Cry Out To Jesus

This was a weekend of mixed emotions. I was privileged to play for a wedding for a nice young couple in our church. One of our Student Pastors sang and played songs of praise and worship on his guitar. Another multi-gifted couple from Salem played a glorious arrangement of "Ave Maria" on piano and violin. Our handbell director chimed the hour. The service was simple, yet full of hope and excitement for a new life beginning.

At the same time this weekend, another young man was lying in a local hospital clinging to life. Some of us went to the hospital after the wedding rehearsal to support and fellowship with the family and each other. Even though there was always the chance for a miracle to occur, God knew it was time for Keith to come home early in the morning hours.

We are still seeing and hearing pictures and accounts of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Lives being forever changed in three states in the southeast part of this country. Being from Georgia, we had some residual wind and rain as Katrina roared northward on land, however, more of the impact has been on people coming through here seeking shelter, financial help, material help, food, water, the basics of life, and most of all, seeking compassion and hope. We know in our heads and hearts that the lives of people in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana will never be the same, but there is the hope since they survived.

I know as a follower of Jehovah God, that I can pray for all the above situations and I have the assurance that God will hear me. However, in recent days I find myself increasingly at a loss for the words and requests to bring. Words from me will not make this marriage today survive the storms of life. Words from me did not keep this young man - a son, a brother, a husband, a father - did not keep him from dying. Words from me cannot heal the wounds and loss from the destruction of Katrina and return so many lives to normal. It's tough. Really tough. We are promised in the Scriptures that when we do not have the words to say that the Spirit will intercede for us to God the Father. I'm claiming this promise now.

I've walked with God long enough to know that when things are the bleakest and we can't find the way to turn....all we have to do is to cry out, cry out to Jesus. Below are the words to a song I've fallen in love with and it has ministered to me greatly these past couple of days. Hopefully, they are playing it on your local Christian radio stations or you can find a Third Day album somewhere near your home. I hope the lyrics will touch your heart and give you the assurance that no matter in what situation we may find ourselves, all we need to do is Cry out to Jesus. I have one closing comment at the very end.

Cry Out To Jesus
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When you're lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

(c) 2005 Consuming Fire Music / ASCAP. All rights administered by EMI
CMG Publishing. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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Good song, isn't it? The one thing that was going on this weekend that provided the humor in the midst of all my pathos, was dog-sitting for my Minister of Music who was out of town for the weekend. That story will follow in a day or two (after the stitches come out of my ankle and the Milk Bone is removed from nose. Hey! Don't laugh....I thought it was a good idea to try and get this demon dog to lick me. Wrong move, Jimmy. Wrong move. So stay tuned for the tale of Jimmy and the Cockapoo.

And so for this evening my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

Be God's!