Thursday, August 28, 2008

On Being Genuine

Do I surrender myself to be used of God
Or just proclaim that to be my desire?
Do I continue on as an empty shell
While I boldly ask God to light my fire?
Is the outward sign that I show to others
Truly the inward evidence of a changing me?
Am I just living my life as a white-washed mask
Fearful to show you the genuine me?
Is the Jesus in me truly shining right through,
Or do I try to produce His image on an empty screen?
Am I a false prophet claiming to be a seeker of truth
Or simply a poor actor in a walk-on part?
Do I merely strut my lines across the stage of life
Or have I truly given God all of my heart?
Do I project to you a vibrant living Christian
Playing the part only one day of the week?
For one tires so easily of having to perform in life
What in breathing doesn’t come naturally to me.
If God isn’t the very essence of my own life
How can I possibly share Him with you?
It doesn’t take long in the bustle of life
Until the genuine will come shining through.
God separates the wheat from the chaff
With one quick breath and brushing of hand.
An act can be played out for only so long
Before the real person you begin to see.
I’d rather be God’s person deep in my heart
And not worry about what you’re thinking of me.
To be conformed to the image of Christ
Is what I genuinely want to be

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Singing Praises Unto Him

Father, you said if we do not praise you the rocks will cry out
How can we fail to acknowledge you, why do we still doubt?
Even the birds in the trees trill their praises to Thee
I pause to acknowledge it is you, only you that set me free!
All nature joins the chorus and surely the listener must perceive
When all around us is evidence to cause us to believe.
The firmament beams down imploding the evidence of you,
How can man stand before you and claim he never knew?
You constantly watch over us with your infinite eye,
And we blatantly curse you and ask for reasons why.
We see not the tapestry you are weaving at the other side
Yet evidence of a Master Craftsman still cannot be denied.
Your word tells us we were created to simply praise you
There is evidence of a creator throughout all that we do.
Yet still we hold back though marvelling the skies,
Knowing you’ve used the foolish things to confound the wise.
We only have to pause, reflect and finally decide
To realize it was because of our sins you hung and you died.
I’ve pledged to raise my hands giving evidence of praise
And serve you unflinchingly to the end of my days.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

You Too Must Weep

Let me not live a life that's free
From "The Things" that draw me close to Thee
For how can I ever hope to heal
The wounds of others
I do not feel...
If my eyes are dry and I never weep,
How do I know when the hurt is deep.
If my heart is cold
and it never bleeds,
How can I tell what my sister needs...
For when ears are deaf
to the beggar's plea
And we close our eyes and refuse to see,
And we steel our hearts
and harden our minds,
And we count it weakness
whenever we're kind.
We are no loner following the Father's Way
Or seeking His guidance
from day to day...
For, without 'crosses to carry'
and 'burdens to bear'
We dance through a life
that is frothy and fair,
And 'chasing the rainbow' we have no desire
For 'roads that are rough'
and 'realms that are higher'
So spare me no heartache
or sorrow, dear Lord.
For the heart that is hurt
reaps the richest reward,
And God enters the heart
that is broken with sorrow
As He opens the door
to a Brighter Tomorrow.
For only through tears can we recognize
The suffering that lies
in another's eyes.