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