Master, I will reach out my hand

Master, I will reach out my hand. I need to daily take hold of you;
Savior, I need you to abide with me. Guide all that I say and do.
The journey sometimes seems so long, and the days are dark and dreary;
At times I'm worn down. Many times I've grown weak and weary;

Master I need strength for there are many struggles that I face;
I am daily pressed down and hurting. I daily need your grace.
The evil foe gives me no peace. He daily attacks and torments my soul;
He throws obstacles along the path to keep me from reaching the heavenly goal.

Master in this world of sin, there are many conflicting messages that I hear;
They trouble my soul. I cling to your promises, they alone calm my every fear.
I need to be reminded that your holy blood was shed to cover the stain of sin;
Through faith in you, I have peace and hope without end.

Master I will reach out my hand. Let your love and peace enfold me;
When I feel as if I'm falling, reach down your mighty hand and uphold me.
Help me through this journey to remain faithful, so I'll not fall away;
Be present through this journey. Be my hope and strength for each day.

Michael Carter, 2008

Jesus, take my hand

Jesus, take my hand, lead me through the journey each day;
Without your leading, I would go down the wrong path and stray.
Walk with me, for there is danger and traps that lie ahead;
Along the way, there are struggles that cause me much dread.

There are enemies who lay on the path many snares;
I am often stalled along the way by many worries and cares.
Many voices speak false messages into my ear;
That is why I need to have you near.

Forgive me when I stray and go far from you;
At times I doubt and forget that all your promises are faithful and true.
I have tried to make the journey without and I fail;
I need to remember that in you, I triumph and prevail.

Support me all the day long with your Spirit and by your grace;
Grant me courage to daily run the Christian race.
With your body and blood in the sacrament, feed my hungry soul;
Keep my feet steady and my eyes fixed upon the heavenly goal.

Struggles, setbacks and disappointments will come and tear at my heart;
But I have comfort in knowing that your sweet presence will not depart.
Even in times of sickness and sorrow, your praises I'll always sing;
Forever and ever, you are my joy, my comfort, and my everlasting King.

Jesus said:"Be of good cheer. I shall take your hand;
When the journey becomes hard, I will help you to stand.
I will go with you. You shall not journey alone;
I have redeemed you. You are my own."

I'll walk each day, holding tightly on to Jesus' hand;
By his power, I will make it home to the promised land.
Each day, I live by his unfailing love and grace;
I will press on, on until in heaven with the saints, I behold his face.

-M. Carter, July 2011

Cast it all to him.-1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your cares and burdens upon the Savior.Lean on his love;
He will not forsake you, but will shower blessings from above.
He hears your pleas and he knows your sorrows and knows all your fears;
Faithful is he, who comforts you and who wipes away all your tears.

He will reach down and pick you up when you stumble and fall;
He is never far away. He hears your pleas when you call.
If you walk with him, then you'll not see danger nor harm;
Yes, faithful is he, who upholds you with his mighty arm.

He is the Rock upon which we stand. Our shelter and our fortress;
Our source of joy, and our comfort and peace in times of distress.
Faithful is he, who brings you safely through all sorrow;
He renews your hope and gives you a bright tomorrow.

Through His Holy Spirit, he guides you through challenges unknown;
Have peace and comfort. Know that through the journey, you are not alone.
Throughout your journey, he'll take you by the hand;
He'll lead you through, onward to the blessed promised land.

There, you will rejoice with the saints and worship the King;
With the heavenly host, you will lift up your voice and sing.
You will be at rest and peace in that holy place;
There in paradise,you'll forever behold the Savior's glorious face.

-Michael Carter, June 2011

The danger of negative thinking

Negative thinking seems to all around us, and with all of the
chanlleges of today, it's no surprise. I've wrestled with negative
thinking for years, and I always ask God to remove this sprirt
from me. I pray daily for this for I know it's crippling effects
and how it effects all of my actions and decisions. I know that
I am not alone; there are many people who go through periods of
doubt and struggle.

When I was still a pastor in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
I spent my last years of ministry working as a full-time chaplain
at two jails in the city of St. Louis. This was indeed, an negative
enviroment, and I dealt with indivduals who came out of negative
enviroments and where facing bleak futures. At times, I got depressed
and burned out. There were times when my own outlook was negative.
In addition to all of this, my parents and my only brother passed
away within a spann of three years. All this, and other pressures
left me feeling pretty negative.

From my time spent in congregations and in the jails, I've seen the
dangers of negative thinking. In my own life, I've seen how it has
affected me. I know that I'm not alone. Many people are going
through situations that have left them bruised, hurt, and bitter.

We all will hit those rough spots along the journey. The devil,
the world, and even our own flesh will bombard us with negative
thoughts and with bitter feelings. There might be times when we
don't know what to do or where to go. There might be times when
there's a temptation to just give up.

When the negative thoughts come, I turn to prayer and to the Word.
The Holy Spirit reminds us that we can cast all our concerns
upon Jesus Christ, for he cares for us.(1 Peter 5:7) Rather
than allowing the negative thoughts eat at you, turn it all over
to Christ. When the thoughts come, I am always reminded to do this.

Don't allow negative thinking to cripple you or to hold you back
from reaching your God-given potental. Go forth in faith even
through the storms, Christ will guide you safely through.

You'll have your share of setbacks. They might slow you down,
but just keep pressing on. Press on and seize your dreams.
Use the gifts that God has given you, and live up to your
potental.

When negative thoughts and the devil speaks to you, don't listen.
They don't have anything good to say. Listen instead, to the
voice of the Master. He has good things planned for you. He'll
guide you safely through the journey. Along the way, you'll
be changed. When you walk with the Master, you'll go from the
danger of negative thinking to the joy of a positive faith.

Michael Carter-2006

Lord Jesus, give me peace amidst the storm

Lord Jesus, give me peace amidst the storm. For the storms are raging around me;
My ship is being tossed by the winds on the restless angry sea.
When I feel as if my ship will crash and sink down into the watery grave;
I then look to You. You will steer my ship. You alone, can rescue and save.

When I feel as if I'm sinking and I am about to be overwhelmed and about to drown;
Reach down Your hand. Pull me safely up, and plant me feet upon the solid ground.
When the storms rage, speak to the winds around me and tell them; "Peace, be still!"
I will not fear the storms and the winds, for they shall obey Your will.

Grant me a safe journey as I sail along the sea of this earthly life;
Bring me through the storms that cause me both sorrow and strife.
Though the waters might get rough and the storm clouds gather and roll;
With Your steady hand, You will guide me on my journey to the heavenly goal.

Though the storms rage, and the waters will roll, I will still sail across the sea;
Through the journey, I will have peace. For I know that You will pilot me.
The storms will come, but the darkness cannot remove nor hide me from Your love;
I will stay the course, for You will guide me on the journey to the safe harbor above.

By Michael Carter-2007

Let us hold on to hope

Let us hold on to hope. Let us hold on to God's unchanging hand;
In Him, let us press on, and find the strength and courage to stand.
Our own flesh will cause us to stumble and to fail;
But with faith and hope, we press on. In God's power, we prevail.

Struggles and sorrows will come, and on the journey, rise up to greet us;
But with faith and hope in God, our troubles with neither overcome nor defeat us.
The world and the devil will attack our soul, and seek to snatch hope away;
God will keep us in hope and faith. He will strengthen us each new day.

Let us not place our hope in the empty promises of men;
May we hold firmly to the promises of Him overcame the dark power of sin.
Christian hope is grounded on the Word. It is forever sure;
God's promises are not empty. His grace and mercy shall forever endure.

Let us hope in God. Let His eternal presence daily guide us;
God will never forsake us. He has given His Spirit to always abide in us.
Let us hold on to hope. Hold on to the One who brings us through pain and strife;
Let us hold on to hope. Hold pn to the One who grants believers eternal life.


Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

From my collection: Songs of my soul; Poems 1983-Present

Comfort from the Savior

A man was hurting and was going through a difficult time in his life.
He was deeply troubled, and he felt nothing but pain and strife.
He went to a church to think and pray. His heart was full of despair;
He dried his eyes, and then he sought the Lord in prayer.
"Lord, I am at the very end of my rope, and nothing has gone right." He said;
He sighed, "My life has no meaning. I wish that I were dead!"
Then he heard what he thought was a voice speaking to him from above;
The voice was nothing that he'd heard; it was full of compassion and love.
"My child," the voice said; "be strong and know that I am with you each day.
Be comforted and know that I am never very far away."
Then Jesus stood in front of the man, dressed in dazzling white;
His hair and clothes shined like the brilliant morning light.
The man said; "Lord, you said that You'd be with me in times of sorrow and sadness."
Jesus said; "I am always with you. I shall turn your sorrow into gladness."
The man said; "Lord, nothing in my life has worked. I am no good!"
Jesus said; "Know that I work all things for your benefit, as I said I would."
The man said; "There nothing good in my life. I have only known pain and misery."
Jesus said; "Believe me, I have a plan for you.I have redeem you. You belong to me."
The man said; "My life is adrift. I don't know who I am. My life has no plan."
Jesus said; "Remember, I will be with you. I hold you in the palm of my hand."
The man said; "I believe, but help me to overcome unbelief, if You can."
Jesus said; "If I can? Believe in me, and I'll uphold you with my mighty hand."
Jesus said; "In me, you have victory, for I've overcome the devil and sin;
I shall give your life purpose, and a peace and joy that will never end."
The man was still unsure. "How do I know that You really love me?" He cried;
"This how." Jesus stretched out His arms and died.

-Michael Carter, 1985