Meditations of Proverbs 17:17

I watched a friend set sail as I did

I watched a similar storm sink his boat.

Being built from my brokenness on the shore,

Now, I watch him swim with the same hope

That I once had when my boat was sunk.

I swam to stay afloat,

And in blind desperation,

I searched for safety in a sea-bottomed boat.

Do I just stand and watch

Trusting that he will find his way,

Or do I swim out and help him

Encouraging him in this season, slay?

Conflicted by the task at hand,

The Lord puts them on hold

Pointing me to my friend,

“Swim the storm; be bold!”

“Teach him what I have taught you,

How to stop fighting to stop trying.

Show him the hope you found

In the midst of your crying.”

“When he’s breathing water,

Point him to air.

When his muscles cramp,

Swim strong, and hold him right there.”

“Don’t pull him from the waves,

Every one has great meaning.

Let them fulfill their purpose

Even if they cause bleeding,”

“And remember your storm,

Every wave controlling your fate.

Remember who I am,

My promises over your boats were Great!”

“Remember my faithfulness

In your rejection of my help.

Remember the struggle

When you relied on your self.”

“Let these remembrances of your storm

Produce a deeper love for your friend,

Knowing that I’m producing in him,

More than he can comprehend”

“So go on now,

Swim in trust

That this storm for him

Like yours, is a must.”

Tunnels

Have you ever been on a train before, either for fun or a trip to some place?  If you have then you know how much faith you must put in the engineer to get you from point A to point B safely on this massive metal beast.  But what happens when the train enters a tunnel and everything gets dark and you can no longer see? Do you start screaming for help? Screaming that you’ll never see light again? Throw away your ticket and jump out of the train? Or even turn to the person next to you and ask them to save you? No, you sit still and trust that the engineer will get you from point A to point B because you believe that he knows what he’s doing through the tunnel that you cannot see anything in, and your safety is his number one concern, darkness is just part of the trip.

So what about when we find ourselves in dark places in life, when we can’t see where we are, where we’re going and there’s no glimpse of light to be found?  We are so quick to lean on our own understanding in those moments and go into panic mode trying to see, and be in control. It would be insane for the passenger of the train to go tell the engineer something along the lines of, “Hey you need to let me take control of this train so I can get back into the light and see where I’m at.” The engineer would probably reply, “I understand your concern, but I need you to trust me that I know what I’m doing, and that I will get you through this tunnel, you’re not the qualified one to run this train, I am.”

Like the engineer of the train, God responds to us in that way in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” God’s saying, Trust me completely that I know where we are, and where we’re going. Don’t look at the dark and think that we’re lost.  I know how to run this train perfectly and if in order to get if from point A to point B I have to take this train through some dark tunnels, then I will. And through many tunnels you will learn to trust that it is I, the controller of this train, who get it safely through the dark tunnels, not you, the panicked passenger.

Whether you’re in a dark tunnel right now or not, when one comes and you cannot see the other side of it, sit back and trust in that your engineer, God, is growing your faith in his perfect ability to protect you, and to do you good. James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

"God will take you where you haven't chosen to go in order to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own."

-Paul Tripp

Cameron Roy

March 9^th, 2014

My Flesh vs. My Bible

My flesh says act

My Bible says be patient

My flesh says sin

My Bible says sin no more

My flesh say take control

My Bible says God has all control

My flesh says you can’t

My Bible says I can through Christ

My flesh says act tough

My Bible says boast in weakness

My flesh says I’m worthless

My Bible says I’m Righteous

My flesh says trust yourself

My Bible says Trust God

My flesh says look at the evidence

My Bible says look to what is unseen

My flesh says grumble

My Bible says Rejoice

My flesh says there’s no hope

My Bible says God is able  

My flesh says it’s because God hates you

My Bible says it’s because God loves me

Cameron Roy

December 11th, 2013

My Flesh, My Great Wanter

My Flesh, My Great Wanter

                                                           

The sun is shining,

No clouds in sight,

So the flesh sets sail

In it’s daily delight.

But a storm of grievance comes,

That hits all of a sudden.

The flesh is drowning,

It feels left with nothing.

No boat to stand,

No pole to scale,

The flesh fears the waves,

Come from the depths of hell.

Swimming in panic,

Trying to stay afloat;

Looking for safety,

In a now sunken boat.

Gasping for air,

To only taste salt;

The flesh tells the soul,

“This is all my fault.”

My hands they bleed,

From the grip on my taken treasure;

In my broken discernment,

I see no greater pleasure.

The soul pleads with the flesh,

“Why so distraught; why so scared?

Let me introduce you to a king,

Who calls you heir”.

“He is love, He is good,

He is patient and kind;

He heals the sick,

And gives sight to the blind.”

“His name is Jesus,

And he rests in me;

Giving me hope in this storm,

And eyes to see.”

“All you can see,

Are waves in your face;

But I promise you, flesh,

These are waves of grace.”

“So, flesh, I need you know

That we will both surely die;

If you try to stay afloat,

Believing your own lie;”

“That if you just swim harder,

You can save your own life;

Fighting the waves,

That laugh at your strife.”

“If you don’t drown in the sea,

We will both surely die.

So, quit swimming, oh flesh,

And breathe in the sea of life!”

So the flesh stops swimming,

Only to sink;

And everything becomes quiet,

Under the surface of the sea.

As the flesh is still,

With darkness all around,

In the quiet of the abyss,

He hears a soft sound.

Scared of death,

He can’t let go;

Until he hears the words,

Of the great unknown.

“Flesh, what do you want,

Let go of your control,

I love you too much,

To let you lose your soul.”

“I know you are scared,

I know you’re afraid,

But you have to trust me,

Perfect is my way.”

So the flesh stops fighting,

All in faith;

Letting the powerful current,

Determine his fate.

Rushing under the surface,

In the depths of the sea,

The soul starts smiling,

Knowing he’s almost free.

Comforting the flesh,

As his face is blue;

Saying, “Don’t give up hope,

You’re being made new.”

The fleshes feet feel the sand,

In between his toes;

Thinking this is the bottom,

With nowhere to go.

Then the soul screams out,

“Arise flesh and breath;

You’ve been driven to the shore,

Open your eyes and see!”

As he tries to stand,

Weak with stumble,

Seeing a man drawing near,

His legs, they crumble.

Down on his knees,

The sun shining so bright,

A shadow comes over him

Saying, “I am the Light.”

Filled with tears,

Hurt and pain;

The man grabs His hand saying,

“You, I claim.”

“You are my son,

And I will not let you go;

I had to bring you a storm,

For you to know,”

“That your boat was built,

On shifting sand;

Beauty on the outside,

But no structure to stand.”

“I took your idol,

And your desire,

Because hope is in me;

Not flesh, that old liar.”

“It is here where I build you,

Right on this shore;

Find your hope in me,

And you shall want no more.”

“I will give you joy,

That will always stand;

Because happiness you see,

Can be ripped from your hand.”

“I can rebuild your boat,

I can give you a yacht;

But for now take my hand,

And doubt me not.”

“I will build you up,

And give you my eyes;

Make you stronger daily,

To become one of the wise.”

“And the next boat you build,

Follow my instruction,

It will be for your joy,

Not your destruction.”

                                   

                                    Cameron Roy

                                    October 23, 2013