Greater Things

I know what it takes to play the Christian game
because it's always the same
putting forth a face
to act proper in our respective church spaces.
But I'm so tired of just playing nice;
Jesus paid way too high a price
for us to pretend to have life figured out
when in reality we have doubts
about God
and we live as flawed,
fallen creatures.

Why can't we just come together,
untethered at the seams,
because in Christ we have the means
to become whole.
Yes give Him heart, mind, and soul
If we hold nothing back
we will find our needs met and lack
nothing.
We will find ourselves fully known and fully loved:
the very thing we covet
but fear most,
which is why we boast
so often about our success
and keep quiet about failed conquests.

When will we finally learn what we've been taught from birth?
The Creator of Earth knows our worth
not because of what we've done
but because of His son.
We are cloaked in Christ;
Oh what a heavenly heist
He pulled on the cross to take on my sin
He showed us we can win
in our spiritual battles
riding Freedom's saddle
down from Calvary
into joy and victory
claiming our reward when at last history
ends
and Eternity begins.

This is what I live for
walking through every door
the Lord opens along the way
until that glorious day.
Until then, yes, until then,
from womb to tomb
let me learn to obey
that I may simply stay
in Your presence my whole life long
lived out as the melody of a sacrificial song
pleasing to Your ear
and driving out the fear
this world instills.
When Jesus fulfilled our Father's will
His perfect love cast out fear for good
and we no longer ask "Should we"
but as His beloved we ask "May we"
laying aside our legalistic tendencies
to live as Pharisees
instead resting in Holiness, and Grace
as Holy Spirit fills every place
of this bodily temple
reminding me whose I am,
welcoming me into His family.
It is with this Body of Believers
I am relieved
of my old way of life,
leaving behind sin to be a faithful wife.

The bride of Christ,
known to most as the Church,
is the place disciples are nurtured.
They grow from milk to meat,
learning to live like wheat,
dying,
but somehow finding
life abundant more than imagined
and worldly things once distraction
are now further proof of God's glory
as His story is woven throughout His creation.
What elation I have to know
I get to go
wherever my Father does
simply because He enjoys me
and sent His song to be
a sacrifice in place of what I deserve.

Now I hope to converse
with as many as possible,
sharing this unbelievable Gospel,
this incredible Good News
that puts to shame any other ruse
promising all but delivering nothing.
Yeah the devil will tempt  you with lies of riches and fame,
but there is only One Name
I want to make famous
and because He's contagious,
you will, too, after just one encounter
with the founder
of galaxies.
The Almighty God,
powerful and raw,
but merciful and forgiving,
blessing me to make a living,
but asking me to never just sit back.
His burden is light,
but it's still right
to give me all as I answer His call
to love Him with everything
and all His children.

Now don't build in the sinking sand,
but put your foundation on the Rock:
Jesus Christ the Living Word,
just as you have heard,
and everything I've said will be possible.
We can do no thing apart from Him,
so thank God, quite literally,
that where two or more are gathered in His name
He is there in the their midst,
and He will assist in our call to live Holy,
so Wake. Up. Church.

It's time to do "Greater Things Than These."



10/24/16

The Faceless Mask (Revised)

It doesn’t matter who I can be;

What matters is what you see

this mask I put forth in front of me

that becomes your reality.

This mask can be anything;

It can show happiness when I sing

or sadness when your words sting.

It can show humility or the pride of a king.

It can show what I want you to see

so easy it is to deceive

although I try hard to be

genuine and live authentically.

But not everyone does

I know this because

a rude awakening was

thrust upon me and gave me pause

I thought I knew this girl

but as she spoke the truth unfurled;
it left my thoughts in a whirl

Amidst such grime, is anywhere the beauty of a hidden pearl?

I need something to make sense of it all

I’m watching my foundations fall

as everything I thought I knew snowballs

and I find myself feeling quite small

Who we truly are behind

whatever mask we feel inclined

to put on is our soul, heart, and mind;

together, combined.

But we’re afraid of being known,

afraid of who may throw the next stone,

when people realize we aren’t who they’ve been shown

Above all, we cower before God’s throne.

Thinking we can fool our Creator,

we unknowingly become traitors

as we follow whatever dictator

we think can make us greater

But I’m tired of living inside

relationships with walls that divide

I’d rather have someone confide

in me and I in them as we live side by side

Yes let’s let Love be magnified
Only then will we be satisfied

and no longer alone but occupied

with thoughts of leaving lies by the wayside

Who will join me in throwing off our faceless masks?

Let’s bask

in being fully known and fully loved as we ask

our friends to help us in this task.

God sees through our masks anyway,

so let’s not delay

in approaching Him today.
Let Him shape and mold us as vessels of clay -

Devoted to living authentically

to bring glory to the One who created the person behind each mask.

10/14/16