these are copyrighted. use for God's glory BROKEN HEARTS by Carl Evans 11/23/2006 THIS WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH BROKEN HEARTS AND THEY TRY TO FILL THEIR LIVES WITH MANY A THING BUT THEY ARE STILL EMPTY WITHOUT JESUS FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO CAN TAKE AWAY SINS' STING. DREAMS HAVE CARRIED THEM THROUGH THEIR LIVES BUT GOD HAD NO PART IN THEIR PLANS FOR TOMORROW AND AFTER THEY TRIED EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN THEY FOUND THEY HAD FILLED THEIR LIVES WITH SORROW. THEIR MARRIAGES DIDN'T FULFILL THEIR LIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN JUST KEPT THEM FROM FULFILLMENT. THEIR JOBS BROUGHT TOO MUCH STRESS INTO THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVES AND THEY LOST OUT ON CONTENTMENT. THE WORLD'S POLITICS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS JUST FILLED THEM WITH SADNESS AND LEFT THEM IN DESPAIR, WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE THEY'D MISSED BUT THEY STILL SEARCHED THROUGHOUT FOR SOMEONE TO CARE. BROKEN HEARTS AND LIVES CAN BE REPAIRED ONLY BY OUR CREATOR THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRITS' HELP AND ONLY HE CAN TAKE US THROUGH THIS WORLD AND GIVE US ASSURANCE THAT BY HIM WE'RE KEPT. SO, WE MUST LIFT OUR EYES TO THAT LAND ABOVE AND HE WILL MEND OUR HEARTS TO BE JUST LIKE NEW FOR HE CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES US AND HE PROMISES US THAT HE WILL SEE US THROUGH. --------------- THANK YOU LORD! by Carl Evans 11/19/2006 LORD, I JUST COME TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME. YOU CAME TO GIVE ME LIFE ABUNDANT AND PROVED IT ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY. I PRAISE YOU FOR THE VOICE YOU GAVE ME TO PRAISE YOU IN EVERYTHING. YOU'VE GIVEN ME GIFTS TO USE FOR YOU AND IN YOUR CONGREGATION TO SING. Lord, you've filled my life with people who have became friends, companions, and wise counsellors to help us make it till the end.  We know that we need people in  our lifes to help and season us and to guide us all along with the abiding presence of Jesus. YOU'VE BROUGHT INTO MY LIFE YOUR MESSAGE OF HOPE ON THE PRINTED PAGE AND YOU'VE BROUGHT ME THROUGH MANY VALLEYS AND THROUGH THIS WORLD'S CRAZE. YOU'VE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO GET ME THROUGH THIS OLD WORLD DOWN HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OWN ENCOURAGEMENT THAT ABOVE ALL THINGS YOU'RE ALWAYS NEAR. ---------- I REMEMBER by Carl Evans 8/27/2001 I REMEMBER IN CHILDHOOD DAYS A DOG "SHAG" FOLLOWED ME EVERYWHERE TO PROTECT ME FROM ENEMIES, OF "PICKING" COTTON IN A SMALL SACK DURING THE SUMMER'S HEAT AND RELAXING IN A SHADY BREEZE, OF RIDING IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON PULLED OR PUSHED BY  MY BROTHERS DOWN A SLOPING ROADWAY HILL, OF SLIDING DOWN THE DITCH BANK AND WEARING OUT MY PANTS BOTTOM BUT HAVING A LOT OF THRILL. OF WEARING PANTS WITH MANY PATCHES FOR THAT'S ALL WE COULD AFFORD CAUSE WE WERE REALLY POOR, OF PLAYING IN THE MIDDLES AMONG THE VEGETABLES AND CORN -FARMING SO WE COULD EAT SOME MORE, OF PLAYING WITH DOGS, GOATS, AND CALVES AND RIDING ONE OLD GRAY MARE AND HAVING SO MUCH FUN, OF WATCHING MY BROTHERS FUSS AND FIGHT AND GETTING SWITCHED TO KEEP US ALL LIVING AS ONE. OF NEIGHBORS AND KINFOLKS WHO TRAVELED NEAR AND FAR TO COME AND VISIT US SOME THEN WE'D RETURN THE JOY AND VISIT BY WAGON OR TRUCK AND PICKING UP A FRIEND OR A BUM, OF MAKING HOMEMADE ICE CREAM AND DRINKING SOME NEHI DRINKS AND ENJOYING THE GOOD FELLOWSHIP OF GROWING UP ON THE FARM EXCEPT FIVE YEARS IN THE CITY AND WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS-"WHAT A TRIP". OF LEARNING IN A COUNTRY SCHOOL THE 3 "R's" AND OTHER STUFF AND ENJOYING THE FUN AND RECREATION OF CONTINUING MY LEARNING THROUGH ALL THE DAYS OF LIFE AND GETTING A COLLEGE EDUCATION OF GETTING SAVED FROM SINS IN A COUNTRY CHURCH REVIVAL AND BAPTIZED IN TORO CREEK OF SURRENDERING TO THE MASTER IN FULLTIME MINISTRY AND LEARNING TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. OF FINDING MY TRUE LOVE AND SPENDING 16 YEARS TOGETHER UNTIL THE MOMENT SHE DIED, OF PUTTING UP WITH IN-LAWS WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ME EVEN WHEN I CRIED. OF LIVING IN SORROW ENDURING FOUR TEAR FILLED YEARS AND FINDING A LOVING OTHER TO BE BY HELPER AND MATE AND BE CHRISTLIKE AND TRAIN MY "DAUGHTER" TO BE A LOVING MOTHER. LOOKING BACK THROUGH ALL THE YEARS FILLS A PERSON WITH MEMORIES OF SAD TIMES BUT ALSO GOOD FOR IT HELPS US TO KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A HUMAN AND FAIL SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS AS WE SHOULD. IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER I'D PROBABLY MAKE MORE MISTAKES AND WOULDN'T KNOW NOW WHAT I DO FOR GOD HAS USED EACH DISOBEDIENCE TO TEACH ME IMPORTANT TRUTHS AND SHOWN THAT HE LOVES ME TRUE. TRUSTING HIM TO USE ME EVEN IN THIS WEAK EARTHEN VESSEL BRINGS BOTH HONOR AND GLORY HIS SPIRIT WITHIN HIS SAINTS CARRIES, COMFORTS, AND TEACHES US TO SHARE WITH OTHERS OUR STORY. I REMEMBER MY PRAYING MOTHER AND THE MANY  THINGS SHE DID TO GIVE US ALL A GODLY HOME SHE TRAINED US TO DO RIGHT WHETHER AT WORK OR PLAY FOR THERE'D BE A DAY WE'D ROAM. THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO GOD TO WORK THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING OUT THE GOLD IN US THROUGH ALL THE FAILINGS OF EACH ONE OF THE FAMILY TO BRING HONOR TO MOTHER AND JESUS. THOUGH MY PARENTS HAVE LEFT TO GO TO ANOTHER HOME FAR AWAY-THEIR MEMORIES REMAIN BEHIND FOR IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO FORGET WHAT THEY DID FOR US SO WE'LL KEEP THEM IN OUR MIND. HOPEFULLY THESE MEMORIES THAT WE STILL HOLD DEAR WILL BE SHARED WITH ONE ANOTHER OTHERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT GOOD OUR PARENTS DID  IN LIFE ESPECIALLY THE LOVE OF A GODLY MOTHER. OUR FATHER WORKED THE FARM UNTIL HE COULD FIND ANOTHER BUT ALWAYS PROVIDING FOR THE FAMILY BUT MOTHER WORKED FROM BEFORE DAWN UNTIL IN THE NIGHT HELPING WITH THE HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY. HER COOKING WILL LONG BE HELD TO BE THE BEST WE COULD FIND -HER BISCUITS AND DUMPLINGS TOO SHE WORKED AS HARD AS ANY OTHER WOMAN OF THAT ANCIENT TIME BECAUSE SHE LOVED HER FAMILY TRUE. SHE WAS A GODLY EXAMPLE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE REGARDLESS OF SOMETIME SHOWING HER HUMANITY SHE HELPED MANY SICKLY NEIGHBORS CARING FOR THEM AND SHOWING HER OWN PERSONAL CHARITY. I REMEMBER THE MANY PEOPLE THAT I MET IN LIFE--MANY THAT BECAME MY FRIENDS WHETHER PLAYING OR WORKING WITH THEM THROUGHOUT LIFE THEY REMAIN TO THE END. I REMEMBER THE TRIPS TO THE DOCTORS FOR HELP - FOR I WAS A SICKLY SON THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT THOUGH WE WERE TRULY POOR HELPED ME BE A HEALTHIER ONE. ------------ POSSIBILITIES by Carl Evans 11/29/2006 THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS UNTIL THE ALMIGHTY STEPS IN. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT'S BECOMING MORE HARDER TO LIVE AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS TO THOSE IN SIN. THERE ARE NATIONS WHICH HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS TO ANY AND ALL WHO REPRESENT THE ALMIGHTY BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS STILL MOVING THROUGHOUT THE EARTH IN PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE CALVARY. MAN LOOKS AT SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONCLUDES THAT GOD IS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE IT ALL BUT WHEN WE REACH SUCH STUPID CONCLUSIONS GOD LAUGHS AT US AND ISSUES TO OTHERS HIS CALL. ONLY HE CAN CHANGE A LIFE AND MIND AND FILL US WITH THE COURAGEOUS DESIRE TO BE WILLING TO GO INTO THE WHOLE WORLD AND PRESENT THE GOSPEL SO THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CAN REALLY KNOW. JESUS CAME TO THIS OLD WORLD TO PRESENT THE LOVE OF GOD AND PURCHASE OUR SALVATION AND AS HIS SAINTS AND SERVANTS WE MUST BE DETERMINED TO SEE IT AS A POSSIBLE SITUATION. ONLY THEN CAN GOD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SINFUL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THIS LAND AND HE WILL EVEN SEND THE ROCKS TO TELL THE GOOD NEWS IF NO ONE IS WILLING TO STAND. SO MAY WE OPEN OUR EYES TO THE POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH HIM FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH THAT GOD WANTS TO USE TO REACH THEM. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD FOR HE CAN OPEN DOORS AND MINDS THAT NO MAN CAN. HE WANTS HIS MESSAGE TO GET OUT TO OTHERS SO THEY CAN EXPERIENCE HIS SALVATION PLAN. ----------- SILVER LININGS by Carl Evans 12/2/2006 ONE DAY AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE CLOUDS IN THE SKY I SAW  THE SUN SHINING THROUGH AND FELT GODS' PRESENCE DRAW NIGH. IT REMINDED ME OF THE SCRIPTURE IN ROMANS 8:28 THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD AND CHANGES OUR FATE. YOU SEE, GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING WE ENDURE AND HIS PRESENCE WITHIN US IS ETERNALLY SURE. WHEN TROUBLES COME OUR WAY WE CAN KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH US AND WILL HELP US PASS THE TEST TO GLORIFY OUR JESUS. HE WILL GUIDE US THROUGH EACH ONE SO WE CAN LEARN AND GROW SO THE SAINTS AND SINNERS OF THIS WORLD WILL SURELY KNOW. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT SILVER LININGS IN CLOUDS ARE TRULY REAL SO ALLOW OUR MINDS WITH THAT BLESSED THOUGHT BE FILLED. ------------ LOOK AWAY  by Carl Evans 12/22/2006 Many days I went through some hard times leaning on my own pow'r to get through but a sure lesson that I learned was to lean on the only ONE who is true. I learned from Jesus that when HE was tired and looked away to Heaven's land that we are many times confused and tired and need to look away to the GOD-MAN. I learned a lesson from disciples who were with Jesus in a small boat that when the storms come upon us we need to rely on HIM to float. I learned from my earthly parents to keep on doing the routine thing and though you get so tired or sad you can get through everything. I learned from my wife to keep on loving regardless of depression for one day you'll come through it and be able to give expression. I learned from my pastor to keep loving even when you've been wronged for one day you will be redeemed from them and then sing a new song. I learned from my family that love will always drive the doubts away and will give you energy to make it through another long day. So, be encouraged throughout your life for ALMIGHTY GOD is surely with you to bring us through the disappointments and give us strength to carry through. ----------- When The Storm Hits by Carl Evans 2003 Have you ever noticed that in the eye of the storm is where the calm is found? Did you know that the power of the Lord is there and HE will keep you sound? Did you know that we have all we need to stand against the devil's fierce and fiery flame? Did you know that the Lord is near to quench the darts when we just whisper HIS name? If you don't know, now is the time to find out  what Jesus can do in your life, forgiving you of all your sins and filling you with HIS power to help deal with strife. So call on HIM now so that your sinful soul can be cleansed and set free for God has something for each one of us that we can do for eternity. ------------------------- LISTENING TO THE ECHOES by Carl Evans 1/23/2007 Life is filled with many voices calling us to make them our choices, but instead of listening to echoes we must seek the LORD who knows. We involve ourselves in activities that wear on souls and brings us to our knees, but much involvement cannot sustain and the glory of HIS joy we can't obtain. Can we rest in HIM who cares for us? Can we place our trust in Christ Jesus? HE will never leave us nor forsake but an humble and loving heart HE'LL take. Let us make HIM our highest choice and walk while listening to HIS voice, for we'll pass across Jordan one sweet day and find ourselves in that Heavenly stay. ------------ LONGINGS by Carl Evans 1/24/2007 What good are emotions within us if we don't have a suitable outlet? Emotions come and go like clouds in the sky without helping our needs to be met. Each one of us have longings in our lives that we hope will come true one day, but we go through the teasings of life without finding that blessed way. We seek through many avenues for the joy we want within our heart, and all our efforts remain so dry thus we look for a new place to start. Many seek to have a normal family to give us meaning in this hurried world, but many times the goal is fleeting and rewards us with a life unfurled. Others seek fortune and fame for some kind of great success and future security, but at the end we only find failure and emotions filled with lost serenity. Our affections are settled on the natural things of this world which are vain, and results in ruptured relationships which further brings us intense pain. If we would just wait upon God to bring into our lives HIS own fulfillment, we'd find ourselves more satisfied and our hearts would have true contentment. Many search through all the religions to find THE ONE that would bless, but what we need is a relationship with the Almighty to get us through life's' tests. Religion is based on what we can to earn Heaven but it leaves us burdened and dry. Only Jesus can redeem our souls from sin and there's nothing else for us to try. Father God chose for us all to be saved and Jesus paid the full price at Calvary. The Holy Spirit sealed our souls future and there's no other way to earn eternity. ________________ REST IN HOPE by Carl Evans 1/24/2007 People are filled with many hopes of success and entertainment but most often it is fleeting and fizzles from obtainment. We seek from many sources to find some avenue for hope but the search leaves us dried up at the end of our rope. We try to find it in social circles, family, and workplace but we feel dirty, used up, and lost with no smile on our face. Sometimes, we find ourselves empty at the end of the race because we sought--but never looked towards Heavens' place. We have so many trials and tests in this old world down here but we never considered that there is ONE who draws near. Mankind found themselves in a cycle that doomed them to their fate and could not see the grace of God that provided a great escape. For God so loved every human and provided the only remedy by purchasing our souls through the blood shed at Calvary. For us to experience this cure we must accept it into our lives and the transformation will come and we'll have a hope that thrives. Though the enemy attacks us and leaves us worn out and frail we can trust in OUR SAVIOR and LORD for HE WILL NEVER FAIL. When we get burdened down from stress HE calls out to each of us to bring all our burdens and enjoy the hope and rest of Jesus. ------------ NO ONE BUT YOU LORD by Carl Evans 2/08/2007 WHEN LIFE HANDS US A BUNCH OF LEMONS WE CAN'T ALWAYS MAKE SWEET LEMONADE FOR THE PAIN WITHIN US WORKS ON OUR EMOTIONS AND CAUSES OUR HOPE TO FADE. WE CAN TRY ALL OF OUR BEST EFFORTS DEPENDING ON SELF TO GET US THROUGH, BUT IT WILL LEAD US TO DESPAIR AND HURT FOR OUR ENERGIES WON'T GUIDE US TRUE. THEREFORE, THERE COMES A TIME IN EACH OF US TO TRUST ONLY IN THE LORD FOR HE WILL GUIDE US RIGHTEOUSLY AND WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST HIS WORD. HE MAY NOT ALWAYS HEAL US FROM OUR STRAYING FROM HIS GOAL BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BRING HELP AND HOPE TO EACH SUFFERING SOUL. HE IS DEPENDABLE FOR ALL OF CREATION TO TRUST HIM TRULY FOR HE LOVES EACH AND EVERYONE EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY BEAUTY. HE CARES FOR US WITH TRUE PASSION FOR HE WANTS OUR SINCERE FELLOWSHIP AND HE DOESN'T WANT US TO MESS LIFE UP BY TAKING A DIFFERENT TRIP. ------------------- OUR LOVING GOD by Carl Evans 2/10/2007 WHEN WE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND ALL LIFE'S' MANY VARIEGATED FACTS, AND TRY TO INTERPRET THE MANY COLORS OF GODS' LOVING ACTS, WE MAY BE OVERWHELMED BY THEM AND FIND OURSELVES IN A STEW BUT WE THEN ARRIVE AT KNOWING GOD LOVES ME AND YOU. WHEN THE WATERS SEEM TO OVERFLOW US AND OUR FAITH SEEMS TO FADE, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS PLANS FOR EACH OF US WHO ARE CREATER MADE. HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US THROUGH ALL OUR EARTHLY DAYS AND WILL COORDINATE THE EVENTS OF LIFE TO KEEP US IN HIS WAYS.  WE MAY GET AGGRAVATED BUT IT'S ALL FOR OUR PERSONAL GOOD, SO THAT WE CAN BE WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE FOR THE BROTHERHOOD. SO, WE MUST CHANGE OUR THINKING THAT HE'S OUT TO GET US BUT WHAT HE'S REALLY AFTER IS TO CONFORM US ALL TO JESUS. THERE'S NO TRUTH TO THE THOUGHT THAT GOD IS OUT TO STEAL OUR JOY BUT TO FULFILL OUR LIVES AND KEEP US FROM GIVING IN TO SATAN'S PLOY. OUR ETERNAL GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE US HIS BELOVED SON TO PAY THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR OUR SOULS AND GIVE US STRENGTH RUN. AS HE SAID MANY YEARS AGO THAT HIS PLANS ARE TO PROSPER US ALL NOT BY THE WORLD'S STANDARDS BUT RICHES OF HEAVEN FOR THOSE HE CALLED. ------------------- I WANT TO SEE HIM by Carl Evans 2/13/2007 WHEN MY EARTHLY DAYS PASSES ON BY SEVERAL THINGS I DO SO DESIRE. IT'LL BE IN A TWINKLING OF MY EYE AND THEN I'LL HEAR THAT HEAVENLY CHOIR. AFTER HEARING THE SINGING FROM ON HIGH I WANT TO SEE MY LORD STANDING THERE FOR HE DELIVERED MY SOUL FROM THE MIRE AND BROUGHT ME INTO HIS FAMILY AND CARE. THOUGH MANY TIMES I'VE SINNED DOWN HERE THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB MAKES ME PERFECT IN HIM AND I'LL WALK THROUGH THOSE GOLDEN GATES SO DEAR FOR THE OLD SINFUL FLESH HAS FINALLY DIMMED. I'LL SEE MY LOVED ONES ON THAT GOLDEN SHORE THOUGH KNOWING THEM ALL IN A DIFFERENT WAY WE'LL FELLOWSHIP AND SING PRAISE SONGS AND MORE FOR GOD'S LOVE AND LIGHT FROM THE THRONE WILL BLESS THE DAY. I TRY TO LIVE FOR HIM WHILE ON THIS EARTH WITH THE SPIRITS' HELP TO STRENGTHEN ME EACH DAY RETURNING TO THE LORD ALL PRAISE, GLORY, AND WORTH BEING AN HUMBLE VESSEL OF BROKENNESS AND CLAY. THERE'S NONE RIGHTEOUS WITHOUT THE SAVIORS' BLOOD THE WORD OF GOD SURELY TELLS US IT IS SO BUT KNOWING THAT JESUS WITHIN MAKES LIFE GOOD AND WE MUST BE WILLING TO LET OTHERS KNOW. ----------- NEVER ALONE by Carl Evans 2/22/2007 HAVE YOU EVER FELT SO LONESOME THAT YOU COULD NOT FIND A FRIEND? CAN YOU REMEMBER THE PAIN YOU FELT WHEN YOU REACHED THE SADDENED END? IF YOU REMEMBER THE PAIN AND LONELINESS THEN YOU CAN BE A HELP TO SOMEONE AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE TEST KNOWING THAT THEY WON'T BE ALONE. ARE YOU LIVING WITH AN AILMENT THAT YOU HAVE ASKED GOD TO REMOVE TIME AND AGAIN BUT HE HASN'T HEALED YOU YET EVEN THOUGH HE HAS REDEEMED YOUR SOUL FROM SIN? WHEN MANY MAKE YOU SAD BY SAYING IF YOU HAD ENOUGH FAITH GOD WOULD HEAL BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH FAITH YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH STILL REMAINS UNREAL. GOD HAS REPEATED HIS PROMISES TO US THROUGHOUT THE MANY BIBLE PAGES, AND HE NEVER GOES BACK ON HIS WORD FOR HE'S REDEEMER AND FRIEND OF ALL AGES. WHEN WE GET THROUGH THE VALLEYS AND  THE MANY STORMS WHICH SEEMS TO LAST, HIS PROMISED PRESENCE AND PEACE WILL SUSTAIN US THROUGH EVERY FIERY BLAST. IN ISAIAH GOD PROMISED TO KEEP US WHEN THE WATERS SEEM TO COVER US ALL AND HE WOULD LEVEL THE MOUNTAINS FOR US WHEN ON HIM WE'D CALL. WITH ALL THE ASSURANCE HE GIVES US WE SHOULD NEVER BE OVERWHELMED, FOR HE GUIDES OUR RIGHTEOUS STEPS AND HE IS THE CAPTAIN AT OUR SHIPS' HELM. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IF WE BELONG TO HIM WE WILL NEVER BE ALONE FOR HE UPHOLDS US IN ALL THINGS AND HE'S OUR PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE. --------------