From The Badlands

How many times, Lord, must I learn that You’re here even amidst the chilly winds and the battered streets among naked trees?
When times are good I question them and when times are bad I seek understanding
Thankfully, You lead me to those who extol Your counsel in a world where pretentious friends flee in their shame
But would-be foes learn to bond in their similarities
Lord forgive me for my lack of faith, for now I can discern when it was You guiding my heart in the reflective moments, even when I rarely sought You out by name
Thankfully I had been grounded in Your precepts, so that when youthful angst pressed my limits, I knew to always keep a clear path back toward Your Way
But mostly, Lord, I thank You for showing me not to wander off in the first place!
And that those with foolish inclinations toward the world are not worthy of my trust
Lord, as I look around once again I ache at these badlands and I wonder how Your grace would ever reach to such a pit
But I stand on Your promise to meet me where I am, and I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able
Take me now, O Lord my God, to the place You have ordained for me to do Your will, for You have already inspired me beyond words with Your sweet song and my heart yearns for the MOUNTAINS of GLORY I’ll reach riding this train

Seeing Things

I had you pegged

As someone I knew

Had all the hard facts

Yet, no more than a few

The years came and went

We grew side by side

You fell in the shadows

I stuck by my pride

Till understanding revealed

There’s a hidden agenda

Is there something wrong?

Was it I who offended?

All those times, insecure,

You’d curl up in a ball

And then I’d back away

To avoid a great fall

Hints you gave softly

Not entirely wasted

Just stored away till

God’s wisdom I tasted

How His flowers do bloom!

Some quickly, some slowly

There’s more to you...but,

Is there more than just me?