AGAINST THE GRAIN In the final days at the end of the age, Seeking shelter from the rain, Cruelty reigns and the heathen rage, As we traverse against the grain. As we travel the paths of life, Dealing with stress and strain, Our faith is tested and forged by fire, As we traverse against the grain. With so many forks in so many roads, The myriad choices can drive us insane, It’s hard to determine the proper direction, As we traverse against the grain. The cold winds blow, the dust storms flow, The tides wax and wane, There doesn’t appear to be much calm, As we traverse against the grain. Jesus stated that we would suffer such strife, By carrying the Cross on which He was slain, The heathens rage, scoff, and scorn, As we traverse against the grain. A prophet of old spoke for the Lord, “To live is Christ, to die is gain”, But too many voices now speak for themselves, As we traverse against the grain. Their messages are empty – generic in form, Gushing like tempests that bellow in vain, They somehow are emboldened to exalt themselves, As we traverse against the grain. Our journey now brings us to this point in time, Shadows of THE END are visibly plain, The tares have infiltrated amongst the wheat, As we traverse against the grain. Trust in God and read the Word, So as to withstand the hurricane, Don’t pay heed to “feelings” or “dreams”, As we traverse against the grain. The Lord didn’t die at Calvary, Or suffer that excruciating pain, For us to now listen to the utterances of “man”, As we traverse against the grain. The time has come to separate, From a world that holds us in disdain, No longer will we need to seek shelter here, For we have finished traversing against the grain. Continue onward Christian Soldiers for Christ! Humbly Irrelevant I have so missed your encouraging gift of words …. Thank you for this one! I can relate to so many lines in the beginning stanzas — in the first one, the wickedness is oppressive and weighty — the second one — the constant distraction and stress of everyday, mundane life, knowing that what we have to do daily to survive while we wait does not reflect the desire of our heart — as Paul stated, “my desire is to be with Jesus for that is far better, but to remain here for your progress and joy in the faith …. My armor feels very heavy and I am ready to lay it down and see the blessed Savior :prayer-hands: Indeed feelings can be subjective and for the most part self initiated. The leading of that still small voice must still be allowed to be taken into account however fragmented and uniquely partial it seems at times! IE: the bearing of witness in each of our spirits or the inclinations and leading of the Spirit must also be allowed for! Again wisdom and discernment! TR Humbly, I love this poem! Beautiful! Thank you, Humbly! Friends in Christ: I am nothing ... but the Lord continues to provide me with HIS inspiration. I am weak, depleted, and think that I have nothing more to give to this lost world ... yet the Lord continues to provide me with HIS strength. I seek the shadows, the back of the room, the quiet interior, and to remain under the radar ... yet the Lord leads me back into the fray to interact with all the unsaved around me (wife, kids, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.) I sometimes post here at RITA and don't know why or where it comes from ... but then I realize that the Lord is prompting me with HIS spirit to attempt (in my miserable human condition) to deflect some of HIS Light onto others. Like I said, I don't know why, I just try to follow HIS leading and hope that it isn't my leading. I am soooooooo tired. I am soooooooo beaten down. I am soooooooo ready to leave this world. I thought we would be Raptured in 1992. Then 2000. Then 2007. Then 2008. Then 2010. Then 2012. Then 2015. Then 2018. Then 2022. And so many years in between! And yet, here we all are still here ... Dang!!!! I don't feel like I have anything left to offer the lost anymore. I don't feel like I have anything to offer the saved anymore. Yet here I stand, disillusioned, depressed, and despondent. I try to just bury my head in the sand every day and NOT to read the news because ignorance is bliss. However, the Lord leads me out of my cavern, out of my hiding place, out of my safe space and makes me venture out. I don't like it, but it is HIS Will. I try to follow it, and sometimes it brings nice comments like ya'll gave me here. Thank you! It isn't all in vain. I will now fade back into the shadows until further notice from Above. May God bless you all and provide you the strength to carry on, to endure, and to persevere! Your pal, Humbly I wish I had gotten back here to post earlier now that you say you're fading back in to the shadows Humbly. What I wanted to share was that I forwarded this poem to several others and it was so well received - even a college student who is stepping out more to seek the Lord, was so glad to receive it. Yes, it is His inspiration in you, and I'm grateful you obeyed His leading. i love to see all this encouragement- edifying/building up- among spiritual brothers and sisters! this is The Church in action! loving each other as Jesus loves us & through us Humbly, I feel what you say. I need the Lords encouragement from your pin (typing). I never get sick, but because of a mandate and the need to keep working (I am responsible for the care of my Mom) and my hubby just retired … any way I have had one bad illness after another. I am in close contact with a fellow peer to use medication not allowed in my world (they are expensive too). My lungs are slowly giving out, they are permanently scarred. My joints constantly hurt (I who used to run 3-5 miles a day). Some days it’s a hard choice to get up at 0500 and head in to see patients and peers, knowing that I would rather not. This body of death is my prison and although I have several folks who encourage me and pray for me. I can relate to Paul, my desire is to be with Christ, for that is far better. Keep looking up brother, soon we will be with the beloved and this shell of a life is no more. Thank you for allowing God to keep using you to give encouragement. I find that for those who walk through fire, he gives more grace. We are never alone!!!! :prayer-hands: Well said Sis! Constant in faith and to bless the Lord rather than to curse Him! Let us remember Job and all the saints which have suffered before us. Their witness and testimony should inspire us all! We don't always know what trials tomorrow may bring, but we know make up and end of our eternity! TR
Thanking the Lord for the inspiration He gave you for it! :bible
