The Searcher

Help me Lord, I feel so weary
From daily struggles deep inside.
Please help me know that you are real,
Teach me to abide in your love.

I want to know your inner peace,
The kind hidden deep inside.
Just to feel your sweet release,
And in your love abide.

I'm tired Lord of playing games,
Never sharing my inner thoughts.
Always smiling at the right times.
Seeing so clearly what I am not.

Release me Lord from chains of bondage,
Let me fly with wings on high.
Cut those chains that hold me captive.
I want to soar and touch the sky.

Freedom comes from knowing Jesus,
At least that's what I've been told.
I seach, I cry, I beg to know Him,
And pray one day His hand I'll hold.

Some days are filled with nothingness,
Those days seem so terribly long.
I cry out to God for knowledge,
Just to know to Him I do belong.

I hope one day I will awaken,
With promised of a new dawn's light.
All darkness, sorrow and despair,
Replaced by God's own wondrous light.

That day I'll sing and should Alleluia,
My heart will finally be free in thee.
The past now only a dim shadow,
God has released me, free to be me.

My Portrait of Our Church

I close my eyes and visualize a portrait of our church hanging on the wall of my mind.
I can see your face, and can call most by name; sadly there are some I cannot find.
So many new faces, such vitality here; phenomenal growth all through the year!
Changes have been made, with more to come; but the thought does not bring fear.

I look at the portrait knowing we are part of it, and feeling some momentary pride.
Knowing it took work and prayer to create this unity, binding talents side by side.
But I see the growth, not only in size, but by looking deeply into familiar eyes.

This is a church of ordinary people expecting extraordinary things to take place.
We determine not to be a church tied up in culture or concerned by looks or race.
Over there are our pastors, busy leaders, weekly expounding the word of God
They know their God given mandate is to ensure our feet are adequately shod.

So strong and yet humble our shepherds try to accomplish a tremendous feat
In challenging us they are driven to see we’re not here just to warm a seat.
I see in this picture brave people aligning their convictions with God’s word.
People whose sustenance is taken from the messages they have heard.
Messengers with open ears and hearts passing on the words they learned
Scriptures preached to us have left their mark and in our minds are burned.

It is no simple picture behind my eyes that depicts not just your face
But one of my brothers and sisters in Christ all saved by amazing grace.
So do not laugh when I talk about the picture behind my eyes wall
Because to me it reminds me once again of God’s greatest gift of all.

Time

In days gone by they noted the passing of time
By placing marks upon a wall, or stretching out a line.
Sands that sat in an hourglass pouring life away.
For man has always known he was not here to stay.

Pendulum or digital, it can only count out the hour,
And sadly the march of time is not within our power.
The brevity of life has always stared us in the face,
But we expected to be granted some extra days of grace.

Even now it shocks us, the steady march of time,
For it was but yesterday your body was feeling fine.
And just where did the time go while busily having fun?
It seems but only yesterday your youth had just begun!

Your children grew so quickly and you did not even know,
For in keeping oh so busy you forgot to watch them grow!
And those that scoff at Eternity are really not that sure,
The minds of Science have not found the elusive aging cure.

More and more Bible prophesy lines up with the passing of time,
We know that in the last times mockers are a watchful sign.
Blessed are those who read and who see God’s words and fear,
And heed the things written there for surely the time is near.

And in the fullness of time all will become alive and clear.
God says time waits for no man of that we can be sure,
So gird your loins, be ready, and keep your hearts pure.

The Great Deliverer

Isaac, Abraham’s sweet delight,
Carried wood for a sacrifice,
But God delivered him.

Job did a godly life attain,
Knew sore sorrow and great pain,
But God delivered him.

Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife,
Then knew a prisoner’s life,
But God delivered him.

David kept lambs in tender care,
Faced the fierce Goliath’s stare,
But God delivered him.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
Into the furnace they did go.
But God delivered them.

Daniel faithfully knelt in prayer,
Cruelly cast into the lion’s lair.
But God delivered him.

Jesus, redeemer of the lost,
Incurred God’s wrath on the cross.
But God delivered him.

Paul and Silas did salvation tell,
At midnight sang in dank dark cell
But God delivered them.

Saints, ransomed by the Saviour’s grace,
Trail of life you’re sure to face.
But God will deliver you.

Faith and trust are demanded of you,
Your hand in His to carry you through,
And God will deliver you too.

THE DRY WINTER

Lord, I have had such a dry Winter
Oh Father! It was oh so very dry !
There were times when I had not prayed
And all that I could do was to sit and cry.

Like aging bones on dry barren sand,
losing my grip, letting go of your hand.
Questions were many and my answers were few.
There seemed to be nothing of self I could do.

I saw myself groping, it was pain hard to bear.
The burden did not lift, not even in prayer.
Everything of self that I had attempted to do
And all that was left was waiting on you.

I looked to my brother and sister in you,
Did they have the answer to what I should do?
Do they sit there in judgment at my futile desire
To create once again inside me your fire?

Then like a fresh rain you came again to me
Filling my cistern and setting me free.
And I soaked you up refreshing anew,
Finding my rest, depending always on you.
Showing me kindly just what I should do.

I prayed, wanting direction to be led by your hand
Having done all I gathered strength to just stand.
Leaning on friends that were there all the time,
It was your Spirit that sent them a sign.

I see in their eyes there’s no judgment of me
Only wanting to help, for they know and they see.

For My Child

Lord, you have taught me to accept defeat,
To taste the bitter when I sought the sweet.
Knowing the longest night brings hopeful dawn
I gather up the pieces and still go on.

Now, let your Spirit tell me how to treat
A child whose dreams lie broken at her feet.
To share the hard earned wisdom and the calm.
The confidence to be her sore heart's balm.

She is tender Lord, her hurts hurt more than mine.
She is young, and thinks the sun will never shine.
Just yesterday she laughed, and walked in clover.
Teach her that tomorrow is for starting over.

LORD

LORD
You said your grace is sufficient for me.
That it is in you that my Spirit is set free.

I believe you Lord.

LORD
You said you'd give me strength for today,
that life is just time we can never repay

I need you Lord.

LORD
You said your strength is made perfect in weakness,
Teach me your power in my obedient meekness.

I trust you Lord.

LORD
You said you would wipe away every tear,
That trust in you would not bring about fear.

I am not afraid Lord.

LORD
You said you would lead every step of the way
If I'd only my life at your feet gently lay.
I surrender to you Lord.