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
Behind these walls
There may not appear to be freedom
No freedom to leave
No freedom to breathe
Only restrictions and people watching me
Behind these walls
I miss my family and friends
I miss my house and my boyfriend
But the confinement has kept me safe
Although I’d rather be any other place
No walls can take away God’s grace.
It’ll be a hard road
There will be plenty of tests, I’m sure
But I’m prepared for the battle
And all else I may endure
This is my rehab story
And I plan for it to end well
Then my overcoming
Will be a great story to tell.
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
Many have tried
While others have stayed
But the ones who run the furthest
Will still never get away
Because you can’t outrun his love
No matter the distance or the sin
God’s love and grace always wins
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
You’re here with me today
Refreshing and guiding
Reassuring and confiding
Plans You have for me
You’re here with me today
Tangible and not hiding
Whispering and providing
Strength I hadn’t seen
You’re here with me today
Don’t take Your presence away
Stay with me always.
A Silent night as any other
While a miracle was born
Lowly laid in a manger
The very first Christmas morn
Could they hear on that night
His cries that would save
The wrath He would bore
As God set the stage
A fragile babe
Our heavenly King
God’s Light shining
Erasing death’s sting
May my joy be found in You
On the long and scorching days
May Your peace overrule
When despair says there’s no way
May my heart learn to wait
When patience has all but gone
May my lips continue to praise You
When my ears can’t hear the song
Scandalous grace
Because no one can earn it
And it can’t be taken away
The worst of us can own it
As the proud look on in dismay
Scandalous grace
Because you can’t contain it
And it can’t be sold your way
Bought for us as a loving gift
At a price only He could pay
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:18
You create beauty from all the pieces of our lives.
In our own strength we can do nothing. Our hands just wriggle and writhe
With this knowledge we come before You limited yet sincere
In our dependence on Your mercy and Hand to act mightily here.
I desire mercy over sacrifice
I paid the highest price
For an open door to commune with you
So bow your knee, confess your sins
Follow Me and walk in truth.
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13
‘”Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”’ John 8:10-11
For further discussion on this scripture, check out: https://www.christiantoday.com/article/what-does-it-mean-when-god-desires-mercy-over-sacrifice/88736.htm
This restless sea inside of me
Tries to pull me under
But I’ve learned to sail by the winds of Your Word
Unmoved by strike nor thunder
My compass spins out of control
Guided by worry and doubt
But my Captain aboard anticipated the course
And lovingly steers the whole route
I cannot see what’s ahead of me
But certain treasures I know will be there
His companionship and peace sustain me
As I sail with my God in prayer.
You keep on knocking
Testing and trying
Until the lesson is learned
You keep on blessing
Loving and giving
More than this heart deserves
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)
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
My reservoir is empty
All I can do is pray
Coming to you humbled
Lord have your way
My shield is broken
My defenses fallen down
I’ve given up fighting
Its Yours to win or lose now
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 