Broken Vessel

Broken Vessel

"There's a hole in the bucket" the song says
verses circle, trying to mend
but we finally reach the conclusion
and have ended back where we began.

Well crap! My car's got an oil leak!
you exclaim as you look at the ground
but try as you might to repair it
the leak simply cannot be found

My coin purse jingles and jangles
as I stroll before windows downtown
purse and pockets get lighter so quickly
misfit toys in my wake are bestrown

I bake cakes and cookies and pastries
and pile the frosting mile high
but all of the honey indulgence
takes a seat in my butt and my thighs

Surely life was not meant to feel empty!
Surely we were created for more!
Holes and cracks in the heart can be mended
Fullness -- truly full-- can be restored

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:11-13

You make known to me the path of life; 
in your presence there is fullness of joy; 
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

A Lament

A Lament

I will bring my complaint before the LORD--
This is all your fault!
You put that crazy ant in my ear
something about holiness
You compelled me to pray dangerous prayers
things like patience and purity
You said it would be hard--
I didn't realize HOW hard!
You said it would be worth it!
You didn't say I'd have to wait SO LONG!
So I sit in the pigsty
and add my own slime to the party...
as I wait for the day
when my King, my Love
brings heaven to earth.

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.
 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me 
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me; 
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
Psalm 102:1-2 

High Places

High Places

I trudge up the hill
hoping for relief
the cares of this day
are too heavy
I bow before the shrine
with my incense
and raisin cakes
and I feel lighter--
for a minute

I walk into Walmart
on aching legs
it's been Monday
all day long
I grab the chocolate
scan it, bag it
swipe my card
stress melts away--
for a minute

I bow my heart
before the Lord of glory
I am weak
He is my strength.
He makes my feet sure
as the ground quakes
and my idols crumble...
I stand on the rubble.
Great is the Lord!

*Inspired by Habakkuk 3:19

GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:19

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, 
for my hope is from him. 
He only is my rock and my salvation, 
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; 
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Psalms 62:5-7

Walk Worthy

Walk Worthy

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Ephesians 4:1

It is not fitting for a king
to race like a clown in a circus ring

Always, every Marine son
must not walk and chew bubble gum

The dignity that graces a bride
is not matched on a water slide

When you stand before a judge in court
you shouldn't dress for your favorite sport

Likewise, if you're playing tag
a suit and tie would be a drag

And now the reason for my rhyme
the theme of grace-- beyond sublime

When you're in Christ you run a race
dig in the Word to keep the pace

The Judge is holy, righteous, true
and He demands the same from you

Your Groom has paid with His own life
to cleanse your heart from black to white

Your Captain gives a call to war
to fight the sin within your core

The Faithful Shepherd of His flock
Christ leads us in a worthy walk


I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-6

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24

Vastly Loved

Vastly Loved

Have you met the King?
His kingdom gleams with the Midas touch
His very presence produces gold
the riches of His glory.

Have you seen his power?
Life springs forth from His word, His breath
from nothing what was not, now is
what once was dead now lives.

This is your Father!
His hand is open to lavish you with love
not comfortable, gooey, fluff and stuff
but strong, stable, sure

You will be like a tree
thick sinews digging deep in the truth
drawing up life-giving water
the fullness of God in Christ

You'll be a jewel
built on the diamond foundation of Christ
righteous perfection, beauty, holy
and holiness worked into you

Do you know this love?
broader than the edges of the universe
longer than the east is from the west
Everest, Marianas Trench

Is your mind blown?
vision swims, reason reels before this vastness
and yet...

This rich and mighty King
can give you keener vision, expand your reason
grow your heart far more than three sizes
so that you may know

You are
abundantly, exceedingly, profusely, remarkably
inexhaustibly, surpassingly, vastly
LOVED.

*Inspired by Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21

My Glory

My Glory

Moses, my son
turn your eyes back to me.
Remember the bush?
What did I say?
Pharaoh will not listen to you
His heart is stone and his ears are clay
He believes himself a god...
But he will know-- I am.

I will unleash
the strength of my outstretched arm
creatures and elements
obey my voice
Pharaoh will not listen to them
His ears are clay and his heart is stone
until I take his treasure-- his son
Then he will know-- I am.

When you were in Egypt
you thought yourself a star.
People knew you.
People liked you.
But I didn't need a star
I chose a shepherd's mouth, his tender heart
to speak my glory
So you will know-- I am.

Moses, my son
keep your eyes on me
Behold my glory
Let it seep in
My glory will change you
give you ears that hear and heart of flesh
You will shine like a star
The nations will know-- I am.

But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'"
Exodus 6:1-8
 

Wandering

Wandering

The dunes stretch before me
vast, barren, dry
mountains of danger at every turn
My heart longs for Egypt
comfort, beauty, pleasure
and yet no longer home for me
Now I follow these sheep
needy, helpless, slow
they aren't even my flock
What am I doing here?

We come to the mountain's shadow
Horeb, the mountain of God,
it stands dominating the landscape
What is this marvel
fire, bush, no smoke
it burns but is not consumed
I leave the flock behind
fire, voice, "Moses"
"Take off your shoes."
What am I doing here?

"Go to Pharaoh."
Who am I?
"I am with you."
But who are you?
"I am."
"I am the God of your fathers."
"I have remembered my promise."
They will never believe me.
"I will prove myself."
"Here are signs of power over
creation, disease, and life itself."
But I get so tongue-tied.
"I made your tongue
and I can untie it."
Please don't make me!
"Boy, take your stick and go!"

Back across the desert
dry, barren, vast
out of the frying pan, into the fire
Standing before Pharaoh
riches, power, glory
and yet the LORD stands behind me.
"Let my people go."
laughter, mocking, disdain
'I do not know this god.'
Pharaoh persecutes the flock
blood, sweat, tears
'Make bricks without straw.'
'You are lazy!'

LORD, you haven't helped at all!
What am I doing here?

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens." And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!" The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'
Exodus 5:1-8
 
The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, "You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day." They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, "The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."
Exodus 5:19-23

Upheld

Upheld

Moses stood on the mountain
While Joshua led the charge
the battle raged in the valley down below.
But Moses' hands grew weary
and when they started to fall
Joshua and his men began to slow.
Aaron and Hur stood beside
and upheld his weary arms
So God delivered victory on that day.

There are those who chase after evil
others who seek to do good
We see both in the world around us every day
It seems that the wicked keep rising
they shine and twinkle like stars
while the righteous struggle and suffer through swamps of gray
but God's hand mighty and strong
will uphold his weary ones
as He carries us in the shadow of the cross.



Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; 
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, 
over the man who carries out evil devices! 
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! 
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 
For the evildoers shall be cut off, 
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. 
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; 
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 
But the meek shall inherit the land 
and delight themselves in abundant peace...

Better is the little that the righteous has 
than the abundance of many wicked. 
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, 
but the LORD upholds the righteous...

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, 
when he delights in his way; 
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, 
for the LORD upholds his hand...

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; 
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 
The LORD helps them and delivers them; 
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, 
because they take refuge in him.
Psalms 37:7-11, 16-17, 23-24, 39-40

*Stanza 1 is inspired by the events recorded in Exodus 17:8-16.

Dawn Breaks

Dawn Breaks:

A Passion Poem

Part 1:

Night falls for the darkest Sabbath we've ever known

the echo of "Crucify" rings in our ears

for so long we looked for the King... waiting... waiting...

lame walk, blind see, dead live

we felt sure Messiah had finally come...

then the cross...

He's gone.

His teaching rang with power like we'd never heard

He dared to call himself the Son

He called us sons too... amazing... unbelievable...

and yet we saw his compassion

mercy and truth all woven through

He wanted our hearts...

but now he's gone.

His words had been too good to be true

promises of dignity, peace, and life

And yet we walked with him... knew him... believed...

we caught a glimpse of a better kingdom

Light, Love, Living Water

we dared to hope...

but now he's gone.

*****

Part 2:

The darkness is a fitting cloak for our souls

as we walk toward the garden

The wind is still... waiting... waiting...

we whisper in the stillness

as we try to gather the shards of hope...

try to understand...

He's gone.

We feel the weight of the stone in our hearts

as we wonder how we will enter the tomb

we've heard there are guards... waiting... waiting...

Will they turn us away?

The spices waft up to burn our noses...

one last dignity...

He's gone.

We reach the garden where the tomb waits

The sun peeks over the horizonn

Where are the guards? Who moved the stone?

We've never seen angels before

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?"

hope swells... dawn breaks

He's alive!

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
Luke 24:1-9

Tyrant Clock

Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
drumbeat rhythm of my days
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
working intrudes in my dreams
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
hours packed and schedule crammed
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
never ending life demands
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
mountains of chores and hordes of lists
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
push-me pull-you resting missed
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
hurry-scurry just can't stop

Stop!

Be still and know that I am God.
You are not sovereign over your sphere of habitation.
You are not the Savior of those you love.
Be still.

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalms 46:10-11

Two Treasures

Two Treasures

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Hebrews 12:15

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45
 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 18:21

I think about a moment, getting madder every time
as I turn it over and over in my mind
like lava oozing softly, anger bubbles, creeps, and swells
leaving nothing in its wake but hard black stone.
The char coating pot's bottom is a nasty tarry mess
from sitting undisturbed above the flames.
Add just a little water, put the lid on, push aside
let it sit for just a bit and you'll get slime.
I treasure up this rubbish, it ferments within my heart
Now with just the slightest jostle I spew goop.

I think about my Savior, getting cleaner all the time
as I follow in His dry and rocky line
like ice in springtime showers, anger slowly melts away
leaving actions, friendships, life itself-- restored.
The grace of His pure off'ring washes over me in waves
and rolls off each time carrying more dross.
Drink lots of Living Water, let it work down deep inside
'til it springs up and bursts out with words of life.
I treasure up these riches, they bear fruit within my heart
Only now can I reflect the grace He's shown.

Change in Pace

I have been writing, but the effort to write in prose has been mostly beyond me. There is a depth and simplicity to poetry that has better suited the expression of my thoughts for the better part of two years. It's kind of funny, but I am far more reluctant to share my poetry than my prose... However, for a while I am going to be sharing some of it.

Sweet Presence

You are my shepherd.
I will never need more
than you have supplied.
You walk with me and make me rest
in peaceful and pleasant places.
You bring joys to my soul
which I could never have imagined!
You are showing me what is true and right
and giving me strength to walk in that way.
After all, a son or daughter should look like their Father.

Even when the hounds of Death
nip at my heels
and the Furies overshadow me,
I need not fear!
You are upholding me
and reigning over them!
You are at work in my circumstances
to do good to me
so that my enemies look on in wonder.
And I stand in awe of you.
I am certain that the riches of your favor
are with me wherever I am.
And one day
I will live in the the glory of your presence
for eternity.

*Inspired by Psalm 23

A Psalm of David. 
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures. 
He leads me beside still waters. 
He restores my soul. 
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil, 
for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; 
my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 
all the days of my life, 
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD 
forever.
Psalms 23:1-6

Reconfigured

At my house we've been in the process of remodeling the kitchen for the last several weeks. This was not just a little updating, it was a full "gut it" situation. As of Monday I still didn't have a sink. But we are finally back together enough that I am beginning to put things away. While I have much more space now than I did before, it is an almost completely different configuration. I have more drawers of different sizes and in different places. My cabinets are different dimensions. The shelves are adjustable! It is wonderful... It is also kind of disorienting. You see, I had adapted myself to the structure and strictures of my old kitchen. I sort of "made" things fit, or winged it... And to quote my oldest, "it didn't make sense". Pots and pans of similar shape and size were in four different stacks in three different cabinets. Whisks were in one drawer while whisk attachments were in another drawer across the room. Some of the serving spoons were with the flatware, but the rest were next to the stove. And while I expect there to be some minor adjustments to the overall organization over time, my preference is to find homes for things and then they live there forever. So I stack and shift and think... then I shift and restack and step back to examine...

As I was working through this process some more early this week, I was struck by its similarity to sanctification. As unbelievers we are who we are, with sin all woven through everything. Then Christ comes in and "guts" our hearts of the old structures, and puts in structures consistent with his character and purpose. Suddenly we find that all our stuff doesn't fit like it used to. Maybe it needs a new home with lower priority. Maybe it needs to move up on the priorities list. Maybe it is just no longer consistent with who you are, because you are now in Christ, and it has to be thrown out. It is tedious. It requires intentional, focused thought. It can be disorienting. But in the end, the difficulty, the struggle, the pain, will not be worth comparing to the glory of living in Christ's presence for eternity!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:1,12-17

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see destruction.

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:5-11