Afflicted City

One of these days I'll write something that is not a song or poem, but for now, that's what God's granting to me. He comforted me greatly tonight with Isaiah 54, showing me his love for Jerusalem and how He desired to restore and comfort and bring beauty. In my own "affliction" and difficulty, it is a great comfort to be reminded of his purpose and his unfailing love and covenant of peace. It will never be removed.



Oh afflicted city, once again I find you wandering
far from the love you once knew
if you were to stop and look inside
You would find you know you still do
Love me more than yourself and your drowning pride
as you fall to your master and know the sin must die
Yet in your wandering, to my own heart I must be true

I will build you with stones of turquoise
that will match the glimmer I’ve created in your eyes
I will make your foundations of sapphires
to match the range of passions I’ve given you inside
Your battlements will be made of rubies
to remember the blood I shed so you may not die
Your gates will be made of precious jewels
to venture into your worth it’s Me you’ll find
And all your walls made of precious stones
within you can run but from me never hide
You are my labor of my compassionate love
Remember it’s me that brings you light

Oh afflicted city, you’re lashed by storms once again
in the midst of torrential rain
that you pray will one day end
you will find my promise spoken for you
Love me more than yourself and your selfish fiend
as you fall to your master and let me be your friend
Yet in your storms, to my own heart I must be true

I will build you with stones of turquoise
that will match the glimmer I’ve created in your eyes
I will make your foundations of sapphires
to match the range of passions I’ve given you inside
Your battlements will be made of rubies
to remember the blood I shed so you may not die
Your gates will be made of precious jewels
to venture into your worth it’s Me you’ll find
And all your walls made of precious stones
within you can run but from me never hide
You are my labor of my compassionate love
Remember it’s me that brings you light

Oh afflicted city, comfort you do not easily find
far from the hope you know to be true
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed
Love me more than yourself and your hopeless rest
as you fall to your master who surely knows best
It’s for your comfort, to my own heart I must be true

I will build you with stones of turquoise
that will match the glimmer I’ve created in your eyes
I will make your foundations of sapphires
to match the range of passions I’ve given you inside
Your battlements will be made of rubies
to remember the blood I shed so you may not die
Your gates will be made of precious jewels
to venture into your worth it’s Me you’ll find
And all your walls made of precious stones
within you can run but from me never hide
You are my labor of my compassionate love
Remember it’s me that brings you light

My love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed.
You must know that it’s for you
that to my own heart I must be true.

In the Night

Can’t you see the morning in the night
Stillfull, soulful silence in the lack of light
Where has the time gone
when we used to sleep and dream?
Childlike innocent bliss has escaped me
Yet I'm carried, cradled, held upright
The look of love is in Your eyes
And sometimes it’s easier to see in the night…

Won’t you walk the line and stand up tall
Without looking down and doubting it all
You don’t see it now
but you’re closer than you were
A mirror reflects the lessons you’ve learned
You're growing, going, lasting in the fight
The look of pride is in His eyes
And sometimes it’s easier to see in the night…

Will you count to three and open your eyes
Ready to see, believe and recognize
Who you are and once were
and one day will become
Fly and cry in the memories alight
The look of all you need is in His eyes
And sometimes it’s easier to see in the night…

Temporal Burdens

A reflection on a difficult week where I've been exhausted from the burdens of this world and desperately desiring refuge...

Evasive world this is
slithering and slipping out of my sight
yet it maintains its grasp
The whole world’s on my shoulders
and it’s tied upon my back
I can’t see it now
For all I can see is what I lack

Like a hole created
absence that makes the heart fonder
Emptiness that finds me, finds me now

Put two bricks in my pockets
add another on my head
sooner than later
My feet will be bound by chains
and I’ll try to walk away
I can’t see it now
For all I can see is where I lay

Like a jailbreak needed
Strength that releases these bounds
Freedom that finds me, finds me now

More power in my hands
Satan busy trying to make me lose my way
make me look inside
Hoping I would forget what I always realize
That You are who You say
I can’t see it now
For all I can see is why I pray

Like a child found
Love that wraps me still, wraps around
won’t You carry me home, me home now?