[043] A Message From A Poem – Christ Upholds The Battling One

[043] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRIST UPHOLDS THE BATTLING ONE

(Longer Introduction)

Do you face battles? Do trials and opposition buffet you and make the way ahead very hard? This poem partly addresses that.

Well there is good news for you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Your Saviour goes with you all the way. Yes, He walks beside you, but there is more than that. He actually leads the way just like the eastern shepherd who leads his sheep. He never drives them, but leads. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep. {{John 10:2 “but he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.”}} {{John 10:11 “I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”}} {{John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd and I know My own, and My own know Me,”}}

Never believe the lie that if you come to Christ all your problems are solved and God gives you wealth and health. In fact when you get saved, it is then that you encounter problems because – TAKE NOTE of this verse – {{2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”}} The great difference is that you have a Friend who is closer than a brother who walks beside you every step of the way.

Jesus makes the battles lighter. Full comfort He brings. He showers us with grace. He lightens your heavy load.

We used to have a plaque hanging up on the wall called “Footprints” and I don’t honestly know what happened to it. I would like to paste it here:-

THE ORIGINAL WORDS OF “FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND”

Mary Stevenson (1922 – 1999) originally wrote the poem “Footprints in the Sand” in 1936 when she was only 14 years old.

Unfortunately she did not keep a copy; however in 1984 she found a copy which was dated 1939 tucked away in an old travel case with other poems.

Therefore, the record states that the original version of Footprints in the Sand was written by Mary Stevenson in 1939. (I copied this from an Internet source but I notice the dates are different.)

This poem is sometimes referred to as "I Had A Dream". Leona Lewis, a British recording artist recorded a song based on the poem "Footprints in the Sand." [This is called a poem but it is not. It is narrative.]

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you." [[Mary Stevenson]]

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CHRIST UPHOLDS THE BATTLING ONE

In this world Your saints are living

And do tribulation face;

Sore and weary, beaten down,

Yet faithful in the race.

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Wrap Your arms of mercy ‘round them

And enfold them to Your breast.

Lighten all their heavy loads,

And give each soul Your rest.

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Christ will make the burdens lighter -

He has promised that He will.

In the battle, rest He gives,

His presence with us still.

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Faithful is our loving Saviour.

Such full comfort He does bring.

Weariness may be our lot,

But His grace lets us sing.

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When our time on earth is ended,

And we’ll see our Saviour’s face,

Then we’ll know that through those times,

He showered us with grace.

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17 October 1999 R E Ferguson 8-7-7-6