Tulips from my daughter Sandra
"When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth
For he will speak on his own authority
But whatever he hears he will speak
And he will declare to you the things that are to come."
Spirit of Truth you are my guide
Never stepping away from my side
Through the clamor of other voices
In your truth my heart rejoices
Spirit of Truth you do not change
Through storms and sorrows your truth remains
Spirit of Truth solid and pure
All my hope is found in you
##
In His Grip
(the sequel to Outside the Gate)
"Grandma, you should tell your story."
We all have a story. In my case it is His Story.
It is not my story.
Otherwise it would be boring indeed.
There is no boredom in Him.
Salvation comes in many colors.
A rainbow of hope.
Love, grace, peace and joy
This is the story of my salvation.
One of the colors on the rainbow of grace
Outside the Gate is the first part of the story.
In His Grip is the story of a broken woman plagued by trauma.
Trying to live a life she had vowed she would live.
Without God it proved impossible.
She was bound to fail.
As a young girl lost and separated from her family
She had made a vow.
She broke that vow.
In her mind she had committed the unpardonable sin.
In her shame and guilt she felt she had crossed a line
there was no turning back from that.
Her journey goes through some dark places.
into the labyrinth.
However the Hound of Heaven chased her
down those dark paths and brought her out.
I am that woman.
Many years ago, I was close to death.
I was in and out of a coma
I was given a vision
I could see myself suspended lying in a hospital bed.
Under me were dark swirling waters
I knew if I fell in those waters I would fall to my death
As I sat up terrified looking at those dark waters I heard a voice
Full of love and gentle as living waters
the voice said to me
"I have you in my grip"
##
Spirit of Truth revives my soul
Love, gentleness, self control
You produce in me abundant fruit
You guide me into all your truth
Spirit of Truth you tell my story
Leading me upward into glory
You lifted me up above the abyss
Your arms held me firmly in your Grip
j.smith/2024