I cannot excise your pain,
The painful, pounding refrain,
The unmet need
Of a heart that bleeds.
I can only say I’m here
And wipe away a tear,
Or say that God is walking near —
The pain won’t disappear.
You will learn to carry it, accept it.
And through that burning, searing stab,
The mending bone, the itching scab,
You’ll know you lived and loved.
One day the wound will heal
And only leave a scar.
You’ll know that you are real,
That you have lived and loved.
The cough that kept me up all night,
The speeding car that gave me fright,
The baby crying in the night –
But, somehow, I’m still breathing.
The wrenching pain I thought would kill me,
The choking air that tried to still me,
The people shouting words that sting me –
Yet, somehow, I’m still breathing.
The hurts I thought I couldn’t survive,
The illnesses, the loves I tried,
The wretched times that drove me wild –
Yet, somehow, I’m still breathing.
I’m thinking, now, whatever happens,
I’ll still exist, I still will matter.
My dreams and schemes, although they shatter –
My soul will still be breathing.
Tell your story –
Your life is gold.
Each precious life –
Its story must be told.
Do you not know?
Your wounds can heal another.
Through them you passed;
Your life was turned asunder.
From wounds you learned;
Your heart became much stronger.
Your life has turned;
It’s time to tell another.
The years must pass;
If well, we grow and flourish.
And now, at last,
We can another nourish.
It’s really not your fault –
Perhaps my fated cross.
Some days I live in clinging fog;
I swim as if in thickest bog.
And yet I see a Light
That keeps me in the fight.
Won’t God His precious promise keep?
He’ll surely make my soul complete.
Poor thinking got me here –
Poor thinking, and much fear.
Must reconstruct my mind;
New truths I need to find.
And here’s were God comes in –
His life must grow within.
His Word I must digest
And of my fear divest.
The past I must let go;
The lies and fears forego.
The resurrection nears –
Let there be joyful tears!
I smile through my tears,
I laugh through my fears,
I have joy when I’m sad,
You may think I am mad!
Life is a paradox;
We can’t put it in a box.
God will do what He wants,
Though the devil may taunt.
I am strong when I’m weak,
I have power when I’m meek.
No joy without pain,
No gain without strain.
[Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6]
I don’t understand much,
But I’ve been given a gift —
A gift I didn’t ask for —
Life.
I can’t change my existence,
But what do I do with it?
Yes, it’s a mystery —
My own life history —
And that God has a plan
That I don’t understand.
I don’t understand,
I don’t understand,
I don’t understand …
Plans for my good
And not for harm,
Plans for a future
And a hope.
I must trust in the Lord with all my heart,
And not rely on my own insight.
I must acknowledge Him in all my ways,
And He will make my paths straight.
Some people don’t have it together.
Their home is a mess,
Things everywhere —
Do they not care?
Some people don’t have a car.
They walk everywhere,
Or maybe on bike,
Or the bus not on strike.
Some people don’t have a living.
They’re tired of giving
All of their energy.
They need a strategy.
Some people still haven’t learned,
They often are spurned,
They don’t have a life,
Their life full of strife.
Some people need so much hope.
They don’t need the dope.
They need Jesus Christ,
Who alone can give life.
Storm’s a comin’
Wind’s a whippin’
Air is chillin’
Leaves a blowin’
Wind’s a moanin’
Tree branches groanin’
Life’s a flowin’
People are growin’
Eternity beckoning
(Inspired by Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Dry bones, dry bones–
Lord, take dry bones
And bring them back to life.
Stale prayers, stale prayers —
Infuse them, Lord
With Holy Spirit life.
Big fears, small fears;
Take all these, Lord;
Bring peace from inner strife.
These graves, these graves —
Lord, take dead souls
And raise them back to life.
All the Difference
One life, Jesus’ life … has made all the difference. Because of Him, we can have light instead of darkness, hope instead of despair, forgiveness instead of condemnation.
He was born in poverty, not riches. He was born without fame or popularity. He was born to teach us how to give, not grab.
You, too, can make a difference by loving your neighbor and forgiving your enemies.
Category:
Commentary
Tagged with: