Before you read this poem
I ask that you close your eyes
To enter the wound
Where love abides
Blind hearts can only see
God's love is a mystery
He grabbed my hand
While I was holding a nail
His grip squeezed me ever tighter
As drops of love trickled off His fingers
That spike was the key
To the lock on my heart
My love flowed from death's entrance in
It seemed like the deeper the pain pierced
The greater the love-letting
I don't know how deep
My heart or Christ's hand is
But I'm dying to find out
Love does not obey reason
But exists above it
It lives to die
So it can die to live
Love doesn't believe all things
It believes only one thing
Love will conquer all
By surrendering
Love is a complex contradiction
That must be grabbed on both hands
Despite the pain
So you can look heart to heart
To kiss the face of Jesus
Now you can open your eye
I stand on the perilous edge of the rocky, weather-beaten cliff of my soul. Off in the distance I see you standing sure and confident, but not truly content on the rugged and rough cliff of your soul. I understand that you too have endured many a sorrow and storm in you life. I want to shout, sing, whisper to, and love your soul with God's love in me. Yet, we are coldly isolated from each other by the deep gorge of fear that separates our two cliffs. At the bottom of this gorge roars the white, foam rapids over sharp, jagged rocks. I cannot come to you myself. Yet, Jesus, the master carpenter, has built a bridge that connects jour two souls. However, the bridge is unfinished. Jesus has made the frame and skeleton of this structure. Yet, the walkway of 2x4 boards, placed horizontally beside each other was missing.
"Jesus," I said. "Thank You for the basic structure. I could not have built it myself. But what about the steps in the walkway? When are You going to put those in?" I asked.
"I'm not going to." God replied.
"What? How am I going to get across then? Who is going to nail these boards in?"
"You are." He answered.
"Me! But Jesus I have no wood or tools."
"I will provide." He returned.
"I don't even have any nails."
"Here use the ones in My hands."
"But Jesus even if I had all of the materials wouldn't it be dangerous nailing boards together while balancing on the side beams over a two hundred foot drop to certain death?"
"Extremely!" He uttered.
"But, then, why am I doing this?" I asked.
"Don't you realize what will happen at the center of the bridge? When you and your friend meet in the middle, you will have the most precious treasure that can be discovered and cherished between two Christians...fellowship."
"You are right! It is worth the danger to complete this bridge over the fear of intimacy and rejection." So day by day I hammered and sweat in the sun. Always careful and cautious, realizing one slip or mistake would be the end in a tragic fall. I thought it would take a few days. But those few days turned into weeks and then months. I'm still working on it even today! Yet as I grow closer and closer to the middle, I conquer the frightful fears, that once held me back, by dying daily to them. You see every step I take and build requires a certain courage. A certain courage to surrender my innermost thoughts and feelings to you on the other side. And at anytime on any step, you may reject me, breaking the very existing board on which I am standing. All because you gave in to your fear. That has not happened. Although we still have not reached the middle either. I'm pretty close to the center. But what about you? Are you building and braving along too? I would like to go over and help you, but I cannot. I can pray, give, and love all I can, but that will not nail the boards down on your side. This has to be a shared, balanced fellowship. As sad as it makes me, I'll have to wait. We have a nice friendship now at 20 feet apart. But our souls can only talk to each other when we are together. "Come on, step out on the bridge. Just nail a few more boards down and we will be together forever. That's it. Good work. Come on just one more step. Don't be afraid now. I can see...wait! Why are you crying? Here take my...
How close I can get to the nightmare of sin
To dance on the tightrope where certain death begins
In an instant a thought, and then soon a plan
To give in to the worst, the flesh of man
I've gone farther than I ever thought I would
God only knows the evil I could
But there's a point, there's a turn
At which my soul begins to burn
What is it that stops me in my tracks?
The fear of the Lord, yet something lacks
The love of God with His mercy and grace
Why I can even see the tears on His face
I can't go on and continue to roam
I'm starting to cry too, cause I'm coming back home
If I ever leave again, this warning help me heed
There's nothing out there that I really need
All that matters is the spiritual life
Loving your neighbor and faith through the strife
Contentment and peace are easy to find
When all that matters is God's heart and mind
All that matters can't be won or achieved
God only working in this you believe
Molding your life to the shape of His will
All that really matters is just being still
My Words are the life
That I give unto you
Meditate on Me
And I will be with you
Read My precious thoughts
And I will enter in
To purify your soul
My love will never end
My life should not be a secret
Except to those who know
The fire of God in my spirit
Creates a heavenly glow
Everyone sees I'm different
But no one really knows
Why I die to live forever
Except to those who know
Mindless acts of love
Tearing hearts open
Wounded by the Dove
I faintly see
God in my dreams
Hiding Heaven in me
Day by day
I love Him more
And each new dawn
He opens the door
Not all the way
But just a little
Until I see His hands
With me in the middle
My future life
He lovingly hides
Until I am ready
For the glorious surprise
I won't believe
What He has given
A life so wonderful
I'll think I'm in Heaven
God knew my doubts
And my long nights of fear
That is why He came close
And whispered in my ear
Not what I should do
Or which path to take
Just who to love
And what to forsake
I wasn't sure
I didn't want to commit
So He softened my heart
Until I was ready to submit
I didn't know where to go
So He gently took my hand
And said, "I'll lead you day by day
Into the Promised Land."
So you've fallen down
I'm still with you
So you've given up now
I'll take the problems too
Though you've failed today
I'll make tomorrow new
For there are no more tests
There is no more stress
There is no more pressure
Because you are a treasure
In the secret place of My heart
Jesus take me away
I don't want to see
Make me blind right now
And give me speed to flee
For this is the moment
When I must surrender
Not to the death of this world
But to God's love so tender
I never knew how precious
God's mercy was to me
Until I saw myself
Crying helplessly
The sins I have done
I don't want to recall
But God knows their purpose
And why I went through them all
So that in sin I might see
There is just one cure
And only in God
Am I washed pure
The longer the wait
The stronger the heart grows
For the storms of lonely love
Have already dealt their painful blows
And time is precious and sweet
And disappearing before our eyes
So our little notes become silver
And true gold our last good-byes
And that one last look
Upon your face of love
Reminds me someday
We'll be together above
Prophets could no longer keep silent. The King is coming! Holy men and priests proclaimed victoriously. The King is coming! The adoring crowd rushed to the entrance gate and lined the sacred street. The King is coming! The King is coming! That's all I hear and see amidst the royal fanfare and celebration. Looking from my window I felt empty and depressed. I wanted to go to see the King, but my unfortunate situation prevented me. Mom was very sick in bed. I was hobbling on crutches myself. And Dad, well...he didn't believe this was going to be the promised Messiah. So I watched and waited to catch a glimpse of the baby King inside our old sand brick house.
Then suddenly I heard a knock on our backdoor. That's strange, I never knew we had a back door. I didn't want to miss the action outside, but I heard the same knock in my heart.
That's strange, I never knew my heart had a back door. Curious, I opened the back door, but in a blazing flash the invisible visible left a bundle of joy.
Still in shock, but with amazing desire I picked up and cradled the babe. His hair was rich brown, soft, and perfect. His feet were chubby, soft, and perfect. His lips were pure, soft, and perfect. His eyes...Oh my dear! Unbelievable! His eyes were bursting explosions of real love. His eyelids with curly lashes would mercifully blink every once in a while to keep you from dreaming. This is the Son of God.
Like a bolt of lightning as I kissed His cheek I understood perfectly. The King didn't want to come with royal fanfare and trumpets. Faith would be too easy. He couldn't come as a king with servants. He had to share in our sufferings as an earthly man. Sacrifice knows no limits. He couldn't come in the front door to the world, my house, or my heart because I would only love Him for what He could do for me and not for who He is. I must love Jesus, the baby, rather than the miracles of Jesus. The greatest love could only have been given in the most humblest way. He did not force the front door down. The Heavenly Father knocked lovingly and left His only begotten Son on the step of your back door.