lingering

The time in between

Your chosen setting for this scene

All I know is all that I have left behind

With some hopes for what's to come

I am desperate for Your vision

What else can I do with human eyes wrought blind?

I will trust You as I tarry

Something sweeter on the verge

To rush would crush the beauty

Of what I'm unworthy of

For the completion of perfection You are fingering

I am lingering

So quick to run so far

If not my head then in my heart

Impatience always hounding at the door

Jesus, hurry, take Your throne

Master of my heart, Your home

In all my waiting I declare You Lord

I will trust You as I tarry

Something sweeter on the verge

To rush would crush the beauty

Of what I'm unworthy of

For the completion of perfection You are fingering

I am lingering

But I suppose that life on earth

Since the moment of my birth

Has only served to fuel anticipation

This is just the in between

Until I join in the unseen

Face to face with Your eternal exaltation

I will trust You as I tarry

Something sweeter on the verge

To rush would crush the beauty 

Of what I'm unworthy of

For the completion of perfection You are fingering

I am lingering

As I linger I will sing

As they do before Your throne

Glory, honor, praise forevermore

As I linger I will bring

Healing to the broken ones

So all the world will see You and adore

For the completion of perfection You are fingering

I am loving and lingering

life today

I love Jesus; can't get enough of Him.

His timing is perfect, meticulous, and intentional.

He ordained this time of pain for these empty weeks at home.

Acts is really an amazing book. I usually skip it. Or even dread it. In my mind there are two parts of the New Testament: the Gospels and the letters. So the biggest book of the NT slips through the crack between the two. But last night I read the first 5 chapters and felt like I was reading a Christian thriller. The transformation of Peter and John from cowardly, oblivious fishermen to bold, on-top-of-it ambassadors of Christ is unbelievable. I desperately want more of the Holy Spirit--as much as they had! The way they pieced together the prophecies and their fulfillment to confound the religious leaders with Truth makes me laugh with wonder at the power of God.

Waiting. There's a common theme. Career. Housing. Relationships. Healing. Waiting. But I'm finding the joy in it, the peace of God's presence no matter what else is or isn't happening. And He's sweet. 

most recent favorite song: Reign In Us, by Starfield.

Definitely a random assortment of thoughts today, but what else could I write after Allegra-D, some anti-bacterial antibiotic, 8 Advil and 1/2 a Vicodin?

God is good.

Oh, and I'm also really humbled by the physical pain lately when I think about how small it is compared to what Jesus chose to accept in my place. I deserve pain. I have earned pain. I am fit only for pain. Until He took it instead. It is only by His mercy that my eternity will be painless, tearless, whole; and it is only by His grace that most of my days on earth have been more like heaven than hell. Compared to the flogging and the crucifixion, my little cyst is nothing; it is fleeting, fading away, light and momentary affliction. But the Joy and new Life to come are even sweeter in the contrast.

Ok, I think that's really all. Time for meatloaf.

college

self-centeredness

compromise

stubbornness

vision

calling

rebellion

pride

humility

fall

usable

warfare

surrender

influence

extreme difficulty

end of Katie

Love

equipped

provision

Love You

Love people

grace

legalism

freedom

fulfillment

Joy

uncertainty

Faithfulness

April 30, 2009

The season is changing

But not predictably

Maybe not just the season

Maybe You're changing me

Four years of molding

Sweet, gentle embraces

Of the original clay

Are left only traces

Refining, preparing, enchanting

You captivated my heart

Your love became my lifeblood

Grace has freed Your work of art

Your next technique

Styles my eyes have not yet seen

But just as good and loving

So I must not intervene

Give me eyes of faith for trusting

As you spin me on Your wheel

Though the motion robs my balance

Joy my enemy may not steal

Excessive planning I surrender

Exchange control for Your master plan

Proclaim you Lord of all I'm after

As I am clay in my Father's hand

April 18, 2009

"Where are we going?"

I ask You each day

"Just come enjoy Me"

Is all that You say

Can I really let go

Despite all the world says?

If I just seek Your face

Is that really what's best?

Shouldn't I examine?

I must need to explore

You must need some action

Please let me do more

But You're telling me, "No,

It won't work that way,

Because then you get glory

In the presence of gray.

It has to be Me

From beginning to end

So I get the praise

And knees choose to bend.

So trust Me, I love you,

What more can I give?

My death bought Your life,

Now be free and live!

You've never had answers,

Never figured Me out.

Every moment of Creation

I brought about.

Now leave striving vanquished,

All ponderings cease

Fixate just on thanksgiving,

Author of peace.

Remember My love

Faithfulness in years past.

Remember My victory,

Your enemy's been cast.

Rebuke all his thinking

Anticipate his lies

Alert and victorious

Truth shatters his disguise.

So run with freedom

Leap into today

Open your heart

Invite Me in all the way

Love without limits

Love recklessly

Love all those around you

But first love Me

I bought you, you're paid for

You are well worth the price

Deeply loved, known, most cared for

An offering of sweet, fragrant spice

Not a day will be lost

Waste is never My plan

Your trust is My glory, Kate,

May I please hold your hand?"

March 22, 2009

Spring is here

New life arrives

Warmth fills the earth

Hidden life revives

You touch it all

Every flower bud

Your gentle, gardener fingers

Nourish with love

This is Your element

And what my heart misses

Eden remembered

Perfection reminisces

Colors brilliant and new

Scents of sweet redemption

The breeze of grace

My guilt exemption

Bright blue skies

Your obvious smile

The sun's rays adopt me

You claim me as Your child

Draw me into bliss each day

Captivate my heart

To pursue Your beauty in all things

Enthralled

Your works are just a glimpse of all You are

praise from december

If I had to sing a song for You

One written in my heart

It would be sweet and adoring

To tell how beautiful You are

That You would leave Your throne on High

To mingle with my disdain

So I could wear Your righteousness

Instead of my bitter shame

That You would gladly cover me

As an eagle with its young

And spread Your robe around me

When the redemptive act was done

That You would watch me softly

With Your loving, holy gaze

And caress my cheek with longing

To hold me all my days

That You would waken me each morning

Delighted by each breath I breathe

Drawing splendor from my asking

That You be my everything

That You would meet me on the floor

Where I fall upon my face

To welcome me in Your presence

Where I have found the throne of grace

That You would die to provide a surplus

Of mercies daily new

And raise them with the sun

So I can be with You

For all these and more my gratitude

No language can contain

Nor could all of them combined

Muster the glory due Your Name

So I'll sing with all my passion

And I'll love with all my heart

I'll dance through every day

Until this world I may depart

And it still won't be enough

If I shout until I die

But Your love can't go unnoticed

Like sneezes always close the eye

So here is my small offering

Everything I am and own

Holding nothing back I follow

Where only You have known