Category: Poetry


Thought for the day…

I’ve just put a new composition out under my prose category, too. Check it out when you have a few minutes to read. You might even find it helpful.

Can We Live “Now?”

I Type On

My fingers meander over the keyboard leisurely
While my thoughts follow along…
Sometimes slowly…
Sometimes tripping over each other…
It doesn’t matter how, only that they do.
Meanwhile, my fingers keep wandering,
Wondering what will come next.
There are moments when it seems
These things just write themselves.
At other times, every word is a struggle.
Nevertheless, I write. I must write.

Occasionally it feels like
Compulsion rather than inspiration,
And I wonder why I bother doing it,
But the satisfaction in the end result
Is like a carrot on a stick,
Or a fresh baked cookie just out of the oven
Smelling sooooo… wonderful,
I can hardly wait to finish a piece
To get that taste of accomplishment.

On the other hand,
The pleasure in the process keeps me
Putting more words down on paper—
Well, at least figuratively anyway.
I like the gentle rhythm of speaking,
Because even when I say nothing out loud,
The words sound in my head
Like a speech or a song, or even…
(And here I laugh behind my hand)
…A poem!

Next project on my list:
Write a new poem,
And another,
And another…
Because I can’t “not write.�
Folding my hands and thoughts into stillness
Is very difficult for me.
So I’m content to let my fingers
Tap out random thoughts and words
For now.
Eventually they will shape themselves
Into some palatable form.
In the meantime,
I type on.

Psalm

The splendor of Your holiness
Is like a newborn star,
Whose brilliance light the universe,
Whose beauty shines so far.
The glory man cannot embrace
Displays Your greatness, hides Your face.

I pray, O Lord, that I would be
Your light of hope for men
That all who come could only see
Your grace, Your love for them.
Exemplify Your mercy, Lord,
Redeeming lives with every word.

Holy Spirit, breathe new power.
Renew my passion for
Your people in this very hour.
Please, call us all toward more.
And God, please, multiply Your life
For everyone who seeks Your light.

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It’s been a long, hard highway to this place
And every step a battle in my soul.
I am aware in longing for His face
That only Jesus’ blood can make me whole.

Moving On

On a cold May afternoon,
When the sky was dark and gray,
And my heart was filled with gloom
From the long and dreary day,
I was waiting for a word
In my wrought-up frame of mind,
But the message that I heard
Said, “Keep moving. There’s no time.
Holy Spirit’s on the move
Spread your wings and ride the wind.
Lift your eyes and see my truth.
Trust My Love, that lives within.�
When I heard my Father speak
He dispelled my foolish doubt.
He gave strength when I was weak.
With His love, He drew me out.
Though the road seem long and hard,
I will hear the still, small voice.
When my Shepherd is in charge,
I’ll stand strong and make His choice.

Prayer

O God, who walks beside me,
O LORD, who holds me up,
Please, come now, lead and guide me.
Please, fill my empty cup.

I’m weak and I am lonely
In darkness and in doubt,
But You, the One and Only,
Bring light to lead me out.

Dear Father, take this off’ring—
My sacrifice of praise.
Dear Jesus, I am kneeling.
Please, cover me by grace.

I’m thirsty for Your righteousness
And hungry for Your word.
Please, fill me with Your holiness
And give my soul rebirth.

I’m tired, Lord, of waiting,
But I’m learning to be still
With Holy Spirit helping,
Father God, I want Your will.

The Call

Forsake the way of sinful men
Who beckon you to follow them
They claim to have the truth, but know
Their “truth� is just another show.

With gentle and deceptive words,
They twist the real truths you have heard,
And all the while you listen, too,
Their falsehoods will imprison you.

But follow Jesus, hear Him speak.
His truth brings freedom to the weak.
His words give strength and boldness for
The battles in this holy war.

Fight with honor in His name.
Let all men know He took our shame,
So we could have eternity
With Love, Himself, to keep us free.

Mercy

Whence cometh Mercy, poured on all she meets,
When Judgment stands against her sweet travail.
Whence cometh she whose strength is seen as weak,
To triumph yet, and through that power prevail.

For Mercy triumphs over Judgment
Each and every time her grace is called;
And Mercy triumphs over Judgment
For at the feet of Jesus, Judgment falls.

 

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To dream a dream, to hear You speak,
To trust Your Holy Spirit in my life;
To shape, remake; to burn, to break,
While Your word cleanses me with holy fire…
Conflict and doubt, within, without
Have wrecked my heart and left me waiting still.
I can but stand here in Your hand,
Trusting You to move me where you will.

Lion Led

Softly treading steps beside me,
In the darkness of my way,
Reassure my fearful, anxious
Heart that I am not astray.
He whose breath still warms and guides me
Never lets me walk alone.
Even when I’m filled with weakness,
Judah’s Lion leads me on.

In this darkness, I am learning
How to trust implicitly.
Sometimes silent, sometimes speaking,
Father God rules all I see.
Now I find that I am yearning
For His presence in my need.
Even when my world is breaking
His great grace still supersedes…

Down here in this shadowed valley,
Isles of light yet shine ahead—
Reminding me that darkness will not
Last for long, despite my dread.
Day will come and light will rally
With the morning, bright and strong.
Till it comes, though, I resolve that
Judah’s praise will be my song.