Marsha Brickhouse
Smith
Contributing Writer
Marsha Brickhouse Smith is a former CBN staff contributor to CBN.com.
More from Marsha Brickhouse Smith
More from Marsha Brickhouse Smith
God Uses Computers Too!
CBN.com -- It had been a hectic day, one full of doctors appointments and then a dash to the hospital. My 82 year old Mother had a heart attack. As I sat by her bed, my mind began to replay all the scenes of Mama and I together. She had always been there -- through the scraped knees of childhood, the first heartbreak of my teenage years, my wedding day, holding her first grandchild -- Mama had ALWAYS been there. I had never imagined a time without her. I watched her during the night as she slept.
Strange, how much of life we take for granted. Our families, our friends, our homes -- the day to day moments of life -- and yet all too quickly we find ourselves facing life's curves, and we are suddenly faced not only with our loved ones' mortality, but our own.
I decided to go down to the hospital chapel to pray. I walked into a dimly lit room with an altar and a golden cross. Above the altar there was a picture of Jesus. I knelt as tears fell down my face. "Lord, please let Mama be OK ... please." They were the only words I could say because the sobs began. Sobs of wishing I had spent more time with her; sobs of wishing I had spent more time with HIM.
After a while I got up and walked out of the chapel and down the quiet hallway. I noticed a computer with a screen saver so beautiful sitting on a desk. I walked over to it -- peaceful waters, a pink sky that was a reflected majesty of God's creation, and then these words, "I am with thee.." And then the warmth of His love... His joy and the knowledge that HE was with me, and He was with Mama, flooded the depths of my being. I smiled. He had used a computer on a cold winter's night in a hospital to tell His child she was loved and He had heard her prayer.
And I knew that He was with Mama in her room. He used a computer to tell me and a scene of such beauty it lingers still within my mind.
And deep in my heart, I knew that message would be read by others -- all His children -- a message sent from heaven with love.
Copyright 2002, by Marsha Brickhouse Smith. Used by permission.
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The Master's Sandals
The day had been ever so long. It was one of those days I wish had not happened. Nothing had gone right. When I came home and closed the door, I wanted to shut out all the worries and troubles the day had brought.
Later that night as I tried to go to sleep, I remember thinking, "Oh, Lord, I know you were with me today, but it was a horrible day! What am I doing wrong?"
Finally, sleep came and with it a dream I shall never forget. I dreamed I was standing before an aquamarine sea, surrounded by the most beautiful, high mountains I had ever seen. And standing before me was Jesus! There was such calm being in His presence; such love. He looked down at my feet as the waves began to wash over them and slowly shook his head.
"Where are your shoes, My Child?" Never had I heard a voice that sounded like that. The very essence of the voice was love.
"I didn't think I needed them, Lord." I too looked down at my bare feet.
"My Child, you need the sandals, and I have a pair for you." He slowly placed them on my feet. As He did, I felt a renewed strength. No longer did I feel tired. No longer did I feel discouraged or sad.
After He finished putting the shoes on, He helped me to my feet with His arms of love and then spoke once more, "These shoes will protect you no matter where you go. They will keep you from harm. When the fires of life assail you, you will not be burned. When there are stones in the pathway, you will not be hurt, for these shoes are very special."
"But, Lord, they look old and well worn. Are you sure about these shoes?"
He smiled a smile I will never forget. "Oh, yes, my child, for they were my sandals. And when my children wear them it is a perfect fit."
As I watched Him walk down the shoreline as the sunset shone across the waters in a golden splendor, I knew. I had been trying to walk through all of life without the shoes. No wonder I was so tired, so discouraged, so defeated.
But no longer, for the Master had given me His sandals. Now I was prepared to walk with victory!
The message is for YOU, too. Wherever you are right now, whatever you are going through, not only is He with you, but you are wearing His sandals and they are a perfect fit. Those sandals are the Gospel -- the Good News of God's love, His forgiveness, and His saving grace that makes all the difference in our daily lives.
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (NASB)
So whenever you start to doubt, look down at your feet and remember the sandals, for they have been touched by the Master and given to you. It is a perfect fit!
Remember His Words and then look up. For just as He walked down the beach in my dream towards the mountains, He has prepared the way for us to follow. We walk knowing He walks with us each step of the way. He hears our every prayer and loves us through it all.
Copyright © Marsha Brickhouse Smith. Used by permission.
A Talk with Grandmama
CBN.com --I took my grandmother's hands in mine, carefully looking at them. These hands had made biscuits for my Granddaddy. These hands had soothed fevered brows. These hands had held mine as I took my first steps. These were hands I loved with every fiber of my being.
"Grandmama, what do you think life is all about? I mean we go through so many times that hurt us so deeply, and when we love, we run the risk of getting hurt all over again."
She smiled a smile ... a smile that showed wisdom of years and love for me, and she spoke these words, "Honey, life is all about loving, and giving, and watching your babies grow. It ain't about being rich, or climbing the social ladder. It is about honoring your fellow man, about keeping your word, and about loving through it all. It is about realizing you only get one chance on life's stage. And it is about realizing nobody else has the part you do. God gave you a part to play out on this stage, and nobody can play it like you do."
"You talk about loving and being hurt, well, I tell you that is for sure. But you know what, it is worth it all. Just think, even if you lost your love, at least you knew it. At least for a little while on the stage of life you touched the edge of splendor."
"Life is about realizing you are here for a purpose, and then life is about doing what God put you here to do. So many people are searching for something, trying to find out who they are. I tell you in my day, we did not have much time for searching, we were too busy being."
"And one more thing, life is about realizing you did not get here by yourself. Somebody up there loves you far more than you can imagine. The good Lord has put a dream inside each one of us, and we are to live out that dream to the best of our ability."
We sat on the porch late into the evening. I leaned my head upon her knee as she talked of her younger days, of loving Granddaddy, and of her babies. As I listened the crickets began their night symphony. The stars began to shine as we got up. I lingered as I heard her voice echoing through me, "Life is about loving, about being, and about living out your dream."
I would remember this night for many years to come, just as I would the years of love, and Grandmama. Years have passed, the crickets still perform their evening symphony, and Grandmama's voice still echoes through time and space.
"Remember you get one chance on life's stage, and only YOU can play your part. "
Life's a stage. We are on it, the curtain has risen, and the dream has been born. There is no rehearsal. This is the real run.
I know one thing for sure, Grandmama knew her part well.
Copyright 2003, by Marsha Brickhouse Smith. Used by permission.
Hallowed Be Thy Name
CBN.com --I walked into the chapel, the only light in the room were the flickering candles on the altar. I knelt in prayer as tears rolled down my cheeks. In my hands were news clippings of school shootings, riots -- pictures of our children being terrorized in their own schools.
"Father, hear my prayer. In this world there is so much anguish, so many hurting hearts. Please look down on this earth filled with the children you love and help us. Be our light in the darkest of nights.
Help our nation. Heal our land. Comfort those that mourn. Dear Lord be with our children in our schools. Help us, oh God I pray."
I closed my eyes as I heard Him speak these words. The voice was like that of the sound of many waters, yet in it was such love, such a healing power, and such peace.
My Child, I have heard your prayer this day, and I have seen my children as they call out to me. Years ago, my children in the schools used to pray to me, before they were told to cease. And in that prayer they prayed, 'Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
And my love was there. And my peace was there, for in the hearts of the children I dwelt. Then came the day they took prayer out of schools and told the children they could not bring me into the classroom. They told the children they could not pray out loud, that they could not talk about me or about their faith in the classroom.
But today I am asking them to bring me back into the classroom ... to listen to my Words, to teach the children about me, and to let the children pray.
For as the children pray, 'Hallowed be thy name' My kingdom will come, and on the earth my will shall be done, just as it is in heaven.
For these children are the hope of tomorrow. They are the future of your land. You must teach the children to pray. And I will hear from heaven. I will heal the land, and my kingdom will come on earth. It will be in the hearts of the children, and in the hearts of their children.
Teach the children to pray, and then pray with the children ... "Our Father Who Art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name..."
And listen carefully as you pray, for you might hear the angels sing!"
As I looked up at the painting above the altar, it was a picture of the Lord praying in the Garden. It was then I realized I had knelt on hallowed ground and heard from the one whose name is hallowed.
Let us all begin today, in our hearts, in our schools, in our work places, let the prayer we prayed in our schools years ago begin to live anew in our heart today!
Our Father who Art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name...
Copyright 2002, by Marsha Brickhouse Smith. Used by permission.
Is Jesus Truly Living in Your Heart?
CBN.com -- It had been a long day and I was ever so tired. I decided to take a long walk by the calm river. The wind was blowing gently through the tall oaks. It was a beautiful golden autumn day. And yet, I felt so alone. So much had happened in my life and I was so confused.
I started to talk to the One who knew my deepest thoughts. The One who loved me unconditionally. The One who created me -- My Lord Jesus.
"Lord, I asked you to live in my heart, but there are times it feels so empty. Are you really here? Lately, as I've prayed, it seems the prayers go no higher than the ceiling."
"Well, my precious child," He responded to my heart, "I was waiting for you to ask. There are reasons for the times when you heart feels so empty. You see, when I try to occupy that space in your heart -- that room that I need to go into -- I try the door, but find it locked. I love you so much that I gave you the keys to all the rooms. And there are those doors I cannot walk through because they are locked. You asked me to be Lord of all, but when I try to enter those rooms, the doors will not budge."
"I know you gave me your heart, but you put a "do not enter" sign on those special rooms. Thus, without my Spirit inside, those rooms feel empty and very cold."
"But, Father," I replied, "those rooms are filled with hurt, confusion and sorrow. They are the only rooms that I have not opened. It will hurt too much. Can't we leave them closed?"
"No, my child. For me to be the Lord of your life, I have to live in your heart. All of it. We need to open the room up that says, 'Unforgiveness' and then you must forgive. Truly forgive and forget."
"Then we need to go into the one that says, 'Sorrow' and let me fill it with my comfort and love. Then we need to go into the one that says, 'Your Past' and let me cover it with my blood. I will then take what is in those rooms away and fill them with my love, my compassion and my forgiveness. I will remove the hurt, clean out the wounds and then you will find precious treasure hidden there."
"I was born in a manger because there was no room in the Inn. That thought made you so sad when you were a child to think there was no room for me. But you see, as long as you won't allow me to go into those rooms, you are doing the same thing. You are, in fact, saying there is no room. Ask me to go into those rooms and there will be room in your heart for all I want to do in your life."
For years, I had kept these rooms from him. I would not let Him in. How could I have thought I had made Him Lord of my life when I had not truly given Him ALL of my heart?
I knelt beside the river and asked Jesus to go into those rooms -- and He did. And He will for you too. Let Him have your whole heart. Not just a part, but all of it, and you will be forever gloriously changed.
God is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.
More from Marsha Brickhouse Smith
Copyright 2005, by Marsha Brickhouse Smith. Used by permission.
God's Portrait of My Life
CBN.com -- I dreamed one night after I had prayed about so many things in life that were troubling me; after I had cried and asked the Lord the questions most of us ask during those horrid times ... "Why?"
I dreamed I was sitting beside a large covered canvas and the Lord stood before me. Slowly He lifted the canvas from the painting of my life as He spoke these words:
"My Child, I have heard your question of why. I would like to show you what I have been painting on the canvas of your life. I know you thought I did not hear your prayers, but I assure you I heard each word, for I was there with you. You see, I was painting on the canvas of your life. I saw each tear, and in each of those times I painted on the canvas of your life."
"You see, I took the times in your life when you hurt so much and painted a sapphire blue, the color that I love so very much. I took the times in your life when you felt all alone and painted a crimson red. I took the times in your life when you knew such joy, and painted a golden hue. I took the times in your life when you ran into My arms, spending much time with Me and I painted a vivid violet."
He held up the portrait and I caught my breath, for as I beheld the canvas of my life -- He had painted a rainbow of such splendor I have never seen. And it was then I realized He had been there all the while in my life, through all the times, using each of them to make the portrait of my life into a rainbow of promises fulfilled.
He used all those colors ... all those times ... each one of them He had been in, right beside me, causing them all to work together for my good. And out of that, He had created a rainbow of such splendor my eyes could not take it all in.
Then I awoke from the dream. Never again would I doubt such a love. And somehow I knew that in all the times to come I would remember the rainbow, and God's love, always...
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to whose who are the called according to His purpose ( ).
Copyright 2003, by Marsha Brickhouse Smith. Used by permission.