Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

Regeneration

Posted: October 24, 2012 in Acceptance, Christ, Current Events, Devotionals, Hope, Jesus Christ, Poetry, Puritan Prayers, Recovery, Resilience, Self Help, Serenity, Suffering, Theology, Vision
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O God of the highest heaven,
occupy the throne of my heart,
take full possession and reign supreme,
lay low every rebel lust,
let no vile passion resist thy holy war;
manifest thy mighty power,
and make me thine forever.

Thou art worthy to be
praised with my every breath,
loved with my every faculty of soul,
served with my every act of life.

Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me,
purchased, washed, favored, clothed,
adorned me,
when I was a worthless, vile soiled, polluted.

I was dead in iniquities,
having no eyes to see thee,
no ears to hear thee,
no taste to relish thy joys,
no intelligence to know thee;
But thy Spirit has quickened me,
has brought me into a new world as a
new creature,
has given me spiritual perception,
has opened to me thy Word as light, guide, solace, joy.

Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace;
No provocation can part me from thy sympathy,
for thou hast drawn me with cords of love,
and dost forgive me daily, hourly.

O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
of my hopes, and my vocation.

Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
hold converse with thee,
That I may be salt of the earth
and a blessing to all.

(text from “The Valley of Vision” devotional)

Hand To The Plow

Posted: October 14, 2012 in 12 Step, Acceptance, Christ, Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Jesus Christ, Paul Clark, Perseverance, Poetry, Resilience, Self Help, Serenity, Suffering, Vision, Worship
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I’ve felt the pressure of temptation
I’ve heard the screaming lies of accusation
I know the world can be distracting
But if I keep one foot there
I’m just acting

Well I can’t think of a reason why I should look back
And I don’t intend to start now
Gonna set my face like flint to Jesus and His word
And I’m keeping my hand to the plow

I’ll felt the weight of condemnation
And how the devil twists my situation
My brother if you feel defeated
Let me remind you friend
That you’ve been cheated

Well I can’t think of a reason why I should look back
And I don’t intend to start now
Gonna set my face like flint to Jesus and His word
And I’m keeping my hand to the plow

 (from the album “Hand To The Plow” by Paul Clark; words & music by Paul Clark)

Help Me To See

Posted: September 30, 2012 in Acceptance, Christ, Devotionals, Hope, Jesus Christ, Paul Clark, Poetry, Theology, Vision
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Hear my cry unto You Lord
Many times my heart has strayed
From the foundation You laid
When I first knew You

A servant is what you desire
Faithful ones
Who will attest
And not request
That their own will be done

Help me Lord
To know that
Although I’ve heard the word
It does not mean
It’s what I’m living

Hypocrites ain’t fit
To know what’s real
They need to deal
With their fantasy

Could it be in you or me?

Help me to see
Help me to see

(from the album “Hand To The Plow” by Paul Clark)

The Struggle

Posted: September 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Christ, Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Jesus Christ, Perseverance, Poetry, Recovery, Self Help, Suffering, Theology, Vision
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Sometimes you scare me by what you cause me to see,
and I’m afraid of knowing who I am.

Though you’ve changed me,
there’s still a whole lot of old wineskin.

And to open up would destroy the me I’m afraid to show.
One part of me doesn’t want to grow.

But I’m tired of this lingering winter.
Tired of ground so hard and cold.
Plow your way through – I’m asking you to, oh, Jesus.

Lord, you’re my only hope.

Without you, I can’t face myself.
Without you, I can’t face myself.
Without you, I can’t face myself.
Without you.

My pride wants me to hide inside myself.
But I love you, Lord,
I don’t want our love put on the shelf.

I’m tired of fighting to be who I am,
Jesus, make me what you want me to be.
Because of you, I desire reality.

A love for you is what I’m dying to receive.
Though I hate what I am,
I understand that you promised me.

You’ve promised me freedom in your truth.
But I can only face myself
when I face you.

Without you,
I can’t face myself,
Without you,
Lord,
I can’t face myself,

And I’ll be ready, ready to face myself
when I face you.


(lyrics and music from the Resurrection Band Album “Colours”  © 1980)

Need of Jesus

Posted: August 21, 2012 in Acceptance, Christ, Christology, Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Jesus Christ, Perseverance, Poetry, Puritan Prayers, Recovery, Resilience, Serenity, Suffering, Theology, Vision
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Lord Jesus,
I am blind, be thou my light,
ignorant, be thou my wisdom,
self-willed, be thou my mind.

Open my ear to grasp quickly thy Spirit’s voice,
and delightfully run after his beckoning hand;
Melt my conscience that no hardness remain,
make it alive to evil’s slightest touch;
When Satan approaches may I flee to thy wounds,
and there cease to tremble at all alarms.

Be my good shepherd to lead me into
the green pastures of thy Word,
and cause me to lie down beside the rivers
of its comforts.

Fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales
may ruffle the calm surface of my soul.

Thy cross was upraised to be my refuge,
Thy blood streamed forth to wash me clean,
Thy death occurred to give me a surety,
Thy name is my property to save me,
By thee all heaven is poured into my heart,
but it is too narrow to comprehend thy love.

I was a stranger, an outcast, a slave, a rebel,
but thy cross has brought me near,
has softened my heart,
has made me thy Father’s child,
has admitted me to thy family,
has made me joint-heir with thyself.

O that I may love thee as thou lovest me,
that I may walk worthy of thee, my Lord,
that I may reflect the image of heaven’s first-born.

May I always see thy beauty with the clear eye of faith,
and feel the power of thy Spirit in my heart,
for unless he move mightily in me
no inward fire will be kindled.

(text from “The Valley of Vision” devotional)

Himself

Posted: April 18, 2012 in Christ, Devotionals, Jesus Christ, Poetry, Serenity, Theology, Vision
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a hymn by A.B. Simpson

Once it was the blessing; Now it is the Lord;

Once it was the feeling; Now it is His Word;

Once His gift I wanted; Now the Giver own;

Once I sought for healing; Now Himself alone.

All in all forever; Only Christ I’ll sing;

Everything is in Christ; And Christ is everything.

Once ‘twas painful trying; Now ‘tis perfect trust;

Once a half salvation; Now the uttermost;

Once ‘twas ceaseless holding; Now He holds me fast;

Once ‘twas constant drifting; Now my anchor’s cast.

Once ‘twas busy planning; Now ‘tis trustful prayer;

Once ‘twas anxious caring; Now He has the care;

Once ‘twas what I wanted; Now what Jesus says;

Once ‘twas constant asking; Now ‘tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working; His it hence shall be;

Once I tried to use Him; Now He uses me;

Once the pow’r I wanted; Now the Mighty One;

Once for self I labored; Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus; Now I know He’s mine;

Once my lamps were dying; Now they brightly shine;

Once for death I waited; Now His coming hail;

And my hopes are anchored; Safe within the veil.


The Trinity

Posted: April 10, 2012 in Beggar's Bread, Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Perseverance, Poetry, Puritan Prayers, Theology, Vision
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Three in One,
One in Three,
God of my salvation,

Heavenly Father,
blessed Son,
eternal Spirit,
I adore thee as one Being,
one Essence,
one God in three distinct Persons,
for bringing sinners to thy knowledge and to thy kingdom.

O Father,
thou hast loved me and sent Jesus to redeem me;

O Jesus,
thou hast loved me and assumed my nature,
shed thine own blood to wash away my sins,
wrought righteousness to cover my unworthiness;

O Holy Spirit,
thou hast loved me and entered my heart,
implanted there eternal life,
revealed to me the glories of Jesus.

Three Persons and one God,
I bless and praise thee,
for love so unmerited, so unspeakable,
so wondrous, so mighty to save the lost
and raise them to glory.

O Father,
I thank thee that in fullness of grace
thou hast given me to Jesus, to be his sheep, jewel, portion;

O Jesus,
I thank thee that in fullness of grace
thou hast accepted, espoused, bound me;

O Holy Spirit,
I thank thee that in fullness of grace thou hast
exhibited Jesus as my salvation,
implanted faith within me,
subdued my stubborn heart,
made me one with him for ever.

O Father,
thou art enthroned to hear my prayers,

O Jesus,
thy hand is outstretched to take my petitions,

O Holy Spirit,
thou art willing to help my infirmities, to show me my need,
to supply words, to pray within me,
to strengthen me that I faint not in supplication.

O Triune God,
who commandeth the universe,
thou hast commanded me to ask for those
things that concern thy kingdom and my soul.

Let me live and pray as one baptized into the threefold Name.

Adapted from “The Valley of Vision” devotional 

Weaknesses

Posted: March 12, 2012 in 12 Step, Acceptance, Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Perseverance, Poetry, Puritan Prayers, Recovery, Resilience, Self Help, Serenity, Suffering, Vision
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O Spirit of God,
Help my infirmities;

When I am pressed down with a load of sorrow,
perplexed and knowing not what to do, slandered and persecuted,
made to feel the weight of the cross,
help me, I pray thee.

If thou seest in me
any wrong thing encouraged,
any evil desire cherished,
any delight that is not thy delight,
any habit that grieves thee,
any nest of sin in my heart,
then grant me the kiss of thy forgiveness,
and teach my feet to walk the way of
thy commandments.

Deliver me from carking care,
and make me a happy, holy person;

Help me to walk the separated life with firm and brave step,
and to wrestle successfully against weakness;

Teach me to laud, adore,
and magnify thee,
with the music of heaven,

And make me a perfume of praiseful gratitude
to thee.

I do not crouch at thy feet as a slave before a tyrant,
but exult before thee as a son with a father.

Give me power to live as thy child in all my actions,
and to exercise sonship by conquering self.

Preserve me from the intoxication that comes
of prosperity;

Sober me when I am glad with a joy that comes
not from thee.

Lead me safely on to the eternal kingdom,
not asking whether the road be rough or smooth.

I request only to see the face of him I love,
to be content with bread to eat,
with raiment to put on,
if I can be brought to thy house in peace.

(from “The Valley of Vision” devotional)

The Serenity Prayer … Recovered!

Posted: January 30, 2012 in 12 Step, Acceptance, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Perseverance, Poetry, Recovery, Resilience, Self Help, Serenity, Suffering, Vision
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I had been in Alcoholics Anonymous for some time before I discovered that the Serenity Prayer used there and in other 12-Step Groups is actually a faint shadow of the powerful prayer that was originally included in a sermon by Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in 1943.[1]

So, for your edification (and for mine, for it never gets old) is that original prayer:[2]

The Serenity Prayer
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

NOTES:
[1] While there is much I would like to say about how the potent source of the original movement (the power of Jesus Christ to seek out, save, redeem, and restore lost sinners ensnared in sin) has slowly leaked out  and left AA a hollow, less efficacious shell of what once was, I will save it for a later blog.

[2] Source: Serenity Prayer Wikipedia article . Please note that the prayer was not originally untitled.  I have added the title that it was later added by Bill Wilson and AA for the sake of aesthetics.

The Valley of Vision

Posted: January 23, 2012 in Devotionals, Endurance, Hope, Perseverance, Poetry, Puritan Prayers, Resilience, Suffering, Vision
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Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold
thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter
thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
that every good work or thought found in me
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.

“Monument Valley” by Frank Wilson

 (from “Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions” edited by Arthur Bennett)

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