Amy Carmichael -- Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God

Loved this poem by Amy Carmichael and had to share:

From prayer that asks that I may be

Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,

From fearing when I should aspire,

From faltering when I should climb higher,

From silken self, O Captain, Free

Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,

From easy choices, weakenings,

(Not thus are spirits fortified,

Not this way went the Crucified,)

From all that dims Thy Calvary,

O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay

The hope no disappointments tire

The passion that will burn like fire,

Let me not sink to be a clod:

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

Amy had faced an unbelievable year of loss and challenge. We could not even relate to the number of significant mentors and sources of human strength that disappeared from her life at that time. Yet, her faith remained her rock solid source of direction.

Others questioned, "How could this be for the best?"

Amy's determined response, "We are not asked to SEE. Why need we when we KNOW?"

They would sigh and harbor bitterness.

Amy said, "There is only one way of victory over the bitterness and rage that come naturally to us -- To will what God wills brings peace."

She offers so much depth of insight and understanding, or at least acceptance of the ache and loss that we will continue to know on this sinful, fallen earth.

At least we know how the story ends.