Father God,
hear me as I pray
and keep me in the way,
always and forever, each and every day.
A sinner I’m a runaway,
but be close to me today.
Forgive me as I go astray.
In Jesus may I stay.
So send me now without delay,
that others won’t dismay.
Always and forever, I am Yours, hooray.
Morning Confession
Morning has dawned,
The sun has risen.
Me a sinner to which I’m imprisoned.
Filled with sorrow
and regret,
Oh God my Lord, please remove my large debt.
Christ Jesus died
and rose for me.
My faith I place completely in thee.
Restore and renew
that I may rejoice.
And of Your glory I’ll give a loud voice.
Listening
[Tick tock, tick tock]
[Beep beep]
[Screech]
[Wind]
[Murmur, murmur]
Noises fill my airspace.
Invading my thoughts.
Distracting
No where to go where my space isn’t polluted with noise,
but I sit and listen,
trying to listen above the noise – through it – in despite of it.
Listening for the still, small voice of God.
[Tick tock, tick tock]
Listening for God but there’s noise in my head.
Thoughts running around; bumping into each other.
Disjointed
Distracting
Discouraging
No where to go where my space isn’t polluted with noise.
God help me.
Speak above the noise – through it – scattering it – destroying it.
May Your still, small voice, drown out the noise.
[Tick tock, tick tock]
I keep listening,
for God will not disappoint.
I keep listening,
for God’s voice is all I want.
I keep listening…
I Got This
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! [Psalms 46:10 ESV]
I got this.
Take it easy.
Calm down.
Be still.
Remember, I am God.
I am sovereign.
I am LORD.
I Am.
Why do you worry?
Why do you get discouraged?
Why do you let others get you down?
Don’t you trust me?
Be still and remember.
Be still and know.
Be still for I Am.
I am Creator
I am Father
and I will reign forever.
All my enemies and yours, WILL be defeated.
All my opponents and yours, WILL be put to shame.
For I have won the victory.
I Am
So why, oh why, won’t you be still?
Take it easy.
Stop worrying.
I got this.
Open My Eyes
Open my eyes to see Your glory.
Open my eyes to know Your beauty.
Open my eyes to know Your way.
Open my eyes to live in the Way.
Open my eyes that I may be faithful.
Open my eyes that I may see where I’ve strayed.
Open my eyes to know Your grace.
Open my eyes to see Your Son.
Open my eyes, oh Lord,
that I may see and know;
that I may see and behold;
that I may see and go.
Open my eyes, oh Lord,
I want to see.
A Psalm for the Morning
Oh Lord, You are my strength and my song,
You are my salvation.
You cause me to rise in the morning,
and gently lie my head down in the evening;
keeping me throughout the night.
You are my guard on all sides;
defeating those that would oppose You.
Keep me, oh Lord, from straying from You.
Keep me from despair.
Keep me from straying from Your ways.
May I be faithful and obedient.
May I be true and right.
May I know the way You have ordained for my life.
Oh Lord, on my own I am lost.
Lead me, guide me, direct me.
I want to know Your ways.
Oh Lord, You are my strength and my song,
never do I want to leave Your side.
Keep me, this day, and always,
that I may proclaim Your holy name;
that Your glory may shine.
Birds
Birds take flight,
soaring high,
coasting on the wind.
Where are you going?
Only God knows where.
Oh God, direct me as well.
They swoop here and there,
glide everywhere,
eating along the way.
God providing from His abundance.
Oh God, provide for me as well.
Care-free and without a worry,
for they know no other way,
they know their loving Creator.
They thus live free and with all joy.
Oh God, may I live as thus as well.
Christ is Risen
Christ is risen,
let everyone shout.
“He lives! He lives!“
for there is no doubt.
Christ is risen,
his love is so true.
“Amen! Amen!“
I am made anew.
Christ is risen,
all my sins removed.
“Praise be to God!“
I have been approved.
Christ is risen,
he lives evermore.
“Glory! Glory!“
death has no encore.
Daddy
During the week, I get the pleasure of waking up my children for school.
[I use the word “pleasure” very loosely here.]
Anyway, yesterday at 7 AM, I made my first attempt to wake up my 6-year-old daughter. There is usually protesting when I go in and so most mornings I end up giving her a couple extra minutes, but not yesterday. That morning was different. As I entered my daughter’s room, I noticed she was already in the process of sitting up. Maybe she heard me in the hall, I don’t know. Whatever the case, when I said, “Good morning sweetie.” She immediately reached out her arms and said, “Daddy“. I went over to her and she climbed into my waiting arms, buried her face into my chest and clung to me with everything she had. I reciprocated by wrapping my arms around her and carried her down stairs; enjoying the snuggle time. I could definitely handle that routine every morning. What a great start to the day. But regardless of the reception I get from my little girl in the morning, my love for her won’t waver.
Our heavenly Daddy also desires that routine every morning; waking up and immediately reaching out to Him in prayer saying, “Daddy“, and then falling into His loving arms. For you see, He loves you with an amazing love, even though you may protest and go to your phone first or the coffee pot or the refrigerator or whatever. Or maybe Daddy doesn’t even get a mention until later in the day. Whatever the case, His arms are waiting for you with an unconditional love that doesn’t make sense to this world.
Try it sometime. When you wake up in the morning, raise your arms and say, “Daddy” and then fall into His waiting arms. What a great way to start the day 🙂
Believing
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
[John 20:29 ESV]
Believing isn’t seeing,
it is knowing that the unbelievable;
that which doesn’t make sense,
is not only believable but,
true.
Believing isn’t trusting your senses,
but it is knowing in your heart;
your heart of hearts,
that which your senses can’t confirm is
true.
Believing is leaping from a precipice
into the unknown,
defying the screaming voice within;
the voice staying, “you will die, this is
true.”
Believing is shutting that voice out
and jumping; listening to the Spirit;
listening with the ears of faith,
listening to the voice of
Truth.
Believing is falling to your death,
knowing that it means Life;
for the hands of our gracious God,
will keep you in the
Truth.
Believing is a gift,
wrapped in the messiness of the cross,
presented through the empty tomb,
and secured in the Spirit of
Truth.
Yes! Yes! I believe! Jesus Christ lives, and that is the
truth.
The Heart of a Pastor 