We thank thee then, O Father

Even as I quote these verses, I know that they do not always guide my thinking. But praise be to God that there are times such as this when I believe it with all of my heart!

"...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content...I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Phil 4:11,13

Come to the Waters

Come to the waters whoever is thirsty; 

Drink from the fountain that never runs dry.

Jesus the living One offers you mercy,

Life more abundant in boundless supply.

Come to the river that flows through the city,

Forth from the throne of the Father and Son

Jesus the Savior says "Come and drink deeply."

Drink from the pure, inexhaustible One.

Come to the the fountain without any money.

Buy what is given without any cost.

Jesus the gracious One welcomes the weary;

Jesus the selfless One died for the lost.

Come to the Well of unmerited favor;

Stretch out your hand, fill your cup to the brim.

Jesus is such a compassionate Savior.

Draw from the grace that flows freely from Him.

Come to the Savior, the God of salvation.

God has provided an end to sin's strife.

Why will you suffer the law's condemnation? 

Take the free gift of the water of life.

To my Lord.

I offer this to my Lord not in hopes of praise from others for my piety (I admit, it is shamefully on mind), but rather, because of His greatness and glory. This poem is admittedly poor, but in it I have laid my heart before Him. I pray that it is nothing less than my all.

"Your grace so divine; Your grace so sufficient.

Your love is more pure and more sweet and more true.

Your truth is most noble, most steadfast and patient.

Your death was most bitter, yet cleansed my poor soul.

"Your life, oh my God, was a life lived in exile.

The death that you died, separation so brutal.

The Father who cherished You turned back His face,

And I, the offender was murderer, too.

"You bore my offenses, my lust and my pride.

You took on my hatred, my anger, my strife.

And at that same moment, You cried, "It is finished."

And bowed low your head in shame and reproach.

"And at that same moment, Your Father looked on You

And saw in You hatred, pride, lust, and rape.

He saw fouler deeds than I can imagine,

And all in the soul of His one perfect Son.

"'What have you done?' roared the Father in anger.

'These crimes You've committed, what say You to these?'

The Son bowed His head in shame and reproach

For the rape, pride, and lust that now scarred His soul.

"You bled for my sins on the cross there at Calv'ry,

You bore for me there all my guilt and God's wrath.

Excruciating suffering was all borne for me.

You finished the work that You had begun.

"What more can be said? These words are so fleeting.

Their weight, a mere fraction of Your love, grace, and truth.

For Lord, You have done what none could imagine,

You died in perfection for dark, wretched souls.

"And now to this day, I have joy everlasting,

For death had no hold on your body divine.

You rose in Your power and great exultation.

You there conquered death and sin for us all."

If there is anything that I have said that is in error, please let me know.

The Key to Contentment...Marriage, duh

I was reading Elisabeth's Elliot's Passion and Purity (again, yes) and found this rather amusing...

"A slip of paper handed to me at a seminar once had this question written on it: 'What do you do when you feel you've come to a point that your singlehood appears to be inadequate status for deep personal growth? How long do you hang on?'"
"Good thing I wasn't on the platform when that question came. I might have chuckled. I toyed with the idea of giving a facetious answer: 'Three more days, then go out and either ask someone to marry you or hang yourself.'"

Oh dear. That is why I love reading this book.

I come...

"Let not the passions of my flesh nor lustings of the mind
bring my spirit into subjection,
but do thou rule over me in liberty and power.

"I thank thee that many of my prayers have been refused––
I have asked amiss and do not have,
I have prayed from lusts and been rejected,
I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness."