You were just a boy when you came to us— a gentle soul— an artist— with a big smile. We gave you food and water and let you feast your eyes on blue skies, stone mountains, flowered meadows. We led you to the gates of life, unlocked them, pushed them back on creaking hinges, just … Continue reading Choosing Death
I think we can all agree that 2020 hasn’t turned out to be the year we thought it would be. Who would have dreamed at the beginning of the year that so much would change? Even though I had heard of Covid-19 back in January, I never imagined how much it would affect our country. … Continue reading Coronavirus, Uncertainty, and Hope
When I pray, blindfold me— shut the windows, cover my ears, and numb me— because awareness of burdens still unchanged unnerves me— I don’t have the heart to pray if prayer means nothing. But You are invisible. And, more often than not, Your works are invisible too. So black out my perceptions that I may … Continue reading Blindfold Me
Most people come in prose— masterpieces that the world could not do without. But when You wrote me, you wrote poetry— imaginative, concise, and rhyming You. And when I look around, I see glory where others see cliche— bits of poetry sprouting in the grass, jumping trees with squirrels, resting moon-like in the clouds. I … Continue reading My Poet
I spread the map before the King— the best route circled on the page— a line that joined points A and B. But He said, “Put the map away.” Aghast, I wondered—didn’t He know? Travel by heart is dangerous art for hearts will often tell you lies. “Yes, my child, and so will eyes.” Then … Continue reading No Map Needed
All the hopes of wise men and of shepherds, all the dreams of captives in the night, all the longing of the generations— nailed upon a cross and crucified. All the years of watching and of praying, all the light of prophecies foretold, all the groaning of the earth, awaiting— wasted, poured out on the … Continue reading Song of Easter
Do you feel the shock of sorrow? The Foundation taken, the walls collapsing ‘round you. How deep does the shame go, burrowing far beneath the ground? I built in a bad place. The Rock you thought you found was sand, and now you know. But which of You is true? We often feel forsaken— waiting … Continue reading The Day before the Resurrection
Look up, all tribes of earth— Your King has come to save. Look up, oh ransacked souls, to the God who freely gave. Look up from broken trust to One with steadfast Word. Look up from tyranny to a kind and gracious Lord. Look up from dark despair to everlasting Light. Look up from stains … Continue reading Look and Live
O my soul, you doubt— feeling condemnation here, where there is none. Is God your enemy? No, Your champion! Strive not as if alone where Love is written, plain— He did not spare His Son. .
Lord Jesus, we remember Your loneliest of nights— one friend, a traitor; the others asleep when at last the hour came. We remember how You prayed alone— the sweat dripping like blood, your lips pleading to be spared, Your purpose muddled with emotions. We remember Your bravery— staring into unknown darkness, human instincts crashing down … Continue reading The Loneliest Night
Gratefully His 