From: John & April Correia <jacorreia@email.msn.com>
Subject: Encouragements From The Heart - July 2, 1998
Date: Tuesday, July 01, 1997 21:07 PM

TRAPPED IN A SHELL

I once was trapped inside a shell,
So dark, so cold, so dim.
I fed upon the sins from hell
And grew while there within.
But someone cared about me then
And started hard to pray,
Till gradually the light shone in
As God showed me His way.
As more light penetrated there,
My curious mind groped more;
I wanted to escape from where
I'd been locked up before.
And then a gentle, nail-scarred hand
Picked up my fragile shell
From sinking and from shifting sand
And saved my soul from hell.
The light at last shone all around
As my whole life was changed.
I felt His love my life surround;
No more I felt estranged.
I see the shell I left behind
And wonder why I stayed
Inside its darkness, lost and blind
So long and so afraid.
Sometimes it lures to trap me back
Or I feel that I'm still there,
But freedom from it I won't lack
If I kneel down in prayer.
The Lord desires to set me free,
That I be free indeed,
And so He intercedes for me
As to Him I now plead.
Lord, break the power of that shell,
May I fly free and high.
Your praise and glory e'er to tell
Till You come or I die.

By Clarence E. Billheimer
"The Ready Writer"
clarence.billheimer@columbus.dfas.mil

This poem was inspired by a Daily Wisdom article by A. Correia.

Printed with permission
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The above message (poem, story, etc.) is sent to you as a ministry of
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Have a joyous and bountiful day in the Lord!
April Correia
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