Of love, and hope.

Love is not defined
by the hopelessness of past relationships

Love is not characterized
by the negativity of one's own limited frame of reference

Love is not an uncontrollable temporary passion
that passes when the inferno fades

Love is as hopeful
as the work you are willing to put into it

Love is as strong
as the habits of years

Love is as energetic
as the emotion you invest in it

Love is as long-lasting
as your own humble tenacity with it

Love is as happy
as the joy of serving the object of one's love

Love is as powerful
as the source from Whom true love is experienced

Love has no inevitable collapse,
it needs no optimist's saccharine promise

Love is evidently modeled. Look up.

Proverbs 5

Babylon, she beckons
broadcasting her glitters of ephemeral joy and
generously hiding from view the hook, the gambit;
offering addiction packaged in satisfaction
glamorous destruction

"That which is collective is desirable"-
an underlying rationale,
the consequences of which one must bear alone;
victim to one's own excesses
imprisoned among glittering shards
of one's own folly.

Wisdom, she cries out to the wise, Truth
values reality precisely:
glamor ≠ advantage
Two paths; one wide and shiny,
one True.

The iniquities of the wicked
ensnare him and he is held fast
in the cords of his sin, he dies.

Jesus, you draw me close, so
that I behold your preciousness, safe
eternal, glorious life far beyond
the passing pleasures of
a fading day

Feb 16th, 2008

Show Off

What have I to show for all this time
that you have given me
unassembled pieces, shapeless, here and there
I lay it at your feet, complete
Self-satisfaction; I expect that I deserve
my reward, you have promised
see, they approve, they cheer me on
I must be in your favor

Take me by my hands
guide them to create
something useful, something good, shame me
seeing how I need your perfect skill
Then walk with me, so I grasp clearly
that I am not the cause of all this praise
you shine infinitely bright
You must be all they see

1 Corinthians 1:27-29,31

Because I need Him - Always.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Give me Grace

When my feet don't step
where my head will lead
when the future is unclear;
when control is not forthcoming
and there's a penchant for fear
give me Grace to follow
in the knowledge that you guide
to trust my feet to your goodness
you are right here by my side

When the coming dawn
brings unwelcome days
when I get what I don't ask
When I wrestle with submitting
with disfavor I cannot mask
give me Grace to bend my knees
knowing full well in the end
that your eternal plan is yet unfazed
ever wiser than I intend

When tomorrow turns
to yesterday
when all is said and done
when the rigmarole and balderdash
of my normal life's begun
give me Grace to jog my memory
looking back into the past
drawing strength for the next tomorrow
for in your faithfulness I stand fast

Galatians 5:6

Touching Bible Study. What good is faith, what good is belief, if it does not lead to compassionate action? Here's a song/poem I wrote this morning. I think it was St. Francis that said "Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary with words".

We have believed in your message, O Lord
We have been set free, we have been forgiven
We have been made whole
Grace you have given, more than we need
yet, one thing we lack, and this is our plea:
Lord we have forgotten the touch of your Son
Teach us to Love

To reach out a hand, to touch the broken,
To show your example lived, more than spoken
Lord open our eyes, break open our hearts
Teach us to Love

We have become rich with your Word, O Lord
We stand for Truth, We stand in judgement
We have grown cold
This world is dying, fading away
Our eyes do not weep, our knees do not pray
We love our lives, this is not your way
Lord, teach us to Love

To open our purses, to show not just tell
Teach us to deny not them but ourselves
Jesus you gave, Jesus you died
Teach us to Love

At the Coming of the First Rains

Water falls from the sky
and I pause to ponder
unrelenting blessing on you, O my soul
numbered among sinners
yet standing under the banner of righteousness

What Grace is this?
it pours freely, abundantly
more than I can bear to ask for
sufficient in its cleansing
overwhelming in its content and its rushing tide

I can only watch the rain in silence
as it cleans the earth from the stains of a season
and look up to the Source
unable to comprehend His ways and yet
grateful for Grace

Can I say it?

They say love is an action
well maybe I agree
But how do I deal with
the way that I feel?
Does it mean that I'm only
lacking self control
or can I be excused
for having a soul?

I want you forever
but you're not mine to get
I don't even know
if you have the same regret
They say holding on
to dreams is insane
but I'd rather be crazy
than empty and plain

so humor the dreamer
allow me my folly
what else do I have
I don't care what you call me
My one true request
that my heart is screaming
is to turn your eyes to me
and end this my dreaming