He Lifts Me Up

In a place of brokenness I lie,
Struggling once again to speak.
And with my last vocal note
I say to Him, “Take what’s left.”

“What’s really worth anything in this world,”
Is a question I’ve often asked
Myself, others, the sky, the earth
When I fall.

Then He lifts me up
To a place where I can see
The expanse and beauty of this world,
The precious soul inside each of us.

From this height, my vision clears.
I see why we can truly love,
Why we can truly love each other,
Is because He loved us first.

Falling, descending once again
Into the depths, the dirt, the despair.
I know the light is inside me.
Jesus, let me be broken again.

Let Your light go forth into this darkness.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”–Ephesians 1:18

A Heart For You

Out of my ashes, You pull a beating heart of flesh.
It is Yours now.  It only beats for You, God.
Please don’t wrap it in pretty pink bows and glitter.
Don’t place it on the shelf in a row with all the other hearts.
It is raw.  It is free.  You know that.  You made it that way.
Throw it against the wall.  Sink Your teeth in.
Let the blood stain Your lips.  Taste the sweetness
Of a heart whose only purpose is to please You.
Consume every morsel, for every tender fiber is desirable.
Its scent is pungent.  Its flavor, rich.
Oh, to taste.  Oh, to taste!  Oh, to taste; oh, to taste…

Let Your fire fall.  Take my heart.  Consume me.

[Image created by Ben Hume.  Used with permission.]

“To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?”–2 Corinthians 2:16

The Love of Calvary

A Poem:

What do you mean when you say you love me?
Am I really worth that much to you?
I am thirsty, and I am weak.
Will we fly together?  I want to.
Please pick me up.  Take me with you, please.
You are everything I want…

What have they done to you?
Pale, bleeding, hanging there, most beautiful one
Pierced, crushed and heartbroken
You cry out in agony, “I LOVE YOU!”
Torn, shredded, naked flesh, dripping beautiful blood
You see me and smile.

A Prayer:

How precious Your love is, oh my God.  I thank You for your sacrifice.  Let me never forget, that You love me THAT much.  You endured all the pain that I deserved.  You took me from the mire and made me a man.  You deserve all my worship, all my life, all my everything.  You know, I don’t even know what my “everything” even is.  But you do.  Show me how to be the mighty warrior you’ve called me to be.  Amen.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”–Hebrews 12:2-3

A Christmas Prayer

It seems strange…
What with all the gifts, music, food and family,
That there’s not as much joy as in years past.
In reality, there may be more than ever.  But it’s like I’m trying to
Get some joy out of the things, the “season.” 

I don’t think it’s working.
The new perspective You’ve given to me lately,
It’s in the back of my mind, lurking there.
Like this isn’t supposed to be… 

Where am I going?  I ask.
Should I blindly revel in the pleasure of today,
The mind-numbing fake happiness we create?
Am I that naive, to not care.

But beneath the surface, even the facade,
Is actually something amazing.
The truth about what you did for us:
It’s still there!  It never left!

There is faith growing bigger and bolder
Where once there was nothing to see.
Because what makes this Christmas special
is what You’re doing inside of me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your indescribable gift.

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”–Luke 2:10-11

The Hiding Place

I don’t want to be seen by men
Take me away
I love You too much to make You a show
Draw me away to be with You and only You

Oh my God, do I have the faith that You will answer me even when no one else can see?

Take me away to a secret place
Where we are alone and all I can see is Your face
Oh my God, who am I that You would listen to me?

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”–Matthew 6:5-6

Open My Eyes To Hear Your Heartbeat

Look, a sound!
Can you see it?
Too intense to feel,
Too great to comprehend.

You can’t wrap your head around it, but
He’s wrapping His arms around you.

Chest throbbing; world, lives changing,
Action, Reaction, spinning; you’re getting dizzy,
But there’s something more true there once
Your perception has been stripped away.

The sound of something real,
Retuning your sight,
Equilibrium shot, come crashing to the floor.
The grain of the hardwood looks better down there.

The detail, the plan, the purpose, the Spirit,
It’s going somewhere, the direction of
Hope?  Faith?  Joy?  Peace?  Or
Tears?  Destruction?  Breaking?  Death?
And are they the same thing?

Love exists, so what does that make you?
Less of a man, or more?

“And Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.’”–1 Kings 18:41

With a Broken and Joyous Heart

Why am I lying here immobilized?  Because when you revealed your face to me, it hit me like a speeding train.  I was sent flying backwards, carried into eternity, bone to metal.  I faded away into death, but not darkness.  It was a most beautiful light that enveloped me.  My spirit was torn apart at the seams as my soul moved too fast for my nature.

Now I’m here, in this place, with you.  I can’t stand due to the weight of the glory.  But look now: tiny roots, growing from the pores of my skin, sinking into the sacred earth beneath me.  They drink in the holy water of life, strengthening me with the nutrients of the Kingdom.  I can stand now; I’m alive; I am new.  Your blood pumps through my arteries, and I am indestructible.

As I open my eyes, I find I am back again, kneeling in the back row, sleeves soaked in tears.  I wonder, what have you done to me?  My problems haven’t gone away.  Although, I suppose you will be dealing with them now.  I can’t give up anymore.  I think I left my free will in that pool of tears.  Did I just die?  Or did I just now become alive?  I guess both.  Here is something amazing.  I think, I can love now.

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”–John 3:8

Take Over Me

I find my rest in You
  You expose my inmost being
I forget all offense
  You set my heart on fire

You are my backbone;
  I can stand because of you.
You are my blood;
  Your life rushes through my veins.
You are my eyes;
  Your love is the solution I see.
You are my lips;
  Everything I speak is to Your glory.
You are my skin;
  Let me feel every burden of Your heart.
You are my legs;
  Where I go is where You are.

As I let go of what I am,
Replace me with You

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”–Philippians 3:20-21

9 Lines

Hungry, waiting on today.
Waiting for a miracle. 
When that glorious day comes, it will be glorious.  
Until then, however, I wait and live on. 
Always ready, knowing that when that small spark comes,
      it will take down great forests. 
I come before you, LORD, singing Hallelujah. 
The beautiful life You gave will continue always, so I will wait for You. 
You will come in Your perfect time. 
Be steadfast, Oh my soul

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”–Matthew 10:16

Waves On a Sea of Molten Steel

Liquid Metal, ripples like a bay in a storm; the beauty of imperfection is that we have so great a journey to travel.

The Storm, the beating heart of God: the earth quakes at the very thought of His love, throbbing, shaking for peace.

The Heart, is it deeper than I have imagined?  Is Truth beneath the surface, or will the calm reflect back what’s been here all along.

Waiting, wanting, yearning for the meaning of all.  Should I wait for the storm to pass before I dive in?

Peace, for beyond, or in the midst of, the fire is the Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Shadow, the glimpse of truth will be revealed, imperfection becomes the Perfect.

The Path before me is straight and narrow and REAL

“for our God is a consuming fire.” –Hebrews 12:29