Dear Saviour:
You made every part of me yet I claim me as my own
You are fully established yet I put myself on the throne
You clothe me in you yet I choose my righteousness
You give me your salvation yet I still try to impress
You chose to be humble yet I fill myself with pride
You lay yourself bare for me yet I keep it all inside
You obeyed the Father's will yet I fight to live for me
You depended on him yet I strive to live independently
My pride is evident, to you and me it is clear
In pretending that it's not, I have made a career
My pride is cleverly masked in a humble pretense
To be on the down-low and sit on the back fence
My pride is sometimes seen in my boastful ways
Highlighting what I've done for others to praise
My pride is focused on making it all about me
It grabs the spotlight so others can look at me
Strike down my pride because it's easy to default
to living for myself again and thus myself to exalt
Keep me alert, controlled, and from this slide
Baptize my mind daily and please kill my pride
I surrender and submit myself to you, Amen!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A Beautiful You
The look in your eyes is magical
sometimes I have to look away,
they are so enchanting and wild
that in their gaze I desire to stay.
The brightness of your smile is lovely
I can just stand and take it all in,
it radiates your face with beauty
that I can just get lost therein.
The sweetness of your face is delightful
it is a wonderful sight to behold,
it is a cool feeling that I do enjoy
I want to tell you but am not that bold.
The sound of your voice is pleasant
filled with warmth and honest care,
your words are suitable each moment
because your heart is full of prayer.
The beauty you are is a gift from God
and I can see his beauty shining through,
so what others see is real, it's no facade
and it's drawing them to the him in you.
sometimes I have to look away,
they are so enchanting and wild
that in their gaze I desire to stay.
The brightness of your smile is lovely
I can just stand and take it all in,
it radiates your face with beauty
that I can just get lost therein.
The sweetness of your face is delightful
it is a wonderful sight to behold,
it is a cool feeling that I do enjoy
I want to tell you but am not that bold.
The sound of your voice is pleasant
filled with warmth and honest care,
your words are suitable each moment
because your heart is full of prayer.
The beauty you are is a gift from God
and I can see his beauty shining through,
so what others see is real, it's no facade
and it's drawing them to the him in you.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
God's desires in us
The desire to treat others well is a daily goal
to respect and live sincerely is an aspiration
not for show or for the goal of popularity
these things don't interest us, we're scared of them
for we've seen how destructive they can be
There is a desire to connect with people regardless
regardless of who they are or who they think they are
in each person we can see ourselves, the good and bad
no excuses, no justifications, no rationalizations
no comparisons, just the truth of our humanity
The desire to help others grow and develop moves us
it fills us with a zeal to live honestly and sacrificially
sometimes our actions are unhealthy and weak
but as tough as it is it keeps us humble and earnest
it lets others see our faults and leaves us exposed
The desire to see others on fire for God captivates us
our hearts, our minds, our spirits, our prayers yearns
all of us begs for this to be made real in powerful ways
for us to live as a family united by our love for Christ
for God to fully use us to transform our communities
The desire for others is not fully ours so we can't take credit
it is something God has placed in us and we love him for it
we've tried many times to go about his work in our strength
so many times by our own dictates that limited his power
now he has broken us so he can use us as he purposed
The desire grows as God's presence floods our lives
what he will do in and through us is for his glory
our responsibility is to obey and trust in his leading
surrendering all so that he increase as we decrease
God's desires in us has to be done his way.
to respect and live sincerely is an aspiration
not for show or for the goal of popularity
these things don't interest us, we're scared of them
for we've seen how destructive they can be
There is a desire to connect with people regardless
regardless of who they are or who they think they are
in each person we can see ourselves, the good and bad
no excuses, no justifications, no rationalizations
no comparisons, just the truth of our humanity
The desire to help others grow and develop moves us
it fills us with a zeal to live honestly and sacrificially
sometimes our actions are unhealthy and weak
but as tough as it is it keeps us humble and earnest
it lets others see our faults and leaves us exposed
The desire to see others on fire for God captivates us
our hearts, our minds, our spirits, our prayers yearns
all of us begs for this to be made real in powerful ways
for us to live as a family united by our love for Christ
for God to fully use us to transform our communities
The desire for others is not fully ours so we can't take credit
it is something God has placed in us and we love him for it
we've tried many times to go about his work in our strength
so many times by our own dictates that limited his power
now he has broken us so he can use us as he purposed
The desire grows as God's presence floods our lives
what he will do in and through us is for his glory
our responsibility is to obey and trust in his leading
surrendering all so that he increase as we decrease
God's desires in us has to be done his way.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
inside out
the inner man is dying to live and desires to give it all away
to be lost in your embrace and to be led by you all the way
the outer man puts on a show to keep up an appearance
longing to be reconciled inside & out to close that distance
the inner man wants to be fully surrendered to your will
to be lost in your arms and be taught what it is to be still
the outer man works hard to conceal the brokenness
longing to be reconciled inside out by your fullness
the inner man is desperate to deny all of self to live true
to be lost in your presence and feel the nearness of you
the outer man fights to prove that in everything it can excel
longing to be reconciled inside out to really say, "all is well"
the inner man longs to be refreshed, renewed, and complete
to be lost in your freedom and be near to feel your heartbeat
the outer man longs to feel the warmth of your touch throughout
longing to be reconciled and to live for you from the inside out.
to be lost in your embrace and to be led by you all the way
the outer man puts on a show to keep up an appearance
longing to be reconciled inside & out to close that distance
the inner man wants to be fully surrendered to your will
to be lost in your arms and be taught what it is to be still
the outer man works hard to conceal the brokenness
longing to be reconciled inside out by your fullness
the inner man is desperate to deny all of self to live true
to be lost in your presence and feel the nearness of you
the outer man fights to prove that in everything it can excel
longing to be reconciled inside out to really say, "all is well"
the inner man longs to be refreshed, renewed, and complete
to be lost in your freedom and be near to feel your heartbeat
the outer man longs to feel the warmth of your touch throughout
longing to be reconciled and to live for you from the inside out.
Hold Nothing Back
I started this journey in the freedom you had given me,
running bold and free, but something has changed lately.
The journey has become cluttered, your freedom I did negate,
entangled by sin and its hindrances, bogged down by its weight.
I am standing at the side, looking as others continue on,
praying that you will come and say, I'm not too far gone.
You said that I can never get too far out of your reach,
but it feels that way, so come now Lord, you I beseech.
I want to live free again, to run patiently and to never quit,
but it is only possible by the awesomeness of your Spirit.
So help me to run hard knowing in you there's nothing that I lack,
you've set me free from every hindrance to: Hold Nothing Back.
running bold and free, but something has changed lately.
The journey has become cluttered, your freedom I did negate,
entangled by sin and its hindrances, bogged down by its weight.
I am standing at the side, looking as others continue on,
praying that you will come and say, I'm not too far gone.
You said that I can never get too far out of your reach,
but it feels that way, so come now Lord, you I beseech.
I want to live free again, to run patiently and to never quit,
but it is only possible by the awesomeness of your Spirit.
So help me to run hard knowing in you there's nothing that I lack,
you've set me free from every hindrance to: Hold Nothing Back.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Being Strong (A manly version)
Being strong makes you a man, that's how it's promoted,
for you to be anything but, is worse than being demoted.
Being strong shows the kind of man you are, that's what they say,
to act otherwise even if and when it hurts is not manly in any way.
Being strong must be a dominant part of your masculinity,
anything short of that, well, well, it is nothing but a tragedy.
Being strong means you always have to be on the hunt,
it demonstrates that you are "fit" to lead from the front.
Being strong means tough love, suppressing certain emotions.
Displaying tenderness as a man? Is that even one of the options?
Being strong is misunderstood and filled with deceit,
to continue this way will in time all our strength deplete.
Being strong is admirable but it is not something we can manufacture,
it comes only to a man filled and surrendered to the Holy Spirit's power.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"But the Lord said to me,"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
for you to be anything but, is worse than being demoted.
Being strong shows the kind of man you are, that's what they say,
to act otherwise even if and when it hurts is not manly in any way.
Being strong must be a dominant part of your masculinity,
anything short of that, well, well, it is nothing but a tragedy.
Being strong means you always have to be on the hunt,
it demonstrates that you are "fit" to lead from the front.
Being strong means tough love, suppressing certain emotions.
Displaying tenderness as a man? Is that even one of the options?
Being strong is misunderstood and filled with deceit,
to continue this way will in time all our strength deplete.
Being strong is admirable but it is not something we can manufacture,
it comes only to a man filled and surrendered to the Holy Spirit's power.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"But the Lord said to me,"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Living Free Every Day Devotional
The following is also from an online devotional. I pray that it blesses you.
Living Free Every Day Devotional
Peace In The Storm
Today's Scripture: "Our God says, 'Calm down, and learn that I am God.'"Psalm 46:10 CEVThoughts for Today
The words in today's scripture apply to our quiet times with the Lord, but they aren't limited to that.
No matter what your circumstances, you will face challenging, stressful times. Times when it's difficult to cope. That's just part of life.
If you have been spending quiet time before the Lord, being still and reflecting on his character and listening to him, then as difficult situations arise throughout the day, it's easier to take a moment, wherever you are, to be calm and remember that he is God. He is in control. Nothing takes him by surprise and he will help you through this.
Consider this …
When anything or anyone other than God is at the center of your life, problems that arise can cause things to spin out of control. But when he is at the center, day in and day out, he will calm you even when chaos is swirling around you. You will sense his strength, his love and his reassurance... and that will make all the difference. How about you? Have you given God a time slot? Or is he in every area of your life.
Is he at the center? Or just occupying a compartment of your life. Is he your first thought in every situation? Or just an afterthought when you are desperate.
Begin to give him first place in all things... to make him the center of your life.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for not always making you the center of my life. I will commit to spending more quiet time reflecting on your goodness. And then when things become stressful through the day, remind me to be calm, and to remember that you are in control. In Jesus' name. . .
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