Good Fruit

Father, teach me how to pray
So I feel Your presence every day.
Break these chains, set me free
Lord, send revival in me.

You've pruned my branches, cut me back -
You've left me standing bare.
Now, Lord, I pray You'll bring new growth,
Shine Your light into my despair.

Jesus, help me remain in You
That I may bear good fruit in all I do.
Fruit for the Kingdom, for Your glory -
Fruit that speaks Your salvation story

You've pruned my branches, cut me back -
You've left me standing bare.
Now, Lord, I pray You'll bring new growth,
Shine Your light into my despair.

By Your Spirit, fill me with Your abundant love
Pour it down in torrents from above
Lord, fill me so I overflow
In your joy and love. Lord, help me grow.

You've pruned my branches, cut me back -
You've left me standing bare.
Now, Lord, I pray You'll bring new growth,
Shine Your light into my despair.

John 15

A nonsense from a fun exercise in class

leaves

leaves

leaves

socks

more leaves

no socks

trees

without leaves

like feet

without socks

what if?

I have traded in my armour
piece
by
piece
and reverted to wearing my old and tattered
grave clothes.

I have given in to temptation to compromise
and in my weakness allowed my heart
to idolise
the things of this world.

I have allowed the mirage in my mind
to taunt me with half-fulfilled dreams
and dared to ask the question
what if?
what
if?

I have been foolish and unwise
and I have failed to recognise
the enemy's deceit -
his lies.

I have allowed him to knock me
off course.

Pinboard heart

My heart like a pin-board
filled with thumb-tacks
pressed in
by the thumb of
my very own
hand

Unmask me

Flaming arrows fuelled with lies

Pierce my skin and close my eyes

I hide my face and close my heart

And choose to play someone else's part

Forgetting who I'm made to be

Trying to be someone who's not me

But this castle will not stand

On foundations built on sand

Unmask me

Peel back another layer

Unmask me

And leave me standing bare

Standing bare before You

My only care for You

Unmask me

Always burdened by my measuring stick

I make self-judgements harsh and quick

Deciding how I "know" I'm viewed

Seeing with vision that's always skewed

So help me to be true

To stand in my own shoes

As the voice of the enemy mocks

Set my foundations on the Rock

Unmask me

Peel back another layer

Unmask me

And leave me standing bare

Standing bare before You

My only care for You

Unmask me

Your love will never walk away

When my faith falters and doubts creep in

When I lose my way and give in to sin

You do not leave me, You walk me through

You stay faithful, You stay true

Your love will never walk away

Your faithfulness is here to stay

Your grace and mercy humble me

Your unfailing love has set me free

When mountains move, when hills disappear

Your faithful love still draws us near

You rebuild our battered hearts

With precious jewels and set us apart

I'm looking up, I'm counting stars

Your promises are holding fast

I'm taking courage from your hand

And stepping in to the promised land

When mountains move, when hills disappear

Your faithful love still draws us near

You rebuild our battered hearts

With precious jewels and set us apart

Free from shame, disgrace and fear

No enemy can prosper here

Steadfast in love, so pure and true

I stand in praise and awe of You.

When mountains move, when hills disappear

Your faithful love still draws us near

You rebuild our battered hearts

With precious jewels and set us apart

Isaiah 54

***

This is a poem I wrote almost exactly a year ago but God reminded me of the truth of it this week. He is an awesome, redeemer God!

Ourstory by Carole Satyamurti

I've seen this on the underground a few times now and I just love it...

Ourstory by Carole Satyamurti

Let us now praise women
with feet glass slippers wouldn’t fit;

not the patient, nor even the embittered
ones who kept their place,

but awkward women, tenacious with truth,
whose elbows disposed of the impossible;

who split seams, who wouldn’t wait,
take no, take sedatives;

who sang their own numbers, went uninsured,
Knew best what they were missing.

Our misfit foremothers are joining forces
underground, their dusts mingling

breast-bone with scapula, forehead
with forehead. Their steady mass

bursts locks; lends a springing foot
to our vaulting into enormous rooms.

From Stitching the Dark: New and Selected Poems published by Bloodaxe (2005)