Discernment

"No one cares if a man is right or wrong,
No one cares if a man is weak or strong.
No one cares to even be right
They'd rather stay in the darkness of night.
It is the plain truth that they doubt
It is the Scriptures they don't care about.
In comforting lies they place their trust,
And fall into pits as deadly as lust.
They lift the lies up to be so grand,
And shoot down those who dare to stand.
They suck in what they are told
And listen to the wolves who are bold.
They look to the preachers who are "hip" and "cool"
And call anyone who disagrees an ignorant fool.
They don't care what God's Word has to say
They let all areas turn to shades of grey.
People have stopped discerning the right from wrong
They've stopped caring if the teaching is weak or strong.
They're willingly led astray
Ending up too far away.
And yet, so few dare to stand
Too afraid of these lies, built up so grand."

God Bless,
  A.W.

My Christmas List

"On this Christmas list there are one too many things
Being only what miracles of grace could bring.
I would not ask for myself,
But I'd ask for a good friend's health.
I'd ask for the pain and sickness to be gone
So that my dearest friends would not suffer long.
I'd ask for a job and a place to live for a friend
When on his own, for himself, he must fend.
I'd ask for a friend's depression to be ripped away
Replaced by marvelous light and comfort that would always stay.
I'd ask for the salvation of those I hold dear
That my loving Father might bring them near.
I'd ask for the pastors I know to find a place
Where the people will listen and not act in great haste.
I'd ask for comfort for those who've suffered great loss
So that the waves might calm and stop in mid-toss.
I'd ask for provision and food to feed
So that my friend and her children would have all they need.

Oh, of all the things I would pray for
I cannot help but remember that I'm so poor.
What power have I to change a life
Or to take away a person's worldly strife?
Though I cannot change a thing
There is a certain hope that Jesus brings.
I know that through those trials He is at work
And isn't watching down on us just as a lurk.
And though my heart breaks for those I hold dear
I know this is what's best and that to them, God is near.
So if I must change my Christmas list
Then let me settle at this
For all the Christians I know
That through their storms they might grow.
And that those who are lost
Might look upward to the Cross.
I pray these things will come true
And that in the next year they can start new.
I pray about what this Christmas brings
I pray is it built out of extraordinary things."

God Bless,
 A.W.

A Letter For My Sister

"It's been a few months since I've seen your face
It's been a few months since you've left in great haste.
It's hard to think of last Christmas that's now so bittersweet
It's hard to remember that we might never again meet.
And now it's hard to feel the Christmas cheer
When my eyes are to the brim with tears.
It's hard to smile at those Christmas lights
When they make me think of all those painful nights.
It's hard to know you won't be here this year
It's hard to know you'd hate to even be near.
It hurts to remember all the pain you've brought
And all the sadness you've thrown in our lot.
In light of that, I should not be feeling this way
I myself should not be thrown in such dismay.
But I miss you all the same.
So call me pathetic, call me lame.
I love you how I always will
And I continue to pray for you still.
My heart will always break for you
How I pray God will open your eyes to what's true.
I hope you are gone only for a little while
Because right now it's hard to be happy and smile.
So I wonder where you'll be on Christmas Eve
I hope I can see you before I leave.
Either way I pray I'll meet you one day in the skies
Where I'll see you washed from all filthy lies
I hope we'll be Home together in the end
I hope one day we can be friends.
But today I cannot think of Christmas without tears
It's hard to be filled with Christmas cheers.
But I pray God will save you
I pray you will see what's true."

Now I wrote this poem for my sister who has done much damage to my family. It's everything I've ever wanted to say to her for the last few months. I needed it out, though she may never read it...I needed it out, so maybe when I go to church and they talk about Christmas, tears won't come to my eyes anymore. I needed it out so that I don't have to cry when I think of Christmas.
Though...knowing how I am, I probably still will. But it is nice to have it all out in one form at the very least.

And yet, as sad as Christmas can make me feel, in light of my sister not being here. I also feel hopeful in a way. Hopeful to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
We celebrate Christmas, for the birth of Christ. Christ who was sent into the world to die for sinners, for our sins. That is hope. That is the comfort that Christmas is giving me this year.
I don't know who is to be saved in the end, but perhaps my sister will be saved in the end. I hope and pray she will. I guess if it were any holiday that made me think of my sister, I would like it to be Christmas. Because while I hurt, at least I can be reminded of the hope of salvation.
At least, I have hope and prayer, if nothing else.

God Bless,
A.W.

He Is Still Loving Me

"I don't understand why God would give me an answer
When I know that I deserve something even worse than cancer.
I don't understand how there could be a yes
When I know I deserve so much less.
I don't understand why He'd give me rest
Considering how poorly I've done on the test.
I don't understand why He'd set me free
When I know so many, more worthier than me.
I can't comprehend even the little streams of light
Piercing through the clouds dark as night.
I can't recall the last day I felt the light on my skin
All I remember are these raindrops pouring down my chin.
I can't imagine these clouds going away
And yet, I've come to peace if they forever stay.
And I know I will never understand that love
That always comes crashing down from above
Taking the form of rain or shine
Tainting each part of my story, in every line.
In the end, I don't understand why He'd ever say yes
As it is, from this rain, I am already so blessed."

This Christmas

In light of last Christmas, I should not be looking forward to this Christmas in any way.
Christmas of 2011 was the worst Christmas I've ever had.
It was the worst Christmas because of the deep depression I was in. It was the worst Christmas because two of the causes of my depression were as present as ever.
For both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I had to be with a person who always ignored me and never really seemed to care. It was that person that motivated me to start writing quotes to keep me going on my wrist each day. It was that person that God so used to help me deal with rejection. 
And it was that person that made me cry that Christmas Eve. It was that person that made me realize how dangerous it could be to drive when you're emotional.
It was hard to be with that person on such a holiday.
But that was not the only person who made it hard.
One of my closest friends who I had made over that year had ditched our friendship not long ago decided he'd talk to me again.
I never had the guts to say how I felt about what that friend had done, and how from that it made me fall into such a depression I was in. Nor did I have the courage to shut up and never speak to that friend again. So I talked to that old friend; it felt just like it used to, as if we hadn't stopped talking for months. But I knew as I continued our conversation that it was all just a tease to the hope of a friendship again. That was what hurt.
Last Christmas, I was visited by all the things that had made me fall into the depression I was in. The depression that made me sleep all day and stop eating.

Those were the biggest thing that made last Christmas a horrible experience. The best thing about last Christmas was that I  got to spend time with my sister.
My sister who had given our family so much conflict and heart ache. My sister who never really liked me. My sister who had been everyone's favorite. My sister who I had caught at 4 am running away from home. My sister who had finally decided she wanted to have a relationship with us.
She was the best part of that Christmas. Seeing her, talking to her, spending time with her was the best part of my Christmas. Praying that God might save her, hoping that we would all become closer to her if possible. Hoping that she would stay.
 She was what made last Christmas worth while.
But of course, it wasn't until a few months ago that she decided she didn't want to be connected to us in any way. And now there won't be her joining us this year.

 So as I think over last Christmas, part of me just wants it over. In light of last Christmas it won't be good at all.
And here I sit, reminding myself that things have changed. Things with the person who didn't like me last year have changed a bit; and even if they never had, I would definitely not be letting what they think bother me now. Things with my friend who had ditched me last year have changed.  Things with my sister have changed.
It's all changed. And though I still can look at this coming Christmas and have doubts; it all comes down to whether or not I am going to let memories control my future.
It is so easy to do that. It's easy to just say that "Oh, well that person who doesn't like me is just going to be nice to everyone else and ignore me and act like I don't exist again". It would be easier to say "Oh my friend who ditched me hasn't really changed. The same thing will just happen again. They won't stick around till Christmas, and if they do, it won't be long after that they get bored again."
For me, it would be so easy to let those memories chain me, and make me have a pessimistic view of this Christmas.
That's the easy thing.
The hard thing for me is to look forward to a bright new Christmas and  think the best of whatever might come my way. Even if my friend gets bored and decides to ditch me again. And even if the person in my family decides to ignore my existence again. The hard thing is to make the best out of whatever I am given. The hard thing is to make the best out of whatever day I am given. And that day this year would be Christmas. So my goal for this year is not to let people so ruin my day; but to make the most of the day I have. To make the most of the Christmas I have, and to not let those bad memories drag me down.

As humans, we will always have bad memories, and sometimes those never leave us. It is easy to let those memories control us in the present. And what a dangerous thing that can be. It can ruin your entire life, in fact. Being in bondage to your memories is like dying. It's like falling into a deep depression you can't get out of.  We aren't meant to die like this; we are meant to live, and make the most of every day we have.

And with that, as I look at this coming Christmas, I am fighting to let go of those memories. I think I'm still just fighting to live.

Just Look

"Look for the people who have shown the signs,
Look for the people who have shut the blinds.
Look for the soul that has wasted away
Whose world has turned to grey.
Look for the loner in the room,
Look for the face tainted in gloom.
Look for the girl with a broken smile
Look for the girl who isn't living in denial.
Look for the ones ignored and forgotten
Look for the ones who have been deemed rotten.
Look for the ones who are beaten and broken,
For those are the ones worth more than a token.
Those are the people worth knowing
Those are the people who will help your growing.
So look for the sick of soul,
Look that you might be used as a tool.
Look for those who walk alone,
Who have no one to hear their cries and groans.
Oh look for those who struggle with the desire to be alive
Please look to help your brothers and sisters survive."

"This life has lost its comfort and joy
All this that the darkness has destroyed
There isn't much here
When death becomes less than a fear.
There isn't much will
When it's only Christ who makes your heart filled.
With a cruel world like this
The desires to stay grow shorter on the list
People hurt, bite, and leave you,
There's too much damage they can do.
When pain becomes part of this life
When what you feel daily is the stab of the knife
More and more does death become inviting,
And all the more less frightening.
When the cares of this world fade
And the coldness, into your soul invades
When the closest friends leave you behind
And the sadness starts to grind,
Remember when this world gets heavy and the heart starts to bend
Remember in light of truth that this is not your final end.
Let that pull bring you Home at last,
When the time of your days has passed.
Let your soul be ready
When the sailing on the seas is all but steady.
Set your eyes on that sweeter and better place
When God is ready to bring you Home by His Good Grace."