The Satisfaction of My Father

April 21, 2015

The Satisfaction of My Father

I can’t do this anymore, my Lord! I long

For things out of my grasp, out of my reach,

For things that are short-lived, inferior,

To that which, by the Gospels, I've heard preached.

A husband is the thing I long for most,

The one that comes most often to my mind.

Sometimes a panic-longing washes me,

And, reeling, I'm no match for it, I find.

Oh, will he come? Will I e’er have a man?

(But what a question!) Is a man the height

Of that for which I ought to wish, to long?

Is he the one on which I fix my sight?

Is not My Father quite enough for me?

Is not He strong that ransomed my lost soul?

Is not He faithful and all-loving in His thoughts

That He, by His own self, would make me whole?

And why do I look now for someone else,

Another who might “truly satisfy”?

Can a mere man do what the Lord my God

Can only do for them He sanctifies?

Ah, LORD! I find my longing quite too much!

Too much to conquer or to quite contain!

Thou art enough for me, this I have heard,

But I must hear it from Thy mouth again.

Oh, LORD, speak now into my frantic heart.

Whisper or blow in me Thy softest breath.

Speak in my ear with Thy still, calming voice,

And all these sinful fightings put to death.

Thou art enough. Thou art enough for me!

I cling to Thee with spindly human arms.

But greater than that which now clings to Thee,

The Gracious Love that wraps out all alarms.

My LORD, Thy love is sweeter than I know.

Open mine eyes that I might see Thy face,

Draw me that I might closer to be to Thee

And trust Thee more because of this dark place.

"This Certain World"

April 16, 2015

"This Certain World"

Jesus, I have this burden.

Every time I brush “this certain world”

Something happens up here,

Up in my head,

Something I can’t explain.

And down here, in my heart,

Something ties up;

Emotions tangle,

Ready to burst forth, to

Vent themselves,

Almost to drown me.

Not wanting to be found out,

(Too late sometimes),

I seek a place alone where I can cry.

Down from my head and

Even in my heart,

Something spills out.

I can but gasp:

Reigning King, use me for Your glory!

Enough for me: to serve Thee as Thou wilt.

This “certain world” is Your eternal Kingdom

Our mantra: Your way of serving others.

Be there few Christians, few who will be faithful,

Enduring One, I desire to live for Thee.

The Fifth Season

March 27, 2015

The Fifth Season

It is the fifth season:

A year has gone by.

We relive the feelings,

The thoughts in our mind.

A shock to us all,

“What does the news mean?”

I didn’t think much

On how the year’d be.

It couldn’t be so;

“Surely ‘tisn’t that bad.”

I was in denial.

Such short time we had.

My family would cry.

“It’s too early for that!”

I’d think to myself,

Wishing time would turn back.

“It won’t be long now,”

One person told me.

She couldn’t be right.

I would not believe.

“When will this all end?”

My thoughts would cry out.

We were tired by then,

About to wear out.

My Mother admonished,

“This all will soon end.

When this battle is over,

Life will be changed then.”

We can’t get time lost

To return for our use:

Many moments I’ve wasted;

Much time I’ve abused.

Love the people you love!

(But not desp’rately:

Fear is a tyrant;

Wisdom is key.)

Don’t go a day

Without loving your own

Then be thankful for mem’ries

When God calls them home.

In the South’s Summer

March 20, 2015

In the South’s Summer

Her shoulders were broad.

Her back was straight.

Her skin was brown,

(The kind not fake).

Her legs were long.

Her feet were smooth.

Her step was sure,

(She knew “her groove”).

Her face was fair.

Her eyes were big,

A honey brown,

Or the color of figs.

Her lashes curled,

So beautifully long.

Her name fit her,

A summertime song.

“Fawny!” Meg’d call.

Her head would raise.

She’d amble over

From where she grazed.

My cousin’s cow

Became Meg’s pet

When the horse desired

Meg couldn’t get.

Meg loved her pet.

I see them now

Still in my mind:

The child and cow.

I haven’t seen Fawny

For quite some time,

But that sweet, tan cow

Still stays in my mind.

What beautiful days

We spent with her

‘Neath pecan trees

In the South’s summer!