Hanging on while slipping away,
it’s getting harder every day to stay.
My mind is losing its knowhow.
How long before I forget what’s now?
My tongue betrays my brain,
making it pointless to explain.
I err in speech and get lost in thought.
I say things I shouldn’t and don’t know what I ought.
Every day steals more and more of me.
Though I’m fighting, I just can’t flee.
All my life I’ve had to fight
to get others to believe I strive to do right,
or even just to believe my words.
They will abandon what can’t be heard.
Oh God my Lord most precious of all,
is this how I was to live my call?
I pray I did not waste time
or deserve this fate of mine.
I’ll cling to Jesus who suffered too
despite the fact He lived so true.
9-24-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Apparently, my neurological battle affecting my mental health has been going on longer than I remembered. Thank you, Jesus, for using the very words you gave me to choose to cling to you then, for encouraging me to keep fighting the good fight now! You are fully aware of my enemies, and my weaknesses! If anyone understands physical challenges, it’s You! ❤ You had a pretty good fight of your own! 😦
Preachers study so hard
to bring us God’s word.
Had he not been faithful,
we would’ve never heard.
Ministers serve so many
ministering to their church.
The faithful serving
helps heal the hurt.
Evangelists travel to tell
Jesus wants no one in hell.
Thank God for the evangelist
who shared from the well.
9-21-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Fellow Bloggers, LeneinJapan was so kind to invite me to guest write on her blog Song of Virginity. The Lord allowed me to share my testimony… His testimony in my life, here in this post. Lene celebrates and encourages choosing Christ first through abstinence, and she does it with a loving and nonjudgmental heart. She also has her own site… Wrestling with Faith – Dancing with Jesus. A place to find blessing and inspiration, and her own testimony.
Miss Gail from Gail loves God was kind – and courageous – enough to share a part of her story and it’s an honor for Song of Virginity to have her onboard. Read and marvel as Gail chose to trust the words of her Savior, rather than words of man… And when you’re done reading here, jump over to her blog and indulge in her poetry, singing from the depths of her heart to her Jesus.
———————————————————————————————-
Song of Virginity… that sounds so beautiful… in its purest and godliest form. It easily makes me wish I had a song of virginity. A song that says I have always belonged to the Lord and the Lord only. That nothing has ever come between me and my Lord. Unfortunately, I was without a song of virginity from the age of 3. I was 12 before I heard the word, and in…
Lord! You never cease to amaze me! You continue to delightfully surprise and reassure me! First, you surprised me with Lene (aka LeneinJapan) posting the article Love of my Life – I am His Songthat she invited me to quest write on her website Song of Virginity.
Then, after I was talking with you last night about being weak with fear and uncertainty, doubtful of your peace with my brain being medicated. In my post Spiritual Warfare on Medication, I was afraid I made you look bad for my fear to paralyze me regardless of medication, and even while I am your child. I was so concerned you were upset with me, or at least disappointed. Yet by your grace and in your strength, I chose to look to you and trust your promises of unfailing love. I fell asleep listening to your word in song, and I awakened to such a beautiful and loving response! ❤
“RELAX IN MY EVERLASTING ARMS. Your weakness is an opportunity to grow strong in awareness of My Almighty Presence. When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there. Look to Me and My sufficiency; rejoice in My radiant riches that are abundantly available to help you. Go gently through this day, leaning on Me and enjoying My Presence. Thank Me for your neediness, which is building trust-bonds between us. If you look back on your journey thus far, you can see that days of extreme weakness have been some of your most precious times. Memories of these days are richly interwoven with golden strands of My intimate Presence.”
– Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, September 27, p.282
You are not disappointed! You do not scold! You lovingly instruct me, and assure me I did right by turning my eyes upon you! You tenderly tell me relax by Leaning on Your Everlasting Arms! ❤
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. – Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV
You tell me my weakness and failing energy are opportunities for me to be aware of your presence. You tell me instead of lamenting on what I lack to rejoice in your abundant riches that are available to help! Those riches are my doctors! My medication! Therapy! And of course, your presence! Your strength!
You tell me to thank you for my neediness because it builds trust between us. Thank you for thinking I am worth spending that time with and sharing trust, even in weakness. You are right that it has been in my days of extreme weakness that I have had some of the most precious times with you! Your word tells me that when I do not know understand my fear, nor know what to pray that the Holy Spirit in praying on my behalf.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. – Romans 8:26 KJV
You tell me you know how I felt hopeless without you, and that I was wise to keep circling my problem as Joshua did the wall of Jericho, and wise to wait upon you.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. – Psalm 27:13-14 KJV
Thank you for being so personal, for your blessed assurance! Thank you for the doctors, medicines, and therapies. I pray for each one you use in my life. Bless them, Lord.
So now I am off to go gentle into another day, leaning on you your everlasting arms and rejoicing in your presence. ❤ I love you, Lord! ❤ And always will! ❤
Lord, what a fight. Such a stormy sea within. Billowing winds. Tossing waves. And I have no idea if this is a storm you want me to ride out instead of causing you to say, “O ye of little faith.” At least there’s a little. Enough to come to you in case this is not you, so that you can calm the sea… even rebuke it. And what if it is simply just happening… this scary fear… this fear to move… the fear of doing anything else until I get this straightened out. But what?? Straighten what out??
And there are my medications. They can ease anxiety, lift depression, and totally alter my mind. It’s hard sometimes to know the difference between what’s just getting the best of me, is explainable because of medicines, or is Spiritual Warfare. Soon doubt makes me question if you appreciate my brain being on these drugs. Yet I followed you in prayer over my health, my doctors, and trusting the doctors you gave me. I know you gift doctors and scientists the grace to allow comfort and healing. It’s my weary and fearful mind that I don’t understand. Which makes me think on Luke 5:31,
“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.”
My mind is not whole, nor a great deal of my body. My spine and neurological system alone are so sick that without the doctors and medicines you provide I would not be walking, standing, or even sitting without severe pain. Some days the chemicals are stronger than the pain and confusion. Other days the pain and confusion are nothing to contend with. In all of these days, I solely rely on you to work through whatever resources you provide, or simply to be my faithful compassionate companion.
Every line I write is a struggle to complete and not delete, partly because I do not want to make you look bad, and partly because I NEED to talk this out with you. I NEED to be able to come to you with even my fears, so that you can help me deal with them. Fear can be our enemy, but you can use it to draw us near. I choose to draw near. And as I do I cling to your Holy Word that tells me,
“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.” Proverbs 3:25 KJV
So I simply finish with choosing to embrace my fear, though I still don’t understand it. I choose to praise you with a song you have comforted me with time and time again because every word of it is true. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
I know that when I look full in your wonderful face that the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of your glory and grace. Your Word will not fail me. You promised! And I believe! ❤
Ministry and friends,
I never knew one day they’d be the same.
Friends in ministry,
I never knew I’d know so many by name.
My son and you,
I had a hope you would know each other.
You in my son,
I would have hope for no other.
Serving in joy,
I would not have thought went together.
Joy in serving,
I want that feeling to last forever.
Hope in faith,
I seek to hold onto you.
Faith in hope,
I know you hold onto me too.
9-21-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Chariots, horses, and oxen too,
things I’ve heard while reading You.
Flowers, gardens, and vineyards grow,
each with a parable to learn and know.
Giants, ghosts, and angels who fly
make me want to know how and why.
A virgin, a carpenter, and a coming king
makes one want to hear the angels sing.
The wine, the dove, and a brother out of the grave
makes one glad He came to save.
The sweat, the cross, and the betrayal of friends,
Lord willing, makes one want to repent.
9-21-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Set on a hope,
my heart is yearning
to be there with Him
that bright glad morning.
Loved ones and friends
wait with Him there for me.
What joy fills my soul
to know I’ll one day be
there in that hope
that will become sight.
He will brighten my world.
No more night!
Fixed on a promise
from the Promise Keeper,
I’ll be comforted,
no more a weeper.
9-21-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Joy in the bible.
Joy in reading Your pages.
Joy in traveling
With You through the ages.
Joy in learning
The many acts of faith.
Joy in witnessing
The many acts of grace.
Joy in Your mercy.
Joy in Your love.
Joy in getting to know
Your only Son from above.
Joy to know it’s real.
Joy to know it lasts.
Joy to know some day
It will ALL come to pass!
9-21-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Taking time to get to know You,
I long to know even more.
There’s so much to You.
I’ll be learning forevermore.
You lead me and teach me
Then reteach me all again.
Your wisdom and knowledge
Seem to have no end.
Your word reveals so much
Yet conceals so much more.
Each day that I read You
Makes me long for even more.
Keep whispering in my ear.
Keep showing me who You are.
I want You right beside me.
Don’t ever go too far.
9-21-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
God is such a loving Father.
He loves His only begotten Son.
He, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
are individual, yet very much One.
Compassion, strength, prayer meditation
are just a few things of God
to help His Son be so loving
when the world certainly was not.
Holy, divine, heavenly love
sent in things from God Himself.
He did not leave His Son alone.
He did everything He could to help.
Even when He looked away
that moment we don’t understand,
God’s heart was overwhelmed for Jesus,
so He NEVER let go of His hand.
8-11-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
Rejected by the people You love.
Rejected by Your own family.
Mocked and laughed at
in Your times of trouble.
Heartless to Your broken heart.
How cruel to see them laugh
as You simply cry for them.
This is what we do to God,
our Creator, Redeemer, Father.
Yet we are quick to judge Him
cruel if He does the same to us,
after we have chosen to reject Him.
How ironic that we say we don’t
need Him for anything,
yet the thing we need most
is His compassion in our distress.
Crying against Him or
crying for Him?
I cry, Abba Father. I love you!
6-4-11 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
This flock of many burdened souls,
they trust them with their souls,
just as You have entrusted his leadership
to help them keep control.
This house of many mothers
look to her for heavenly advice,
just as You have given her leadership
to be the queen of nice.
This crowded building of Yours
is his for the moment You’ve shared.
Help him to be the man You want
as he has obediently chosen to care.
These eyes of those who search her
for answers to do the right.
God, help her to keep her sanity
as she strives not to lose sight.
This place is called a church.
These people Your congregation.
Help this pastor and wife.
Relay Your gift of salvation.
6-4-03 Written by Gail Brookshire
(by the grace of God)
This post is a note of thanks and, Lord willing, helpful as I have learned how important they are to many. It may even be helpful to those who try to avoid them.
First things first… Thank you, God, for delightfully surprising me with such an outpouring of love. It’s all about you, so I consider it all crowns to lay at your feet!
May you bless each one that has brought praise to the whispers that you gave!
Secondly, praise God for all of you who allowed God to use you to shower me with His blessings! I have the privilege of knowing such lovely friends.
About the awards… There are people waiting for their first award! I read comments from others who have been waiting… for years??? I was surprised as I saw them all over. One person had a page for his awards AND the count of each because he had over 100. I know that makes you think they’re easy to get, and that they’re “a tag game” as I’ve seen them referred to. But if you think on the number of WordPress bloggers and that someone has to be nominated, you see they are genuine in the community. It’s an honor when a fellow blogger takes time and thought to nominate someone. And that’s the thing.
There are blogs that don’t do awards, that is they don’t display badges, follow posting rules, and nominate other blogs. That is okay! Many are very professional, or very personal, or have something too unique to “play the tag game”. I get it. But something that I found helpful in wanting to nominate a blog was some bloggers had pages (or messages on home page) showing awards, or that they weren’t interested. I’m trying to do the same, so if someone sees I have already won an award (like the Mystery Award from Lovely A 🙂 ), they can select another blogger. I have widgets (down on the right hand side of my blog) and categories hoping they help. I’m still learning. 🙂
I know many of you are busy, and the Awards can be stressful IF and only IF you allow them to be. No one has to accept them, but if you do, just do them at your own pace. I say this so those of you who think they don’t matter realize they do. Think of what your LIKEsand FOLLOWS mean to you, then imagine how someone feels to be nominated by another blogger saying I RECOGNIZE your blog. It might be just a community Award, but you have the privilege to share that community love with anywhere from 7-15 other bloggers in one award(depends on the Award).
Again, this is just to encourage those who are given the privilege to nominate others to consider the ones waiting. If you don’t wish to display a badge on your site, just do a post on so you can nominate. If you do not wish to be nominated, you may consider a note for your blog (and my memory, ty for being so merciful). I know I’m humbled that what starts as a private whisper from God’s ear to mine, or from my heart to His ear, would any way bless someone else. Praise God for using me at all!
WHETHER YOU’RE PRIVATE OR PUBLIC, BUSINESS OR PERSONAL, DO AWARDS OR NOT, HAPPY BLOGGING EVERYONE! ❤ ❤ GOD LOVES YOU!! ❤ ❤
Come on, keep fighting.
Don’t give up.
Life was meant
to be this tough.
It’s not that easy
to have it all.
To rise above,
you must take the fall.
To read and write
is to live and learn.
To love and care
is to touch and burn.
To have a choice
is to know to choose.
To have something to gain
there must be something to lose.
To appreciate the gift
you must nurture the object.
To pass the class
you must study the subject.
Written by Gail Brookshire
(published in Expressions, June 9, 1994 Issue, page 4,
in Expressions, July 12, 1993 Issue, page 2,
and in J.O.B.S. Newsline, April, May, June 1993 Issue, page 4)
(by the grace of God)
This poem was my 1st assignment for the campus newspaper at my 1st college for my A.A. I was surprised at the response. The Editor made a note about the beautiful poem and my talent. Students and professors said it was beautiful, some asking for an autograph. I admit I laughed because I had never been asked before and thought they were teasing. Some I had been in class with for awhile and were good friends with. I was quickly made to understand I was mocking them. Praise the Lord to sign put a smile back on their face. They were extra thankful when I gave permission to hang the poem on their fridge, mirror, and other places. I was shocked! Most surprising was everyone calling it BEAUTIFUL. It was a last minute assignment, and I felt like I “just done enough” to get it in. God is so good! And so surprising!
gaillovesgod 