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
