his song of love

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

What song do you listen to each day?  Do you listen to the song of those around you who demand that you become like them?  Do you listen to the song of the voices within you who continually tell you that you are not enough?  Or do you listen to the song of the One who made you and wants you to know the depths of his delight and affection?  Because the song you listen to the most is the song that your life will sing to others.

“Is that a joyous choir I hear?  No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.” (Zephaniah 3:17, TLB) Listen to the song of delight and affection he is singing over you today.

your ways

sometimes i just can’t

understand your ways

much less explain them

they are too deep

and too mysterious

for my little mind to grasp

sometimes your ways

look too hard and too sad

and even a bit too harsh

to actually come from

your loving hand

but for some reason

you are the one

who brings beauty from ashes

who brings joy from sorrow

who brings life from death

who turns mourning into dancing

for how can we appreciate

beauty if not for ashes

or joy if not for sorrow

or dancing if not for mourning

for some crazy reason

you chose to bring about

the best things of this life

via the most painful

so instead of trying

to understand your ways

i will just keep on dancing

and keep on trusting

even when i can’t see

what you are up to

for your thoughts

are not my thoughts

and your ways

are not my ways

plans

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

If you want to walk with God, you had best check your plans at the door.  Life with him is as beautiful as it is demanding.  It is an amazing dance, an awesome adventure, and a challenging journey.  It is a journey in which we are not in control, he is.  We do not charge ahead with our agenda and invite him to come along.  We follow his lead; he doesn’t follow ours. 

Our job is to stay attentive to his voice, in tune with his will, and aligned with his purposes.  Life with him is about his plans, not our own.  Fortunately, his plans are to prosper us, not to harm us.  His plans give us “a hope and a future.”  His plans, although they might demand a lot of us, are always for our good, our benefit, and our growth.  We just have to trust in him.

mercy

hang on to the scar

the hurt you have caused

let it teach and guide you

into deep humility

and acute awareness

of your immense need

for divine mercy

but let go of the guilt and shame

or it will eat you up inside

it will leave you consumed

with yourself rather than

consumed with your God

you can’t fix this mess

because you’re not

supposed to be able to fix it

that is the work of hands

much bigger than yours

so the scar remains

as a reminder of the hurt

that is still being healed

but will one day make all

stronger than ever before

but with a different

kind of strength

welcome to this new land

the world of weakness

where living from your flaws

and failures and frailties

opens you up to His strength

and His divine mercy

shepherd and sheep

The Lord is my shepherd; I am his sheep.  He will take full and complete care of me; I do not need to worry.  In a barren land, he finds me green pastures and makes me lie down.  In a dry and arid place, he leads me to still waters where I can drink and be refreshed and renewed.  He guides me in the good way, so I don’t get lost or confused, all for his name’s sake. 

Even when the stench of death surrounds me and darkness overwhelms me, I will not fear for he is right in the middle of it with me, protecting me and directing me with his staff and his rod.  His love and his power bring me so much peace and comfort. 

He sets a table for the two of us to share an elaborate and intimate meal together.  He pours fragrant and healing oil on my head to show me that I am loved and valued.  My heart, just like my cup at his table, is always filled to overflowing with abundance and delight.  He pursues me unceasingly with his goodness and his unfailing love, so that I may live in his house, with him, forever.