Cinderella Sang

Cinderella sang
Not some dust girl's dirge
Her song was oh so eloquent
Her cheerful ballad rang
Beyond the confines of her room
Bound by duty, not by gloom

She sang
Before her magic moment
Before her fantastic gown
While battling the 'uglies'
That tried to drag her down
She sang

A song of hope and freedom
A song that rivalled birds
Her spirit soared within her
Her glory could be heard

The prince knew when he found her
In the tattered rags she wore
That she was still the lady
That he'd danced with once before

He didn't see her poverty
Or think that he'd unveiled a fraud
Her heart song he remembered
Shining as a precious child of God
---
2004
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The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

God is merciful

To those who walk by faith

He recalls His promises

To rescue and save

So we, the children 

Of the Living God,

May freely serve Him 

When we hear His call

By His true covenant

And by faith, we’re justified,

Credited with righteousness

Of our hope, eternal Christ

Living by the law,

We are bound to fail

But with the promise of His Spirit

And His power, we prevail

God of glory, great I AM 

May Your blessed name 

Be throughout the earth
Forevermore proclaimed

---
April 10, 2016

Contemplate God's Glory

As I contemplate Your glory,

Maker of heaven and earth,

I consider 

The stars and galaxies 

You thrust

Into the universe

And by Your decree 

They suspend

I recall

I was gathered from dust;

My mind 

Cannot comprehend

Everlasting God, 

Without beginning or end

How foolish am I 

To try and pretend

I have an inkling

Of understanding

When You 

Are commanding 

Your majestic creation 

To live and move and be

And by Your grace 

And kindness

You have unveiled

A fraction of my blindness

That I might see 

And bend my knee

---

April 9, 2016

Inspired by 2 Corinthians 3:18

Captivating Beauty

Captivating beauty,
Deep mystery to be explored
This is the essence of Eve's daughters
Reflective of the Lord

The crown of God's creation,
Her desire is to be sought
She is desperately needed;
For intimacy, she was wrought

The Garden was her homeland
A place of glory and of rest
Now she strives to find her way there,
To life abundant and God-blessed

Unveil your heart, beloved
And shimmer with all your power
For our Creator delights in you
This is your finest hour
---
April 2005
Inspired by John Eldredge's book, Captivating

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord,
All the earth
Come before Him
With gladness and joy
And sing of His worth
Know that the Lord is God
He made us,
We are in His keep
We are His people,
His pasture's sheep
Enter His gates
With thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him
To His name, praise
For the Lord is good
And His love endures
For all time
His faithfulness continues
To the end of mankind
---
April 1, 2016

The Call of Christ -- Mark 2

Christ came to call to sinners,
"Follow Me"
He has authority
To set all people free
From the paralyzing grip
Of guilt and shame
He is the Lord,
The Lord of grace
---
March 31, 2016

Unashamed

Adam and Eve were naked 

and unashamed;

they felt no fear of evil 

or exploitation

then they fell 

into a trap 

of lies, doubt, 

manipulation

when they 

against their God rebelled, 

and His law rejected

their eyes were opened

and then cast down in shame

Disheartened and dejected,

their souls exposed

then they cowered

and covered themselves

with makeshift clothes 

they secretly built

Fear, hiding and blame

came between them and God;

they didn't confess their guilt

Made in God's image,

they now believed

they were flawed

but God drew them out,

wanted them to give 

account for their actions,

wanted them to confess

so He could forgive

the ones who betrayed

Fearfully and wonderfully made,

we all fall short of God's plan

Shame shapes us

but Christ Jesus

who died for our sins

is not ashamed 

to call us His kin

We can be clothed

in His righteousness

if we confess

He is Lord

He will cleanse us, 

defend us 

when we surrender, 

remember that He

is both faithful and just

and we can trust 

in His goodness and mercy

for He has reversed 

the curse of the fall

Call on His name,

come out of the 

shadows and shame

let your heart be revealed

in light of His grace

so you can be healed,

be made right

and be free

to stand tall,

so you can 

our loving Father embrace

---

March 25, 2016

Inspired by Christine Caine's book Unashamed 

Jesus Knelt--John 13

Jesus knelt before Judas

And took his dirty, smelly feet

Within His hands

To cleanse them

Just as He did

For Peter, James and John

Companions, disciples,

Deniers, betrayers

To the end, He loved them,

Stripped down

And girded to serve

Though they didn't deserve it

Water poured out

And with His own righteousness

His true followers

Were made clean

---

March 23, 2016

Inspired by:

https://briarcroft.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/between-midnight-and-dawn-having-loved-his-own/

With the Grieving, Weep

The Lord helps the house of misery

Jesus weeps with those who mourn 

He brings life from death

And calls us out 

By name He calls us

As we hear His voice and live

We are transformed

Released from chains

We can follow 

Follow Christ

Wherever He leads

Going to 

Those in the grip

Of death

We can speak hope

And with the grieving, weep

---

March 20, 2016
Inspired by:
http://blog.stevebell.com/2016/03/palm-sunday-what-makes-for-peace/

Mended

'For Him to see me mended, I must see Him torn,' quoted from Luci Shaw

'For Him to see me mended, 

I must see Him torn'

like a lamb before slaughter

He was shorn;

the seamless garment He had worn

strewn beneath the cross, 

a tree

hewn for His demise

The angry mob cries,

"Crucify,"

and lets 

the insurrectionist go free

Christ's back shredded,

His hands and feet pierced

He hung draped above

the passers-by,

the ones who cursed Him

and swore,

the ones who nursed Him,

and more,

all who He loved

The curtain in the temple  tore

from up high to down below

as the One 

who descended from above

gave His last breath

and tasted death,

our death

for our offence

Wrapped in strips of cloth

His body was bound,

placed in a maiden tomb; 

three days hence 

women arrived

with burial spice

to furnish Christ

Upon the tomb's stone

sat an angel, burnished

"He is not here," he told Mary

Filled with fear and joy,

she did not tarry,

her footsteps quickened

to share the news

with the grief-stricken,

"He is risen!"

When Peter heard 

that the One he had denied

might somehow be alive,

he raced out of the room,

entered the empty tomb;

all he found there

were strips of linen, torn;

he went away

pondering by the shore

No doubt his past failure

snarled in his mind

but his Redeemer 

met him there;

his thoughts were realigned

to follow Christ,

the One he loved

more than his very life

We are mended, commended 

by Christ, the resurrected;

our filthy rags He has transposed

Now in His righteousness,

we're clothed

---

March 19, 2016

Put to Death

For years, I wanted 

to do away with myself,

put to death who I was

because

I didn't know the One

God's only Son

who was put to death for me,

nailed to a cross 

to set me free

Christ conquered death,

conquered Hell

so that I could be forgiven

of my sin

and He could dwell 

within

Now I daily put to death

my former self-

naked, blind and poor,

am clothed in His righteousness,

His righteousness divine,

His everlasting embrace,

see glimpses of His glory,

live in the wealth 

of His love and joy and peace,

His abundant grace

As He sings ballads to me,

with tender mercies, woos me

I bring all I have to Him,

my heart, my soul, my mind

for all i have, is from His hand,

is from His nail-scarred hand

---

March 3, 2016

May We Pray God's Way

Holy Father in heaven above

Thank You for
The gift of Your Son

Light of the world

Reveal to us

A portion of Your wisdom

That we might

Better see Your kingdom

Entering our lives

As we do

What Your will ascribes

Grant us this day

All that we need
For life and godliness

Cleanse us from our sin

Help us live mercifully
With justice, humbleness 

Guide us through our trials

Deliver us from despair

For You watch over us,

You clothe us with Your care

Thus we should not worry

Or work for what won’t remain

But in everything we do

May it be

For the glory of Your name

---

February 24, 2016

Blessed Beyond Our Dreams

Envy says, "I am not blessed 

With God's very best"

The coveter dreams to access

What other people possess

Jealousy opines,

"That should be mine"

A jealous God, the Lord is

We chase treasures, but we are His

For God so loved the world

And loves us still

That He let His precious Son's

Blood for us spill

Granting us access

To His glorious throne

Dressed in His 

Righteousness alone

So that He could possess 

Our hearts, souls, and minds

And bless us with 

His presence divine 

---

February 23. 2016

Ash Wednesday

From the dust of the earth
I was formed
But I soon stormed
Away from Your loving laws
How deeply I was flawed
Am flawed now still
Though I have been transformed
By Your mercy and kindness
I still walk with blindness
And far from see clearly
Your goodness and light
I stumble and fall
But You hear my call
For I am precious in Your sight
Not because of anything
I have done right
But because of who You are
Gracious God, the Most High
Help me walk near Thee
On the road that You walked
Help me carry the cross
And not grumble or balk
At the rough, uphill climb
For You're by my side
And You know the joy that awaits
You are my hope,
The Resurrection and Life
Help me learn
To be faithful to Christ,
To trust
To turn and return
Till I one day return
To dust

---

February 10. 2016

Inspired by Malcolm Guite's musings. 

If It Bleeds, It Leads

“If it bleeds, it leads,” 

is the media’s dictum

and we ponder on what 

the world’s outcome will be

God’s Son was led, bleeding

to the cross with our burden

of sin; He died pleading

for God to forgive them,

the very ones who had hurt Him

Christ is still interceding 

for both the vindictive 

and for their victims,

that we all ponder the cross,

and by faith, follow Him,

Follow God where He leads

---

February 6, 2016

King of Beauty

Oh, King of beauty

Our joy forever to behold

Oh, King of glory

Our raptured souls will soon extol

Around Your throne

Redeemed by grace

We’ll gaze with adoration

Upon Your face

The beauty of Your holiness

Your praise unending,

We’ll confess

With blessing to

The Lamb once slain

Honour and power

Unto Your name

Jesus, Saviour, Lord of all

We lift Your name,

Before You fall

With one voice we will proclaim

Worthy are You

Who was and is and will remain

Our King of beauty

Our glorious King 

---

January 29, 2016              

Paying Attention – a Small Sacrifice

When we give God

Our full attention

And not mention

Our long list of needs

Just sit at His feet

And pay heed

We discover

The lover of our souls

Has His eyes upon us

As He smiles upon us

Singing songs over us with joy

Our God who formed us

Is for us

Transforms us

When we spend time with Christ

All we need

Is found when we seek

God first

He feeds us, our thirst

He attends to

As streams of life-giving

Goodness and mercy

With fullness to us overflow
---
December 2, 2015

Giving Thanks

Like the habit of counting seconds 

after the flash in the sky

to hear the sound, 

and know the proximity 

of the upward activity 

we can enumerate,

after flashes of glory,

our gratitude 

and know the nearness

of our good, gracious God 

who inhabits our praise

---

November 26, 2015

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/11/how-a-hard-hard-year-can-still-be-your-most-abundant-year-or-how-a-hard-year-can-give-you-a-good-thanksgiving/

Yada (Whatever)

We can wring our hands and moan
Or fling them high towards God's throne
Confess our gratitude for God's goodness
Despite bad attitudes and all this mess
That attempts to assail
It will not prevail
When we think upon whatever
Is good and lovely, pure
Dwell on Christ, He will assure
Us with strength and reasons to rejoice
In whatever comes our way; it's our choice
---
November 20, 2015
Inspired by:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/11/yada-yada-yada-a-secret-way-to-cope-when-you-are-pretty-much-sick-of-the-world-the-holidays-a-crazy-life/

In the Midst of Our Mess

In the midst of our mess

We can turn to God, 

Who's there to bless

Us with mercy, goodness,

Grace and righteousness

If we only come to Him, confess

Our deepest need, His forgiveness

Which He willingly addressed

God's great love was expressed

Upon the cross as Jesus

Sacrificed His blood and flesh

Though Christ was sinless,

In the midst of criminals, He died

One cursed His name, the other cried

Out for mercy. You decide

Which side that you are on 

Choose today who you will serve

Yourself or the Lord who deserves

Glory, honour, adoration

For making our salvation

A gift we can receive

If we simply believe

In the midst of our mess

---

November 14, 2015