[h=1]A Dream Deferred[/h][h=1][SIZE=+2]by Langston Hughes[/SIZE][/h]Langston Hughes homepage
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I... Have become comfortably numb
Pink Floyd
[h=3]Proverbs 13:12[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
[SUP]10 [/SUP]If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The question is will we as a Body continue to fight with one another in our perceived light of correct doctrinal purity to prove we are right, or will we humble ourselves to go into the place of darkness to give the world the essence of light of His wonderful love. Will be the vessels of His Word bringing order to worlds chaotic darkness or will spout forth the lifeless words of perfected doctrine in substitute for Word needed in due season by power of His life giving Spirit? May we all choose the Way of the Spirit instead of dead legalist religion!
[h=3]2 Corinthians 4:5-12[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. [SUP]6 [/SUP]For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
[h=3]Cast Down but Unconquered[/h][SUP]7 [/SUP]But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. [SUP]8 [/SUP]We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [SUP]9 [/SUP]persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— [SUP]10 [/SUP]always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [SUP]12 [/SUP]So then death is working in us, but life in you.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I... Have become comfortably numb
Pink Floyd
[h=3]Proverbs 13:12[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
While yet in the cloud of unknowing rising darkness, there shall come forth the light of His splendorous love. Remember always fight and stand in the darkness in the grace of His uncreated light. The times of refreshing coming from the very throne of his majestic essence and glory. The promise of Rivers of living water flowing out of us is still for this day. Even though the church at times seems weak cannot we not stand along beside Paul as he states in 2 Corinthians 13:
[SUP]9 [/SUP]And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [SUP]10 [/SUP]Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Promise of Is. 58 still remains to those who will humble themselves and tread into the darkness to fight for others:
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,[SUP]9 [/SUP]And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [SUP]10 [/SUP]Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Promise of Is. 58 still remains to those who will humble themselves and tread into the darkness to fight for others:
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
[SUP]10 [/SUP]If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The question is will we as a Body continue to fight with one another in our perceived light of correct doctrinal purity to prove we are right, or will we humble ourselves to go into the place of darkness to give the world the essence of light of His wonderful love. Will be the vessels of His Word bringing order to worlds chaotic darkness or will spout forth the lifeless words of perfected doctrine in substitute for Word needed in due season by power of His life giving Spirit? May we all choose the Way of the Spirit instead of dead legalist religion!
[h=3]2 Corinthians 4:5-12[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. [SUP]6 [/SUP]For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
[h=3]Cast Down but Unconquered[/h][SUP]7 [/SUP]But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. [SUP]8 [/SUP]We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [SUP]9 [/SUP]persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— [SUP]10 [/SUP]always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [SUP]12 [/SUP]So then death is working in us, but life in you.