Farewell

~We will be strangers, you and I.
I’ll keep to myself, you do the same-
After a while, I’ll know only your name.
Weather and small talk will fill our mouths,
I’ll know nothing of what your life is about.
I’ll be private, guarded- with nothing to share-
You won’t see me struggle, you won’t care.

~We will be strangers, you and I.
You used to encourage and cheer me on.
Not anymore- where have you gone?
Maybe it’s me, my depressing ways.
Maybe I’m defective- that’s why nobody stays.
Maybe it’s you, you’re much too good
To mix up with someone from my neighborhood.

~We will be strangers, you and I.
We shared secrets and jokes, wishes and dreams.
We talked about almost everything!
You changed my life in the best of ways.
I’ll always be thankful for those days.
What a blessing to have known you, friend.
It hurts so much for this to end.

~We will be strangers, you and I.
But when, by chance, I see your face
I’ll find out if time erased
That deep kinship that once we shared,
The gentle smile that showed you cared.

For now, just know that you are missed.
Perhaps one day we’ll reminisce;
Discover what is was that changed us
How it happened that we became strangers,
~You and I.

Twilight

Cool breezes and pale sunlight dance in the trees.
The clouds drift in time to the swells and swirls.
The day is ending but the song endures.
And there is peace.

Lost in the music as it rises to meet the twilight.
Melody and harmony woven together-
Timeless as the memories they recall.
Beckoning me to another time and place.

Here there is no rushing-
I am at the mercy of the music.
It is the music of home, 
The song of the heart.

Could I capture in words what the song sings to my soul,
And paint the places and times I see-
I would write the rivers and trace the trails and sketch the sky!
But who can orchestrate the wind or compose a dream?

The forest is ablaze and the sun reveals it’s final display.
Perhaps it’s finest moment is here at last.
Say hello to the mountains for me,
For I cannot stay.

The night and it’s deep, dark glory are coming.
The song retreats and the moment is gone.
But there is peace.

Sufficient

God, do You still love me when I’m a failure?
I screw up everything I touch.
How can I even be Your child
When I mess up this much?
I don’t see Your strength
In any of my weakness.
But that is what Your Word says,
And I want to believe it.

I’m not equal to the task;
I am nothing without You!
On my own I cannot do the work
That You have called me to.
Destroy my pretense of strength,
And disintegrate my pride.
Do whatever You need to do
So that I will know inside-
Your grace is sufficient for even me.

I am a work in progress;
A cracked pot made of clay.
Use this lowly vessel, Lord,
To put Your power on display.
In the ups and downs in life
That time cannot erase,
Teach me always to rely
On Your all-sufficient grace.

I’m not equal to the task;
I am nothing without You!
On my own I cannot do the work
That You have called me to.
Destroy my pretense of strength,
And disintegrate my pride.
Do whatever You need to do
So that I will know inside-
Your grace is sufficient for even me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Almost Too Deep for Words

An ache from deep within,
A heart that is raw and wicked.
The realization rocks me to the core-
I am reaping what I have sown.
This life of selfishness and pride
Has resulted in pain and loneliness.
All the hurts I have done are cascading back on me.
I deserve this.

I confess my wicked heart and bitter envy.
I confess my tendency to leave.
I confess my hurtful actions.
My life is a mess.

But You say that there is no condemnation,
You say that You will never forsake me,
You say that You love me!
This I do not deserve!
You extend mercy to a wretched sinner,
Grace to a rebellious heart.
You are good beyond measure.
I cannot understand.
What would make You pay the price
For someone like me?
Faithless, unfaithful, struggling, rebellious, stubborn.
How can You love me???

But You do.
It is amazing and life changing.
My guilt is gone. I don’t understand.
God change my heart. Breathe Your life into me.
Strengthen me to withstand the circumcision of my heart,
when You transform me to the image of Christ.
Love me through the pain.
Show me the end result. Your glory! My transformation.
To look more like Jesus. It is painful.

But worth it.

Love and Laughter

Who would’a thought we’d end up here
With all these memories after all these years
We’ve come a long way from where we began
Given the choice, we’d do it again
For better and worse, our love has grown
I know your heart like I know my own
God grant us many more days
To celebrate life in brand new ways
With those we love who are following after
We’ll live each day with love and laughter