That Blessed Hope

Based on Titus 2:11-14

One night in hopeless Bethlehem

As Roman soldiers walked the streets,

As crowded inns are filled with travelers,

The world a newborn baby meets.

A baby Who came to change the world,

That it might no more in darkness grope;

He's Light of the World, Savior of all,

Our Righteousness, that Blessed Hope.

This day in hopeless America

As nothing is solid, nothing is sure,

As we wonder what will happen tomorrow,

He is the One Who shall endure.

He's the Rock to stand upon in trials.

Encourage each other; do more than cope!

For he fulfilled the first coming promise,

And he'll come again--that Blessed Hope.

And one day in this hopeless world

As we do not expect His shout,

As trumpets sound, He will descend,

Secure His children and crush all doubt.

The King Who reigns, forevermore,

Will reveal His glory in fullest scope.

We'll worship Him as we rise to heaven,

"All honor to You, our Blessed Hope!"

Big Enough

For the people of New York City; may God show His power and glory to each of you in a powerful way!


Just like the monoliths that tower above the city streets
Look so much bigger in person than what most generally meets
The eye when you look at pictures, that's what I'm like--enhanced,
So powerful and above all. You must do more than glance.
Refuse to rely on pictures that others give you of Me.
Draw near and take in My glory. Know firsthand My majesty.
I'm big enough to hold your hand in the crowded ways you face.
I'm big enough to meet your needs with My relentless grace.
I'm big enough to grant you strength to share My hope with them.
I'm big enough to pick you up when you fall and yield to sin.
I'm big enough to orchestrate all out for your best good.
I'm big enough to help you do things you never could.
I'm big enough to handle the moments when you cry.
I'm big enough to take it if you need to ask me why.
I'm big enough to sing with you when sun in your life shines.
I'm big enough on cloudy days to whisper "You are Mine."
I'm big enough to satisfy your hunger and your thirst.
I'm big enough to help you when your life yield you the worst.
I'm big enough to give you joy when the roadway seem too rough.
I promise you, my child. Be still. I am big enough.

Abba, Why?

for the family and friends of Camryn Pass, a precious, dynamic young lady that God took to heaven on October 9th, 2011

In pain and confusion

My heart questions, cries.

And I wonder if I'm sinning

By asking God, "Why?"

Why must death happen

To those who love You?

Why take the young ones

When there's so much to do?

Why hurt their families?

Why pain their friends?

How does this prove that

Your love never ends?

My heart is all numb;

This doesn't seem real.

I ask all these questions

But then guilty feel.

What if I'm not supposed

To question Your plan?

What if asking "why"

Is not trusting Your hand?

But a wise friend brings comfort

And helps me to see

That You want my heart's trust 

And yet full honesty.

"It's okay to ask why;

That's not a sin.

It only sin when you want 

An answer more than Him."

Abba, I want an answer;

I'm not going to lie.

But deep down, more than that

I want to draw nigh

To Your heart by Your promise

That You stay the same.

This is all for Your glory

And the praise of Your name.

So whether You answer me

Or blind trust request.

I will rest in the promise

That You do what is best.

Thank you, Abba, for letting 

Me ask You, "Why?"

And for counting each one

Of the tears I cry.

While I'd love explanations

For the the things that You do.

Above all else,

I want to know You.

You Make My Heart Sing

When my past tries to haunt me
And keep me down low,
When my future looks scary
And I don't even know
What I'm doing in this world,
When I'm tired of the pain,
When my sky is unviewable
Through the deluge of rain,
When the enemy attacks me
With outrageous fears,
When my body is aching
And I've cried all my tears,
When my throat is all scratchy
From calling your name,
When the fire of my joy
Is a mere struggling flame,
When I look at my friends lives
And I'm tempted to covet,
When I slip and forget I'm
In the world not of it,
When I recite the answers
In lifeless intonation,
When others don't listen
Or raise expectations,
When I wonder if I'll
Ever hear Your voice,
Then You send the assurance
And then I rejoice.
For I know You are worthy
And control all things,
When in the darkest times
You make my heart sing.

"He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God." (Psalm 40:3, The Message)

Looking over Jerusalem

Looking over Jerusalem,
Jesus wept
As the people performed
And opportunity was swept
Under the Rug of
Passing Time.
They misunderstood
The meaning of prime
-----And then He was gone.

Looking over our cities,
Jesus weeps.
For superficial religion
And performance keep
Us from Abba
And being a part
Of relationship
And Jesus' heart
-----That longs to give us rest.


Looking over my city,
My friends,
I weep for those who
View works as an end
To righteousness;
They do,
Forgetting Grace
And You.
------Caught in the clasp of Legalism.

Looking over Your people,
I pray
That You would reveal
Your gospel-filled way.
May my friends and I
Seek to know
The Giver of Life
And in You grow
-----That Christ might smile.

The Verbs of Restoration

Lying on my face

Tears falling fast,

Pleading for grace

For things in the past,

Knowing my sin

Has hurt Your heart,

Wishing deep within

I had not taken part,

Spilling out words

Of confession and sorrow,

Praying I'm heard

And that on the morrow

Beginning anew

I might follow Your plan.

Kneeling before You,

I stretch forth my hands.

Opening my palms

And yielding all in them,

Feeling the calm

Of the heart that has no sin,

Hearing You call

"Come know and be known,"

Being unafraid to fall

In Your arms as Your own,

Feeling the laughter

And joy that You give,

Rising up after 

Freedom's mine to live.

Sensing Your presence,

Seeking You with all my might,

Worshipping Your essence,

Laughing in delight!

Important

He sat writing,

Penning word after word again.

It seemed that every time I saw Him

Over and over in my dreams

He sat there, papers scattered 

Around Him in reams.

I could not help but wonder

What words lay under

His pen.

 What did He consider so 

Important?

I sat copying

The Words of Abba into my journal

Combating my discouragement with His paternal

Promises of peace and hope

That say nothing is outside the scope 

Of His watchful eye.

When I cry--

According to Psalm 56--

He makes a list;

Not one tear is missed.

He sat smiling.

Looking up from His writing, He turned to me,

Whispering, "Come here, my child, and see."

It was then I knew

What He found so 

Important.

I stood crying

Viewing trillions of pages:

The record of tears over the ages,

The ledger of Adam and Moses and Sarah,

And everyone thereafter to this very era.

And not only the tears but every heartache

Found it's way on the page with a time and a date,

Proving Psalm 56:8.

He sat writing,

As I observed the proof of His faithfulness.

And when I turned to look into His eyes

I realized

He was marking down those tears, also.

Those tears that overflowed

As I thanked Him for love so unrestrained

That He could consider me and my pain

So Important.

"You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in Your ledger, each ache written in Your book." (Psalm 56:8)

No Missing Tear (Psalm 56)

My enemy is against my very life

And torments me with words of strife,

Trying to get me to fall to sin

Twisting my words all around again.

My God, will You forget Your grace

Or hide Your face?

In You--You only--I put my trust;

I will fear nothing; I simply must

Rest in You.  You keep a list 

Of the tears I cry; not one is missed.

Oh, God, when their ridicule is appalling

You keep me from falling.

Your love-lit path is Grace applied,

May my life Your glory never hide!

Time to Die

When morning light

Steals away the night

And I wake, I will draw nigh.

To my Savior-King

I yield everything;

For it's time to die.

When I hear sin's call

And I waver to fall

Just in time Jesus's name I cry.

Help me drop this fire;

It's not what I desire!

And it's time to die.

When my flesh is strong

Or my will is wrong

Or I'm believing Satan's lie,

True life I will seek--

Strength when I am weak--

Because it's time to die.

May I follow hard

After You, my Guard

From sin; May Your grace supply

My victory

And humility

When it's time to die.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal 2: 20)

God, Listen! (Psalm 143)

Listen, 

My God and my King

To what I am asking!

And after hearing,

Answer me!

Please!

Oh, God do not base

Your help on my merit

For I have none.  But grace

May Your child inherit!

Satan seeks to knock me down

And into a corner back me,

Convincing me light cannot be found

And victory is utterly lacking.

I'm overwhelmed within, without;

My tears have become my friend.

I try to rehearse, even shout,

Of the wonders You did "back then."

I stretch my arms out to mirror my soul

"Oh to know You more," I cry.

As in a desert land, I wearily toil;

My heart is thirsty and dry.

Please answer me, Abba! And fast!

Lest my spirit break or I fall!

Don't turn away or shirk my grasp

For without You, I've nothing at all!

Point out the way that I must walk;

Give me clues to unveil my mystery.

May I not simply talk the talk!

From idols, may You set me free!

Save me from all those who hate

Your will; All my hope I will place

In Your grace and mercy, and I'll wait

In Your presence till You show Your face.

Teach me how to live to please

You only. Let Your truth be shown!

For Your name's sake, all my worries seize

And make Your glory known.

Listen, 

My God and my King

To what I am asking!

And after hearing,

Answer me!

I am Your servant.

Identity

Pain clouds your eyes,

And you try

To be

Better

Stronger

Sweeter

More Unique

More Beautiful

More Lovable

Less of a burden

Less weary

Less emotional

More Hopeful

More Helpful

More Holy

Smart

Skinny

Best

But do you not realize?

You are

So Much More

Than what you DO.

Your identity goes beyond

Your body, too.

Your brains do not say

Who you are,

And you treat those labels

Like make-up on a scar.

Do you not know?

You are

So Much More 

Than DO and DON'T;

Your identity goes beyond

How you'll act and how you won't.

Others' approval

Cannot control

Whether you feel 

Half or whole.

Only the promise

That His love never fails

Should define you;

Crown of thorns and the nails

And the life of One

Who was perfect and true

Can label you

Not what you DO.

Only that Savior

Who died for me

Says who I am;

I'm free

To simply BE

Loved.

Spotless.

Beautiful.

Redeemed.

Righteous.

Real.

One-of-a-kind.

A new creature.

Fully alive.

Pure.

Whole.

HIS.

Nothing More Than More of You

Should I continue sinning--
Temptation winning--
That grace might prove true?
That's crazy!
I'm free,
And I need
Nothing more than more of You.

I stop my lying--
My pride denying--
In Christ I am made new.
I say no
That even so
I might know
Nothing more than more of You.

For more than rules I thirst;
The relationship comes first.
Still I do what I would not to do.
I will say yes
To Your best
And request
Nothing more than more of You.

No desire to sin have I
Through the strength of Jesus Christ.
There is no comdemnation of those who
You have lifted higher
Out of sin's mire.
I desire
Nothing more than more of You!

Here Christ Stands

Here lies a body

Cold with death.

No longer taking that

Life-giving breath. 

Only to be

A cavity

Wherein worms feed

Decomposition's deed.

Here lies a body

Like rotting pages

Sitting in a decrepid

Library for ages.

Once a story

Of glory

Now damned by death

To end.  And yet--

Here lies the body

Of Jesus Christ.

It laughs at death

And clutches life.

A Revised Edition,

Restored and Risen.

Defeat is not His plight

While the Author writes.

Here lay the body 

Of Christ the King

Until victory triumphed

And conquered death's sting.

Sin is not the end

While the Savior pens

The tale of His plan

With nail-scarred hands.

Here Christ stands.

"Like the Cover of an Old Book, its Contents torn out and stripped of its Lettering and Gilding, He lies here, Food for Worms.  But the Work shall not be lost; for it will (as He believed) appear once more in a New and More Elegant Edition, Revised and Corrected by the Author."  ~ Benjamin Franklin

I'm Speechless

for my Speechless sisters; thank you for all you've taught me about our God...

I look into Your Word

In expectation

I see my Hope, my Peace,

My Joy, and my Salvation.

And I'm speechless.

I see the miracles You do

As You make the blind see.

And I stand in awe

When You speak to me,

And I'm speechless.

I see You hanging there

Upon that cross.

Why don't You come down?

Without You, I'm lost 

And I'm speechless.

I see the empty tomb;

My heart begins to sing.

Say what? My God is risen?

Death could not hold my King?

I'm speechless.

One day I'll see you there

Upon Your throne.

I'll bow to give You praise,
Lift my hands toYou alone,

As always, completely speechless.

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek You;  my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands." (Psalm 63:1-4)

"Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." (Psalm 33:8)

Re-Defining Sin

 In an effort to be

Holy within,

I defined sin

.

I made my list

And checked it twice.

I would avoid evil

In all my life.

To me, sin was breaking

My list of rules

By following

The way of fools.

It was things that 

I shouldn't do

Because the Bible

Said not to.

And while sin can be

All this,

My list,

I realized that

In reality,

This view puts

The focus on me.

What I'm not doing,

And what I do.

But how would I know sin

Without the truth of You?

My focus needed

To be changed;

My mindset had

To be rearranged.

I questioned myself

In an effort to 

Honor You.

And now instead

Of avoiding sin

Because of my rules,

I'll think again.

I choose to avoid

Those things You dislike

Because I know what

You say is right.

I focus on You

Trust the commands you give;

Being all in

Is the way I'll live.

I have decided to 

Be holy within;

I re-define sin.

Sin is choosing

Not to trust Your word,

Not claiming the truth

That my prayers are heard.

For each evil deed

Starts with a doubt

That You have the answers

And best thoughts about

My life. No longer is my reason

Just don't or do.

I choose not sin because

I want to love You.

Have Mercy, My King!

Have mercy, my King!

Cast me not away;

Blot out the transgressions

I've committed this day.

I seek restoration

Through the blood of Christ.

I know You forgive

And give me new life.

Have mercy, my King

On my guilty heart

Though I know you want truth

In the inward parts.

I no longer hide 

But all I confess,

Realizing my sin,

That I've made a mess.
 

Have mercy, my King!

I will not ignore

Your call to forsake,

To reject, to abhor

Those things that You hate.

May You wisdom give.

May I follow You

And in righteousness live.

Have mercy, my King!

I want to be clean.

I want to be humble

And on Your strength lean.

Help me learn from this failure;

Salvation's joy restore!

May I showcase Your deliverance;

May I desire You more! 

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation... I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will return to You." (Psalm 51:1, 10-13)

You Talk Of...

Note: The poem below may not be suitable for young children as it deals with human sex trafficking.

You talk of freedom

That American dream ideal.

But is it real?

Is freedom your house

With a white-picket fence?

Or something left entirely 

To the National Defense?

But if some are still enslaved

Is freedom still free?

What of the girls 

Who long to be

Free?

You talk of freedom

But will you show it to her?

You talk of change

That we mustn't lack

But you turn your back.

Is change the metal

That fills your purse

Or what you in 

Various banks disperse?

What if each night she

Seeks sex fifteen times

To meet her pimps quota

Or pay her fines?

To fate she resigns.

You talk of change

But will you show her the way?

You talk of love

That emotion that impacts

But you ignore these facts.

Is love the abuse

Of a lustful john

Who uses a child

As a turn on?

Today, as every fifty-four 

Seconds have passed

A child has been harmed

In Atlanta; may I ask

You to act fast?

You talk of love

But will you show her what it truly means?

You talk of a future

That hope in tomorrow

But what of her sorrow?

Is a future the fact

That four-hundred will be

Trafficked in the next month

In Atlanta, our city?

And if seven thousand

Three hundred men

Will purchase sex from these slaves

Month and month again?

What then?

You talk of the future

But will you show her one?

You talk of your God

Who has power to heal.

But is your faith real?

Is your faith the thing

That you do on Sunday?

Or that thing that you claim

When at mealtimes you pray?

What if alone she cries

In the dark of the night

For someone to show her

Her value in life,

The light?

You talk of your God

But will you show Him to her?

One of Those Days

It had been one of those days.

I felt tired and worn.

 Everything was crazy.

My heart was torn

Over the actions of others

And my own sin.

Emotions were racing;

And I knew deep within

That there had to be something

Greater to know

Than this discouragement

That brought my head low.

It was one of those days.

He felt tired and worn.

Everything was crazy.

His heart was torn

Over the sins of others

Though He had no sin.

Emotions were racing,

And He knew deep within

That He was giving us something

Greater to gain

He called to His Father

 In the midst of His pain.

It's been one of those days.

For the truly insane.

 I've been needed each time

Someone called my name.

I'm utterly exhausted

In an extreme sense

But Jesus found solace

In His Father's presence.

"Abba, if Jesus needed that

To remember His calling,

I surely need that time

To keep me from falling.

And when I recall a day

That was a daunting task,

I'll remember the things

That You've done in the past."

It's just one of those days

And all is not lost.

I'll remember my God;

I'll remember the cross.

May I Do What You Bless

At times when the clouds 

Cover my skies

And I can't see the road

For the tears in my eyes,

When I'm mad at the world

And the people in it,

When I look at my failure

And want to forget it,

When all of my hopes

And all of my dreams,

Are falling around me 

(Or so it may seem),

May I look to Your heart

And take in Your presence.

May I hear Your soft whisper

And know its assurance.

May I feel Your embrace

And Your love that's unending.

May I be real with You

And forget my pretending.

May You smile on me, Abba!

My greatest desire

Is to know You more

At my day's-end than prior.

May You show me Your glory

And remind me of peace.

And at the end of it all,

May my faith be increased

That wherever You lead, 

I will answer You, "Yes."

May You not bless what I do;

But may I do what You bless.

Words

Inspired by David Crowder Band's "I Need Words"

Words--those spoken sounds used many ways
To tell You how I feel; my voice I raise
To weave those morphemes together in a song,
Trying to explain You and knowing all along
I need words as deep as the sea
To explain the joy You've given to me.
I need You.

Words--the music of the human tongue
That into complex sentences I have strung
To seek to praise; I know that even then
To praise You human words cannot begin.
I need words as high as the stars
To attempt to describe Who You are.
I need You.

Words--units of speech that I explore
With my life, and yet I want You more.
With words and pen and page, I feel alive
And yet with the True Word I simply thrive.
I need words beyond my speech
I'm humbled by how out they're of reach.
I need You.

Words--those syllables of which this poem is made--
The utterance of a child who was a slave
Until You freed me. My Abba-King, I pray
Hear my man-made words today!
I need words more intense than my longing
To explain the glory to You belonging.
I need You!