All By Myself

All By Myself 

by George W. Beasley

Life was once full of gloom. There was no hope and no promise of tomorrow, nothing but darkness. It was a very sad time and I felt all by myself. There have been many of these seasons in my life. I have often asked God, why? 

The darkness has been so great at times that life itself seemed to have no value, and to be completely honest I didn't want to go on. I had many friends around me, yet it seemed they were silent even as they spoke. Their words, although rich in understanding and wisdom, couldn’t penetrate my lonely heart. Their hugs, tender in touch, couldn’t waken my soul. Even the voice of my loving wife couldn’t soothe the emptiness inside. I felt all by myself.

I can’t explain these dark seasons other than to say that they are paralyzing. I have asked God numerous times to take my life, but He hasn’t. And I’m thankful. 

During every dark season I wonder if I will ever return to a place of joy and a sound mind. Life seems hopeless, and I cry out to God as the Psalmist David did during his times of loneliness: Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Psalm 25:15-17 (NLT) 

Perhaps you’ve been in this place I am describing. It’s real. Too many people know it and many lose their lives there. I lost a dear friend there last summer. He could not overcome the voices, and the screams of death and destruction, and in the end he took his own life and the life of his wife. 

Even if you haven’t reached this low of a point in your life, everyone has at one time or another felt completely alone. Often, people attempt to mask their loneliness. Some cover it with activities, relationships, attitudes, fashion, beauty, or perhaps even religion. Others numb it with substances, food, or sex… to no avail. 

What’s one to do when seasons of loneliness and despair come? How can one find relief from such pain?

Cry out! 

Cry out to the One who truly understands the depth of your pain. Cry out to the One who is able to penetrate the barrier of your loneliness, fill your empty heart, and rescue your weary soul. Cry out to Jesus. 

When you do, God Himself thunders down from Heaven, bringing with Him light, hope, and life. In His great mercy and grace, He will rescue you from the pit of depression and bring life to your weary soul. He did it for me. His voice broke through my fear; it unyoked me from my guilt and shame. He did it for David. (Read Psalms 18:4-19) And He will do the same for you!

Friend, God has no favorites. What He does for one of His children, He will do for another. Don’t give up on life, no matter how alone you feel. Cry out to God. He will answer you and come to your rescue. Give Him your loneliness and darkness. He will take it and make a beautiful exchange. “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever! (Psalm 30:11-12)

Psalms 18:4-19

The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.

The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.

He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears…

The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals….

He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.

He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.

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Waging War by George W. Beasley

No matter what version of the Bible you are reading, the following passage from Revelation remains constant in its message to followers of Jesus. There is a war, and it’s waged against us.

Revelation 12:15-18 (NLT)

The Woman and the Dragon

“Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.”

You might think that everything is okay. But think again. The people we see every day, the people we meet every day, and the people we love every day are in a battle. For the most part, they don't even realize it. They smile, they laugh, and they look as though life is good. Even writing this story has had its difficulties. I’ve had some strange dreams lately. I’ve been on edge and fighting to find time to write these few words about the enemy waging war against us.

In war, you don't show your weakness or your struggles. In war, you survive. The passage is clear that the enemy is angry and has declared war on all of us who maintain our testimony for Jesus.

We must remember that, as humans, we are jacked up and a complete mess. We can’t buy into the lie that maintaining our testimony for Jesus means we are perfect. We are not! Standing with our commander, Jesus, is our testimony. No matter where you are right now and what you've done, Jesus loves you and is fighting the war with you and for you. He wants you to win! Drop the façade and ask your friends for help in this war. Do it together!

Don’t give up! You are close to the victory. The battle is most difficult near the end, but let me assure you, you will win. It doesn't even matter if you fall during the battle. Our commander, Jesus, will pick you up. He will pull you out of that pit, stand you on your feet, and give you strength to move forward. Jesus loves you!

Think about where you are in life right now. Did you ever think you would end up there? I never thought this would happen to me. Hell no, you didn’t. That’s the war that is raging around you and in your life. It’s a war! Wake up!

So, what’s next? After every battle, there is a time of relaxation, a time of peace. Enjoy those times as the war will continue. Note verse eighteen, “Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.” The enemy stands, but so do we. Get up and fight!

You might have been knocked down, beaten up, broken, busted, and disgusted, but you are still alive. That means one thing—you are still in the battle, and you're not out! As a believer, you already have the victory, so claim that. Fight for what you know is true and fight with all your might.

Stand strong for those who will come after you. They will need you!

www.sandwestedit.com

Blind Silence

Friday, September 18, 2015

Blind Silence

by George W. Beasley

Silence is deaf in the mist of great storms.

All you can hear is the rumble of thunder.

The voices scream death. 

Your will to live is disappearing. 

Where am I?

Who can hear me?

It’s dark in the silence.

Invisible, when so many are looking.

All I can see is darkness.

They see, but they won’t help me.

Where am I?

Who can see me?

It’s dark being unseen.

There is one who can hear;

There is one who can see.

Where is He?

He is here.

What is His Name?

Jesus, The Son of God,

Your Redeemer, 

Your Savior.

He loves you.

Can you see?

He loves you. 

Can you hear?

Yes! 

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The Shooter by George W. Beasley

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Shooter by George W. Beasley

Why did he pull the trigger that day,

Leaving me this way?

I’m still so sad after all these years.

So many tears, so many years.

I often wonder which way did he die?

From the front or from the side?

The voices were loud I know.

Why?

Was it Mother or me?

Brothers and sisters have suffered so much.

The pain goes deep, and the voices are loud.

Daddy, why did you go?

Daddy, I didn’t know.

Why did you go?

The pain before the shot must have been loud.

The pain after the shot still rings now.

Why?

Couldn't you see,

There was so much to me?

I think of you as you stared into my big brown eyes,

Gave me a kiss,

And said goodbye.

I love you so much, even today.

I blamed myself, as it helped the pain.

But figured out that’s not the way.

Daddy, the only thing I can say,

You would be so proud of me this way.

I love you so much, even today.

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Credible

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Credible

Credible I am not.

I mean, what is credibility?

Does it make me great?

Does it make me better than the poor?

Credible I am not.

Poor I am.

No better than a stray dog.

No better than a cat with no home.

It doesn't make me cry.

It doesn't even make me sad.

I mean, I have it all.

Credible I am not.

Some say, “But you’re a child of the King.”

And I agree.

I would say, “Does that make me better than thee?”

Credible because we talk to the best.

We walk with the best.

We wear the best.

We live with the best.

Then who perceives?

The credible?

I say, “That’s incredible!”

An incredible lie.

A lie that so many live.

So, let’s break this down.

It’s not credibility to the concerned. 

It’s the story of the incredible. 

“What story?” you may ask.

The only credible One.

Jesus!

Born from a virgin.

Is that credible?

No, that’s incredible. 

Born with no home,

Born to die,

Born to sacrifice for you and I.

That’s no lie.

“What the hell?” you may ask.

And I say, “That’s the point.”

Hell is real. 

Credible it is.

Your credibility matters there.

But not here.

Now you see.

Credible I am not.

His story is!

My story is what it is.

Jacked up! 

Misdirected and misunderstood,

Poor but rich,

Full of lies of existences. 

Living the dream but living the lie,

The lie of credibility. 

That’s why I exist.

Credible not because of me.

It’s because of He.

That’s why I exist.

Because I’m on His list.

Credible I am not.

But home I will be.

Credible with Him, 

In the end.

That’s all that matters to me.

 Will you be?

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Where My Brother Once Stood

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Where My Brother Once Stood
By George Beasley

2 Samuel 18:30 (ESV): “And the king said, ‘Turn aside and stand here.’ So he turned aside and stood still.”

I write this story in memory of my brother, Chris, who died at the young age of thirty-seven. It’s been almost three years since he passed away. He ran as far as he could and as long as he could. His pain and suffering never left him. Finally, it took his life.

This picture is where he once stood. Chris and I had many memories on this pier, sitting there in the night hours with a dim light in the background, just enough to light up our faces. The sounds of the water were so calm, and to this day, I still hear the silence. The conversations were always light and never too deep. Home would come up now and then, but we mostly talked about the future. Chris talked about his hopes and dreams, and I talked about mine.

Today, I visited the pier again, thinking of him and recalling the beautiful memories we had there. I usually stand right where he stood, look out over the water, and listen as if to hear his voice, but there is nothing but silence now. This is truly a special place and not just because this is where my brother once stood. This is also where my girls have stood, where many of my friends have stood, and where the love of my life now stands, my sweet Lisa. I love you, Lisa!

As Lisa and I sat there today, I carved our initials into the wood once again. I often do this because I forget where I have carved our initials in the past. There are hundreds of names carved on this pier. This tells me of all the others that have once stood here. Not just Boys Home boys and girls, but many in the community and many who came to vacation at Lake Waccamaw. Many dreams of love and a future were born here; the carvings tell me so.

I was reminded today by an old and new friend of just how short life can be. I called my friend for the first time in some thirty years. Her voice sounded the same as it did thirty years ago as she said, “We can’t meet today; someone has died, and we will be going to the funeral home.” As I listened to her explain, I was sad, not to miss our meeting, but for all of those who once had hopes and dreams like Chris. I was sad for those who loved her, and I knew what pain and suffering they were going through. As I walked out to the end of that pier today and stood where my brother once stood, I was reminded that life is brief, and it seems to take us places we never thought we would go. My journey has been filled with adventures, great joy, and many heartaches; I know am blessed to still be standing where my brother once stood.

There are so many twists and turns on this journey of life. Many people try to explain the twists and turns, but they cannot. For me, it is where my brother once stood. The memories I have will be part of me until I no longer stand. Then others will walk the same path as I have and stand where I stood and say, “I once stood here.” The water will whisper the hopes and dreams they had and will tell stories of the many who have stood there. We serve a wonderful God who has allowed me into so many lives, both the standing and the once stood. I am thankful to each of you for sharing your lives with me, not just your hopes and dreams, but what has crushed you and caused you pain and suffering, what has turned your dreams into nightmares, and what has cursed you for a lifetime.

To end this story is impossible, as life continues. To apply this story to your life and mine, we must stand where our brothers and sisters once stood. Leaning on their memories, their hopes, and their dreams. Remembering all the good of life and how blessed we are to still be where they once stood. I love you, Chris; thank you for the memories, the hopes, and the dreams of where you once stood.

Never let go of your hopes and dreams. This is where you stand today!

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And On The Seventh Day, It Ended! Part 2

Philippians 4: 4-5 (MSG) Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! 

The question was, “What would I do if I had thirty days to live?” As discussed in part one, we operate on a thirty-day schedule. So, to make this question as close to a reality as possible, I am asking, “What would I do if I had seven days to live?” Asking this has stirred great emotion in me and caused me to think deeply about every moment of the seven days.

My life is about relationships. The question is, how do I end those? How do I spend the hours on the phone and in person when there are only seven days? The people I care for the most and the relationships God has allowed me to have over the years would suddenly be ending.

Now on to the question. First, I would not travel. I would not go anywhere and stand in line. I would not drive to places which might cause me to get into a traffic jam. I would not sit in front of a speaker, wasting my time trying to get an order right at the drive-thru. I would focus on fostering and mending my relationships.

I hope my relationship with God would grow stronger in these seven days. To be honest, I am afraid I might be mad at God or feel cheated by Him. I would rest on the promise that God has gone and prepared a place for me in Heaven. I believe my emotions would be up and down. I get emotional just thinking about it. Seven days! I would be excited, thinking of seeing Jesus, God, Paul, Moses, David, Peter, and, of course, Esther. I believe my emotions of missing my family would be the strongest and the most demanding. I would want my family around me twenty-four hours a day. I wouldn’t sleep too much—only enough to get by.

One of my tasks would be to video myself and all my thoughts for years to come. I would write what God would have me to write on and leave a special word for my wonderful wife and the girls whom God has blessed me with.

When asking this question, another question came to mind. “Would God be enough during this event?”

I would want my family to know that God is enough during this time, because, at the end, I am going to see Him. I would want to be remembered as a person who loved God and knew God.

It reminds me of a dear friend’s dad passing last year. At the funeral, the preacher described James Rodgers with words like, happy, loving, respected, concerned about others, a righteous man, a giving man, a man who loved God and taught his children to love God, and a man who loved others and taught his children how to love others. I pray someone will speak these words about me one day.

Because I have seen so much death during my life, I noticed something about this family that was different. They had a peace that their dad was sitting right where God had promised. They understood that God is enough. That is the question here. In the midst of a loss, is God enough?

A couple of years ago, I made several promises to myself. I promised to give a word of encouragement to a person like it was my last word. I promised to kiss my daughters like it was my last kiss. I promised to tell my wife that I love her and kiss her every day before she left for work—like it was my last time. I promised to give a hug to a person like it was my last time to give a hug. I promised to touch someone’s life like it was the last time they would ever see or hear a word.

There is no promise of tomorrow. There is no promise of eyesight, hearing, smelling or even walking tomorrow. There is no promise that we will be able to go to a person and mend a relationship; life is too short for these petty fault-finding arguments. She made me mad. I don’t like the way they do that. I can’t believe he would do that. He’s such a selfish person. I don’t like him. I can’t stand her! These words just might go to the grave with you. Life is short, but our culture has decided we can do it tomorrow. I will go to church tomorrow. I will ask God for this tomorrow. I will mend that relationship tomorrow. I will. I will. I will. What happens if you can’t? What if tomorrow doesn’t come?

So, I would not spend my last days on some things you expected. I will not let death have influence on my story of life. Death has only one goal for me and that is to unite me with my maker, God! Others may not know where they will go when death occurs; that is sad, but none the less, a reality. You have had time to reconsider and stop relying on your own physical efforts to obtain a peaceful life and realize where you are going when you die. But maybe you haven’t made that decision yet.

We don’t put a great deal of thought into the subject of death, mostly because we think in terms of tomorrow. Will tomorrow get here? Who knows? But if it does, I will be ready to go another day, not in the grind, but in the joy of living. I will be thankful that God has given me another day to make a difference here on this earth, so I had better use it wisely.

Day seven! Giving God Glory and knowing God is enough! Loving on my family and grateful that they know God is enough!

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