Rejoice Always?
Our earthly lives are busy and stressful. Life has a way of pushing us into extremes like despair or self-centered pride, fear or over-confidence, anger or tired indifference. God’s Grace, Salvation and his powerful Word are such a cure for this distracting and sin-warped daily life. The end of Philippians has such great encouragement and important reminders for us as we live life in this sinful world. The next few weeks I’ll be writing poems that explore themes found in Philippians 4:4-9. Today, the first Non-rhyming portion sets the overall background for the poems, the second rhyming portion focuses us on Philippians 4:4. We pursue life Run races, chase dreams, go for goals Overwhelmed We work and worry Care and complain We grind on, muscles flexed So stressed Marshalling our world Conducting our orchestra Commanding our environment Passionate for perfection We beat ourselves onward So unsatisfied, so empty, so alone Or perhaps not Perhaps we watch life change And we stand, side-lined and scared Feel pursued and overwhelmed We whine and worry Care and complain Pained and paralyzed, Depressed and stressed Fighting hard with a thousand excuses Crushed by experience Hide from a world out of control Frozen in fear So unsatisfied, so empty, so alone. Look inside and see sin, see mess, see crazy Look around and see sin, see mess, see crazy Where death and disease and disaster destroy Where dreams die hard and problems annoy Where work never ends and weariness wins We are dust, sin-ruined, often chasing the winds Yet God cries, “Rejoice!” He repeats it again! Rejoice in the Lord, not in this life of sin Rejoice in his promise, firm rock in life’s sands Rejoice for your future’s in God’s loving hands Rejoice in a Savior who lived this life true Died your full death and gave his life to you! Rejoice always. I will say it again. Rejoice! In the midst of disaster? In stress? In pain? We rejoice in his Holy unshakeable name In the midst of confusion? In fear? In doubt? We rejoice in his grace which can never run out. In the midst of loss? In tears? In distress? We rejoice in the truth of each perfect...
Read MoreThe Father Made You a Father: A Poem for Father’s Day
I am over-awed by the privilege and huge responsibility that God gives us as Christian fathers. It is so humbling and rewarding. This poem is the counter-part to my Mother’s Day poem. I dedicate it to my own father, Dan, who raised me, loved me and kept me focused on God’s grace. May we celebrate the fathers the Lord has given us and take the time to show our appreciation for all they do for us. Most of all we thank God for the gift of fathers on this Father’s Day. The Father made you a father A priceless gift to precious lives. You are His; You are His agent here His representative, His heart in action, A reflection of his sacrificial love and selfless care A poor reflection, a sinner struggling to be the father the Father intends… But yet a rock that rests solidly on the Rock. Tenderly unyielding at times and yet unyieldingly tender To work to understand little hearts and minds and gently lead and shape Your mission is His mission. Your children are His children Your truest work is His work. Your delight is whatever delights Him. The Father made you a father. To be firm when firmness is required To be merciful when mercy is needed A guide to lost ones, an example for watching eyes, a healer for broken hearts, a shoulder to cry on A champion, a defender, a bringer of peace and safety, a patient teacher, a source of help and hope To right wrongs, build lives, shape futures, Protecting, comforting, guiding, ever growing, ever changing, ever loving better To understand needs and meet them. The Father made you a father A man to stand up, step up, point the way… The way that always leads to Christ’s cross where all sin stands conquered The way that always points to that empty tomb where true life began. The way that brings lives to the Father forever. The Father made you a father Yet still always a child of your Heavenly Father Planning and praying for each life in your care, Daily drinking deep of the Water of Life, feeding faith with the Bread of Life Drawing true peace and strength from the Word of the Father Leading a family in worship and to worship Ever training for life’s marathons, yet finding perfect rest in your Father’s perfect love Your love an overflow of His love for you. The Father made you a father Today, here, now, in this moment, taking the time… Investing in each precious life, creating moments and seizing opportunities Balancing, balancing, balancing Work and family, needs and wants, freedoms and responsibilities, stress and fun, Working at loving the wife God gave you, appreciating her, supporting her, guiding her And so teaching your children to love, Self-weak and God-strong, failing, forgetting, feeling the daily struggle, confessing daily sins… His peace your only true peace. His forgiveness your only true strength. Fighting the good fight, burdened but strong in Him, often confused but ever clear in God’s grace Washed clean by the Savior’s blood Life covered by the Savior’s perfection Standing forgiven, leading by following Him The Father made you a father A profound privilege. To cradle babies, to shape lives, to live love. Treasuring moments that pass too quickly, the laughter and fun, little eyes shining eager to see you, the tender touch of those who need you, watching growth and cheering, amazed at countless daily gifts Never forget that you are a blessing from the Father. Never forget that you are needed, you are loved, you are...
Read MoreDear Mom, You Are a Priceless Gift
(I dedicate the following poem to my wife, Cara who is such a blessing in my life and is raising my four little children in the Lord every day and also to my mother, Mary, who raised me and blessed me with her guidance and love. This poem is a celebration of Christian mothers everywhere who are blessed by God with this unique, beautiful and precious work.) You are a priceless gift from the greatest Giver. A life-guardian, a cherisher of children, a teacher of precious growing ones, a learner of a trillion trades. God put you here In the middle of the daily normal, In the endless sea of numbing tasks…yet each a cup of cold water…each an honored service. He put you here Surrounded by ear-splitting cries and tiring questions Challenges that change every day Enduring moments that wear you down body and spirit. He put you here In this whirlwind, in the shock of the stress and chaos and mess… All difficult, all strangely beautiful, all blessed and incredibly forgiven. He put you here. Just as you are Just as he made you Just as he is forming you, fashioning you—clay in the hands of the Master You are never enough But you are always enough through Him. Overwhelmed and under-appreciated Attention divided in every direction Countless moments of strength and weakness Patience taxed and tested Creativity in overdrive Moments of mountain-top beaming triumph and door-closed weeping failure Moments of silliness and laughter and stern, loving correction. What a profound mixture of guilt and grace, fear and hope, unbelievable sadness and unspeakable joy, heart-stopping pain and life-changing love. Awed, that in your trembling arms God puts new life Grateful, that in your weakest moments he provides just enough strength Awe-struck at the awesome far-reaching responsibility he gives you Flooded with joy at the precious moments that steal your breath Experiencing love that defies all definition He put you here Where little fingers softly touch, little arms wrap round your neck Where eyes flash love and lips kiss soft He gave you this little one, these little ones, these head-strong ones, these broken ones, these unique ones, these needy ones, these growing ones, these sinful ones, these forgiven ones… They are His. His children in your care. Your children. Such incredible gifts. He put you here. Teaching truths that last for all eternity Pointing sinful eyes to the Savior’s cross Demonstrating life that lives for Him Shaping, training, building, correcting, nurturing, protecting, comforting He put you here. He blessed you here. And He blessed us all with you. For without you there would be no life, no future. Without you the world stops, nations crumble and fall, chaos reigns, generations fall away… Do not forget how blessed you are, how privileged you are. Do not forget how unique you are, how important you are. Do not forget how loved you are, how forgiven you are. How your Savior lived and bled and rose for you How He covers you and all you love in his perfect life, his perfect love How your God has freed you from all fear, cleansed you from all guilt. He put you here. In this day, in this moment, with life in your care. And today we thank God for you. We recognize and affirm you. We appreciate you, honor you Love you. You are a priceless gift from the greatest...
Read MoreEvery Single Day Is a Day to Celebrate Easter!
Although Easter is only one day of the year, we can celebrate it and experience the joy of it every day! Please use the following poem to remind you of the truth of Christ’s victory and to help you celebrate it in all circumstances. The first part is based on Luke 24:1-8, feel free to read it along with the poem. Their hearts all shattered Their eyes all red It was Sunday morning Their Lord was dead. They walked to a tomb To wrap him right With spice and perfume In the early light. They whispered in sadness They walked in pain Their Lord, their God, Their Savior slain! But there was the tomb Stone rolled aside Without their Lord, No body inside! They shook their heads They reeled in shock Where’s His body? Who rolled the rock? Angels appeared Like lightning’s shine And announced the truth That stands for all time: He’s Risen! He’s Risen! When my life is not what I want it to be When my days drag on in misery When I see a world full of hate and fear When it looks like Evil is ruling here Then let that truth echo loud again: He’s Risen! He’s Risen! When my failure stares me back in my face When I see my mess and my disgrace When I’m on my knees in shame again And I get a glimpse of the sin within— How lost I’d be if it weren’t for Him Then let that truth pick me up again: He’s Risen! He’s Risen! When I lose someone that I love so much And I ache inside to feel their touch And the hole in my life is a painful sore And it seems like Death’s on his throne once more Then cry that victory cry again: He’s Risen! He’s Risen! When death’s cold grip creeps round my heart And the life I know is falling apart When fear and doubt and anger flood in As my dust turns back to dust again Then point my flickering eyes to Him The One who died my soul to win And fill my ears with His truth again: He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s Risen! He’s...
Read MoreThe Word Hangs High
The following poem offers some devotional thoughts on the incredible, sacrificial love of our Savior as we walk through the somber and sobering season of Lent and remember the events of Good Friday and what they mean for us. God’s grim billboard of love, His Word written blood-red, The sinless Son of God soon dead Hanging high, Suffers under blackened sky As crowds of haters cry. This scene we know so well, Our Savior suffers our hell, But now again we rehearse, Read through every Bible verse, Let the awe-full truth sink in: Every sinner’s every sin Fully punished all on him. At his cross again we stand Sinful heart and empty hand, Watch him love us all to death Hear him give each final breath Shout his triumph as he dies Declare us perfect in God’s eyes! All is paid. All is done. Our gift of life so costly won. Can we just pass by With a brief bitter sigh— A moment’s unease And then go do as we please? Can we carelessly ignore Whom he did this for? Every person we might touch Has been loved by God this much! Can I truly ever see Just how deep my depravity, Just how bad my sin must be If it cost this price for me? May we live the life he’s given, Free from sin that is forgiven. May we dedicate all our days To his well-deserved praise. May that Word of love hang high, Fill each sinner’s wandering eye. May that Word work in each heart Change us deep in every part, Teach us trust that hangs on tight To that cross through earthly night Till that day—forever dawn When all will see God’s Risen...
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