loveth comes so near to us, and so gently helps our human weakness then [that] becomes a present truth. We are born over the oppression that would hold us down, we mount up on wings, we find secret sweetness in our brier. But it is not of us. It is Love that lifts us up. It is LOVE that is the sweetness. 

Is the one who reads this in a great weariness, or the exhaustion that follows a sore hurt, or in the terrible grasp of pain? He who loves as no one else can love, who understands the uttermost, is not far away. He wants us to say, He can give it to us to say, "My Lord, my Love, I am content with Thee."

-Amy C.

So Dear Friends, whether you are learning full contentedness or feeling the prick of a painful thorn through illness, may you be born up over by the Strong arms of Jesus, and press through--eyes fixed on His face. May we press in to His side, and in turn "spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere" as a sweet English Rose (2 Corinthians 2:14). And, as always, trust Him. His is enough for our every need. His word says nothing can separate us from His love, so believe Him at His word. Run to Him, friend. He is ready to help. Day or night, sickness or health. His love is real and goes beyond that of only emotion. He just does. 

In His Love,

(Photo Source: Google)

Sweeter Still

Sunlight, through a window

A slight breeze through the trees..

Jesus, You delight my heart more than these!

Daisies with their sun-kissed face, lifted to a cloudless sky

Jesus, You are sweeter--sweeter still to me!

Chorus:
For I have tasted of Your goodness

Your purity and Love!

And I know there is no turning back from Thee!

I have seen Your righteous hand,

Quick to save me from all harm.

Jesus, You have proved You're sweeter still to me!

Laughter bubbling from a child

the sweetness of a sisters' smile

Jesus, You delight my heart more than these!

Soft strains from cello strings

Hummingbirds with Emerald wings

Jesus, You are sweeter--sweeter still to me!

I've seen what the World holds dear

Empty promises but full of Fear

Jesus, you delight my heart more than these!

I choose to only cling to Thee

for You alone can set me free!

Jesus, You are sweeter--sweeter still to me!

(Window and Jesus Photo: Google)

(c) Anna Dumaresq

Deservest I? - A Poem

Deservest I of Life?
Nay, naught of life but death!

Yet thru His blood

My own debt was paid

With ev'ry shuddering breath.

Deservest I of Mercy?

Nay, naught of mercy but judgement!

Yet thru His love,

The spotless Son

Was wholly, freely sent.

Deservest I of Peace?

Nay, naught of peace but fear!

Yet, gently He leads

This heavy-laden heart

To waters--soft and clear.

Deservest I of Joy?

Nay, naught Joy but only pain!

Yet, my dear Jesus,

In His tender mercy

Pours forth Joy as rain.

Deservest I of Hope?

Nay, naught of Hope but sorrow!

Yet, His strong hands

the vic'try won,

We can face tomorrow!

Deservest I of Thou, Lord?

Nay, ne'er Thou but eternal separation!

Yet, still I heard

Thy tender, dear voice,

Compel me to sweet Salvation!

(c) Anna Dumaresq

(Image source: Google)

Teach Me, Lord - A Poem

Teach me Lord, to cling to Thee

When storm and tempest rail,

To cast all doubt into the sea,

And raise, in Faith, a sail.

To launch my future o'er white-capped wave,

Eyes lifted in fearless trust.

My heart content in Thee to save

This Child from every gust.

(Google)

Teach me Lord, to cast on Thee

All my heavy cares

To them o'er the side with glee

Thru never ceasing prayer.

To smile at e'ry looming wave

Though daunting they will seem

My boat of Faith shall stay afloat,

For my Captain is my King.

(Google)

Teach me Lord, to lean on Thee

When harsh winds thrust me down.

To bless the gust which beats on me,

It runs my Faith to safest ground
To watch with Joy for mornings dawn
Tho long may seem the wait
'Till safely stored, my boat shall lay
Securely tied at Heavens Gate.

(c) Anna Dumaresq

(Google)