The pain, it was bad but used
To sharpen me as iron
Til’ my face reflected You
“I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” Isaiah 48:10
Category: Poetry
I Doubt It
Today all I can see is every dream that never came true
Every time I screamed out and never heard from You
Every loose end that never got tied
Every time I felt alone as I cried.
Today all I hear are the sneers of those mocking my faith
The repetition of questions never being set straight.
The deafening silence when I wait for You to make a move
The countless reasons to give up my faith til it’s proved.
Yet, my heart keeps calling out for You.
Tomorrow
If You are who you say you are
Then I don’t need to worry
If you are who you say you are
This is all under your control
If you are who you say you are
You have plans for every tomorrow
If you are who you say you are
Troubles for today, I need not borrow
Intentional Surrender
No obstacles block Your will
The blueprint You carefully devised
Each road we’re led down with intention
No detour is a surprise
What joy there is in surrender
To trust Your answer whether yea or nay
What sweetness there is in knowing
You’ve already paved the way
Worldly Affair, Heavenly Commitment
“I had this secret affair,” she said. “He loved me more than anyone could.
He bore his heart to me, brought his cares to me and listened equally as good.
The best of friends we quickly became
Our souls finding familiar comfort while passion filled the same.
But he had committed himself to another a long time ago.
He was not free to love me openly or so the story would go.”
So their commitment sat in silence, in a world all on it’s own
He would keep on loving her as long as he didn’t have to let the other go.
She cried out to the Lord in her desperation and pain
“Why give me this love that must stay hidden and contained?
Shouldn’t his love for me make it impossible to hide
Impossible to still hold onto another and in his closest companions not confide?”
And the Lord answered her: “Now I will ask the same question of you
Has your commitment to the world kept you silent of our love, too?
You walk with me each day, have come to know me and love me like no other
Yet keep me hidden from your world, contained as a secret lover.
Denounce your prior affinities, do not be ashamed
The intimacy we have grown by heart, now walk in the same.
Share our love story, no longer make me hide.
Let your faith in me match internally what is seen on the outside.”
“And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.” Hosea 2:20
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32
Inevitable Pondering
Reaching for answers that aren’t there
Wondering if my wishes will vanish with the wind
Trying to make sense of the madness around me
Wondering what picture I fit in
Trying to grab hold of pleasures that pass me
To celebrate love and warm hearts
Distracted by horror stories, fears and theories
Unable to decide how true they all are
Building strength to stand on my convictions
With limited info to decide what those should be
Working day to day just to earn a living
Wondering if this is all that will become of me
At what point in time will the big picture be clear
When will we know what we chose to believe was right
I guess not until the ever after
So we keep saying our prayers every night
He Has Overcome the World
I can’t guarantee any outcome for tomorrow
Or even my breaths beyond today
But I can rest in the grace of my Savior
No matter how far I have fallen or strayed.
I can’t make my troubles on earth get better
But I can rejoice in heavenly truths
I can’t remove all fear or failures
But I can find real joy and peace in You
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
Even When (Fill in the Blank)
You are good
Even when our hearts break
Even when we forget our faith
When our emotions disagree
When life tries to steal our peace
You are good
When answers are unknown
When our plans are overthrown
You are good although we mourn
When our perfect picture is torn
In every season, through every storm
You are good.
Firm Foundation
I’ll keep reminding myself
To place my hope in You
Not in another, not in a circumstance
Not in flashes of temporary hope before me
Nor memories of victories past
No, only in You
Will I hope and rely
On the Rock of Your truth and promises
Will I place each brick of my life.
“It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:48
Provisions
Though the path is hard
It’s not impossible.
For nothing is impossible with You
Though the way is dark
It’s not invisible
You shine Your light to see me through
Though my heart is broken
It’s not beyond repair
When placed into Your hands
Though my tears may fall
You’ll wipe them away
And not let them thwart Your plans.
Count on It
When life becomes too great to bear
And each moment met just furthers despair
When you’re left with no answer or ear to turn to
When failures and regrets all come crashing down on you
Count on the cross
Count on His grace
Count on His providence
To cover all that you face
Count on His goodness
Count on His love
Know for tomorrow
Your faith is enough
Prepared
Just because each step is heavy
Doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way to go
Laboring in each step is building my strength
And preparing me for what I don’t yet know
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 13:8
Journey
I look on journeys past
And see the change they bore in me
I never would’ve planned these paths
Or the struggles they would bring
The battles are beyond hard
And oft take forever to win
My mind and heart get scarred
Then Your Word carries me back in
I look at journeys past
And see the victories they led me to
I take a deep breath, step out in faith
And set out on my next journey with You
“So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” Exodus 13:18
“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.” Psalm 23:3
Unchanging
Should sorrow come my way
and darkness cover all I see
Should I lose my dreams
And tragedy descend upon me
I’ll cling to You with my last grip
And place all my hope in You
Knowing your heavenly purposes
Prevail regardless of earthly truths
Your love remains the same
Your promises do not change
Devoted
If you love me, scream it from the mountain
If you love me, keep me close at all times
If you love me, believe me and act on your faith
If you love me, put all other loves aside
“Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name. But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.” Revelation 2:3-4
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deutoronomy 6:5
Follow the Leader
Everything is pitch black
I can’t see in front of me
I pause and wait for Your light
Blinded, I trust in Your sight.
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13
Faith or Works? Yes
Oh faith,
Will you crumble when put to the test?
Will you run and hide when you’re not approved by the rest?
Or will you put into practice all you’ve been shown
Speak boldly, stand strong even when all alone?
Faith without works is dead
Works without faith is misled
Demonstrate your faith by your works instead.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17
Prodigals
Please carry the heavy load of our pasts
So we’d be free to walk along
Your predestined paths
Please cleanse us from our regret and shame
So our mouths would be confident
To share Your good name
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Not I but Christ
Disappointments and heartaches
We can give these to You
And attempt to align how we think
to Your Word and Your truths
So what do You say
About moments that don’t go our way
To remember You are Sovereign
And there are grander purposes at play
“Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” Ephesians 1:11
Loving Kindness
You keep on knocking
Testing and trying
Until the lesson is learned
You keep on blessing
Loving and giving
More than this heart deserves
Perfect Love
Your love does not sway
It can’t be altered or taken away
It doesn’t change with each passing season
It knows no limits, it surpasses all reason
Your love is better than life
More than our finite minds can possess
Your ultimate gift to us and reassurance
That in Your perfect love, we may breathe and rest.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:3).
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16)
Step by Step
Return our gaze to You
After whiplash has struck
And our mind’s all a muck
Focus our efforts on each step
You’ve shown is right
Work hard, love hard
Pray in faith day and night
Submit to Your plan
Trust You to see it through
Surrender answers we don’t have
Choose to trust in You
Gift of Sight
Is this a distraction or Your plan of action
A promise fulfilled or my tainted will
A gift so wise or a clever disguise
Oh, wash these corroded scales
from my eyes
So I would see, I would decipher
How to choose wisely for my ever after
“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;” Acts 9:18
Sacrifice – The Essence of His Love
May I never grow complacent
Toward You or Your love
May my eyes never wonder
Lest I forget that You’re enough
Your love is pure
Your thoughts are gold
Your intentions holy
Your passion, bold
You sent Your Son as the greatest sacrifice
Your unequivocal love on display
You saw our debt and You paid the price
Revealing Your love in the costliest of ways.
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
Psalm 63:3
Intercession
I cry out to You in my brokenness
With no other place to turn
I’ll rely on my utterances
Since my heart can’t find the words
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26
No
Letting go of what you fought to embrace
Discovering oft “no” is a gift of grace.
Doubting Thomas
I did everything the Bible told me to
I forsook all others
And followed after You
You said when I confessed all my sin
That You cleansed, You forgave
When I believed with all my heart
You had washed all my sin away
You said my weakness was my strength
Because where I am weak You are strong
You said I could trust in Your grace
But this now appears all wrong
You have not kept Your promises
Your Word has not proven to be true
You have forsaken and abandoned me
Unless there never really was a You.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far from delivering me— from my groaning words?
My God, I cry out to you throughout the day, but you do not answer;
and throughout the night, but I have no rest.
Psalm 22:1-2
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:18
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5
If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:13
Blind Faith
You know what’s truth and what is false
You know how and where to direct our feet
You know why the sun rises each day
You know what gives our hearts their beat
You know the reasons disappointments come
You separate the land from the sea
When the sun doesn’t rise or a heart is lost
You still call us to trust in Your Sovereignty
Trust
Do you trust me, He asked
Yes, I replied.
Then put your fears aside
Do you still trust me, He asked
You know that I do
Then stop worrying about my plan for you.
A Prayer
Protect my mind from being blinded
My heart from growing cold
My feet from running toward evil
My hands from casting stones.
Whisper
Where do I go to renew my spirit
When everything runs dry?
I come back to You, I give You the pieces
And wait for Your whisper inside
Away With You
When I get away from all my distractions,
There You are
Waiting to take my hand.
When I stop chasing what I think I need,
You gently show me
A far better plan.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Pursuit
The song in my heart
keeps calling for freedom
It’s beating to a different tune
This melody inside of me
Keeps chasing after You
Deep Roots
We excuse sin, we allow it
We think we know what’s best
We minimize it’s consequences
We trivialize it’s effects
We defend sin
We excuse it based on needs
We fail to see participating
Only plants new seeds
Turn away! Eradicate it!
Before it’s roots take hold
Turn away, even run!
Before more sin’s conceived.
“The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.” Proverbs 5:22
In the Lion’s Den
I went in with the lions
And yet came out alive
Unscathed to tell the story
Of how and by Whom I survived
Clearly not by strength
Not by my wit nor guile
But because the Lord, He fought for me
And always wins the battle
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel 6:19-20
Battles – and their End
The wounds inflicted
have reached their end
The nightmare had purpose
Before it began
The darkness there
I may not comprehend
But yesterday is gone
And will not come again.
Eternal
Rejoice in that which can’t be taken away
His promises for each new day
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Our Source of Hope
Still it’s there
One glimmer of hope
That comes to me when I sing
No matter what surrounds
My joy is found
When I offer praise
To my King
What a Joy
Shout for joy
You speak to me
You answer my prayers
Sing it out loud
You, my Savior, are my friend
You carry me and teach me
Leading me home til the end
Beyond comprehension
Too great for words
Your love is amazing
What a joy to know you, my Lord
On a cross
You died for me
With my life
May I bring glory to Thee
May I sing You a song
With all of my heart
Praising You tenderly
I bow before Your throne
Beyond comprehension
Too great for words
Your love is amazing
What a joy to know you, my Lord
You are my Creator
Creator of all things
You hold me in Your arms
And bless me beyond measure
You are intimate and Holy
And You know my name
You’ve made me Your child
And I’m forever Yours
Beyond comprehension
Too great for words
Your love is amazing
What a joy to know you, my Lord
March 2003
The Difference
Religion says I have the answers
But You say I have your heart
Religion tries to simplify
You continue to mystify
And set Your love apart
Faith
I’m walking on invisible ground
Unseen by those around
But it’s proven sturdy
A faithful friend
So tomorrow
I’ll choose it again
Faith
http://todancewithyou.com/2017/05/05/my-choice/
— Read on todancewithyou.com/2017/05/05/my-choice/
Answers
I can’t tell you what to do
or what direction to go
Only Who will be there along the way
I can’t tell you
how to atone for your sin
The price has already been paid.
1 John 2:2 “And He is the propitiation for our sings; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Press On
The troubles of this day may never cease
The heartache of this loss may not find peace
But Your love remains the same
So, I press on.
Full Coverage
No matter how diligent
No matter how sincere
Our attempts are
at cleansing our own hearts
We still will fall short
But if His grace covers one,
It covers all.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10
Drifting Away
The current carried me away
Until I could no longer see the shore
Drifting about without enough strength
To fight the sea’s pull anymore
In This World
Reach for Him
When the sky begins to fall
When you can’t understand His hand
Trust His heart
“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
Lowly King
Broken and defeated
Crumbling to the ground
My hands reached out
And felt His feet
…….
My tears streamed down
Succumbing to pain’s sting
But anguish turned to praise
As I trusted this lowly King
“As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” Luke 7:38
Sifted
He sifted me until I was no more
Every ounce of rebellion gone
He tested me and closed every door
Until despair chased away all my wrong
Forging Our Faith
He brings us face to face
with our depravity
To understand our humanity
Until we learn to declare
It is for His purpose we are here
And we confess and believe
It is by His grace we live and breathe
Matthew 16:15
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Above
Elevating my beliefs to your truths requires turning away from lies
Lies that say life’s goal is reaching self satisfaction
That all must be well around me before following through with godly action
Earthly troubles are my perimeter, the plain I clearly see.
Looking beyond to the heavenly is what You are asking of me.
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 