There is a reason that the path is narrow and few there are that find it. It is a difficult, often lonely path the saint finds himself on. There is pain and death as one picks up his cross daily. It is not a virtue to take up your cross daily, its a brutal death. We are called to follow our Lord Jesus to Calvary and beyond. When we consider the struggle of our Lord Jesus in Gethsemane, we see a struggle like none other. Who amongst us have sweated great drops of blood? Right there, on His knees and all alone, Jesus struggles in the night. He cries out to His Father to take the cup from Him. If our Lord struggled, if the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords struggled, then we too will often find oursleves struggling with our own issues. Yet the Lord Jesus made a way for us. He comes to the point of victory before the actual crusifixtion. The Lord says this " Not as I will, but as thou will." This is the key to victory in our lives. The saint who perseveres does so because he has bowed the knee and in whatever situation he finds himself , although the flesh would cry out for the cup to pass, he says " Not my will but thy will." This submission to what the Lord calls us to is the key to victory. In that vein I wrote this poem , may it bless youBefore you wear the crownBefore the crown we're called to wearThere is a cross that we must bearBefore He struggled up the HillHe had to choose His Father's willBefore the victory was wonHe had to say " Thy will be done."And on the cross He did atoneBut not before He prayed aloneIf we desire to climb that hillWe must desire to do His willFor victory will not be wonUntil we say " Thy will be done."So if you will take up your crossIt would serve you well to count the costFor before He died to set you freeHe died alone at Gethsemane
"If we desire to climb that hillWe must desire to do His willFor victory will not be wonUntil we say " Thy will be done."Amen. Have you ever climbed a mountain? There must be beauty there otherwise people wouldn't do it. One time I went on the highest mountain in North Carolina. One of the most beautiful, serene places I have ever been to and have always wanted to go back. Thanks for the post brother Frank. Encouraging.
_________________Michelle
StarofGod writes........"Have you ever climbed a mountain? There must be beauty there otherwise people wouldn't do it. One time I went on the highest mountain in North Carolina. One of the most beautiful, serene places I have ever been to and have always wanted to go back."Amen. The hill referred to in the poem is Golgotha by way of the via dolorosa( which means in Latin, the way of grief or the way of suffering) The line in the poem also refers to the hill that is ascended by those with clean hands and a pure heart...........brother Frank