I wrote this about a friend of mine who had sunk so deep in sin, she was suicidal. This was a very good friend of mine, whom I had met in church. She was dedicated to God and is extremely talented. She and her husband had a youth ministry that was very powerful! But at that time, a "shaking" was going in the church, (not the church I go to now) and they left the church......as did many......and that ministry was dropped. We kept in touch once in awhile. It had been a year since I had spoke to her, when her husband called me to tell me she was in "Lock Up". She had left a suicide note, but by the grace of God, her husband found her before she could carry out her plans! She had asked for me...so I went to see her. She had gone back to her old ways of dealing with things by drinking and taking drugs. After 2 weeks of "De-Tox" in lock up, she went through much counseling. For her, it has been a long healing process. Anyway.....this poem started out being about her but took on a different direction. When I finished and read it......I realized this was not just about her!! This was about the great falling away and many who are dying spiritually because they are serving two Masters!! This was about people who turn to everything else but God to solve their problems! I have even been guilty of that at times!! This was about people who have once tasted the Glory of God, but the devil slipped in when they were not "watching" and began to destroy all that God had done!! I can't speak for all, but I know for some, it is not a place they want to be. It happens gradually, with a little deception here and there, a little pain here, another wound there, until the person has bought into the lies of the devil. Their eyes and ears have become closed to the things of God. Their discernment is gone. They are on their way to destruction. But if we humble ourselves, repent and seek His face, God will heal us and restore us! Praise God!! (Sorry to ramble on...) Thank you. Cheri

(Here's the poem)

Take Up Your Cross

A friend of mine, fallen from grace

Wondered what led her there

Whatever took her to that place

Left her in great despair

Somehow her life just wasn't the same

And she began to get annoyed

Then little by little the devil came

To Steal, Kill and Destroy

For months she struggled with the guilt

With the sorrow, and with the pain

At first, it was just how she felt

That all she did was in vain

How could someone washed in the blood

Have all these feelings of doubt

The enemy came in like a flood

And left her roaming about

To follow your fleshly desires

Can only lead to sin

Sin will put out the fires

That one time burned within

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

And to Jesus we must stay tuned in

Just when we think we are at our peak

We don't know what's around the bend

Take heed my friend, have ears to hear

You can not serve two Masters

Tis Only the Lord that you should fear

To fear Not, leads to disaster

Change your ways, Repent of sin

Forgiveness is in your reach

It's your heart Jesus wants to win

This, the Bible does teach

So we must stay down on our knees

In worship, praise and prayer

For it is our Lord we aim to please

And He gives us the strength to bear

For the burden is heavy all alone

But with Jesus, the burden is light

We must keep spiritually tone

To be able to stand in the fight

SO take up your cross and deny the flesh

For to do so is extremely wise

Lest you find yourself in a mess

And reap your own demise

Cheri’s Share & Tell