Despite my unworthiness.
Despite my waywardness.
Despite my wretchedness.
You choose to love me.

Despite how many times I grieve You.
Doubt you.
Turn to idols, putting them over You.
You choose to pursue me.

Despite my brokenness.
My blindness.
My weakness.
You choose to embrace me.

Your love is beyond any Love I have ever known.
For it has no end.
It has no limits.
Your Love is compassionate.
Merciful.
Fierce.
Tender.
It draws me.
It woos me.
To stay close to Thee.
To stay.
Safe in Your arms.
To be the wounded sheep.
Held in the healing embrace
of her Shepherd.
To be healed.
By His Love.

Thank You, Lord.
that despite all that I am.
Despite all that I've done.
You choose.
To love me.

The lesser gifts.
I hold.
Loosely in my hand.
For they could fly away.
At any moment.

The Greatest Gift of all.
I cling to.
Never letting go.
For He is the One.
Who keeps my soul.
And to Him alone.
My life.
I owe.

Trust in Jesus
Have no fear
He is your courage
He is always near

RLB

Oh give thanks
unto the Lord
for He is good
and His mercies,
Oh yes
His mercies,
they never fail us
never.
His mercies
they
endure
forever
and ever
and
ever more.


Cj 2017 0108

Though the feeders stand empty.
The birds still rejoice.
They do not fly around in frantic fear.
Like I do.
They trust You to feed them.

Though I have no provisions stored.
No wealth saved for tomorrow.
And my coin pouch is empty.
I choose to rejoice and trust You
to provide for my needs.

I lift up my voice and sing to You.
Though there is no cattle in my stall.
And no fruit on my vines.
I cling to Your promise.
Your promise is this:
You will give me all that I need.
As I seek first Your kingdom
and Your righteousness.

Myself and my seed
shall not be begging bread,
even if my coin pouch is empty.
And I have no provisions stored.
I will trust in You, my God.
For You have promised.
To provide.

Face to face.
I let You love me.
And cast out my every fear.

Face to face.
I let You unlock my heart.
With Your tenderness.

Face to face.
I let You teach me.
Your ways.

Face to face.
I speak to You.
As my closest Friend.
And I hear.
Your tender voice.
Such love!
Such intimacy!
Oh, why have I
spent so much of my life.
Running from You.
Spurning Your affections.
Grieving Your heart.
Avoiding...
the Wilderness.

But now...
but now...
Face to face.
You draw me.
Closer and closer.
With cords of Love.
You ravish my heart,
O Lover of my soul!

Face to face.
I give myself to You.
In surrender.
In trust.

Face to face.
My eyes see You.
My heart hears You.
As I submit myself
to Your rod and staff.
In Your Refiner's fire,
You consume.
All my dross.

In the wilderness.
In the grief.
In the darkness.
I behold You.
Face to face.
In intimacy.

My mourning
is turned
into dancing.
As I behold Your
glory, Your wisdom,
Your unending love.
And come away.
With healed wounds.
With fears  calmed.
With renewed purpose.
Having beheld You.
Face to face.

Lover of my soul,
You fill every longing of my heart.
Eternal Husband,
You are faithful and true.
Shepherd of my heart,
You are safe and You are strong.
Oh, how I love You!
You are my Fountain of Living Waters.
I thirst no more.
Your voice whispers to me,
words of life and healing.
You change me from a cowering fool,
into a hart with hinds' feet.
Able to leap upon my high places.
Of difficulty and trial.
You draw me with cords of love.
You romance my soul.
You bind me to Your heart
with bands unbreakable.
My Shepherd and King,
I desire You more than anything!
I want nothing.
I want no one.
To ever come between us again.
I honour You.
I love You.
I worship You.
You are my Greatest Treasure.
And there is no other.
Worthless idols,
be gone from me!
O Shepherd of my soul,
You have set me free.
I set You before me.
Continually.
And in You I've found.
My identity.
For You speak over me,
that I am no longer called
"Much-Afraid."
My new name now.
Is...
"Grace and Glory."

Somedays
Things are just too heavy,
I just need to
climb
into
the Father's arms
...............
I just can't
"adult'
today.

Cj 2-13-2017