Your Grace Provides For Me

Indescribable

2009-03-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

"Lover; dancer
King
I have enticed you
with my eyes"

Constant, listener
who speaks
into my life, my mind;
to my heart

Healer, comforter,
friend
Showing your concern;
You hold out your arms

Like a child I run
to you
for safety; refuge -
your healing touch

Your wondrous love
is gently revealed
all my times
are in your hands

I want to lie on my face
before your throne
reaching out to touch
the hem of your robe
longing just to be near

Yet you scoop me up
into your arms
with delight in your face,
no-one can replace

I have your approval
so hardly gained
sacrificially won
through your loving son.
No-one else's will I need again

Lover, dancer,
King
You have won me
with your love

Let love come to stay

2009-02-10T09:06:00.001-08:00

Guilt and shame
Invite fear to stay
Prohibiting love;
There's no room for both -
in one place

God's perfect love
Casts out that fear
Sweeps out the shame;
Removes the guilt -
& washes me clean

Let love come
Let love come to stay

(1 John)

9th Feb 2009

Your grace will be my song

2009-02-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Your love sets me free
From burdens that stayed
The weight of years
Lifted away.

Every challenge
Rejection that comes
You lead my response;
A better one.

I'm seeking your face
Lord, I cannot see
Yet your kindly gaze
Is holding me.

You're guiding me
All day long
Your grace is my song

You're leading my worship
To soak in your love;
To gain from your choice
When you took my place.

I'm still rejoicing
Though grief unallayed -
More potent become
My joy & my praise.

A living hope
You are my shield
All day long
Your grace will be my song

(1 Peter 1)

8th Feb 2009

New Life

2008-11-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

In an awakened state;
Becoming whole;
Now with purpose and hope.
I feel like someone, more me;
In control of my days
And free

Emotion is here
Rising up from within
All this love and pain;
About things that have been done;
Too late to change,
Chances gone

There's still in my heart
A love that seems true,
And sometimes it hurts me still;
But it's better than anger to feel,
Brings me close to God
Who heals

He never leaves,
The restorer of hope,
Who brings joy
To those who are His;
Who can bring love
To the numbest of hearts,
Who can bring to life
A dying soul

Tears that spill over,
They carry away
The dirt & anger & shame,
They will be gone forever;
Because of His name,
Bless Jesus' Holy name

For You

2008-07-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

I talked to God
About you today,
And He reminded me
There is a way;
And that in Him
Love can prevail

The anger that came
How it deceived
Stood in the way
Of my being free
It's easier than pain;
That's why, you see

Long ago hurts
Seemed to roll into one,
And it's not your fault
You were put upon;
Your mistakes a reminder
Of wrongs that were done

But I know your heart
Determined to tell;
A longing for God
In Him to dwell.
You're a shining light
And I'm so glad for a while
I stood in it's gleam
Knew your kindness for a friend

I talked to God
About you today
For wisdom & healing
To know the way

Just Wait Awhile

2008-01-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

A glimpse of what could be
His health, her home, their love
Always outside looking on
He gently stays you with His hand

That's not for you
Not just yet
Not just now

While all around you seem to stroll
Into a happiness unknown
I'm asking in your walk with me
A deeper fellowship to know

You're not alone;
I've set you aside
To be more mine

I need some friends to know me well
In whom my deep compassion dwells;
A hurting heart can know me through
My healing spirit shown in you

It's not your time
Not just yet
Just wait awhile

Being freed

2007-09-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Memories spring on me
I'm caught unawares
As the injustice stings
And anger returns
At the lies that were told
Cos the truth would still hurt

But you still want to heal
Old hurts that have marred
And you touch a deep place
As you soften my heart
To love again...
To let go of the past

Telling out the truth

2007-02-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

Some thoughts
Once entertained
Can overwhelm
Distract my aim
My purpose in Christ

So I whisper to Jesus, the truth that he has shown
Through thoughts running riot & feelings opposed
Faith is always rewarded, I know

Some thoughts
Bring in even more
Slip in uninvited
Attempting to thwart
My peace in Christ

So I turn to Jesus, tell his truth out to myself
It may not be easy, but deep down I know
I can gain from his strength

It's a daily battle
My mind renewed
Trying on my own
Just does no good
My strength must be in Christ

So I talk to Jesus, remind myself what's true
And in due course I feel his power coursing through
Victory & joy in God's truth

Bluebells rain

2006-02-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

I love the rain
In a bluebell wood
Where leaves on trees tip & drip
And make me feel alive

A twig filled path
Divides the blue
Each step a satisfying crunch
And green & mossy
Bumps and stumps
Make me want to touch

Strong linked arms
Of branches make
A tangled web encircling me
I turn around
Drink in the sight
This rain-drenched world is mine

A fresh and silent
Perfect world
Of green and blue and beauty
And me

My father's world

2006-02-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

My father's world
He made our own
I'll take it with me
Wherever I go
A childhood of memories
Still bless my days
Always a part of me
Shaping my ways

Times come around
Did not think I'd see
My father's vitality
Hidden in me
Actions familiar
Benefit those
Whose lives are lacking
A loving father of their own

The lost

2003-07-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Lost & hurting, helpless & confused
Jesus - help me to be you, to them
Battling their way, through the dense fog of their lives
Jesus - help me light them through to the end

You've shown us it's a journey
And we need you as our guide
But all they do is desparately seek fun
And miss the point

Please pour on me your power
Free me from myself
So I can show the cross
And they too can know your joy

I'd never have supposed it

2003-07-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

Better times are coming
Mixed in with the bad
Though I'd never had supposed it
A short while back

I'm learning just how much
God wants good things for me
Perhaps the hardest choice
Not always what I need

There's been a misapprehension
I failed to make the connection
Between the life I lead
And God's love for me

Grief

2003-07-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Unexpressed grief
Hidden so deep
Yet showing itself as it seeps
Far beyond reach
It's poison released
As slowly & surely it seeps

Filling my heart

2003-07-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Standing strong
Though all seems lost
Taking a gamble
On the word of my God
All's as bad as ever it's been
Hope too far away to be seen
Yet somehow God's saying
His hand is strong
Though feeling so weak
He's filling my heart with His song

A taste of what's to come

2003-07-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Always on my own with it
No-else can know
Or begin to understand
Just how it goes

So few can listen
Without putting their oars in
I should be used to it
By now, I suppose

But Jesus I don't want
Just to be
About me
And turning to you
Brings relief
Sets me free

Then your healing spirit moves
Stirs me deep inside
A taste of what's to come
When your healing work is done

More of you in me

2003-07-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

With endless patience you're
guiding me
forgiving me
living in me
I'm so thankful that you're changing me
Making me more like you

You enable me to
understand
I'm in your hands
it's in your plan
Through all that's happened I'm learning how
Yours is the very best way

Help me Lord to
submit to you
live like you
be a mirror through
Which more people I meet may see
More of you in me

Face to Face

2003-07-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

You have opened my eyes to see
Wonderful things in you law
I'm filled with excitement & awe
Try to grasp what you have in store
For us

It's all there for us to find
I've only to look in your Word,
A thread just for us to unwind
Revealing what you had in mind
From the start

It's just the whole way it's planned
Woven together by your strong hand
Lord I fall at your feet
To think that one day we'll meet
Face to Face

Softening My Heart

2003-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

How crucial
to forgive
I know it's all been said
But it sometimes takes a while
to realise;
It sets me free
Brings such release
Softening my heart so I can live

Lisa

2003-06-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

God has given Lisa
A unique gift of friendship
A sensitive nature, intelligent mind
But best trait of all
Is her zest for life
And the get-up-and-go I'm now learning to find

She has such a depth
Both vulnerable & strong
Has many good friends, knows how to have fun
But her loving heart
Deserves only the best
A man after God's own heart, nothing less

It might seem so strange
That one who's so young
Has been such an influence & blessing to me
But I'm thanking god
That she came my way
And God had it planned that our friendship should be

Little did I know

2003-06-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Little did I know
When first I felt your touch
That what you love most
Is to bless us oh so much
Continually surpassing all
expectation of your faithfulness to us

Your word has shown this is true
But still I underestimate
Your power & your grace
My character you change
As you reveal in me
An unexpected, precious honesty

An instrumental part
Of this softening of my heart
Has been the closer friends
That in your love you sent
So loving & so true
To help me in my life & walk with you

Kiri

2003-06-01T09:19:00.001-07:00

I'm going to give you a new kind of friend
With a loving heart & a listening ear
You can't comprehend the blessing she'll be
To you; I know your needs you see

This friend will be one of a few that you'll find
And I'll send them to you at just the right time
But Kiri - she is so special to me
With her true self-awareness & brave honesty

Yes in some ways she's different from you; yet she
Still understands what you've been through
She too has her own struggles & fears
And - like you - turns to me in her tears

She has no idea of what I have yet in store
For her, in this life & the one still to come,
But I'm using already her gifts & her flaws
In the work of my Kingdom, to honour my son

Kiri

2003-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

Kirsten

2003-06-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Lord, she's so brave
Determined to waive
Her life choices in favour of yours,
Whatever the cost,
Despite what she's already lost

She's trusting in you,
Even when going through
Painful or life-changing trials;
She's been through the fire,
Still I see you in her smile

Sometimes she struggles
With having to give up
Those desires long grown in her heart,
But she's known from the start,
Her best is what's close to your heart.

I know she prays
That she'll always stay
Close by you, where she longs to be.
She's so precious to you, can she see?
She's been such a blessing to me.

How can I repay?

1998-01-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

Lord Jesus how can I repay
For what you did for me that day
Gave up all claims, your dignity
A King who gave his life for me

Forfeiting all your Father's love
Not just a sacrifice of blood;
So all who believe in your name
Eternity with you can claim

The only thing for me to do
Would be to give my life to you
Submit my will to you each day
And learn to live my life your way

Help me Lord to use your power
Others always to serve
Each day to think of your commands
Remembering your love

I sought the Lord

1995-02-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

I sought the Lord and he answered me
From all my fears he delivered me
Those who look to him are radiant
Their faces are never filled with shame

When I called out Lord you listened for me
From all my troubles you rescued me
Your unfailing love surrounds the one
Who trusts in you

(Psalm 34)

Whatever it may be

1994-01-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Whatever it may be
In your life that's causing you pain
No matter how hard it may be
It must one day come to an end

Never give up hope
But hold steadfast to the truth
That Jesus loves you, just how much
His suffering & death are proof

Only he can really know
The pain you're going through
Beaten, deserted & disowned
He gave his life for you

But that Jesus rose again
Means all the power is his
Satan's schemes must always fail
As you learn to trust in Jesus

So we can draw on his strength
His power to heal our pain
Come closer to Jesus, find comfort in him
Turns out troubles into our gains

Why you love me

1994-01-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

Why you love me Lord it's hard to say
Nor why for me your son did pay
For such a precious life
For me to sacrifice
Maybe I will understand one day

That so many swear that you they hate
Is sad & hard to contemplate
Yet still you persist
And for those who resist
Somehow Lord you're prepared to wait

To be a witness should be our prayer
That so many don't know your love is unfair
I've heard you mention
Draw to my attention
It's up to us to show how you care