Psalm 109:22 (New International Version) 22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
A good number of years ago, 1996 I think, I attended a Youth Retreat at Camp Caswell on Oak Island, NC. The leader of the music time was a young man, Carl Cartee. It was my first experience with Christian Music sung with more of a folk rock delivery and Carl reminded me a lot of Michael McDonald of the then, Doobie Brothers. Well, Carl's writing was very impressive and he won me over with his singing. By the time we left, old Dad was buying the CD and passing on to the kids. To this day, I continue to listen to his CD "Be Quiet and Paint". One particular portion of Carl's "Not Just a Scar but a Place where there was a healing..."Someday we will see
This battle pain
was a temporary feeling
it's been a struggle some
God's purpose is revealing.
You'll be a better man
When you see where this was leading...
No it's not just a scar
It's a place
where there has been a healing
the battles of this life...
For the glory of Christ..."
in His purpose in answer to our prayers. Such is the learning experience of the believer.
Faith must sustain us and we must believe in the promises of God. Even more so, is the
joy of those mountain top experiences when all is in harmony and we are surrendered
for God to truly ACT in our lives.
Another conference was "The Maximum Man" in Greensboro, NC. I forget the year but it's been more years than I care to remember.The guest soloist was Luke Garrett, a man of small statute, but a mighty tenor voice. He sang a song "Jesus...Friend of the Wounded Heart". It was an attention getter, even as the rest of the album. My Pastor at the time was Steve Hardy at Holly Hill Baptist Church in Burlington, NC. He gave me the CD and I have listened to it many, many times. Garrett sang...
"...Whisper the words of a prayer
And you'll find Him there
Arms open wide
Love in His eyes.
Jesus he meets you where you are
He heals your secret scars.
All the love you're longing for is...Jesus.
The friend of the wounded heart..."
We are never out of God's circle of life. He is there to meet us
where we are and healing our secret scars. He knows our silent dreams
and our hopes for each and everyday. Revelation 3:20 says it best that God is ready to come in a fellowship with us if only we open the door. His arms are truly open wide
and He remains our Peace in the time of trouble and hope through adversity.
I have used both Carl and Luke's music as a kind of testimony more times than I can count. This day, I am reviewing in my heart, not only the special times associated with these songs, but the scriptural intensity with which they present our Jesus as Savior, friend, and substitute for the sins of believer. Would that I could add them to this offering, but copyright precludes that sharing.
Lord,
thank you for friends
you send my way.
that goes beyond my merit…
so much more than I deserve.
Thank you for a thoughtful moment…
even in my spiritual lapses…
even when I have sinned so dreadfully.
Lord,
Thank you for being my Savior…
my friend.
Forgive me my many transgressions
and alas!…
lead me to the path of the straight and narrow.
even with a limp!
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