The Shipwrecks of Life!

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." My soul thirsts for God, the living God..living not one who's dead and cannot act! Put your hope in God~ for I will yet praise Him, My Savior and my God...my soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember You.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of the waterfalls; all Your waves and breakers have swept over me~~ by day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me~ a prayer to the God of my life! Lord, Your waves have swept over me.... until I feel capsized ~ bailing as fast as I can before the next one hits. Far from the shore and safe harbor, drifting away from where I want to be, bailing, sinking. But I cry out to you Lord, whom else do I have to save me? Throw me a life preserver, help me to drop anchor, light up the beacon on shore so I can know which direction to head~ and if it pleases you, calm the waters. Let me hear "Peace be still!" Send forth your light and your truth and let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell." When I feel shipwrecked, let me see your light..the beacon of Hope I search for across these many waves~ How, O, Lord did I get off course? It was perhaps a "rogue" wave, unseen, bearing down and throwing me in the wrong direction! You say: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

But sometimes it is others who have shipwrecked us, not us ourselves. And then it is out of our control, we are broadsided by the waves of torment from their choices! Help me to listen to your direction and in hearing them, to obey. Again you say, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. FOR, I AM the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Though difficulties, situations and circumstances may assail me my God will be there to walk me through them. They won't destroy me to the point I cannot go on. As soon as I can look UP and get my focus on Jesus, then I will be okay and make it through to safe harbor-trusting that my Anchor will hold!

Oh Lord, thank you that you are the Captain of my ship and that nothing blindsides you! You hold us and the answer in your right hand! Help me to fully trust that you are working even when I don't see the results in my timing...my times are in your hands, Lord! You are my PEACE! Amen.

http://www.pamelastephens.com



**copyrighted in 2006

A Pageant in Persia-The Story of Esther

A Pageant in Persia
by Pamela Stephens

Our prolific parable opens at the palace, where a party has been planned for the Princes of Persia. Power and pride prevailed at this plush affair! The King proposed that the pretty Queen present herself so praise and applause would be his. BUT the Queen, prim and proper, preferred not to…it was her PEROGATIVE!

Those Princes in attendance pondered this problem and had a plan for the King: Produce a new Queen for Persia! So, a Pageant was proposed and all pubescent beauties from far and wide planned to be there. Esther, a pretty Jewess was one of them..much perfuming, primping and preening was perpetuated upon them so they could parade before the pagan King. Esther pleased him profusely and the pearl-seeded tiara was placed upon her head….it was PERFECT!

It was purported that a plot to replace the King was afoot and it was perpetrated by a cast of perilous evil-doers. The guilty pair was painfully disposed of by the powers that be! Put into a place of political power was a proud, prejudicial person named Haman! He prescribed that people should prostrate themselves before him…profusely…it was PROTOCOL!

This perplexing prospect put panic and palpitations into Mordecai’s pumper! He was a person with principles….it was a PRECARIOUS PREDICAMENT!

Haman persuaded the King with plunder aplenty to pass a proclamation persecuting the Jews, which sent pandemonium to this population. Haman was a parasite, but also a pillar of persuasion….oh, POOH!

At this particular pause in our story, the Patriarch Mordecai appeals to our pathos. He’s publicly pleading and pulling on his apparel…He’s upset and….it was PATHETIC!

Esther has pity on him and permits a messenger to prevail upon him to: Perk up, Patch up, and Pull up his Poise and quit this PESSIMISM! But when this Pollyanna teen Queen hears of the perverse plan put into perspective by her paternal cousin, Mordecai…..Esther turns PALE!

paternal cousin, Mordecai…..Esther turns PALE!
This pagan Haman plans a profit and Esther is PETRIFIED! To plead for pardon in the King’s palace could be precarious….she was a PANSY!

However, Esther, lying on her pillow upon pins and needles, ponders the perilous possibilities….paramount on her mind. This paralyzing preoccupation with fear pales when into her thinking process comes the idea that “Pleasing God is the pinnacle for which she was put there!” Thus, Peace and Patience along with Prayer became her Possessions! Providence and predestination play a big part in every person’s life!! Esther says to Patriarch Mordecai, “IF I perish, I PERISH!” It was Precious!

God’s plans pan-out because His people have purpose! He positioned people in places of power, providing a plan to procure protection by using a pair planted in the palace…..Who could’ve Predicted?

HE Preserved, they persevered and posterity penned forever the Pious celebration of PURIM… Paranoia departed, the perpetrator’s passion passed (As did Haman, I might add!)….Poor Persian!

The penitent people of Persia were peaceable and became proselytes…Praise the Lord and all Prospered! Which only goes to show you: It pays to participate in the plans of God…pity the poor person who practices pooh poohing them!

**copyrighted 1984