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| Copyright © 2006 Country Home Designs |
| An autumn day found me walking down a lonely street. As I walked, I noticed an old church off to the side. Its yard overgrown and tree limbs broken down with years of neglect. I guess it was the open door that raised my curiosity. I just had to look inside. As I entered that old church that day, I stood in the back and took in the sight. It was as if one day, everyone had just stopped coming. Dust covered everything, the bibles, the hymnbooks, everything. It was then that I noticed something very strange. Many of the pews had what appeared to be individual boxes around where each person used to sit. These were very odd shaped boxes and varied in size. I just had to get a closer look. I walked to one and brushed off the dust. As I did, I realized what it was that I was seeing. These boxes were not boxes at all, but dividing walls. Upon each brick that made up each wall was a word inscribed. One said “rebellion”, one said “unforgiving”, another read “bitterness”, another was “critical spirit”, another “gossip”. The list went on and on. As I walked around through these rows of walls, it became very clear to me just why this church was empty. You see, no matter how large or how small these walls were, they were too large to get past. They did not divide the church, but the relationships within the church. I suddenly felt very cold, very sad and very alone. I walked slowly to the altar and knelt there on that dusty floor. I looked to the front of the church and saw the image of the cross and remembered all it represents. Tears came to my eyes and I called out to Jesus. I said “Lord, why has this happened? This is not what you died for. You came to save the lost. Weren’t these the found?” I stayed there at the altar for quite some time with head bowed. Grief filled my spirit over what I had seen that day. When I finally stood and turned, my eyes were drawn to the ceiling of the church. I had not noticed it before, but now it was crystal clear. The ceiling was blood red and written across it was the word “FORGIVENESS”. It had been there all the time. All this could have been avoided; all could have been saved. The walls could have been destroyed. This church could have been….no, should have been united as one to the glory of God; they just had to look up. I looked down at my feet and now I could see my own wall; a wall that I had built and not even realized it. I said, “Lord, please forgive me. Break down this wall." I looked up again and saw one drop of blood fall from the ceiling. It landed on my wall and immediately, the wall was gone. This is what Jesus died for, the forgiveness of sins. He became sin for us that we might have life, abundant life, eternal life. PRAISE HIS NAME!!! tsf |
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| For he is our peace; in his flesh he has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. Ephesians 2:14 NRSV. |
| Christ came to break down the walls that divide us. Through Christ's work those who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. When Christ came He made Himself the basis for peace. You see, there seems to be a tendency within us, probably inherited from Adam, not only to hide from God, but to hide from one another as well. There is a tendency to be suspicious of one another. There is a tendency to judge one another. There is a tendency to build walls to separate “us” from “them.” But Christ has come to bring us together in Him. And in Christ there is absolutely no reason why we can't come together. No reason, except our disobedience to Him. Are there things which separate you from other believers in Christ? If there are, then perhaps it is true that you or they have not found a living relationship with Christ who is your peace. We can be sure that the things which separate us as believers have not been placed there by God. Good fences do not make good neighbors. The God of reconciliation has come to break down the walls which separate us. Frost remarks in his poem, Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out. You must be careful not to wall out the presence of Christ, and not to wall yourself in and find you have built your own prison of prejudice. Christ has come to set us free. Christ has come to make us one. Jesus has come to make peace. He has come to bring us together in Himself. Are there those with whom you need to make peace today? Are there attitudes you need to surrender today? Christ has come to set us free. |
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| I Watched
Please Remember The Lighthouse She Falls There is My Father If Only I Had My Baby’s Eyes Two Men The Gap This Day He Walked Between the Rows Revolutionary Perspective Welcome Home You Are Faithful I Remember Walls Enter In The Little Lamb The Sail Where the Blood Fell The World at My Doorstep Another Day at the Office The Valley Another Second Chance I Want to Fly The poems on this website were written by my husband. I pray that the Lord will speak to you through them. **Feel free to share these poems with others. We only ask that you leave the TSF at the end of each and that you place a link to our website (http://www.geocities.com/shout_2_the_lord) with it. Thanks. |
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| Have you ever wrestled with hatred, unforgiveness and resentment against a person or group of people? I have good news. Jesus can set you free. The scripture says that whoever the Son sets free is free indeed. Here are some lessons I have learned about breaking down the walls that divide us in our churches, families and communities.
>First, have a sincere desire to make God number one in your life. Allow him to be king of your life. He comes before spouse, children, job, church work, schedules, appointments and appearance. He must be given first place in your heart, and first priority in your day. Jesus charges us to love God with all our heart, soul and strength. Meditate on him throughout the day. >Second, strive to please God in all that you do. That means in word, thought, and deed. Seek to follow his commandments, walk in his footsteps, forgive others, and treat people with respect. Choose God's ways over your ways, his will over your will, and his agenda over your agenda. >Third, love your neighbors. Accept each others unique differences and see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Be like Ruth and Naomi who were different in age, race and religious background. Yet they united in love, made a commitment to each other to go with each other, to serve the same God, and to embrace each other's race. Loving your neighbors may also mean going out of your comfort zone to know people who are different. >Fourth, repent of personal sins and surrender your all to God. Humble yourself and ask God to forgive you of all your known and unknown sins. Put up your white flag in surrender to the Lord. >Fifth, forgive those who have hurt you. Holding onto bitterness, hatred, resentment, and anger over past hurts, will kill the spirit, stifle unconditional love, and will ruin your life. If you want to be liberated, try truly forgiving others from the very depths of your soul. >Sixth, walk in unity. Psalms 133:1-2 sums it up nicely for us. "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard: even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;" Let the body of Christ unite as one in the power of love. |
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| Walls |
| ORIGINAL POETRY |
| BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS |
| How Many People Will Be Ready? |