At the End

At the end of the rain there’s a rainbow
At the end of the storm there is sun
At the end of the struggle there’s safety
In the day that my wand’rings are done

There is strength at the end of the sadness
There is grace ‘midst the greatest of grief
At the end of the night there is newness
If I wait, You will send me relief

At the end of the breaking there’s beauty
At the end of the road there is rest
At the end of the hurting there’s healing
There is always an end to the test

There is hope at the end of the hardship
There is love ‘midst the lowest of lows
There is dawn at the end of the darkness
You are with me, wherever life goes

At the end of the pain there is power
At the end of the doubt there is day
At the end of the cross there is conquest
In the day that our sins rolled away

At the end of the fight there is freedom
At the end of the years there’s still You
At the end of these trials there’s triumph
In the day that all things are made new

Mephibosheth

Based on 2 Samuel 19:28

O Savior at Your feet I kneel
So humbled by Your grace
That You would come my soul to heal
To meet me face to face

Whene’er You meet me in this way
My thoughts and strength soon flee
I see how weak I am; I pray
“O King, You look on me?”

For I and all my house were dead
Before my Lord the King
Yet You have tasted death instead
And rose to end death’s sting

Because of love, an oath You made
With Abram long ago
That oath, that love, shall never fade
That love You’ve made me know

Because of You, I’m still alive
I’m filled from Your supplies
Your hope and peace have made me thrive
You’ve always heard my cries

You give me hope, eternal light
Beneath your wings I sing
So how could I still have the right
To cry unto the King?

Love

Is love emotions flying free?
Those kinds of feelings swiftly flee

Is love a passion deep inside?
That passion’s often grown, then died

Is love a flutter in your heart?
That flutter’s only love’s first start

Is love some kind and helpful deeds?
That’s part of it–love cares for needs

Is love a strong, long-suffering bond?
That love is tough, but not so fond

Is love compassion for a friend?
That could be love, if it won’t end

Is love commitment–faithfulness?
That love is strong in truthfulness

Is love forgiveness–grace so free?
That matchless love’s on Calvary

O King So Great and Infinite

Inspired by Psalm 139

O King so great and infinite
Beyond what I could ever know
You know my every word and thought
My every move, where’er I go

You never slumber, never sleep
On me You always set your eyes
Your hand protects and covers me
When I lie down, when I arise

O King beyond all time and space
Enthroned so high above the earth
From heaven, You look down on us
And give the lowly hope and worth

Your wonders take my breath away
I always love to see and tell
That You Who made the mighty mounts
Have also formed each tiny cell

O King Who does such wondrous works
Who rules the rain and spreads the sea
Who made all beauty, truth, and worth
Within the womb, You fashioned me

You gave me purpose, planned my years
And knitted me with tender care
You breathed in me the breath of life
Before I took a breath of air

O King so wise and powerful
All things are subject unto You
But yet, free-will You gave to me
And let me choose what I shall do

You force me not to take Your love
You force me not my love to give
I freely give You all my love
My heart is Yours; in You I live

O King Who made the galaxies
The stars and worlds that have no end
Oh, I am dust and ashes! Why
Would You look down and call me friend?

Your love, so deep and infinite
You let me know, and taste, and see
You gave Your life so I could live
Such knowledge is too vast for me!

O King beyond all earthly praise
Who numbers all the stars and sands
I read that You can not abide
In dwellings made by human hands

My hope, my everything, You are
No words I write seem fit for Thee
But since Your hands have formed my life
Please come–You can abide in me

He Listens to Me

When troubles and snares spread to cover my path
When people around me spew hatred and wrath
When pain and confusion is all I can see
I cry to my King, and He listens to me

When nighttime has fallen and I cannot see
When heartache and sorrow are covering me
I run to the secret place, cry out my plea
My cry rises up, and He listens to me

When faith seems to fail and I struggle to hope
When joy swiftly flees and I barely can cope
I know He can lift me; I know He can free
I pour out my heart, and He listens to me

When all things go wrong, and I hardly know why
When longing, and grieving, and fear make me cry
I cry unto Him, and my heart becomes free
His love melts all troubles; He listens to me

Seeds

My bean plants, a few days after planting

Whate’er you do, be sure you know
The seeds you plant will surely grow

Your seeds of love, your seeds of strife
Will swiftly sprout throughout your life

Beware, you sowers of distress
The seeds you plant will soon progress

Though seeds of sin may seem so small
They grow to fruitful trees so tall

That fruit is poison, please take heed
And never sow such bitter seed

Take heart, you sowers of delight
Of what is true and just and right

Though oft you cannot see them grow
Such seeds bear more than e’er you know

Such trees of righteousness supply
Sweet fruits of hope when times are dry

Our King is just; be sure you know
We all will reap the seeds we sow

My bean plant, a few weeks after planting

Why Delay?

Since He is always listening
With tender love and care
Since ceaseless grace He’s offering
In pain, He’s always there

Since He is always powerful
To save, and heal, and free
Since He gives hope so wonderful
And plants His peace in me

Why delay ’til strength is gone
To pray for help and might?
Why delay ’til all is wrong
To pray for joy and light?

Why not seek and trust my King?
I fail when I’m alone
Why do I delay to bring
My plea before His throne?


Into the Garden

I come into the garden
Where many beauties grow
Where saplings sprout and harden
Where flowers bloom and glow

The fresh and fragrant flowers
Are sending scents sublime
As from the verdant bowers
The vines and ivy climb

I come, my heart desires
To find some precious thing
Some beauty that inspires
I come to meet my King

I look at His creation
The leaves, both far and near
What beauty past summation!
I know my King is here

I feel His presence with me
Though He cannot be seen
I feel His gladness fill me
Amidst this world so green

Bright rays of light are spilling
Through canopies of trees
And from the trees comes trilling
The songs of birds and bees

For just as spring’s bright beauty
Breaks forth from winters bleak
He plants new life within me
Whenever Him I seek

The lovely flowers show me
That He who made me whole
Shall plant bright hope and beauty
Within my ransomed soul

The Artist of creation
Shall clear my eyes to see
His infinite provision
His lovely gifts for me

And as, amidst such glory
I pause against a tree
I hear a wondrous story
Of Him who set me free

For lo! a sight of wonder
The greatest gift He gave
Amidst the garden splendor
I see an empty grave

He lives; my King has risen!
He gives new life to me
I’m treasured and forgiven
From death He set me free

With joy and hope so ceaseless
My heart is filled by Him
With love and peace so priceless
He overflows my brim

I come into the garden
To see His works of art
I think upon His pardon
He overwhelms my heart

“The Garden Tomb”~Jerusalem, Israel

Breath of Life

The winter’s chilling wind is past
The world’s awakening at last
And from the mounts, where there was snow
Come rushing streams that overflow

The streams make all the fields turn green
Bright blossoms everywhere are seen
And in the grass and in the trees
Are graceful birds and busy bees

This lustrous beauty makes me sing
I thank my King for each new spring
As spring’s light breezes swiftly roll
The breath of life now fills my soul

Me at 10 years old (the photo above the poem is from Mount Lemmon by Tucson, Arizona)

Intervene

My life was full of grief and pain
So scared was I, and so unclean
My efforts for relief were vain
With tears, I begged You, “Intervene!”

I waited as the weeks went past
For You to come and heal my soul
Then to my room You came at last
Your Spirit touched me, made me whole

And thus, Your comfort, love, and peace
Have filled my heart–have made me sing
You caused my griefs and fears to cease
That day You came to intervene

With daily strength, and daily care
You lift me up when I am low
And when I need You most, You’re there
You’ve touched my heart–that fact I know

Yes, You are kind and You are good
Those truths I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
You do the things I never could
Whene’er You come to intervene

Oh, how I love to see Your hand
To see Your grace and love revealed
In any harsh or arid land
When You will touch me, I am healed

Now doubts have no more place in me
Your miracles my eyes have seen
For when my trust and hope is Thee
You always, someway, intervene

His presence makes my heart so free
What satisfies me more than this?
For when my Savior comes to me
And touches me–what peace! What bliss!

And now, when wars or sorrows rise
Remind me, Yah, of what I’ve seen
To You I’ll lift my weary eyes
And wait for You to intervene