September 2009

“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday (Psalm 91:5-6).”

“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees (Psalm 119:71).”

“But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness (Isaiah 38:15-18).”

“Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD (Isaiah 52:11).”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).”

Something so heavy has fallen on me.

Plagued with emotions, my whole body aches,

extreme dizziness, chronic exhaustion.

Aside from unremitting corporeal pain,

a heaviness lies over my soul and spirit.

Press through the fog onto my intense feelings,

to find the way back to You,

peace in my soul and joy in my spirit.

August 2008

“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life (Isaiah 43:4).”

“Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.’ But I said, ‘I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God’ (Isaiah 49:1-4).”

“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?’ Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me (Isaiah 49:13-16).”

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness (Jeremiah 31:3).’”

In a tiny little shack an insignificant, nothing

little girl lies abuse, weeping in despondency

while majestic You looms all around

yet resides intimately within, carrying her.

You are God of the entire universe,

which the earth is just a speck of, and

my world is just a fragment of the earth.

Then there is me, a tiny nobody thing who

should be of no value, yet You delight in me!

Proved my value by dying that I might live!

You know my pain intimately: carrying it!

You know my sin intimately: dying for it!

Each tear entered in Your ledger.

My name written in the palms of your hand.

Lord of the universe and lord of my life,

a deep personal relationship with You!