Empty this vessel
Until it’s ready to be filled
By only your Spirit
And heaven’s will
My needs, my wants
Mean not a thing
When all my desires
Are born from my King
You keep watch
You’ve numbered my days
Fulfilling Your purpose
Through each promise displayed
I often don’t stop talking long enough to hear your reply.
I don’t sit still long enough to receive your direction.
I pace and worry and try to make things happen on my own.
I doubt and question and fail to see You sitting on the throne.
I confess my sins to the world but do I proclaim your glory?
Do I trust in your forgiveness enough to proclaim your salvation story?
Words are just words
Until Your Spirit breathes life into them
Actions run circles
Until You give them aim
Happiness and fear can both be
self-seeking (One in the same)
Value is found in surrender
Seeds start to grow when planted by faith
Circumstances fade as You become clearer
Sinners hear Your call
When spoken in love, not shame
Death, where is your sting?
We serve a God
Who endured your suffering
Fear, you have no power
For our God walks ahead
And holds each tomorrow
Worry, cease
Anxious thoughts, turn to peace
Self-will, look around
For this land you walk is Holy ground
So we will not fear
Our God is here
We will not tremble, nor shake
His purposes are at stake
And He never fails.
The earth proclaims your glory
The stars set stage for your plan
For the lost to be found, the blind to see
Deaf ears come to understand
May addictions be lifted
Confusion become clear
Earnest searching find answers
Distant hearts sense You near
Walk tall, walk secure
The hand that upholds you
Does not falter
Share his words, speak peace
The hand that guides you
Never sleeps
There You are
My sturdy ground
When all the winds around me blow
You’re the anchor for my soul
Through smiles I feel Your joy
Through tears, I feel Your peace
Roads ahead although unknown
Are unseen only to me
Your hand remains steady
Whether green grass or rocky stone
Whatever griefs I may bear
I will not bear alone
The tides wash over me
But I don’t drown
I walk through darkness
Yet I’m found
Your love pours down
I battle with demons
Yet You lend strength
My feet tread this world
But my spirit in grace
I see your face
Beautiful, wonderful
Glimpses of your heart
Too great to fathom
But this vision You impart
I’m not scared of the dark
I’m driven into your arms
Where I’m known and embraced
I’m driven to your heart
Where my tenderness is safe
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalms 32:7-10
Writing is my Red Sea
The waters part when I step in
Faith and obedience
Prompting my pen
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9
Faithful I will be
To follow where He leads
For I know his yoke is light
His provisions are my only need
When this life brings trouble
When the arrows fly
I will not cower in fear
For He remains by my side
A devoted soldier I’ll be
Whether I win or bleed
Surrendering to His battle plan
Guaranteeing His victory!
“The Lord your God is in your midst – a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; he will rejoice over
you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Though arrows pierce
And more battles lay ahead
I know the road traveled
Is where Your omniscience has led
Thank you for all the others
Who have walked this path before
Who found their way out
Then came back to rescue more
Not in riches, not in debt
Not in busyness nor days of rest
Not in blessings nor past regret
Not in my future, not places I knew
Not in revelations nor trials I went through
No – my worth, my life, my salvation is found in You
Now rescue the others
Tell them what I’ve done
How healing came by my hand
And this victory I’ve won.
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39
If You lead me to dark places
You’ll give me power to shine your light
If life gets difficult and the weight is heavy
You’ll carry it with me
Through every sorrow and plight
Your will on earth is not hindered
By the will of any man
You preordained, saw beyond time
And worked it into your plan
So I am not afraid
You go before me
You light my stepping stones
I am not afraid
You are my confidence
To do Your will
No matter where I go
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
You vanquish anxiety
Self will and doubt
You love with no reservation
No demand or expectation
I want to love like that
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
We sharpened each other
Like an axe to the grind
Bearing down all the edges
Smoothing sin we tried to hide
Our weaknesses surfaced
But in grace we loved anyway
As little by little his righteousness
Burst forth and took the stage
For you, my friend, bore fruit in me
And I the same in you
I’ll never forget and always be thankful
For the refining we went through
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
“This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ” Zechariah 13:9
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2
Maybe this part of the past
Won’t be reconciled
Looking back
there may still be gaping holes
But time to let go of the questions
And focus on the truths I know
Although many days
seemed meant for evil
He’ll use them to produce good
Though oft it appeared
the enemy was winning
I’ll see his purpose in the end withstood
With an increase in wind
All my doubt rushed in
Harder pressure on all sides
Surfaced my pride
Humbled to find
The battlefield
In my mind
“The greatest challenge in receiving great things from God is holding on for the last half hour” selected from Streams in the Desert
I don’t need to make a plan or design my life
My best laid plans are mere rags in His sight
For if I know what He wills will surely come to be
I have nothing to worry as my Savior leads me
Closer closer, Lord to Thee
My spirit gets every day
Trusting You for the desires of my heart
And my earthly needs while on the way
To an ever after in glory bright
Where I’ll behold You, your beauty
Your radiant light
The weight of my heart
Pulls me down to my knees
Where I cry out to You
And in faith, I believe
You hear and You’ll answer
When and how You please
Crucified with Christ
My heart will remain
All my sins buried
My old self lay slain
He could leave me here
In defeat to face my doom
Wait, His outstretched hand I see
Lifting me out of the tomb
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
When the turmoil of this day goes away
When healing trumps this sorrow
I will love you better tomorrow
As the lines on my face deepen
And past troubles I learn not to borrow
I will love you better tomorrow
Maybe it is a gift
When You don’t make things here
The way that we want
Because here is not the purpose
Or the goal
Our unrequited requests and desires
Refuse to make us whole
And instead point our eyes towards home
A home where all our troubles
Will be washed away
Our tears forgotten
No more dreams tattered and frayed
But all of our hopes finally realized
And our joy completed
On that fateful day
My sin has caused me to stumble
My failure causes much pain
But Your loving grace and discipline
Puts to death my own thinking and ways
Each season I rush to reach the end
Of the lesson at hand on my own
Instead of trusting the timing
In Your omniscient Hand is known
“If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins-and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”
1 John 1:10- 2:2
Not near the rose pedals
Or lavished with ease
But fighting with the devil
And down on your knees
Trust Him, Trust Him
In bitter tears and strife
His peace He’ll give
As you surrender your life
I am the daughter of a King
Richly blessed, redeemed
I am a warrior, clothed in grace
Equipped and strengthened for this very place
My rags are removed, washed in His blood
Replaced with a crown sealed with His love
“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
Photo credit: https://www.artstation.com/irinaplachkova
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 