Love Is An Open Door

To rest in the warmth of my destiny's flame

And reside with the One who consistent remains

Is the calling I'm given, to you it's the same

It's a calling effective and sure

But love is an open door.

You've taken a few steps, or you've traveled far

And despite all your running, he's right where you are

The door behind you is still swinging ajar

And the choice is to you laid before

Because love is an open door.

Dart into the cold and He hotly pursues

He's not scared of the cold, and not prone to recuse

For the cup did not pass, and He didn't refuse

His life, He gave up for yours,

But still love is an open door.

His fire lays before you, the door swinging aft,

You're caught up in His warmth, but aware of the draft,

And your tempted to run to your old wretched craft,

But the warmth of His love beckons more.

And still love is an open door.

Daily You're Working: A Song

Your patience is endless, your mercies are new
While in my rebellion, my life you pursued.
You showed me you're loving, that your word is true,
And daily you're working to make me like you.
Daily you're working to make me like you.

To show kindness to others as you've shown to me,
To esteem you as holy, like you holy, be.
To be perfect in love as I'm cleansed through and through,
For daily you're working to make me like you.

My heart has at times been tempted to stray
To go from the borders of your narrow way,
You've come to my rescue, and drawn me away,
And now you're conforming my heart day by day.
Now you're conforming my heart day by day.

To show kindness to others as you've shown to me,
To esteem you as holy, like you holy, be.
To be perfect in love as I'm cleansed through and through,
For daily you're working to make me like you.

By kindness and goodness, and by holy fear
You're forming my character as you draw near
I'll be in your likeness by when you appear,
As if in a mirror, you'll shine bright and clear,
As if in a mirror, you'll shine bright and clear.

I'll show kindness to others as you've shown to me,
I'll esteem you as holy, like you holy, be.
I'll be perfect in love as I'm cleansed through and through,
For daily you're working to make me like you.
Daily you're working to make me like you.

Forerunners

I have no desire to stay
In places I have reached today,
But to continue in my climb
To elevations more sublime.

At times I'm tempted by the thought
Of permanence, a stable spot
To set up camp and rest a while
Complacent dreams, my mind beguiles.

But then, my gaze set up ahead,
I look where those before have tread
This path has been laid out for me,
To continue to victory.

Men and women, young and old,
Have climbed this hill, their stories told.
Their witness ringing in my ears,
Like them, I too, must persevere.

The Depraved Captive

It roars within, it prowls about,
With cunning lies, and forceful shouts,
It feigns a life autonomous,
although its threats are ominous

It feeds upon its helpless host
And to it's fragile captive boasts,
"You're mine, you'll do all that I will,
My ev'ry hunger, you'll fulfill.

"Where's your escape, where's your perfection?"
It taunts me with its vile inflections.
Is there hope to be set free,
Or will this always enslave me?

If my nature is to give in,
What hope is there if I can't win?
Is there more to my life than this?
Something forgotten, something missed?

My mournful musings seem to lift,
My foe's voice also goes adrift.
Caught in the deaf'ning thunderous sound
Of horses hooves upon the ground

But only one toward me strides,
A man in white upon him rides.
Dressed in the finest war array,
Yet slightly worn in by the day.

A mighty man, of fright'ning size!
"Who are you, sir?"  I ask, surprised
"Many men have called me 'Lord'"
He says as he unsheathes a sword.

I fall and tremble as I wait,
a cutting blow to seal my fate.
"Get up, my friend" his voice rings out,
"Why must you sleep with war about?"

I'm sure you're not looking for me,
We can't be friends, we're enemies!
"I've seen your toiling and your plight,
now will you join me in the fight?"

"This blade I use has served me well,
to plunder the kingdom of hell"
He bends to my bewildered gaze,
And in my hands, his weapon lays.

"What I have used, I give to you,
Now go and pierce your captor through!"

Fences

A treeless, flat, and desert land
Of rocks shrouded with dust and sand
Where visibility expands
Beyond what eyes can view
A weary pilgrim walks along
He from a distant land belongs
Without direction, right or wrong
Naively passes through.

He looks ahead to his surprise
A sight to soothe his thirsty eyes
A lake under expansive skies,
His mind soaks like a sponge.
His narrow eyes could not see past
The pond, he's running madly fast.
This jubilation will not last
After he takes the plunge.

This dark mirage, his mind inspired
His situation growing dire
He struggles, wriggling in the mire
With urgent ferver pleads.
Without delay, a Man about
Responds to nomad's horrid shouts
And without effort, pulls him out
Attending to his needs

He takes our friend to his estate
And brings him through a narrow gate
Presenting him a heaping plate
Beseeches him to eat.
Our friend surveys Where he abides
A pen eight long, and ten feet wide
with Strong Man's promise to provide
His basic needs to meet.

The monthly moon would wax and wane
As sedentary life restrained
Our nomad friend who then complained
And gazed across the fence.
Strong Man passionately implored
"I have all that you need and more
Please do not go beyond this door
These walls, your one defense."

Th pilgrim cried "I'll be bored blind!
My needs are met, but I can't find
an outlet for my nomad mind
I have no real relief
The Journey's worth a fateful slip,
A lion's roar, a jackal's yip
A painful sting, a break, a rip
Even a ruthless thief"

Strong Man replied "Please use your head
If you go out, you'd soon be dead,
You should've called for Me instead,
I'll show you what you've missed."
Then quickly He produced a spade
Incisions in the ground He made
He warmly to our pilgrim bade
"Follow Me, I insist"

He showed him to a shaft below
That led to awesome lands to go,
Great lands with rivers, mountain, snow.
To soothe the pilgrim's heart
"See, pilgrim, in my walls, delight
In them adventures come to light
No greater love, no sweeter sight,
From my bounds, don't depart."

An Ode to Grace

Her presence causes quite a stir,

Attention she commands

As laugh and murmur take their seats

And silence takes its stand

Her countenance is welcoming

Her eyes so full of life

They look throughout the crowded room

For whom she may invite.

She asks the band to play a song

And beckons us to dance

She comes to each, one by one

We all shrink from her glance

She comes to one in disbelief,

"This can't be real," he sighs

We spineless men explain, reject, 

but on and on she tries

She comes to me with outstretched hand

I try to look away,

But everything inside me craved 

A moment like today

Her hand in mine, she leads me to

The center of the floor

This mix of ecstasy and fright

I've never felt before.

"But I can't dance, my rythm's off

I dance on two left feet!"

"It's okay, I'll teach you how"

She bids me, "don't retreat"

The fiddles play, our feet begin

To move as if we're one,

I trip and fall, she lifts me up

"Keep going, we're not done"

On and on, she teaches me,

And greater we improve

As time advances steadily, 

Fluidly we move.

I've heard the people talk of her,

With accusations blind,

They say she's forceful,  trapping some

Others neglects to find.

That's not the Grace I've come to know, 

Who first invited me.

She welcomes all, teaches all,

And bids all "Dance with me."

Press Us

"Press us down!" the olives cry, abandoning their dread.
"The oil that flows from our demise will garnish many heads.
From infants to the sick and dying, to kings and priests in power,
Our unction represents God's favor on whose head it's showered.

"Crush us in our vats after you take us from our vine."
These martyred grapes prepare themselves to fill our cups with wine.
"Our juice will make you merry, and cause you to reflect,
On sufferings and covenants, your life they will perfect."

"Grind us lonely stalks of wheat, we're apt to bear the pain,
Together we will feed your homes, come partake of our grain.
Bake us in your ovens with or without salt and leaven,
And share our bread with others in communion prior to heaven."

"Strip me bare, beat me in, and nail me to a cross."
To suffer for our freedom He would surely pay our cost.
The joy was set before Him, our future made secure,
By freedom's price He saved us, to the end we shall endure.

"So may I face my trials with joy," this Christian will proclaim
"For my strength and trust is found in the Name above all names.
Weakness, loneliness, or hurt, may I my pressing, bear,
A brokenness that will provide a truth for all to share.