Birth

 

Newborn flowers peek

From beneath jackets of green

Crying for the day

 

Blue

 

Soaking in the sea

Above me—surrounding me:

Gentle wind-splashes.

 

Imperfection

 

Flies, like temptation,

Swarm ‘round me without ceasing;

I cannot thwart them.

 

Listen

 

Symphonies surround:

Nature’s own motion music

Soothing tired earth.

 

The Shepherd

 

There on the hillside

Stands a lone Stranger

Quietly leading

His flock to the streams.

 

There on the hillside

Stands a kind Stranger

Gently restoring

Each lamb to His fold.

 

There on the hillside

Dies a lone Stranger

Mercifully claiming

A thief as His own.

 

There on the hillside

Dies a kind Stranger

Lovingly giving

His life for His sheep.

 

There on the hillside

Climbs a lone Stranger

Faithfully calling

His sheep to Himself.

 

There on the hillside

Climbs a kind Stranger

Tenderly bidding

Farewell to His flock.

 

 

 

Reputation

 

The thing that grows us,

      Shapes us

      Molds us

The thing that describes us

      What others say

               How they talk

               What they think

               Who they tell

Easy to depict,

Hard to change.

 

Surrender

These hands, O Lord, I give to Thee

As with my life I offer whole:

That Thou might take and with them be,

That Thou wouldst live within my soul.

 

The tendency to hold them dear

Has loomed before me day by day.

But, oh, to think I'd keep so near

The things that keep me from Thy way!

 

The greatest men doth know through life

The way to live as did the Christ.

Though facing turmoil and strife

They walk the path and pay the price.

 

Their lives are given all to God--

To Him alone their praise they lift--

To live as He has called them to

And use their individual gifts.

 

If they neglect it, theirs the loss;

If they lament it, theirs the pain.

If they repent it, theirs the cross;

If they submit it, theirs the gain.

 

Ice Cream Cone

 

     it’s

     running

           down my chin

         sweetly sticky on

      my skin but oh it’s so

      tasty licking it rapidly

    sucking it fervently juicy

    flavors bursting into my

      mouth the taste is so

       sweet the texture is

        so smooth and it’s

         oh so good oh so

           tasty so short

            and with the

              cherry on

                 the top.

                  yum!

 

Trusting His Will

 

O foolish child,

Why do you doubt?

Why do you fear

What tomorrow’s about?

 

Can you not trust Me?

I am your Lord.

Without me to lead you

No peace you’ll afford.

 

O simple child!

Trust Me just now.

I know what I’m doing –

To My will now bow.

 

Courage

 

Lives spilled out and broken

Poured out for our freedom

Sacrificed in love

Given without shame

What are we doing

To thank them for their deaths?

Are we standing strong

And keeping up the faith?

 

We need to be brave

For those who gave their lives

We need to have courage

To live as they have died

 

Love Is a Fragile Thing

 

Love.

Its flower cannot be crushed, or it will fade away.

Its petals cannot be bent, or it will close forever.

Its stem cannot be broken, or it will run in pain.

Its nectar must remain sweet, or the bee will not stay.

Its stature must remain tall, or it will shrink.

Its visage must remain royal, or it will become common.

Its outlook must remain brave, or it will cease to be love,

Because love is a fragile thing.

And all love that remains –

Through fire, water, wind, and pain –

Is love:

Love that cannot be conquered.

Love that cannot shrink.

Love that will remain royal.

Love that will love forever.

 

Life through Death

 

New grass grows at the foot of the cross.

Life is changed and my work is as dross.

Blood drips down and it cleanses my soul.

All my human strengths become as loss.

New grass grows at the foot of the cross.

 

Trees grow tall with that precious blood.

Roots sink deep in the cleansing flood.

Lives are strengthened and souls are washed;

No one e’er flounders ‘neath the flood.

Trees grow tall with that precious blood.

 

Christ is gained at the cross of pain.

Our works are loss: His love is gain.

Perspective changes fully then –

Sin is no longer held by chain.

Christ is gained at the cross of pain.

 

Song of the Angels

 

Oh, angels rejoice so greatly;

Lift up your voices in harmony high!

Rejoice with trump and sound of harp,

Another sinner to God has come nigh.

 

Oh, angels rejoice so greatly;

Lift up your voices in harmony high!

Rejoice for the Saviour, our Lord,

Has made another sinner reply.

 

Oh, angels rejoice so greatly;

Lift up your voices in harmony high!

Rejoice for God has come to man,

On the cross El Shaddai for us did die.

 

Oh, angels rejoice so greatly;

Lift up your voices in harmony high!

Rejoice again with sound of harp,

Another sinner to God has come nigh.

 

A Witness for You

 

An empty bucket there to fill,

An empty vase to pour into,

An empty vessel to be used,

A lump of clay to change anew,

 

A piece of metal in the fire,

A pot of gold to shine so clear,

A precious jewel to be molded,

A brave replica without fear,

 

A light that shines into the night,

A lamp that’s lit to show the way,

A fire that burns and can’t be stopped;

A witness, Lord, for You I’ll be.