Sanctify me
Wash away
This crimson stain
By which I laid slain
Resurrect me
With your breath of life
Once buried but no more
My life is now in Christ
Category: Poetry
Waiting
I knew it was beyond my own strength
To climb out of the deep holes I had dug
But once rescued, I could see
The waiting was ordained by His love
Psalm 23 Rendition
Blessed beyond measure
Overflowing with joy
My cup runneth over
With the abundance
No earthly ail could destroy
The table is set
In glorious fashion
Within the sight of my enemies
You pull out the chair
Ask me to take a seat
And join You for a heavenly feast
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:5-6
His Help
No addiction, no flaw
No matter how far you fall
He will take your brokenness
And mend it all
Surrender today
your futile attempts
Ask Him to rescue
And come to your defense
His love is great
His Spirit breaks chains
His grace covers shame.
Surrender to faith
In His unending strength.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-30
One Day at a Time
In your hope, I live and breathe
I turn away from fear and find your peace
In your will, my purpose is seen
I turn away from self and find your serenity
“Go forth”, You say, “in confidence”
Carrying your strength, I need no defense
On a mission to love and provide
Hope for the hurting with no ill-will or pride
To live a life of service to others
Setting all selfish motives aside
I follow your footsteps one day at a time
Just Breathe
Breath, just breath
Surrender your burdens
Inhale my peace
Rest, rest in Me
Cease your toiling
All your worries, release
Live, live joyfully
Exchange your sorrows
For the new life I give abundantly
Sweet Surrender
You give hope when we reach the end of ourselves.
You give purpose when our own agenda fails.
You give peace when our world has come undone.
You use the impossible to display your power and love.
I surrender my life to You
No other satisfaction will do
You carry my burdens and impress upon my heart.
Your Word and promises are true.
His Bride
Law breakers, low lifes, outcasts
Shunned and looked down upon
Those are the ones He dined with
The reason He rose the 3rd day by dawn
The penniless, the nobodys
The ones who could see their flaws
Those are the ones He traveled with
He won’t stop until He gathers them all.
“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do”. John 17:14-16
Redemption
I was lost in the abyss of life
But felt your calling in my heart
Unable to see the right path
You pulled me out of the dark
My rescuer, My Savior
You walk into the storms
You calm the waters all around me
And safely carry me to shore.
Lessons
Let yourself feel the sorrow of loss
Entrust to Him all the hurt
For He disciplines those He loves
And holds your worth
Don’t try to run from it or numb it
Let it result in your spiritual gain
Sanctification oft includes sacrifice
So with hope in His healing, endure the pain.
Looking Forward
Each stage, each day
Is a step closer to You
You guide me, provide me
Strength and mercy to push through
You excite my heart with battles won
Using the past to direct me to Your Son
Hope for Tomorrow
I have to suffer through my grief instead of fighting or fleeing.
Running away delays the process while suffering brings healing.
There is a time to laugh and a time for sorrow.
I can’t force the wind or rain, but I know who holds tomorrow.
Thought Life
Sometimes I forget to breathe
And the anxiety builds inside of me
Negative thoughts begin to attack
And all I can see is all that I lack
Other times life is roses and rainbows
I find purpose in every trial life throws
I feel strong, confident and unbreakable
I win every challenge and keep my life stable
Then there’s the in between, the unknown
Where I forget who I am and the wrong roads I follow
Reality is in question, I fear and I hide
False beliefs emerge, You disappear from my sight.
So what does your Word say to manage the three
Into a right and healthy mentality?
You say think on those things that are lovely and true
Things that are pure and of good repute.
Think on things that are just and have virtue
Honorable and bring praise to You
To take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
To draw my strength from your sacrifice.
The battles in my mind with long suffering I’ll endure
Knowing the war has been won and You are the Victor
This world will bring trouble, but You have overcome
So through the trials and tribulations, I’ll cling to your Son
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Trust
I trust You
Whatever will be
I trust You know better then I do
What’s best for them and for me
Our own plans are so small
Compared to those of Your will
So I remember today to trust You
And be still.
Sing
You give me a song to sing
When my heart is trembling
When sorrow is knocking on the door
—
You give me a song to sing
When my life is struck by thunder
When I can carry on no more
—
You give me a song to sing
To rise my tune above all earthly things
And on your wings of gladness soar
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Life Line
I can write my story
I can tell you where I’ve failed
I can glory in the ways I got back up
But there’s a better story to tell
My common thread
My strong life line
Who’s been by my side
Since the beginning of time
He knows my frailties
Seen me through my darkest nights
He wakes me up every morning
And encourages me in this life
Just As I Am
I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity as a lyricist on one of Olya Homesin’s new songs “Just As I Am”. Olya sings on the Praise and Worship team at “The Story Church” in Houston, TX. The single (or 3 song album) will be available for download on August 23rd. If you’d like, you can go to the link below to presave it and be notified by platforms when it’s out. I believe you will be blessed by her beautiful voice!
Psalm 103
Let all that is within me
Praise Your Holy Name
You rescue from the fire
Let all my actions and my words
Contribute to all You desire
You hear, You see
You answer, You free
Your love will not go unnoticed by me
Please and Thank You
Please reconcile all that’s gone wrong
Please heal hearts that have been hurting too long.
Please give peace where there are no answers
Please fill our hearts with grace for one another.
Please pave a new road for relationships gone bad
Please infuse hope for new memories to be had.
Thank You for wanting to hear our prayers.
Thank You for welcoming us into Your care.
This Life
One day I’ll see You as You are
No hidden veil, healed battle scars
One day, I’ll join You in eternity
Until then, You have plans for me
Mountaintop views, treacherous terrain
Tests, trials, blessings – all for Your name
You refine, redefine, give new life and rebirth
Preparing my soul for heaven’s will on earth.
Repurposed
Strengthen me to be your vessel
Strip away selfishness
So life is not lived in vain
Train my mind in honor and wisdom
Tune my heart to glorify your name.
You See
You know my heart, You see my pain
In faithfulness Your love remains
You heal, restore, open up the doors
Your power breaks chains, I am sustained
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
You Knew
Inside my weakness, struck with flaws
Your power and plan considers them all
Never blind nor deaf, not surprised by defeat
But with a smile and a nudge,
You get me back on my feet
You knew the path, You knew the way
You knew what it would take
to prepare me for this day.
Gratitude
I am grateful
For life, second chances
And beautiful sunrises
I am grateful
For family, friends
Mercies that never end
I am grateful
For moments of blessings and truth
Lord, I am grateful for You
Your Embrace
When the crown turns into thorns
And the payment owed
Is more than I have to give
When my trials find me on my knees
And failures make each day so hard to live
I look to my Savior
Grateful I am His
When a mountain top is reached
And blessings shower down all over me
I stand in awe
Your grace too much to bear
Overwhelming joy mine to declare
I look to my Savior
Grateful He brought me here
Faithful
He collects our tears in a jar
To one day be redeemed
He sees who we truly are
And loves us all the same.
He sees our struggles
He sees our pain
He heals, restores
His faithfulness remains.
Hope
You are near to the broken hearted
You are near to those lost
Your faithfulness to us
Came at a great cost
You don’t see our iniquity
You don’t see our faults
Your Son paid that price
On the cross
We live in a world
Where questions abound
Doubt seeps in
And hopelessness is found
But Your Word and truth
Gives hope
Your voice and forgiveness
Helps us to cope
Every moment brings a new promise
A new sunrise and change
Every prayer makes us feel heard
And gives us hope for the next day
Be Still
Although His timing may be different
He works everything into his picture
We are here to be moved at His will
We just need to keep trusting and be still
As a Child
Can we find the words of faith to utter yet one more prayer?
Is our seed of faith big enough for one more trial to bear?
You say come to You as a child, believing in your care.
Your forgiveness, your provisions, your promises are waiting for us there.
“But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14
Be Teachable
You give me what I need
When I need it
Even though my understanding
may be wrong
You teach new truths
And clarify questions
You lovingly show me
Where I belong
I’ll acknowledge the signs
And accept the corrections.
I’ll allow myself
To hear what You say
I’ll let go of the past
Knowing it was all direction
To develop me more
And brighten tomorrow’s day
Renew
Don’t let the past define you
But your eyes of faith provide you
Hope for each new day
Let the lessons teach you
But not the pain beseech you
To fall into doubt or dismay
Let your heart be renewed
Through the grace He gives to you
As He washes yesterday away
He Walks with Me
A secret way by which You lead
Off the beaten path
Where no other traveler has set foot
Just You and I together at last
A place where You tell me
Of things long ago
And give me glimpses
Of where we’ll go
We sit by a stream
to refresh and renew
Where I bask in Your presence
And give my praise to You
Gracious Love
You vanquish anxiety
Self will and doubt
You love with no reservation
No demand or expectation
I want to love like that
Stand Firm
Stand firm, He says
Do not be swayed or dismayed
Stand firm, He says
Knowing I command the waves
Don’t let impatience have its voice
Calling you away or aside
Don’t rush ahead to force change
Convinced by your own pride
No, stand firm, He says
In my will and in my way
Stand firm, He says
For I rule this and every day.
Single Petition
Two are better than one, they say
So please send someone my way
But not just any man will do
He must know, seek and follow You.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Deafening
I can’t hear a thing
When did it get so silent in here?
All the answers disappeared
Just waiting for a message from up there
Are my ears clogged
Did you pull the curtain?
Maybe my speech is too flawed
Of this I’m pretty certain.
Picture Perfect
Thank you for loving me where I am
You remove all rules and regulations
The broken woman that I am
Needs no excuse or explanation
I am free to live and trust in You
I am free from my past restraints
You’ve designed the perfect life for me
The narrative I don’t need to repaint
Heavenly Touches
Sometimes
we just need little pushes
little touches
from the unknown
to inspire us, to remind us
we are not alone
In Grace Alone
Just as I am
I find your embrace
You’ll use me here
In this very place
Not by my merit
But by your grace
“From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” John 1:16
Hope Beyond all Reason
If the Lord wills it, it will come to pass
Although his timing looks different than mine
While in the waiting, I can rest assured
Knowing at his determined time, his promises I’ll find
“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:19-21
In Want and in Plenty
Let my hunger drive me to You, to bow at your throne of grace
But when I’m full and satisfied, may I remain in that place.
Let my blindness lead to a renewed and strengthened faith
But once my vision is clear, may I continue to see your face.
How and When to Go
It was time to go, but I stubbornly stayed
Even when the land around me went dry
Abandoned to this wasteland
Endlessly searching for signs of life
But no sustenance would be found
Only drought and silence would abound
In this dry and fallow ground
With reluctance and tiny steps
And a good bye to all buried below
I gathered up my belongings and heart
And found His footsteps to follow
““ ‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.” Leviticus 26:18-20
Confidence
I will not wait for You to rescue me
For You already did so on the cross
You’ve given me everything I need
To thrive, succeed and not be lost
My heart and my life
Are under the blanket of your care
I have freedom to move in confidence
And strength for all trials to bear.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
A Love Letter
I love you more then you can grasp. My love is unwavering, unchanging.
And, nothing you can do will alter it or take it away.
When you walk or run away from me, I hurt because I long to be with you.
I chose to face death to be with you.
I chose to see your sins no more.
I chose to speak until you heard me.
I chose to never close the door.
Healing
Let my tears melt the grief
Let my steps erase the memories
Let your truth destroy the lies
Let my prayers heal the sadness
Let your grace remove the regret
Let my faith give thanks for the goodbye
The Real Enemy
Our enemy, the deceiver
Always with something up his sleeve
Seeks to destroy and divide
And works to steal our peace
—
Be on the lookout, be alert
Hedge your heart so he can’t get in
Once inside the disguise is greater
And manipulates our lean to sin
—
Remember who the enemy is
Before his attempts begin
Our fight is not against each other
But principalities of darkness around and within.
“Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.” John 13:34
Deep Roots
I was blinded
because I chose not to see
I didn’t want to acknowledge
The sin in me
I let it’s roots take hold
And what a grip they grow
But thank God, He sets me free
Illustrations of Love
The truth of our redemption
Is the perfect picture of beauty
It embodies the fullness of your grace
To all who will receive and believe
—
It represents a new covenant
Through your Spirit and sacrifice
It is You ending our lawless attempts
And uniting us as your bride
Savior
He’ll take the leftovers, the cast aways, the ones forgotten and thrown away
He’ll take the hopeless cases, the given up, the accused, the strays
He’ll take them all, bandage their wounds, love them fully and still have room.
He’ll stand beside them as their proud bridegroom and offer them life outside the tomb.
Where to Then?
When He doesn’t raise the dead
But stays longer on his journey instead
When He doesn’t end the suffering
Or the drought with a fresh lain spring
When He allows the boat to capsize
And sits silently while we cry
Where does our faith, then, abide?
To the tomb, to the inner room
To the cross where He was forsaken
To the moments before victory
Where his believers sat unshaken
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 