My Desire
Rain falls from heaven. Mercy showers down. Love is poured out.
Rolling off my face, and down my neck. My hair drips, and my clothes are saturated. Life is good and I could not ask for more, but why do I have to be reminded that dust is no longer in my nostrils? I want to live the life I’ve been given, I want to live and if that means death, I’ll die. Raise me up again with no desire for the world, but if that is where you’ll be I will be in it but not of it. All I have I give; giving more than the last time I said that because as you draw closer more of my filth is seen. I will give it all to you as you pour over me with cool refreshing rain, tender mercy, and compassionate love. I want to run through the caverns of your heart, I want to know you, not just know of you. I will wait for you; let me never be found far from your spirit, you are my hope, my only reason.
Psalm 34
I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD ;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD , and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD , you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD .
Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
What Have I Done?
Have I forgotten my first love the one who stretched out His hand and pulled me up from the darkness?
Have I forgotten how You held me so gently and whispered promises in my ear?
Did I loose my trust in You?
Did I think that You had abandoned me?
Did I doubt Your love for me?
Did I let go of the wonders You had promised?
Did I turn my back on You, keeping you at a close distance as a security blanket?
Did I hold my fear and demand control?
Did I carelessly cheat on you while You stood weeping?
Was I offended because Your ways are not mine?
Did I stop fighting with You and start fighting You instead?
Did I forget Your love, the tender kisses, did I have an affair with the world?
Did I loose interest and decide that love is too hard?
Did I hurt You?
Did I make you cry as I held onto my pain so tight?
Will you again lift this wretch up off the ground?
You where sent to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:1-3 rephrased)
I will wait for You.
Vancouver
I went to Vancouver on Saturday with some incredible friends. Some of the most memorable days I've ever had have been the simplest with no fancy glitter or plan, but with a deep freedom that calls to the very soul. We all have busy lives, filled with shedules, meetings and appointments, how wonderful it is to take time, have no plan any enjoy your friends and the world around you. I could have stood forever on that snowy sidewalk, waiting for the next snowflake to fall on my eyelash or snowball to hit my back. I long for those simple moments of freedom, when all your cares somehow dissolve and you know nothing except the incredible power and glory of God.
Three Words
I have three words for this year, listen love and learn.
Listen - everyone has a story
Love - unconditionally
Learn - as much as you can from everyone and everything - chew the meat and spit out the bones
Each of these words has huge implications. I can rarely shut up long enough to hear myself breathing never mind someone's story, I haven't the foggiest idea what love is and I don't know how to hold on to the things that I learn or how to learn from life.
