Some Poems

Heart’s Cry

My Bridegroom God

My Lord, my King

You have pierced my heart

Made me weep

Heart so full, words scarce can tell

I bow my knees

Conform my will

I fear, I tremble, I melt

You strengthen, You call, You help

I gaze, eyes wide with wonder

Dreams of my heart cherished by You

This greater Yes

Birth of an adventure

Planned, written, and guarded by You

A longing born, a fire lit

God Himself in me did knit

This ache for Him and Him alone

O win this heart

You’ve won my soul

Wholly dependent on Christ alone

Seal with blood, for Glory atoned

Only Lord, this my plea

Keep me close, close to Thee

Still Point

O patient Friend, loving God

Thou bids me lift mine eyes upward

How quickly though these lids do fall

Won’t Thee fasten them Christward

When all I perceive be troubles and woes

Thou calls to me gently, “Lift thine eyes.”

Though that around me is yet unchanged

I now see mercy ‘stead of worries rise

When tides break and billows roll

And earth quakes, unmoved are You

When batteries of life hammer their toll

I look to Thee, ever true

“Be still,” Thou calls, “Be still and know.

Exalted among the earth I’ll be

Though mountains melt and earth gives way

My wonders and glories thine eye will see.”

When that day comes, my heart at rest

Mine eyes shall see, my lips shall sing

All honor, glory, and power be

Ascribed to Thee, my matchless King

Awake

 Long have you slept, O heart of mine

Unaware of songs humming through time

Eyes not opened to His design

Faithful was He, failed not to refine

He has stood sentinel to thee

Guarding, cherishing the seed of dreams

Mercy whispered, eyes to see

Ears to remember the wonder theme

Awake! Awake! O heart and see!

Awake and see that thou may sing!

Bid others also come and see

This beauty, mystery, galaxy

For this, this was I made

For this, this damned soul saved

To honor Him who made a way

To give Him glory every blessed day

Now heart of mine soar to tell

Of Him who rescued souls from Hell

He has won! It is well.

Death is beaten, sin is felled!

Christ is risen! Glory be!

Hallelujah to the King!

On that day all eyes shall see

See this man, Jesus King!


Photo from myaustendreamworld.com

20 Seconds of Courage

"Sometimes you just need 20 seconds of courage, of just embarrassing bravery...and I promise you, something great will come of it." - We Bought a Zoo

There is a water hole in North Carolina that I used to visit with my youth group. After about a mile's hike, you come upon a clearing and the welcoming roar of a waterfall. Jutting out in front of the waterfall is a rock about fifteen feet above the water's surface. To get to the rock you have to swim through a strong currant and then pull yourself up onto the slippery stone surface. I followed the other kids, receiving help swimming to the rock and gladly accepting hands pulling me out of the frigid water onto the boulder. I had watched several others jump off the rocks, some of the more athletically inclined performing back flips and fancy dives. "I can jump off this thing," I thought.  

Then I stood upon the ledge.

My stomach flipped. 

The drop looked a lot farther from up here than it did watching from the sidelines. Everything in my body did not want to jump. I had an internal battle right there. I shivered from the swim over, goose bumps covering my body. My teeth chattered. 

A friend came alongside me. Took my hand. "1...2...3!"

Jump.

Falling. Falling. 

I pierced the water and plunged deeper than I expected. It felt like a long time before gravity yanked my body back through the water's surface. I gasped for air...and smiled. "That was so fun!" 

Something about the fear and pushing through it made me feel so alive. 

Obedience is like that. There have been moments when I felt so sure the Lord was telling me to do something...to confess a sin, have a hard conversation, or to talk to someone about Him...and everything in me didn't want to do it. I was terrified. I imagined all the negative things that could happen if I did. But every time I have obeyed I have never once regretted it.

When He calls us to do things, it’s scary. We resist. But when we jump...the result is exciting, invigorating, and rewarding. The greatest reward? Feeling His pleasure.