December 31st, 2008
I’m Ready
I was flying high
I had drive; I had fire
A real self-starter - that was me
I had all success requires
Everyone who knew me
Said I had just what it takes
Keep doing what you’re doing
Avoid the big mistakes
No one saw it coming
Least of all was me
The one in charge - I held it all
The map, the route, the key
I was chasing after it
but it was only wind
I relied on only me
Down to the pit I’m in
I know the turns that got me here
But I’m the one to blame
I know the lures that sucked me in
A greedy moth to flame
I’ve had some time to think down here
My life, regrets, my sin
My soul is stripped down to its core
It’s nothing I can mend
I guess I’m talking to You, God
No one else is near
I’ve heard that You’re my Savior
I could use some saving here
I know mine is a new voice
I hope it’s not too late
You’ve never fit into my plans
I saw Your work as fate
I’m so sorry, Lord
You’ve been with me - is that true?
You’ve been waiting for this moment
You’ve been waiting, and You knew
That I’d never look to anyone
Least of all to You
In the midst of my successes
I’d never find what’s true
You allowed my every travel
Even to this mucky home
I thought I was all by myself
I never was alone
I’m ready, Lord - I’m ready
Light the path I walk
I’m ready for our journey
From the mire to the Rock
Mary Graver
If when reading this poem, you recognized yourself in any part of it - if you now long to share in the victorious life that comes only through Jesus Christ, I would be honored to introduce you, not to religion, but to a relationship with our Savior - yours and mine.
If you’re ready, pray with me now -
Father God, I have sinned against You. Forgive me, heal me, restore and renew me.
Jesus, I believe that You died for me. You rose from the dead for me and You will come back again for me, that I may be with You in Your kingdom forever.
Jesus, I confess with my mouth that You are Lord - Lord of my life, Lord of my heart, my soul - Lord of all. You are the Son of God, my Savior.
Holy Spirit, dwell in me, that I may be this day, a new creation. Amen
The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, The Word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:8-10
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Welcome to your new life in Christ!
Welcome to the kingdom!
Welcome!
God loves you and will never leave you. He has put it on my heart to offer some suggestions I hope are helpful as you begin your new walk with Him.
Next three steps -
1) Get into The Word and stay there!
The NIV (New International Version) Study Bible is a good choice for new Christ followers. Pray before you open it up. Pray for guidance, revelation, understanding and application in your new life. Start with the New Testament. And always pray the Psalms - I even like to sing them!
Enter any word into the Bible Gateway search tool on this home page, and you wll instantly see every passage containing that word in Scripture. You will land on my favorite Bible delving website - BibleGateway.com. Check it out.
John Edmiston lays out a way to read the New Testament to let it build on itself.
~Read Mark. (It is written in chronological order.)
~Read Matthew. (It goes into better detail of some events and adds more about Jesus.
~Read John. (It contains a lot of the life of Jesus not before read, especially His last two weeks before the crucifixion.)
~Read Luke then Acts. (Both were written by the apostle Paul’s traveling companion, Luke. Acts is a continuation of Luke. It describes the early church and contains the examples of New Testament conversions.
~Read Galations. (It deals with the reasons why we do not follow the Old Testament Laws in a more simplified way than does Romans or Hebrews.)
~Read the rest of the New Testament starting at Romans and going to Revelation.
2) Join a church.
Look for these four things -
~Sound biblical preaching that lifts up Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and God.
~Humble, godly, wise leadership. (”Red flag” attitudes include: greed, pride, moral looseness and disrespect.)
~The people of the church clearly love one another.
~There is holiness and clear standards of right and wrong.
3) Take advantage of the great opportunities your new church has to offer you in your new abundant life -
~worship
~Bible studies and Sunday School classes
~small group fellowship
~service projects and mission opportunities. (The disciples were brand new Christians when Jesus sent them out!)
Feel free to email me anytime. The Holy Spirit often nudges me out of bed and off to my computer in the wee hours.
You are daily in my prayers.
Grace and Peace,
Mary