Path in the Woods

A man walked along a path in a dense, dark wood

Looking to the left he saw nothing and same to the right

However, the path upon which he tread, was illumined by light

Along the way, an object drew him aside and into the wood

Reaching the spot, he found nothing, yet now he was lost

The path had vanished into the trees that surrounded him

Unable to see the path, he headed west on a whim

All he found, was something that came at even greater cost

He tried again to find what he’d lost, but again all was dark

As silence and darkness crept into his heart, so did despair

All over he searched, but nothing filled the emptiness there

For his heart needed far more to fill it than any simple lark

All the while, he knew on his own he would never find the path

And yet, he resisted crying out, though he knew not why

For the pain and isolation were woven within a great lie

A lie trapping him between a lost great love and a fear of wrath

Suddenly he saw a light ahead, akin to the light he’d left

He started toward it, when a snare his ankle caught

Collapsing forward to the ground, “Alas, alas!” he thought

He arose quick as he could, yet once more feeling bereft

The light itself was no illusion like the others he had pursued

This was indeed the light from the path he trod of old

Yet he had strayed too close to the snare’s hold

Slowly his hope started to fade, his thoughts skewed

At times the hope was rekindled, but only to a flicker

Soon he started to strike the trees in futile rage

Feeling trapped in the wood like an animal in a cage

As frustration and loneliness set in all the quicker

All the while, he knew the cry he needed to cry

And every time he saw the light, he silently tried to reach it

Yet, it seemed that every time, there awaited another pit

And every time, he’d get up once more to try

But it seemed every time he got up, the light had gone

The Light had not departed, but was obscured by the wood

In his heart he knew this was true, yet still he would brood

Even then, the light continued to break, though not as a dawn

For he had still not cried out for the Light, merciful Light

And until that time, the light would only remind him

Of the love and joy he had before he followed a whim

The torture was his own creation, and not from the Light

For the light itself, reminded him that he was of the Light

He was not of the wood, yet he was lost within the wood

The dark forest sought to trap him wherever it could

Seeking to quench the joy that was once brilliant and bright

Barely a sound escaped his lips, yet his heart cried out

A nearly inaudible, yet ever so real cry to the Lord

Swiftly, the dark trees shattered, the light, a brilliant sword

The desperate, sorrowful cry changed to a joyful shout

Despite the failures and sins of the son of the Light

His Father, the Light, had neither forgotten his son

Nor had he forsaken him, for His work was not done

He simply tarried ‘til the time He knew was perfectly right

At the designated time, He moved within His son’s heart

Igniting the fire that lead to His son’s desperate cry

And when it reached the Father’s ear, He broke the great lie

Restoring His wayward son with a love that spoke to the heart

And once more, the son sought to follow the path before him

He knew the journey still held many trials of unknown kind

But, he also knew his Father’s Word guarded his heart and mind

That the Lord would hold him ‘til his time, though life turn grim

Let us not forget the love and mercy by which we were bought

For a price so high, how could we not consider the power of grace?

Stumbling or not, we have been given the strength to run this race

To the end, where we will finally realize what God hath wrought

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