Once upon a time
An enthusiastic cry
“God, use me!” was my plea
To speak the truth to many lives!
An enthusiastic cry
“God, use me!” was my plea
To speak the truth to many lives!
I saw the need and the hurt
Deadness in their eyes
I caught a glimpse of who You are
And begged to share what I saw
Deadness in their eyes
I caught a glimpse of who You are
And begged to share what I saw
The stage was empty
My heart was full
The spotlight beckoned me, step forward
To be the first to volunteer
Each truth I longed to speak
Sought to penetrate my own heart
But, impatient with them
I was unaware my own dark spots
My heart was full
The spotlight beckoned me, step forward
To be the first to volunteer
Each truth I longed to speak
Sought to penetrate my own heart
But, impatient with them
I was unaware my own dark spots
I was chomping at the bit
Frustrated with limits
God, why don’t they get it?
No one seems to really listen
Frustrated with limits
God, why don’t they get it?
No one seems to really listen
All along, it was You
Calling to Me
“Little One, are you listening?
Won’t you let Me have YOUR heart?”
Bold declarations about You
Dimmed without the spotlight
Inconsistency within taunted me
Exposure illuminated my own flaws
Calling to Me
“Little One, are you listening?
Won’t you let Me have YOUR heart?”
Bold declarations about You
Dimmed without the spotlight
Inconsistency within taunted me
Exposure illuminated my own flaws
See, I craved the mountaintop
The passion and glory
I pursued the swelling waves
To ride on ecstasy and joy
The passion and glory
I pursued the swelling waves
To ride on ecstasy and joy
But, I got it dead wrong
And I’m grateful to be corrected
(You’re so gentle with me
Ridding shame from my struggle!)
And I’m grateful to be corrected
(You’re so gentle with me
Ridding shame from my struggle!)
It’s not the “big” moments
It’s not the drama and anthems
It’s not the microphone
Or my eloquence that matters
It’s not the drama and anthems
It’s not the microphone
Or my eloquence that matters
“One choice,” I heard You say
“Will you choose Me today?”
In the valley deep and dark
And in the ordinary and mundane?
It’s not one performance
It’s not a single truth
It’s not a fancy speech
That transforms lives, produces fruit
It’s “one choice” to abide
And then another, and another
It’s one day at a time
It’s the “little” things that matter
Faithfulness is not a show
To be paraded and displayed
It’s when I say “Yes, Lord”
On the really hard days
“Will you choose Me today?”
In the valley deep and dark
And in the ordinary and mundane?
It’s not one performance
It’s not a single truth
It’s not a fancy speech
That transforms lives, produces fruit
It’s “one choice” to abide
And then another, and another
It’s one day at a time
It’s the “little” things that matter
Faithfulness is not a show
To be paraded and displayed
It’s when I say “Yes, Lord”
On the really hard days
When no one is looking
And no one else would care
My heart is what You see
Deep inside, You meet me there
And no one else would care
My heart is what You see
Deep inside, You meet me there
I asked for intimacy
Now I’m realizing the implications
For into me, You do see
And You touch the ugly places
Now I’m realizing the implications
For into me, You do see
And You touch the ugly places
One by one, You spotlight them
And in the light, I am made free
For, before I can share it with others
I need You to plant it in me
Give me patience so I can tend it
As a steward of Your grace
Let me ever cling to truth
Bind it to me, lest it escape
And in the light, I am made free
For, before I can share it with others
I need You to plant it in me
Give me patience so I can tend it
As a steward of Your grace
Let me ever cling to truth
Bind it to me, lest it escape
Thank you for Mercy as I learn
And for Love when I stumble
Help me, Abba, to choose You
Uproot pride, make me humble
And for Love when I stumble
Help me, Abba, to choose You
Uproot pride, make me humble
When my hands are empty
The microphone nowhere to be found
When my pen is ink dry
And to me, no one pays attention
The microphone nowhere to be found
When my pen is ink dry
And to me, no one pays attention
That’s when I need You most
That’s when I fall asleep
That’s when it becomes so easy
To choose other things
As my “one choice” today
Father, help me to choose You
Taking one step at a time
That’s when I fall asleep
That’s when it becomes so easy
To choose other things
As my “one choice” today
Father, help me to choose You
Taking one step at a time
In the dark, to whisper, “I love you."
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray
for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual
wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God.” -Colossians 1:9-10
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in
me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he
it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” -John
15:4-5
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in
the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all
that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
-Ephesians 5:8-10
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than
pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who
have been trained by it.” -Hebrews 12:11
_____________________________
This specific poem is my attempt to process as I reflect on a week away at Shiloh Bible Camp. I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 4th-9th grade girls. It was an incredible week. "One choice" is the truth that kept ringing in my ears as I stood up on stage to speak. God has transformed me (and continues to transform me), one step, one day, and one choice at a time. I am grateful for the mountaintop experience (coming down is hard). But, I am even more grateful for the in-between, the waiting, and the little choices that felt like a never-ending upward climb. God is kind, faithful, and good, all the time. Every day.
____________________________
_____________________________
This specific poem is my attempt to process as I reflect on a week away at Shiloh Bible Camp. I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 4th-9th grade girls. It was an incredible week. "One choice" is the truth that kept ringing in my ears as I stood up on stage to speak. God has transformed me (and continues to transform me), one step, one day, and one choice at a time. I am grateful for the mountaintop experience (coming down is hard). But, I am even more grateful for the in-between, the waiting, and the little choices that felt like a never-ending upward climb. God is kind, faithful, and good, all the time. Every day.
____________________________
