 Redeemed and forgiven, waiting for the not yet
Homesick for what is unseen In the cosmic garden all our hopes are met Light unending, trees always green Sojourners and exiles, looking for that day Groaning with the pains of anticipation Of release from the chains of decay Complete freedom in the new creation Chosen and sealed, striving in prayer To persevere in the fight against sin Grace sufficient beyond compare For death no longer has dominion Children and heirs, longing for our home Soon we will leave behind the curse Because the Son has overcome Then His glory will fill the universe Sanctified and loved, seeking our King The glorious city, our final dwelling place All things restored, creation will sing Seeing Him clearly, face to face
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 As I was working on the Friendship blog series, I remembered a poem I wrote a long time ago. This is dedicated to my best friend who has known me longer than anyone else (besides my parents). We lost touch soon after high school, but God brought us back together again ten years later. We have had our rough spots through the years, but through it all we have grown closer to each other and to Christ. Through the Years From watching lightning bugs in the backyard To watching toddler shows on repeat From picking out prom dresses To choosing the right kind of diaper From getting lost on the back roads To chasing the kids through the house From sharing snacks at high school lunch To cleaning sticky fingers at the kitchen table From wishing for a weekend date To waiting for working husbands From sharing secrets at slumber parties To complaining about aches by text From young and full of life To not-so-young and scrounging for spoons From laughter and smiles To discouragement and pain From decades of pilgrimage through the already, not yet To eons of immortality in the new heavens and earth Brought together by Him Held together by grace Thank you my friend, my sister in Christ See also: Foundations of Friendship Living out friendship The Overflow of Friendship  This is the plan, Yahweh said
I don’t like this, I pouted So I ran from God Angry, anguished, anxious My desires blinded me Bitterness covered with empty pleasures Comfort, control, cravings My idols promised security I became what I worshiped God brought the storm Severe mercies plunged me to the depths Yahweh opened my eyes Doubt, defiance, despair Washed away by trust Undeserved grace wrapped me in love Patient, present, pursuing Hesed* never ending Yahweh brought me back *Hesed: the Hebrew word for the steadfast, loyal, covenantal love of God See also: The Temple, In the Middle of Suffering  Auhtor: K. LuceI sit to contemplate my value
A humanness gone askew Why this need to discover anew For what Jesus says is true What must I contemplate Christ already sealed my fate Always present those that hate But no need to take the bait Garden of Gethsemane Jesus suffered agony Through this rhapsody I seek my alchemy A chance to evaluate Deeply appreciate No need to dominate To Christ I gravitate Life so contradictory So full of trickery Why stay in misery In Jesus the victory Feel the stress Upon me press A big juicy mess For Jesus to Bless Like blood through pores Life choices a mind tours My wretchedness obscures What the Lord truly adores My soul is sorrowful I bare the weight and tremble In my core I feel reproachful Through this I must travel The challenge builds me new Resurrection I am too For once I felt askew And now I feel anew  Light and life
Created from nothing Formed and filled The garden temple Male and Female Pinnacle of creation Image and Likeness Skins and linen Made by the pattern Carried and raised The wilderness temple Anointed and consecrated For glory and beauty Priest and Intercessor Gold and silver Built for the Name Promised and fulfilled The mountain temple Established and prospered Given Wisdom and understanding King and Son Grace and truth Dwelt among us Uncreated and Unrecognized The Incarnated temple Destroyed and resurrected Entered through the veil Immanuel and Redeemer Majesty and Glory Reigning with the Father Ascended and enthroned The Greater Temple Fulfilling the covenant Once for all Mediator and High Priest One and many Born of water and Spirit Chosen and beloved The holy temple Living and Growing Joined with the cornerstone Saints and Sinners City and Bride Coming down from heaven Prepared and adorned The Lord and the Lamb Glorified and Exalted Dwelling with his people Light and Life  In the dark
Eyes wide open Everyone else sleeping Pain unending Fatigue beyond description But rest fails me Tried the pills Counted the sheep Imagined the positive Look to my savior Sink into His arms Trust His ways Accept His comfort Beg for His mercy Cry, scream, toss, pace Where’s the rest? How can I make it through the night? How will I face tomorrow? Does it bring exhaustion? How much pain to endure? Draw upon His strength Cradled in His wings He won’t forsake me My burden is His His love sustains me I cannot bear it No more tears left They don’t understand The hours drag The minutes stretch Yet promise abounds This life is not forever This is my hope Transformed body Pain gone forever Sabbath rest eternal Shalom uninterrupted Shining streets Crystal waters Praises eternal Victorious King Scripture for Meditation: Psalm 6:6-9 Psalm 34:17-19 Psalm 42:1-5 Isaiah 40:28-31 Matthew 11:28-30 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Romans 8:18-25 Revelation 21:1-4 Also see: In the Middle of Suffering  We sing to Yahweh
We praise the Almighty He is our God He is the warrior Who has power over the enemy Holy, Holy, Holy God has triumphed -- we respond together Like the stars at creation From bondage and darkness He has led through the sea And we give thanks with melody Our song tells the story God has saved us through judgment The enemy boasted of certain victory Yahweh shattered him with fury Our song is a witness -- Of what God has done He has guided us and redeemed us When we go astray These words bring us back to truth We sing, we pray, we cry What we know is true The world is watching Let them see the power of your arm Let them hear us singing boldly We sing for the journey ahead When the way forward is uncertain We look back to remember We know that victory is at hand We sing for those who can’t-- When the storms threaten In weakness and in doubt -- Our voices carry them to the cross Anchoring them in hope We will be together someday Singing together of deliverance A choir of peoples praising him The song of Moses and the Lamb Free from the vanquished enemy We exalt the Almighty Who has power over the nations We worship you Yahweh You and you alone Holy, Holy, Holy Scripture references: Exodus 15; Revelation 15 This piece was inspired by a sermon preached by Pastor Ken Winter (Heritage Fellowship Church, Springfield, Ohio on January 11, 2026). You can watch the full sermon here.  Tiny feet
Humbled in human likeness Resting in the manger Behold the Immanuel Obedient Feet Perfect in Righteousness Immersed in the Jordan Behold the Beloved Son Fasting Feet Led by the Spirit Tempted in the wilderness Behold the Bread of Life Beautiful feet Surrounded by the crowds Proclaiming on the mountain Behold the Prince of Peace Steady feet Strengthened by prayer Striding on the waves Behold the Lord of Creation Fragrant feet Drenched with tears Forgiving the sinner Behold the Anointed Dusty feet Carried by a donkey Entering the city Behold the King Staggering feet Anguished by the cup Pleading in the garden Behold the Passover Lamb Burdened feet Despised by many Enduring the cross Behold our Sin Bearer Pierced feet Wounded and bleeding Hanging with the wicked Behold the Suffering Servant Scarred feet Witnessed by many Walking the roads again Behold the Risen Savior Bronze feet Glorified through affliction Reigning on the throne Behold the Alpha and Omega Scripture for meditation: Luke 2:7; Matthew 1:23 Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 3:21-22 Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13 Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-23 Isaiah 9:6; 52:7 Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52 Luke 7:36-50; John 12:3-8 Matthew 21:1-11; John 12:12-19 Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42 Luke 23:26-49; John 19:16-30 John 19:17-37; Isaiah 53:5 Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29 Revelation 1:12-18; Daniel 7:13-14 |
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