He Holds My Right Hand!

You hold my hand, Lord, always: King of this whole world, you lead me, making my right hand your chosen tool so that each act becomes a holy service in your master plan. You hold my hand, you love me: Lover of my soul, you treasure me and nurture every gifting given and make eachContinue reading “He Holds My Right Hand!”

Yearning to be Filled

Yearning to be filled, filled up to capacity to the full measure of God’s own fullness— possible? –to be filled like the ocean, deep, with its waters reaching always heavenward, splashing to the shore— possible? –to be filled like the skies, air and clouds all rising higher with the glory of the sunlight reflecting everywhere—Continue reading “Yearning to be Filled”

One Sure Thing

In this slippery tilting world your heart is one sure thing. You love me always, whether I am striding in the right direction or fallen in a patch of thorns, listening raptly to your voice or indulging my addictions, desperately trying to feel good. Unfailing love: hesed, the Hebrews said. This is what we longContinue reading “One Sure Thing”

Share that Light!

I live in darkness, a world that snuffs out lamps and candles wherever it can. But your Light dawns on those who wait, who keep looking up not down. And then you reveal your plans in the network of sky and clouds, tree limbs reaching and touching, your soft light glowing on water as wellContinue reading “Share that Light!”

Man of Sorrows

And this is comfort: that when the children cry the Man of Sorrows suffers too. Eternity encircled and enclosed the crossbar of his suffering with the pain of ages, all our griefs and every ruination choking out the Breath of Life. Heart broken under awful weight of every horror, crime and burden, he was crushed.Continue reading “Man of Sorrows”

Back to Congo

My Congo! Oh, to be out in your cold morning air, To feel the chill bite of your wind, To see the red sun peeking over your pines Hear hummingbirds humming a hymn! I long to be there when the sun spreads her warmth To the black, rich dirt at my feet, To walk betweenContinue reading “Back to Congo”

That Long Climb

(My hand held by my young friend while climbing–photo credit to Josh Wohlgemut) “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” And how does that work out? I’m tired, dragged down by all the brokenness: women scrounging far and wide for water, youth without a future, men distressed. Marriages are fragmented, replete with selfishness, misunderstanding,Continue reading “That Long Climb”

Make Me Ready

Keep a towel on my arm!Keep me ready to kneel before my tired friendto lovingly rinse the dirt glued onas they kept trudgingthrough thick and thin,the rut and puddle, the stuff that sticksfrom where they’ve been, a long and painful road.Give my eyes the knack to catchweariness, hurt withina gesture or a sigh.Give me kindnessContinue reading “Make Me Ready”

I Belong to Yahweh!

I belong to Yahweh!I am his, and he is mine.He lives in me–astonishing, this truth I can’t absorb!I live in him, in whom I havemy being, my true home,my source of life and strength,all my giftings and my soul,the “who” I am, because of him.“I AM,” he said to Mosesand he says it now toContinue reading “I Belong to Yahweh!”

I Am That Heifer!

You’ve made me your heifer, pulling the plow,you’ve shaped me and trained me, showing me howto lean to the left when your strong hand presses,to walk straight ahead, cleaning up messesand tearing out weeds, preparing the wayfor planting the seed in that soil on the daywhen all is in readiness, soft dirt tilled,and we pressContinue reading “I Am That Heifer!”