Give It To Me!

For several years, fifty to be accurate, a stench permeated throughout my thoughts and actions. Often a reminder of a stinging remark flooded my thoughts with revenge. The more I tried to push my past transgressions into my secret place, the more I failed. Even though Christ Jesus redeemed my soul, I still carried the blooded bandages from old wounds. The truth about the resurrection power eluded my thoughts and actions. Until I read this: "Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor." (Proverbs 3: 16 NKJV)

Within my right hand was a key to my secret place. Over and over again, Christ whispered, "Give it to me!" Within my secret rooms resided all the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences from fifty plus years upon this earth. I never claimed that: "It is finished!" The stench and festering hidden actions never saw the light of day from a healing, gracious Lord Jesus. My refusal to open the door brought tears to Christ’s eyes. Again, Jesus whispered, "Let me clean house. Isn’t it time to get rid of all that festering mess?" The realization that I must: "…. put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications out of your mouth." (Colossians 3: 8) caused many a sleepless night and many a panic attack. If the truth was known, I lacked confidence in myself and shamefully in the power of Jesus Christ. Resurrection power began and ended with the heavenly promise that "It is finished." What was finished? The power of sin to bind a believer in a prison of fear and shame.

Let me encourage you today. If your secret world was revealed, what would Christ find within you hidden sanctuary? Sooner or later, all the festering resentments and the stench of hatred from unjust actions blow the door of any secret chamber. Today, Jesus Christ whispers to you and me, "Give it to me!" Trust me on this! When the cleansing grace of Jesus flows throughout your secret chamber and the panic attacks begin, Jesus Christ never leaves of forsakes a hurting saint. Whatever you face today, the blood of Jesus Christ is greater than any hidden sin. So, come! Put the key to your heart and secret chamber of horrors in the hand of the man who walked on water. Come! Exchange the key in your right hand with the honor and riches in Christ’s right hand. You may hurt from the initial encounter but you will never regret it.

Copyright 2009 Patricia Charlton

A Carpenter's Daughter

After wiping the sweat from his furrowed brow, the sounds of laughter echoed throughout the carpenter’s thoughts - a reminder of better times. Oh, the rapid-fire questions from his eight-year-old brown-eyed daughter warmed the cold reality of a difficult life. Even to this day those treasured moments warmed his chilled emotions. These days, few people needed chairs and tables. Everyone either losted their job or all their money. The dark days of an economic melt down reached this carpentry shop. Many prosperous years have come and gone. Now the house and woodshop echoed with sound of empty bins and growling stomachs. More scrapping and chopping for little orders only produced more despair from the carpenter’s aching heart. The apple of his eye was gone.

A tear fell from his weather beaten face. A whisper echoed against the walls, "Why did you leave me? Was it that fight over money or your mother’s death from cancer?" No longer able to contain the overwhelming wave of memories, the tools dropped from the carpenter’s hands. Slowly, with the turn of his right hand a name appeared. Tear upon tear fell upon an engraved name. "Rebecca! Rebecca! Come home again!" fell from his quivering lips.

A father’s heart never forgot the tender moments or his daughter’s first steps. A father’s heart never lets go of a wayward daughter. And so it is with Jesus Christ – the true carpenter of humanities heart. Jesus never stopped loving and caring for those, which he beheld. From His risen throne in Glory, Christ’s teary-eyed moments produce a quivering response, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands: Your walls are continually before Me." (Isaiah 49: 15, 16 NKJV) With an ability to see all and know all, Christ planned a future filled with joy, compassion, and love for the apple of His eye. Again His quivering lips respond to the skin pealing rejection from a wayward daughter, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28 NKJV)

Did you hear him? The call from a broken hearted dad? Remember this, the tears you cried over the foreclosure or the repossession of your car, someone else saw and felt your pain. A father never lets go of a daughter’s hand even the rebellious. On the throne in Glory sits a carpenter waiting for a call from a carpenter’s daughter.

Copyright 2008 Patricia Charlton