Dr. Jehovah Rapha

(Exodus 15:26, Mark 5:25-34)  

Her brow was wet with fever,
And her body wracked with pain.
She did not know just what was wrong,
But the symptoms would not change.
She knew she needed healing,
But she had no way to pay.
Who to turn to; who to trust;
Who to show the way?

A friend said to her, “Sister,
I know a doctor kind.
He cleanses lepers, makes lame walk,
And gives sight to the blind.
In fact, He'll take on any case,
And cure it every time.”

“Oh, would that I could go to Him,”
She then was heard to say.
“But since I do not know His name,
How can I know the way?
And even if He'd take my case,
I simply cannot pay.”

“My dear, fear not,” her friend replied;
“There is no need to fear.
I'll take you to Him right away;
He's really very near.
His name's Jehovah Rapha; He's
'The God that healeth thee.'
And because of His Son's precious blood,
The healing – it is free!

~

© 1998 Sandra Conner

Now My Heart Must Sing

by Sandra Conner


I woke to face another day,
No glad expectancy,

For heavy disappointments were
Weighing down on me.

The day before had been so filled
With unsupportive words,
With problems piled four levels high,
And everywhere closed doors.

The friends I'd counted on were not;

They came and went like rain,

All so enwrapped in their own lives

They couldn't feel my pain.

It was just like so many days,

All running wearily,
So sad, with disappointments too,

All weighing down on me.

And though I knew I would survive,

That didn't soothe my heart,

For sorrow deep and troubles too
Brought a longing to depart.

But then to Jesus I did run;

I saw it in a dream:

I stood below a gentle hill,

All carpeted in green.

When I looked up and saw Him there,

He stood beneath a tree,

And waited, smiling patiently;

He'd been expecting me.

I ran but didn't feel the strain;

He grabbed me in His arms,

He wrapped them hard around me; held me

Strongly, safe and warm.

I'd never felt so light and free;
Engulfed with joy and rest;
No problem lingered to be weighed;

All I could feel was blessed.

And all the disappointments, though
So heavy they had been,

Took flight, and sadness too was gone,

Ev'ry conflict, ev'ry pain.

All threats and fears and torments sore,

All guilt, defeat, and shame –

In love so glowing and so strong,
All were dissolved away.

Then suddenly I saw a truth –

It caught me by surprise –

That Jesus' joy exceeded mine;

I saw it in His eyes.

I'd known He would accept me, that

He'd made a place for me,

But never had I even guessed

How happy He would be!

He was so thrilled to have me there,

He laughed so loud and strong,

That all things not of joy and life
Just vanished in joy's song.

And when I woke to this new day,

His laughter still did ring;

His arms still held me close and warm,

And now my heart must sing!