The lonely soul, O Lord, has none
of your glorious Self, or else is blind
to Nearness.
Make us see the One who came
from Heaven and works among us still
in power.
Make us hear his call to love,
to seek the lonely as he himself
is seeking.
To the Top I Thought
To the top I thought I’d claw
My way back to resume my place,
Only to find that you, O Lord, had lifted me
On wings of eagles, quickly, lightly,
And set me upon a wide space,
Giving me a 360-degree view,
The sun shining warm upon my face,
The spring-time breeze after winter’s thaw.
When Close to Eternal Lands
When comes the time to breathe my last,
To pillow my head and rest,
Make all my deeds and doings past
To have been the Kingdom’s best.
Upon a work let me look back
That glorifies the Lord,
In my resolve no fault or crack,
In heaven my treasures stored.
Give strength, O Lord, to heart and hands,
No cause to stumble or fall,
May I, when close to eternal lands,
Be ready to heed your call.
My Search
‘Tis common sense the world lauds,
Above the follies of the fool,
But I seek wisdom that is God’s,
As that one worthy, precious jewel.
O Lord, from you discernment I ask,
As I make righteousness my task.
Our Short Attention Span
Our short attention span
limits to what we can
do and pray and think —
our mind the weakest link.
Give strength to our soft mind,
O Lord, that we might find
the truth and apply today
your wisdom, without delay.
With Selfies Obsessed
With selfies is the world obsessed —
Appearance — figures that look the best —
The eye sees only flesh and youth,
The painted nail, the whitened tooth;
From beauty’s love, O Lord, protect —
It fails to see the worth of the soul —
The Spirit’s fruit in me perfect,
Where Jesus’ face is captured whole.
I Most Believe the Fear I Feel
What windows look upon your face,
Through darkest hour and hardest race,
Where can we see the upward turn? —
Your sovereign hand we’d soon discern.
I see the waves and howling wind,
The chilly vale where men walk blind,
And fail, in swelling pride, to heal —
I most believe the fear I feel.
Till Jesus comes, will I have faith?
Or will I be an object of wrath?
My will to endure, O Lord, is small —
Along the way let me not fall.
See All My Pain and Need
The longings of man, O Lord, run deep,
Desires of body and soul,
They ruin his day, disturb his sleep,
And make of him a fool.
No passion is greater than need for you,
No wider emptiness;
Than self is required a vaster view,
Which pride balks to confess. Continue reading “See All My Pain and Need”
Answer to Prayer
Hope for me, a light, no matter how faint,
From heaven shines — even when evils paint
Their darkest colors and into the heart the cold
Of doubt seeps and chills, when men grow bold
To oppress the poor and weak — but still I see
That ray descending — answer to prayer — to free
My soul from despair. O save me, Lord — ’tis gone
My strength, awaiting the sun beyond the dawn.
Love Me
Save me, Lord, for I am weak,
Love me with your love undying,
Satisfy me with all I seek,
My deepest need in Christ supplying.
Cast me, Lord, your single net,
Use me for a soul’s salvation;
Honor my tears and blood and sweat,
To build on Christ’s secure foundation.