Illusions Fall

Once I looked upon the world with glasses made of gold–
I thought peace and tranquility were what I would behold.
I dreamed that having faith would be the answers to all needs;
That love would flourish everywhere and all men would be free.

What I see (in reality, not through glasses made of gold)
Are people crying, hurting, suffering; their stories left untold.
And all too often, we of faith walk on the other side.
We shake our heads and scurry on and say, “The job’s not mine!”

The children are abused–we say, “Go home and bake a pie.”
(Our ears our closed–we cannot hear the battered children cry!).
They pound their heads upon the wall and cry out to the town,
“Can’t you see us? Can’t you hear? IS ANYONE AROUND!?!?!?!”

The frightened child cries in the night “Oh, who will rescue me!?”
While all of her delievers say, “You surely can’t mean me!
I can’t be meant to take a risk and venture from my safety…
There might be danger in that move (it SURELY can’t be godly)!”

And Jesus sees from heaven above–He weeps with His heart broken.
He longs to comfort those who hurt but can’t wake up His chosen!
We stop our ears and cling to fears from which we can’t be shaken
But illusions fall if we heed His call to CHANGE and be forgiven.

Have mercy on us, Lord above, according to Your kindness.
Open up our eyes, oh God! Forgive us for our blindness!!!!
Give us ears to reach out in Your mercy and Your grace
To those who need to know You bear their shame and their disgrace.

Higher than the Heavens

Higher than the heavens
Wider than the seas
Grander than the mountains
Is the Love who care for me.
Tender as a Shepherd’s touch,
Gentle as the rain
Softer than a summer breeze
Is the love that heals my pain.

When destruction threatens
All I value and hold dear
And my heart is crushed
Beneath the burden of my fears,
Save me, Lord! Oh rescue me!
Please show me what to do!
Cast out my sin and help me, Lord!
My only hope is You!

Higher than the heavens
Wider than the seas
Grander than the mountains
Is the Love who care for me.
Tender as a Shepherd’s touch,
Gentle as the rain
Softer than a summer breeze
Is the love that heals my pain.

When I am too weak to stand
Against the coming storm
Hide me in Your presence–
Keep me safe from death and harm.
My foes rejoice in victory
They think that they have won
Until they see Your presence
Give me strength to overcome…

Higher than the heavens
Wider than the seas
Grander than the mountains
Is the Love who care for me.
Tender as a Shepherd’s touch,
Gentle as the rain
Softer than a summer breeze
Is the love that heals my pain.

The Father Who Made You

Little child, crying in the dark
Wondering when the bitter words
And tears will end…
Wondering when it will be safe
To trust again–
There is a Hope! There is a Friend!

The Father who made you
Will not betray you
But longs to enfold you in His love!
His love will heal you,
Restore you and free you.
His love will do you no wrong.

Why won’t he stop?
What have I done?
Is there anywhere I can run?
Is there any place I can hide?
There is One who calls you to His side….

The Father who made you
Will not betray you
But longs to enfold you in His love!
His love will heal you,
Restore you and free you.
His love will do you no wrong.

Fleeing from the shadows

Little girl, hiding in the shadows
Listening to the terrors of the night
Pillow o’er her head–wishing she was dead
Praying that the darkness doesn’t win….

Half-grown girl, living in the shadows
Trying to be “good” (not knowing how)
Afraid of what it means–the way her life has been
Afraid that she can never be made clean…

Wife and mom, still fleeing from the shadows,
While silently inside she dies each day.
Half alive at best–feeling different from the rest
But not yet understanding what it means….

There is a Light that drives away the darkness
There is a Hope that rises like the dawn!
There is a God who loves you–even though He’s seen it all.
He’s there for you and longs to be your friend….
You can begin again…..to live.

The Altar

“The fortress must come down, child,”
Said the gentle voice of God,
“That’s the only way you’ll ever
Fully comprehend My love.”

“But Lord,” I cried in anguish–
“I can’t lay down these bricks!
They’re idols demonstrating
All the wounds that made me sick!
I’m safe with them to hide behind.
They offer me relief
From seeing how my life
Is ruled by fear and unbelief.”

“Build an altar form the wall, child.
Brick by brick, now take it down
And I will be your armor–
In Me a refuge can be found.”

The Wall

I stood alone behind
My self-made wall of fear and pride.
It kep the world locked out
(Me with my fears, locked up inside).
There were no doors or windows
In this fortress I had made
(I couldn’t take a chance
Someone would see my guilt and shame).

One day, you knocked upon my wall
And old me of a light–
The light of God’s acceptance
That could put my fears to flight.
You said if I surrendered,
Laying down my will, my pride,
That He would be my fortress–
(There’d be no more need to hide).

Carefully, with trembling hands,
I lifted off one brick.
Then I removed another
(Thought I wasn’t moving quick!).
A ray of light came shining
Through the window I had made–
As time went on, I found
I was a little less afraid.

I took more bricks down one by one
Until I built a door.
Then I ventured out
(A risk I couldn’t take before!).
Not only did I tip-toe out–
I let some people in.
They weren’t a threat–
They were a joy!
I found some special friends.

I built an altar from those bricks,
Offered up my fear and pride,
Then found to my amazement–
There was more room for peace inside!
Tearing down my fortress
Was the beginning of hope for me.
Now life is becoming better
Than I ever dreamed it could be.

Memories

Memories I don’t want to see…
Reflections of the past
That come to weigh me down
Are binding me
To old realities–
Things I try to hide
That still torment my soul.
I’ve got to let them go.

So I trust a friend
(Confessing how it’s been)
Expecting to be turned out on my own again,
But healing comes
Because of what I’ve done.
A peace I cannot understand
Dawns like the sun–
I’ll face whatever comes.

Could it be
That truth can set you free?
Could it be that secrets
Bind you to the past?
Could it be
The Light can transform me
And lead me on the way
To being free at last?
Lord, lead me on the Way–
That’s all I ask.

Seasons of Change

The scene is sparkling white, but icy cold
The glacial grip of seemingly endless winter
Entraps the river of life that once flowed
Through the depths of my soul.
In other seasons, it surged freely–
A life giving torrent.
Now layer after layer of ice
Cover the frozen wasteland–
Its emptiness and desolation
Reminders of what’s in my heart.

The glowing sun tries vainly
To shed it’s life-giving rays
On the icy scene.
The shadow it casts gives an eerie feel
To the bleak expanse
Then sinks beneath the horizon,
Waiting for another chance…..

Maybe next time the meager warmth
Will make the first crack in the ice
And signal the beginning of spring
Maybe tomorrow the thaw will come…
Lord, why not today?

Sun of righteousness,
Risen with healing in your wings….
Shine on me, Lord.
Come quickly!
I stand in need of You!!
Cause my icy heart to burst forth
In the song of new beginnings.
Repair my shattered hope!
Let Your living water
Flood my thirsty soul.
Turn the desolate scene
Into a picture of growth
And bountiful fruitfulness.
Melt this silent
Frozen
Barren
Place in me.

Landmines

How many times through the course of a day
As I make my way through the country inside
Where the dark ness lies
Will I step in a place where I have to face
The landmines buried so long ago?

In tormented fear I cry out in the night–
This can’t be life!  God, this can’t be right!
I’ve been “set free,” “walk in victory”
(But all that stuff just isn’t enough)!
Deep scars….so hard….
I curse the day the mine was laid!
Still, clean up crews come to a land where there was war…
Mines are dug up…disconnected…traps sprung….
Dangerous work is done.

God, let it be done in me.
Send Your spirit to detect
The mines that lay there yet.
Protect those who are so unaware
Of the trip-wires, booby traps, tracers and flares
That lurk in the rubbish I’ve tried so hard to hide.
Come, grace of God.  Come and abide
In the places where the darkness lies.
Let Your spirit disarm the alarms that still go off…
The carefully hidden mines that lay in wait
For someone to walk into my life…
Make me a safe companion!
Don’t let me destroy
An unsuspecting one again!
Protect them, God.
Help me, Jesus.
I stand in need….to be freed by Your love.

Tamar’s Prayer

(Taken from thoughts in II Samuel II–after Tamar was raped by her brother)

Father, my heart is broken and torn
Sackcloth and ashes are the clothing I’ve worn.
My guilt and my shame are too heavy to bear–
They burden my steps with the weight of despair.

I tried to be good-I tried to obey!
Now used and rejected, I’m sent on my way.
How can I bear it?  God, what can I do…..?
(Except to pour out all my grief before you!)

Hear my cry, oh God, give ear unto my prayer!
Incline Your ear to hear, please hear!
Oh God, if You’ve even there…..do You care?

The future is changed now because of the past.
The hope that I had for my life has been dashed.
I cannot look up or accept what I see
Unless You come quickly and give strength to me!

Hear my cry, oh God, give ear unto my prayer!
Incline Your ear to hear, please hear!
Oh God, if You’ve even there…..do You care?