2015.02.15: a love like no other

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” – Mk 1:40-42

ignorance taught me
that to avoid the fires of hell
i must:
obey the commandments
follow the precepts and
believe the doctrines

pride told me
that i can do it
on my own

just like the leper
who was condemned
to hell on earth
for sins he may or may not
have committed
i lost all hope

from the depths of despair
with much wailing
and gnashing of teeth
i cried out for help

even though i had
no right to hope
you came to me
any way

you touched me
and made me clean
you flooded me
with forgiveness
and overflowing love

no longer am i condemned
to isolation
but in deserted places
i will you stay with you

for who will believe
the words of a sinner
but castaways and other sinners
who are ready to be saved
by a love like no other

2015.02.14: the greatest love ever

The LORD God called to Adam and asked him, “Where are you?” – Gen 3:9

the greatest love ever
is waiting for us
in the Garden of Eden

the greatest love ever
is asking us
“Where are you?”

the greatest love ever
knows all our sins
yet he loves us still

the greatest love ever
knows the way to Eden
goes through Gethsemane

the greatest love ever
has come to meet us
in the Garden of Gethsemane

the greatest love ever
is waiting to lead us home
come, take his hand

2015.02.13: Ephphatha!

he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly. – Mk 7:34-35

amazing Grace
how great it was
the first time i heard

“Ephphatha,” he said
the man in vestments
with graying red hair

how sweet the sound
that saved my soul
silence

and now i hear
the words of the Lord
spoken from within

how my soul sings
with praise for the Lord
who opened my heart

Ephphatha, i say
let your heart be opened
the Lord is speaking to you

2015.02.12: what matters

She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Mk 7:28

it didn’t matter
that she was a woman
what mattered was
that you are the great I AM

it didn’t matter
that she wasn’t born a Child
what mattered was
that she loved her child

it didn’t matter
that she didn’t practice the faith
what mattered was
that she had faith in you

it didn’t matter
that they weren’t worthy
what mattered was
that you are kind and good

2015.02.11: broken pottery

the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being. – Gen 2:7

from the clay of the ground
you formed me
with your very breath
you gave me life
into the kiln of the world
you placed me
through the trials of fire
you tempered me

all was good until
i learned of good and evil
i learned to judge
myself and others
i took pride in my beauty
and envied others theirs
until self loathing defiled me
and i cracked into many pieces

yet you didn’t throw me
into the rubbish heap
you still saw beauty
in my brokenness
so with loving care
you gathered my broken body
and with compassion
you poured yourself into me
until i became whole again
better then newly formed
for where the cracks were
your love now shines through