The Power of Prayer

The day was long, the burden I had borne
Seemed heavier than i could longer bear,
And then it lifted - but i did not know
Some on had knelt in prayer;
 
Had taken me to God that very hour,
And asked the easing of the load, and He,
In infinite compassion, had stooped down
And taken it from me.
 
We cannot tell how often as we pray
For some bewildered one, hurt and distressed,
The answer comes, but many times those hearts
Find sudden peace and rest.
Some on had prayed, and Faith, a reaching hand,
Took hold of God, and brought Him down that day!
So many, many hearts have need of prayer:
Oh, let us pray!

What if...

i know i have nothing to fear...but why does it still irk me?
 
what if one day you found out you had something wrong with your body?
the very same body that has been functioning perfectly normal for the past 18 and a half years of your life?
the very imperfect (in your eyes) body that has brought you through adrenaline rushes and depressing nosedives?
the very "ugly" body that has felt hugs and kisses and affection from people who love you and well...loved you before..
 
okok..before any of you get worried about me (if anyone does get worried about me)..there's nothing wrong with me physically..or mentally for that matter..
its just that im due for my university health check up this coming friday and i know i shouldnt be paranoid but hey..you really never know what you may find out..
i may be small..jumpy and seemingly healthy i guess..
but a full body health check up complete with x-ray will probably be able to probe and discover more than your friendly neighbourhood doc..
 
up until now..i still have the mentality that im gonna live till maybe eighty..
that im gonna live a full life..go through all significant events in life such as graduating..finding a job..marrying..having kids..a car..a house..
but recenlty..having made a clean and open-hearted so-called "come back" to Christ..
i've been thinking more about the meaning of my life and really..how unpredictable it and everything in it is...
 
Eccleasiastes 1:2 says '"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!"...
Life really is meaningless..
Throughout eccleasiastes..the teacher brings us through life, work and even play and always arriving at the sad but true conclusion that everything we do will result in vain effort and zero satisfaction..
Pleasures are meaningless..Toil is meaningless..Advancement is meaningless..Riches are meaningless..
What then is the reason we treasure life? Or rather what makes us want to be alive?
 
In the concluding chapter of eccleasiastes..the Teacher writes in chapter 12:13 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
I finally realise and understand what it really means to be alive..or at least im slowly getting a little grasp at it.. 
Its not about studying..working..achieving..playing..all the things that men perceive as being useful in life..
But rather doing everything..no matter how small or big..all for God and His glory so that people around me may be blessed and be touched by God's grace and mercy..
 
Im still a little shivery as to what the health check up may discover about this small frame (and beneath) of mine..
but at least i know my life..is God-given..and I live only for His awesome purpose..not mine..
Life even if plagued with illnesses or trouble should still be used solely for His purpose..
 
Now that all has been said..am i able to do it all?