Find healing in Jesus. He alone can restore and reach you in ways no one else can. After all, he made you and has nothing but good and loving purposes and plans for your existence, both now and forever.
Author: R. F.
Let the oppressed go free
“Is this not the fast I have chosen: to open bands of wickedness, to undo thongs of the yoke, and to send out the oppressed ones free; even that you pull off every yoke?”
–Isaiah 58:6, LITV
“Let the oppressed go free – How can any nation pretend to fast or worship God at all, or dare to profess that they believe in the existence of such a Being, while they carry on the slave trade, and traffic in the souls, blood, and bodies, of men! O ye most flagitious of knaves, and worst of hypocrites, cast off at once the mask of religion; and deepen not your endless perdition by professing the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, while ye continue in this traffic!”
— Adam Clarke on Isaiah 58.6 (Adam Clarke died in 1832)
How thankful we can be that our country from its earliest days fought to stamp out systemic slavery and oppression in response to God’s love and commands. Was slavery here? Did it need to be stamped out? Yes. Was it erased from our constitution and laws and prohibited? Yes, now and forever. Thank God! God will not stand for hate and oppression anywhere, any time. God is Love. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty.
Whatever you desire
“Therefore whatever you desire
for men to do to you,
you shall also do to them;
for this is the law and the prophets.
Enter in by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction,
and many are those who enter in by it.
How narrow is the gate,
and restricted is the way
that leads to life!
Few are those who find it.”
— Jesus, Matthew 7:12-14, WEB
O may we endeavor, by God’s grace, to walk away from the path of destruction, and walk in the way of divine life and love and peace! Loving others as if they are God Himself!
Tiny Ship
Tiny ship— on the ocean’s stormy waters
ill-equipped— for the stormy winds and waves
bound to sail away
bound to sail away
God bless you dear as you sail away
God carry you— to the setting of the sun
we barely knew— you in this passing world
we love you anyway
we love you anyway
God bless you dear as you sail away
God bless you— as you sail toward the Light
helpless in— His gentle loving arms
wish you could— have stayed
but you go— another way
God bless you dear as you sail away
Tiny Ship—
You’re not alone—
Little One—
You’re going home—
One day we’re sailing unto you
Old souls meeting there anew
God bless you dear as you sail away
God bless you dear we’ll meet again one day
—
“And now he has died. Why this, that I should fast? Am I able to bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23, LITV)
…among these restless throngs abide…
Where cross the crowded ways of life
where sound the cries of race and clan
above the noise of selfish strife
we hear Your voice, O Son of Man
In haunts of wretchedness and need
on shadowed thresholds fraught with fears
from paths where hide the lures of greed
we catch the vision of Your tears
From tender childhood’s helplessness
from human grief and burdened toil
from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress
Your heart has never known recoil
The cup of water given for You
still holds the freshness of Your grace
yet long these multitudes to view
the sweet compassion of Your face
O Master, from the mountainside
make haste to heal these hearts of pain
among these restless throngs abide
O tread the city’s streets again
Till all the world shall learn Your love
and follow where your feet have trod
till glorious from Your heaven above
shall come the city of our God
— Frank Mason North (~1905)