Poetry

From night to day (a poem)

Eirene5 Comments

When the night in darkness veiled, Obscures this solitary trail

“The way is hard!” my soul complains, weary of the toil and pain

Yet trudging on through barren lands, no aid in sight from mortal man

Hidden from all human eyes; Voicing only muted cries

Then face upturned and heart exposed, my tears pool on the ground below

Raw need and longing, strong and fierce, hurled to the sky, the heavens pierced

The veil pulled back, my heart alive, “My Beloved!” is my cry

Kingly Presence all around, knees give way, face to the ground

When the night in glory bathed Illuminates the way with grace. All sorrow gone, I’ve seen His face

Life unchained

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I don’t want to live this life
Within the box of social norms
Conforming to this world’s definition of success
I’m not interested in moderation or balance
But my heart leaps at the thought of charging ahead
Full speed into the purposes of God
Extreme life, unchained and unrestrained
By thoughts of reputation
Concerned only for God’s expectation
No way I’ll burn out
But I yearn to be filled up
with the fire of His presence
My heart has been captured
Set ablaze
As I set my gaze upon this Lord of glory
Nothing else matters
Pressing in until I press through
Stirred up to take hold
Pursuing the One who has pursued me
Reaching upward…to touch heaven

I am a contradiction

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Reaching out in desperation
Thirsting, longing
For Your presence
Ascending the hill of God
The peak, it seems, in view
Until the claws of this earthly existence gripping me
Pull me back into the mundaneness of the temporal
Kicking and screaming?
No, all too willingly I retreat
Easier to admire the hill from the bottom than struggle to the top
And so for yet another day I refuse to climb, to seek
Not realizing how eager You are to aid me in this journey
This pursuit of the Holy
My spirit yearns
My flesh is weak
I am a contradiction.

Thou Remainest – It Is Enough

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No matter how I feel today
Regardless how things may appear
I trust in this reality
Jesus, my Lord, remainest near

Through lonely nights when sadness comes
My tears unseen; no one is there
When overwhelming sorrow seems
To be more than my heart can bear

I then turn my eyes heavenward
And disengage from earthly things
And sink into the boundless peace
That no one else but Christ can bring

And when my heart has found it’s rest
Wrapped in the vastness of His love
There lingers now no emptiness
Thou remainest – it is enough

The Walking Dead

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The multitudes, the crowds of people
Nameless sea of humanity
Undone by sin, the walking dead
The heart of Jesus longs for these

Deceived and loving their deception
Plunging deeper into sin
They think not that the Lord is watching
They feel no need to repent

Death approaches yet they mock
No fear of God before their eyes
But judgment waits beyond this life
Before the Christ they have despised

As I look into each face
Their countenance shows forth no life
And my heart breaks, they are so lost
And yet they see no need for Christ

My heart is deeply stirred within me
I can sit no longer idly by
As precious souls that Jesus loves
Are doomed to the eternal fires

So let me be an instrument
A vessel for the Master’s use
A life surrendered to His plans
To be used as He would choose

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

Mercy on display

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The cross
Not just a piece of wood
Or a moment in history
But the ultimate reality

Stained red with blood that makes white
Horridly beautiful

Mercy on display
The plan of all the ages
Acted out upon the stage of earth

Grace triumphant in brutality

Man shakes his fist at God and says, “You must die.”

God extends His hand to man and says “You shall live.”

“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  Luke 6:36

What Jesus is to me

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In the darkest night He’s comfort
In the raging storm He’s peace
In my need He is provision
That’s what Jesus is to me

When I’m fearful He’s my boldness
When I’m weak He is my strength
In my sorrow He is all joy
That’s what Jesus is to me

In questionings He is the answer
A shepherd to this wandering sheep
A sure escape in all temptation
That’s what Jesus is to me

In failures He is my forgiveness
In trials He is my relief
A faithful friend when I’m forsaken
That’s what Jesus is to me

In the end He’ll be my guide
To lead me to eternity
In death He’ll be my resurrection
That’s what Jesus is to me

My Quiet Love

Eirene4 Comments

In stillness with my heart uplifted
Unto You in the heavenlies
I search for words that lend expression
To my soul’s unspoken pleas

Something perfectly poetic
A lovely masterpiece of words
Enduring terms of adoration
Worthy of my King and Lord

But words escape me, I am silent
Thoughts disjointed, unexpressed
Unspoken praise burns deep within
And seeks release in wordlessness

I have nothing lovely for You
Just a heart that feels as though
It’s broken in a thousand pieces
Can I lay this at Your throne?

Unutterable adoration
Expressed in tears of liquid praise
May each one say what words cannot
Though I’ve tried a thousand ways

So I sit at Your feet, dear Jesus
Silently and gaze at You
Content to dwell in wordless wonder
My quiet love I give to You.

Where am I to go?

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Where am I to go
When the heavens are as brass
Words, from my lips
Fall to the ground
Unheard it seems
Unheeded

Where am I to go?

Where am I to go
When all seems dark and lonely
When troubles rush
Upon my weary soul
Reaching into the darkness
Do You see my hand?

Do not let me fall
Nor let my heart wander
When questions remain unanswered
When the distance seems tangible
And the promises are distant memories
How can I go on?

Yet where am I to go?

For it is true
That even in the darkest night of the soul
That there remains a hope
Of a life beyond, exceeding and eternal
Where faith becomes sight
And promise becomes reality
Questions answered, distance bridged
Face to face
A day of glory

This promise awaits
Those who endure
I close my eyes and hold on tight

Heavenly Reality

Eirene3 Comments

To walk with Him, to hear his voice
To rest contented in His love
To cease this striving in the flesh
And learn to seek those things above

Christ dwells within! A blessed thought
One woefully too oft neglected
But nonetheless it still remains
A living truth to be protected.

Let no man say “Christ is not here
He dwells above the starry host”
I doubt not my sweet Saviour’s nearness
His Presence is my only hope

If my eyes should be enlightened
To see divine realities
What glorious wonder to behold
Jesus my Christ abides in me