More Than We Knew

How little of "testimony" we knew as youth
A brief tale of how we confessed Your name
Yet this understanding fell far short of the truth

To confess You as Lord is to live an abundant life
This abundance does not come of or for ourselves
This abundance comes from Your blessing despite all strife

Our times of trial, be it our negligence or the enemy's device
We oft grow fearful and may stumble or stray from You
Yet You do not abandon us who forget or abuse Your sacrifice

You continually guide and remind us Who we serve
Calling us to repent and to give all we do to honor You
In mercy you draw us back to the straight path when we swerve

Sometimes confusion overtakes us and we pour out promises
Yet, you do not desire words that tumble from trembling mouths
You desire a people of simple faith, willing to bear our crosses

You call us to boldness, to share our hope with those we meet
A hope that can only come from faith in You Lord
From the Savior we know and the grace you give, oh how sweet

We came as children, simple in understanding and sure in hearts
Since our declaration, through every fear, temptation and trial
You have ever proven faithful, and that is where testimony starts

A Christian's testimony must go beyond when we first confess
We miss so much if we only see it as that initial encounter
As everyday thereafter comprises the testimony You call us to profess

The Victory Won, The Battle Not Done

From whom did we receive the order to disband?

Where in all Scripture does there appear such a command?

Nay, Scripture does not describe our work as done

Yet we lay down our arms with the victory won

The King has conquered but has yet to return

Until that day, we must live out what we learn

We must daily declare His lordship over us

‘Til the battle truly ends and we emerge victorious

Against that day, we received a great commission

To share with the world a love beyond comprehension

For that love comes from the One who made the earth

He sent a rescuer, an intercessor through a virgin birth

Our battle does not lie with the world we see

The battle rages within our hearts, where we cannot see

The world around us visibly filled with turmoil

Yet even this finds its roots deep in spiritual soil

The enemy routed, yet with renegade bands left behind

Our former desire to sin contains a power only Christ can bind

Of ourselves we cannot resist, but in Christ we will overcome

For with His death and resurrection, from sin He gave us freedom

Be wary that you do not falter, or fall into disarray

Take up the whole armor of God, to withstand in this evil day

At all times, cling to the Truth, for the Truth has set us free

By the blood He shed on the cross, He redeemed you and me

The Divine Helper

So riddled and burdened I fall to my knees

In fear and pain, through tears I fervently offer my pleas

When I can do naught but sit and shudder

The Spirit intercedes with words I cannot utter

Moved to my core, yet no words can I speak

At such moments, the Spirit ministers to the meek

My soul soon finds rest in His hiding place

Through no power of mine, but by His grace

When we expect some spectacular sign from on high

Instead, He speaks with a still, small voice to draw us nigh

How blessed are we, who have received Him

In our weakness, He gives us strength and vim

Sin still seeks to pull us away, but it cannot hope to contend

For the Light of men defeated sin and death, hastening their end

In the Holy Spirit, we receive our inheritance

Only through Him does one give Jesus reverence

When doubt rears its head, He casts it down

And reminds me I received a righteous crown

Through no mighty or heroic works of mine

The crown I wear, was given me by one Divine

Beauty, a letter of Praise

Beauty, deserving of praise and high esteem, instead, beaten and downtrodden. Often debased, thy fathomless depths hidden by the pathetic, hollow façade we have given thee. What once moved us at our core, no longer goes beyond what we see.

We long for thee so much more, but fear that to touch Beauty, will shatter her, being so fragile; or that to touch Beauty will shatter the illusions with which we have supplanted her.

We know that to touch Beauty will shatter our illusions no matter where our heart lies, yet we forget that Beauty, even broken, will arise once more, in even greater splendor. For Beauty, fragile though she is, possesses an eternal resilience that gives her strength beyond our comprehension. Attracted by her fragility, and unaware of all but a hint of her resiliency when we see her, she retains a mysterious air about her, which only heightens our attraction to her.

We cannot and will not know Beauty in her fullness unless, and until we know the Lord in full, for all Beauty comes from the Lord; He is Love, and if the depths of Beauty are found fathomless, how much deeper does Love run true.