Father bless your people
Hold us in your arms and
Cuddle us with your love
Teach us how to live the life
Walk with us through the valley
Of the shadow of death LORD
You conquered death – our last
Enemy -You made it a bridge
By Carol Ann Hoel © March 16, 2011
_______________________________
Psalms 23 – The Bible – The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Proverbs 18:10 – The Bible – The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 – The Bible – I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Cah4el's Blog 
Hi there,
I’m passing on the Versatile Blogger award to you
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Thank you. Blessings to you, Angela…
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Beautiful prayer, and I must add that I LOVE that rock/bridge photograph!
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Thank you. It is an unusual bridge. I thought it went well with the 23rd Psalm. It looks so peaceful like some of the beautiful lands that you photograph as you hike. Thank you for stopping by and for your comment, Suzi. Blessings to you…
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That is certainly an unusual bridge; but I can see the Father’s arms in the handrails, and solid rock footing underneath. The verdant grass speaks vividly of life.
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Thank you for stopping by, Patti, and for your comment. I thought it looked quiet and peaceful. I get almost all of my photos from Microsoft. It was the only bridge like it. The rest were ultra modern masses of steel. Blessing to you…
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A beautiful prayer Carol Ann. Thanks for sharing it. I recite the 23rd Psalm many times a day in my mind and verbally when needed.
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Psalm 23 is a precious chapter. I love it, too. Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. I’m happy to see you back online. Blessings to you, Elizabeth…
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I’m in the “love that bridge” group. I enjoyed the prayer, too! 🙂
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Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your visit and your comment. I agree it is a beautiful and very unique bridge. Blessings to you, Jennifer…
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At the end of your post, the juxtaposition of law and grace- a life lesson so simple (but not easy), so profound (but not impractical), and so critical to us everyday.
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I’m reading to see if I understand what you are pointing out. Jesus removed the sting of death at Calvary, death representing the law; only its shadow remains for believers, for we are saved by grace. Death came to us by man’s breaking the law. Jesus disarmed death by His act of love, paying our sin debt, dying in our place, rising again as conquerer, satisfying the law, and offering salvation to those trusting in His work. His work on the cross (satisfaction of law’s demand for death) and our faith in Him (His work of grace in us that enables us to walk with Him in a new life): the juxtaposition of law and grace? Feel free to correct me if I missed the point. You are young and brilliant, Zoe. Thank you for your comment. More praise to the LORD. Blessings to you…
Matthew 517 – Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
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Yes, that’s it. It’s always more about the grace we are given freely than about us trying and doing to prove ourselves. So simple. Yet living it out- always relearning…
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amen, my dear, sweet friend. my prayers are with you.
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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comment, Trisha. I appreciate your visits and kind messages. Blessings to you…
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I love the prayer and agree with the others that the bridge is such a perfect photo to accompany it.
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Thank you for stopping by, Janna, and for your comment. Blessings to you always…
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“You made it a bridge” As a theology writing prompt this could elicit pages. Is our bridge to Jesus created by His death? Can we cross the bridge in life(I think so) or must we wait for entrance until death ? Does God absorb the willing before or after death? We gain life through Christ’s death, another paradox. I would like to think we gain life by His life as well as His death. “death-our last Enemy” As I approach 62 I sure feel like death is the enemy. But as a Christian I am supposed to see death as the bridge to God and as a liberating force to another rebirth not as the end. If death is but a new begging I supposeit cannot be the enemy unless death means sin which is the enemy.
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Thank you for stopping by and for your interesting comment. I see how this subject could draw a lot of curiosity and questions. Death is our last enemy, but Jesus has removed the sting of death and its victory, through his death on the cross, making death for believers a bridge to eternal life. Yes, you’re right that His death gave us life, a paradoxical concept at first thought. His resurrection was necessary for our victory over death to be complete. Believers enjoy a real relationship with Jesus, through His Holy Spirit indwelling them, during this life, so you are right again. Death came by sin, being the penalty of sin, but Jesus wiped away the penalty of sin by paying for it, in full, at Calvary, for the entire world, and offering forgiveness to those who choose to receive him as Lord and Savior. Pretty cool! Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! Blessings to you, Carl…
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Thank you for response. Plain and simple says it all. Don’t need Calvin or Luther or the rest of ’em.
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Thank you, Carl. I’m glad to spread the good news. God is good. Blessings…
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A beautiful prayer and I do love the way you chose to illustrate it. Perfect.
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Thanks, Jamie. I appreciate your visit and comment.
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