I write about true life stories and poems

This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford. You might think to write a worship song titled,
'It is well with my soul', you would indeed have to be a rich, successful Chicago lawyer. But the words,
"When sorrows like sea billows roll ... It is well with my soul", were not written during the happiest period of
Spafford's life. On the contrary, they came from a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy.

Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860's Chicago. And this was not just because
of Horatio's legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close
friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only
son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio
had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was
wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.

Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four
daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help. He was
traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in
late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French
steamer 'Ville de Havre' across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development
forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned.
He would follow on later. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford
returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read:
"Saved alone."

On November 2nd 1873, the 'Ville de Havre' had collided with 'The Lochearn', an English vessel. It sank in only
12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters
Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being
torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a
plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had
been rescued, Mrs. Spafford's first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her,
"You were spared for a purpose." And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful
and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."

Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved
wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's
voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and
I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio
then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn.

The words which Spafford wrote that day come from 2 Kings 4:26. They echo the response of the Shunammite
woman to the sudden death of her only child. Though we are told "her soul is vexed within her", she still
maintains that 'It is well." And Spafford's song reveals a man whose trust in the Lord is as unwavering as hers
was.

It would be very difficult for any of us to predict how we would react under circumstances similar to those
experienced by the Spaffords. But we do know that the God who sustained them would also be with us.

No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say with Horatio Spafford...

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul!

It is well ... with my soul!
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

We are closer than ever to having the word of God the Bible banned from everywhere in our own country .We are fortunate some countries will not allow the word of God to be found in their country some people are getting killed it is essential that we study and read ."Thine word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee" .

There may come a time that you may not be able to read that word and study liike some other countries can't .But what can they do if you hide it in your heart ?

No one can take that word from you once you have it in mind and soul .

Planting His word in the minds of those who will listen has been laid upon my heart .I have been blessed with great new and real friends in my life and have a testimony to give to plant the seeds .

I thank God for what he has done and continues to do for me .Times are still rough but a worthless hopeless man I was before I came back to Christ.

 Psalms 3verse2-3

"Many there be wich say of my soul ,There is no help for him in God ."

3.But Thou,O Lord are the shield for me ,My Glory ,and the lifter up of my head .

In times of trouble he gives me peace that I will never understand how I got ,but I know it came from Jesus .

 Accept God,s grace ,Give God the oversight in your life ,Give God the direction in your life and you will not go wrong.

 Grace, Oversight, Direction those three words take the first letter out of those three words what Do you come up with ?>>>>>>>>God .  Thank you my freind God bless you!

                                                                                   Joe Lewis

As I was brought To a low point in life, I had lost about everything I had in my life. My job ,My money even the licence to drive so walking in Lafayette'In . Was my way of getting around ,sometimes if I had the dollar, I would ride the bus.

One day while walking to the bus station I saw an old man on the corner. As I approached and was passing by I could see in the mans face the pain in life he may have gone through.

I smiled and he spoke .He said hey young man ?I said yes sir? would you happen to have a dollar he asked?

At first I said no because I knew I only had a dollar and a quarter in my pocket and that was truly it My times were also tough.But as I walked on I looked back at the man his face and eyes toward the ground I hear a voice in my mind sayin.

("Jesus gave it all").

At that point I turned around and walked back to the old fellow reached into my pocket gave the man both the dollar and quarter .He smiled in surprize!His lips began to quiver and I said God bless you sir!

I know the old man used it to get a donut ,I saw him walk into the donut shop .

I began then to journey on to the bus stop all the time forgetting' I had given the man my last monies I had in my pocket .

When I arrived at the bus station the Bus attendant was standing outside and asked what bus do you need sir?I got ready to reach into my pocket and no money was there so I looked at the man and said none I guess! I forgot I gave my last dollar away so I think im walking.

The attendant looked at me and laughed .I said whats wrong ? He replied sir It's your lucky day!

I asked why ? He said look up at the sign as he pointed tword the top of the bus and I read the sign said"Rides are free all weekend" He smiled .I then knew the voice in my mind wasn't of my own .

I then went on to the bus and sat and while, sitting there across the isle from me I saw a woman sitting next to a small child .I couldn't help but notice her torn clothing and as she looked up I noticed she had a freshly blackened eye. I then looked at the little girl next to her who had looked as if she had taken a bad fall down a long staircase or something, but I quickly began to realize what had happen when the bus stopped and they went in to the local family services office.

I then felt a little sick at it all .

The bus went on and I saw a little boy playing up in a tree. It quickly took me back to when I was a child and would play in the tree house with some neighborhood kids and the fun we had.

I began again to smile .The bus ride came to an end at the Mall and I got off .

Walking through the mall I saw a lady sitting on one side of the mall bench alone and looking a bit down and empty inside . On the oppisite side was a man who seemed the exact same way alone ,empty no one there for either .In my eyes I thought it would have made a perfect match if they just would have turned to look at each other . But they didn't, and went on their seperate ways .

After I left I went to a weekly safe meeting that I go to everyweek to learn of how to deal with different situations such as emotional abuse ,Drug addictions ,alcohaul and so on .

As the people began to speak I would listen and this whole day would become perfectly clear as the canvas that God had painted it on !

We all have our cross to bare, but we can pick that cross up and follow God

(Luke 9:23) Jesus said, "Pick up the cross and follow me." For Jesus, the cross He bore was the sins of mankind. Jesus paid it all! I was inspired to write this poem from one bus ride on a beautiful day that God had made when I got back to the transitional house I was staying in that night .

This Day and and the Bus ride would become the inspiration for writing this small poem "We bring this cross to you". God Bless you This day .Joe Lewis

"WE BRING THIS CROSS TO YOU"

Your the song of our salvation ,faithful unto this day ,

You didn't have to die there 'but you took it anyway.

It was for the old man on the corner ,

The little boy in the tree,

That child abused in darkness God we pray!Hear their cry to thee.

For those who may go hungry ,all across this great big land

Bless them give them daily bread please lend your helping hand

Those who walk alone and empty

Every woman every man

Fill those empty hearts dear God reveal to them your plan .

The woman abused and broken

The house that's split into

Addictions all amongst us we kneel, we pray to you.

From the one behind the pulpit

To the people in the pews

those battles fought with in our souls.

"We" Bring this cross to you" .  God Bless you Joe Lewis

Safe ministries Graduate  2009

Through many mistakes in life and listening to what others may think of us or say to us we forget who we truly are .We all are God's masterpiece .That may be hard to believe but it's true .The proof is in the Bible .

How many times do we look to other people for our own self worth?We look at trends,fashions money ,cars and certificates of things we have achieved in life to give us that self worth We all badly need or want.

If we don't have them, or are not able to achieve them that's when we start to think we are worth nothing .WE may fail at relationships ,We may not get a sale that we thought we were going to get, we may not have the money to buy the latest fashionable clothes and we may have just listened to a person that belittled us and it takes us down .We may have failed once or twice even more than that like I personally have. A very empty feeling worthlessness.

Our galaxy contains approximately 100 billion stars, though most lack planets. Current estimates say there are around 6 billion planets in the galaxy. There are about 80 billion galaxies in the observable universe. There are surely many galaxies outside the part of the universe we can observe and each contains a variable number of stars and average planets per star. Thus, currently we can say little more then 'probably more then 400 billion'; that is, we can only guess at a lower limit. But God knows every one of them and has a name for each star. isn't it great to know we are worth more than the universe?

In everything God has made we are his "Masterpiece" above all things Ephesians 2:10 PAUL tells us we are God's Masterpiece!For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jesus himself uses many examples to let you know your worth :

Matthew10:29 Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren't they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission.

If he knows about the sparrows falling to the ground he surley knows about your trouble .

If he doesn't forget them not even one he surley doesn't forget you does he ?

The seller must have thrown the fifth in for two pennies total !

How many of us have felt just like that 5th sparrow ?I know I have ! But God tells us we are his masterpiece. Who would you believe ?God or others?

We are fearfully and wonderfully made Psalms 139:14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

In everything God made in this whole great and beautiful Universe "You are his greatest work"

We were made in his own image .

Oh yes not to mention he cares about you so much He died for you!

Romans 5:8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

You are worth everything to God John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We let so many things get in our way each and every day ,what people say about us ,do to us, what has happened in the past ,what happens in our relationships, jobs ,fashion,and if we would just look up there is a straight line of communication to the creator who made us . a straight line of communication through prayer and turning it all over to God and have faith in him. instead of listening to others.

Unbelievable situations that you think you could never make it through God will make a way .

You are chosen John15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. We don't need to feel like that fifth sparrow anymore .God knows we aren't perfect ,None of us are we all make mistakes in life

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

We can have confidence in God he is faithful and just every minute every hour of everyday that if we confess our sins and move on. we all sin and come short of Gods Glory , we all fail at things he is faithful and just to forgive us all. 1st John 1:9" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

Who are you going to put your faith in ? Man or God? The choice is yours and no one elses . We can keep feeling like the 5th sparrow, or turn it over to The maker of everything who says we are his workmanship. Did you ever think you were worth more than the stars the moon and every beautiful thing you have seen upon the earth ? Truth is You are !!!

From a five time Divorcee. To a despondent cripple.From a child who ran off and spent his fathers fortune and realized his ways were not right .Joseph bewildered ,Peter ashamed a wild man in the cemetary ,Nicodemous rejected, Martha bereaved . The thief on the cross . A murderer thats called a man after Gods own heart. (Moses) A Man that has no confidence in speaking but God is with his mouth and look what he done ! He wrote the Ten commandments .(Job )A guy who was faithful and upright who had it all but lost everything and stayed faithful and did not curse God and was restored double . (Gideon) A guy who was afraid But God was with him and said Oh thou man of mighty valour !! A crowd of five thousand with nothing to eat but were fed each and every one with only five loaves and two fish . God cared so much he sent his own son to die and cover your sins and rose again for your justification . all you have to do is confess it and ask for forgiveness . So many potraits in the finest art gallery the world has ever know . The pictures are painted for us clearly and are over 2000 years old we can see them everytime we pick up a Bible and read God.s word .A light to our path , pictures that have been painted .You can put your self on The canvas .What is this Gallery of art all about ? You!! God is painting another masterpiece.  God Bless You .Joe Lewis

My 2 dollar shoes of Blessing

Just the other day I was at the Trinity Mission outlet store down town Crawfordsville, In. I was going in to find some short sleeve shirts for summer as I had none and the weather is getting warmer .

That is when I looked up and saw a pair of shoes sitting above the shirt rack .The shoes were barely worn !! a few scratches and quite dusty and then I looked at the price and couldn't believe what I saw . They were priced at $2 dollars. Wow!!!

I quickly picked them up and tried them on they were a perfect fit! just the color I had been looking for in the same type of shoes for several years but couldn't find them .

I was in total surprize ! These shoes were better than any shoes that I had in my closet. When I had that perfect job and was living in sin I paid over and upwords of 100 dollars for .I couldn't believe that somone gave up on those shoes .

They threw them away to the outlet store and the store priced them at 2 dollars . I knew this was a bargain of a lifetime!!!! and picked them up took them home and shined them as I forsaw in my eyes how they would look and in the end after shining and polishing them I was right they were almost perfect and to the EXACT picture of what I had imagined them to be.

After I was done with them I had the best looking shoes in my line of shoes and walked with them in Church on sunday and no one knew until im told them that they were only 2 dollars.

I began to think how many times in our life do we make ourself or let someone else make us feel like that two dollar pair of shoes in a second hand store ?How many mistakes we make in life that wear us down and scratch our souls? How many situations we walk through and wish we never would have done this or that ? How many times we have people bag us up or we do it our self and give up on" us"? throw us away like a two dollar pair of shoes in a second hand store ?

But the good news is God sees us and comes in and picks us up and says you are mine! I am taking you home .I will polish you, I will clean you up and he never cared where we came from but he forsees the finished product ?

He chooses ,he ordaines,and wants us to bring forth fruit .

He already knows what we are going to look like and how we will be shine!

Romans 8:30
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

But wait a minute ! what about the unseen ? what about the person who put those shoes of blessing on that shelf ? The person could have tossed them to the trash couldn't they ? Nobody will notice, let's just toss them .Who cares it's just a two dollar pair of shoes right ?Nobody cares what we do here .Nobody cares how I work !Nobody cares about what I go through .

In a book I recently read that also came from a second hand store I bought for a dollar by Max Lucado my Favorite writer he explains this thouroughly. The book is called "He still moves stones" .

It's all right to dream again

It's a dark sunday morning ,it had been dark since friday, dark with Peters denial,dark with the decipals betrayal,dark with pilates cowardice,dark with christ anguish,dark with satans glee'the only ember of light is the smalll band of women standing at a distance from the cross -Watching.Matt:27:55 among them are the two Mary's one the mother of James and Joseph and the other Mary Magdalene. why are they there? To prepare his body for burial .They are to clean the blood from his beard.to wipe the crimson from his leggs.to close his eyes.to touch his face .They are there the last to leave calvary and the first to arrive at the grave. It's a somber task but somone had to do it . They could have said what's the use .Half way up the mountain they could have sat down and said where is Peter why can't he do this ? Let Andrew do something for a change ,let Nathaniel show some leadership.but they didn't.They thought their journey was unnoticed but God saw them every step of the way .He was measuring every step and when they got there they had a big surprise waiting for them Matthew 28:2-4 THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME DOWN AND MOVED THE STONE .

Why did the angel move the stone ? Not so Jesus could get out .He didn't need anyone to move that stone . He was already out .The angel moved the stone so that Mary and Mary could see the saviour was no longer there he has Risen ! and what a blessing the two Mary's recieved as they thought their deed was un noticed .No good deed goes un noticed God sees us every step of the way .!!!Don't quit !Don't give up ! He still sends angels and he Still moves stones .

God didn't pay only two dollars at a iscount store for you ! He paid the ultimate price to cover your sins and he is Faithful and just to forgive us all our sins .1st John 1:9

He sees every good deed.

How about those shoes? and who says two dollars doesn't go along way in this economy ?

Some one put them up on that shelf never knowing that a testimony would come out of a pair of two dollar shoes somone gave up on did they ? Maybe they didn't know from that testimony someone may come to Christ did they ?

He knows the weather we have gone through

He brings us home ,He polishes us up ,he walks with us even though other may have given up on us and through us away isn't it such a wonderful feeling to know He sees the finished product ?We no longer need to feel like a two dollar pair of shoes in a discount store .God paid that ultimate price so we don't have to feel that way and we could be forgiven . I am so glad he did aren't you ?

Have you been shopping lately? I am glad we have a second chance God aren't you ?

God bless you ! Joe Lewis

I may not see clearly paths I take like some say I should see I may not be the person at times some say I should be.

No, I'm not the perfect one like some claim they are. But you can only see them close its God who views near and far. Yes let them throw their daggers toward me for everyone to see, I will pray in silence knowing behind closed doors My God does see!

Let them shout in vain glory as they take everything insight.

I will pray in silence trusting in his word"everything in darkness soon will come to light."

No Im not the perfect one like some may claim to be, I am blessed with imperfections for everyone to see! Thank you for this humbled heart God you have given me, For it is written in your word I trust "Your son will set me free."

I will never hate them for things said or done, you have taught me in this book "None are perfect, No not even one." I pray for their forgiveness and blessing no thought to even any score for it is written in this book to live by( Matthew 5 verse 44)Yes my heart was very troubled and at times I could not see, Thank you Dear God in those times for perfect peace of( Isaiah26 verse 3)I may at times feel lonely, others I may feel distraught But I'll remember at those times I'm always in your thought.

Thank you Dear God for the Psalms especially (Psalms 1 verse's 1 through 3) Oh my God I cry in silence that I be like that tree.

You see none of us are perfect, I can look straight down the line ,That is why you gave to us the scripture 1st John 1 verse nine. As I fell to my knees that night, I had so many fears upon the solid rock I leaned and he wiped away my tears.

Take away this fear my God was my final plea, "Oh keep my soul and deliver me let me not be ashamed I put my trust in thee." Not once nor twice but more than three I was truly blind But it was when I turned to roman I knew you could renew my mind.

Now I'm much more happy I don't seek the world once sought. You took me to a place in Corinthians to let me know Im not my own but with a price I was bought.

My eyes were truly opened when I read John 3:16

I asked you in my heart that night, things began to happen I'd never seen!

I thank you for this peace inside for I am truly blessed.

This peace inside my heart I could have never guessed.

Please don't walk the paths I've taken in order for you to see

my hope and prayer for you today is that you will pray with me.

God I am a sinner and do need your saving grace

I believe you shed your blood on that cross so I could live eternal in a better place.

Yes dear JESUS for my sins I believe that you did bleed. Not only for mine and mine alone but all of those in need.

I accept you in my heart this day

Come into my soul PLEASE renew.

Now I can turn all this over as I live for you!

No im not the perfect one upon my face and soul these scars you see

But I know the prison, I have kept my heart you're the holder of the key!

I don't know if you prayed with me but I hope you did.

This could be that inner peace you've sought since you were a kid.

No none of us are perfect but God loves us as we are, We are blessed with imperfections, loved unconditionally near and far.

As we begin to draw closer to him he fills us from within

Isn't it so great to know he's faithful and just to forgive us from all our sin?

I'm so happy my choice to follow I no longer drink or dope.

I am not the message but only the messenger to "spread the seeds of hope"