Transformation 218.

Transformation - what a wonder -

how You come and re-create -

You refine, You tear asunder,

and all bonds eliminate.

And what of sin and man's mistakes?

They become Your under-smiths.

Their office is to scour and break,

molding those You're working with.

Limitations and frustrations,

all the trials of flesh and soul

Help the work of transformation,

as we love You make us whole.

You trust us to walk not by sight;

resting 'fore we see the end.

You also give us joys and heights;

when loving You, for good all blends.

Reunited 217.

30.6.1989.

She sought, but she could not find Him;

she called, He answered not.

It could not have been otherwise,

for of herself she thought.

Her thoughts moved only around herself,

for Him there was no room.

She'd grieved her dear Beloved's heart,

and turned from her Bridegroom.

But now as she forgets herself

and He fills all her thoughts,

United instantly again,

she's with the One she sought.

She can't find words to say enough,

to show Him worthily,

Yet she knows her Beloved is

altogether lovely.

Grace Oh Grace 216.

28.6.1989.

Grace - the word can't start to tell

what His grace really means.

Ten thousand words would not explain

the vastness of the theme.

To say it's just gifts undeserved

does not begin to tell

of His immense outpouring love

drawn from unending wells.

That He would pour His love on us

is grace put on display,

Yet so much more than we accept

His grace would send our way.

Few suspect what He would do

in them if they'd allow,

Immeasurably more than we could ask,

or think, or plan out how.

Grace, grace - my heart repeats the word

to somehow fathom more.

My mind seeks for more words to tell

of what my soul explores.

I know I'll never fully grasp

the meaning of His grace

Till all throughout eternity

I read it in His face.

The Cry of the Soul 215.

25.6.1989.

(Psalm 138/Psalm 57:2) for Tom

Thou hast saved and made me bold, and

made me valiant-hearted.

From Thy hand I can't be snatched, no

never we'll be parted.

I praise Thy name, I sing my psalms,

I call on thee Most High;

Come touch my life and make it burn;

this is my soul's deep cry.

I rest in Thee Thou dost fulfill

Thy purposes in me.

Thy works will not be left undone,

but all wrought perfectly.

All the concerns I have in hand

each one Thou shalt perform.

Lord, come and touch and burn and mold

till I to Thee conform.

I will give You thanks with all my heart;

I will sing praises to You before the gods.

I will bow down toward Your holy temple

And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

On the day I called, You answered me;

You made me bold with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord,

When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

And they will sing of the ways of the Lord,

For great is the glory of the Lord.

For though the Lord is exalted,

Yet He regards the lowly,

But the haughty He knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;

You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand will save me.

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Psalm 138

I will cry to God Most High,

To God who accomplishes all things for me.

Psalm 57:2

Real Treasure 214.

24.6. 1989.

You say My words are precious and

worth more than much fine gold.

You say you long for them much more

than all the world can hold

Yet many times I try to speak,

your mind's on worldly things;

Your ears are deaf to hear My voice;

grief to My heart this brings.

If I poured out golden coins,

I ask, would you be slack

In gathering them one and all

to put into your sack.

I long for you to treasure Me

and hold Me dearer still;

So much I want to bless you with,

just seek Me and My will.

Abandon and surrender all,

yield everything to Me

Then you'll know what treasure is,

your eyes will start to see.

I'll put such joy within your heart

the world will think you mad.

O come and listen to My words

that's where real treasure's had.

Living Tree 213.

18.6.1989.

The sap of life You give to me

Is not meant to stay in this tree,

But meant to flow, freely to flow

That leaf may bud and fruit may grow.

To wrap myself all up in me

Is like a slowly dying tree

The fruitless branches all go dry,

And You, Lord, are not magnified.

Helping others, bringing glory

To Your Name, I tell the story

of the true life and love You give,

The sap flows out that they may live.

The flowing sap it strengthens me

I grow as Your life flows in me.

Lord, may I always fruitful be

And glorify You in this tree.

No Fear 212.

7.6.1989.

(Isaiah 41:13,14)

It seems the fight drains out of me

all power to endure;

The feeling that I'm just a worm

comes horrible and sure.

But Your word is so wonderful,

dispels the "worminess"

Fear not, thou worm, You say to me,

I'm with you in this mess.

Your Fear Not rings throughout Your word;

Your promise for my care.

You know me and just where I am,

and You don't leave me there.

You firmly grasp me by the hand

and give me what I lack

My fear turns into praises, and

I'm ready for attack.

For I am the LORD your God, who uphold your right hand,

Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'

Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;

I will help you, declares the LORD,

and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:13,14

Cloud of Witnesses 211.

2.6.1989.

(Hebrews 12:1-2)

Like a dense, but shining cloud

the witnesses look on

They watch me play the game of life

to cheer me as I run.

What would it be if suddenly

my eyes could see them there,

Those living ones who've run their race;

those in His presence fair.

I won't forget though I don't see

that they encompass me.

I must throw off encumbrances

to run my course strongly

Today, oh let their praises ring

for all He does through me,

As I run with my eyes on Him;

He's all I want to see.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,

let us also lay aside every encumbrance and

the sin which so easily entangles us, and

let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

fixing our eye on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of faith,

who for the joy set before Him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and has sat down

at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

His Peace 210.

12.6.1989.

(John 14:27)

Every test and all kinds of strain

can never break His peace

If I will only take the time

to come and seek release;

To be with Him, receive the peace

He gave as parting gift;

To set my troubled heart at rest

and set my fears adrift.

A moment may be all I need

to lift the heavy yoke,

Receive the gift of His own peace

and banish fears that choke.

To bear His image is my prayer,

not the yoke I make.

I chose to roll the pressures off

and do all for His sake.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 14:27

Living for Eternity 209.

29.5.1989.

Foolish and short-sighted is he

Who lives not for eternity;

Who lives just for his pleasure here,

Denying there's a Judgement near.

Wise is the man who lives for Thee;

Whose treasure lasts eternally.

Not wasted is this life of his,

But blessed and full of Thy riches.

Inheritance we have in Thee

That's laid up for eternity.

Obedience adds that much more

To our eternal treasure store.

So short a time that we are here,

Why live just for these passing years,

When there's the opportunity

To choose to live our lives for Thee.

Comings and Goings 208.

28.5.1989.

More leavings, more partings, more breaking my heart,

Co-laborers moving to reach other parts;

New ones, though, arriving - such answer to prayer;

The old and the new ones both in His kind care.

He walks on before some to lead them away;

His purpose for them guides them some other way.

His call has been answered by those who have come;

He'll love and confirm for them in their new home.

For me, whether people will come or they go

I'll cling closely to Him - more love than I know

Surrounds me and holds me, I'm never alone;

Both through pain and in joy, His kindness is shown.

The Refuge 207.

24.5.1989.

(Proverbs 19:23/14:26/Isaiah 33:5-6)

The reverence of Thee leads to life;

to fear Thee a refuge.

The enemy seeks only death;

to lie and to confuse.

Strong confidence is there for those

who humbly come to Thee;

Who, in Thee, find their treasure and

Seek there stability.

When running to Thy arms to hide

always Thou wilt welcome,

Giving a wealth of salvation,

and of knowledge, wisdom.

Thou art the Lord exalted, and

the One Who dwells on high,

Yet when a soul will reverence Thee,

Thy presence draweth nigh.

The fear of the LORD leads to life,

So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

Proverbs 19:23

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,

And his children will have refuge.

Proverbs 14:26

The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;

He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

And He will be the stability of your times,

A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;

The fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Isaiah 33:5-6

The Gift-Giver 206.

20.5.1989.

Thou, Giver of each perfect gift,

Thou art enough for me.

Please keep my eyes off of Thy gifts

and focused just on Thee.

Don't let me add another thing

or person next to Thee.

Thou alone art all I need;

my full-sufficiency.

I'm thankful for each perfect gift

and for Thy vast supply,

For riches that I never dreamt

would come to such as I.

But let my eyes not stray away

from whence all gifts arrive,

But rather seek Thee o'er all else;

in Thee alone to thrive.

Rest 205.

18.5.1989.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Calling, drawing, wooing me,

and bidding me to come.

Longing, loving, lifting me,

and leading me toward home.

Dropping, casting off the weight

and laying it aside.

Waiting, resting, full of peace,

content to just abide.

Easy, easy be the yoke,

and light it sits on me.

Coming, dragging, loaded down,

and leaving light and free.

Come to Me,

all who are weary and heavy-laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Joy of Endurance 204.

17.5.1989.

Life offers us no greater gift

than opportunity

To learn and know how to endure

with patience, joyfully.

Endurance, that's the trumpet-call

which He has sounded forth

To stir our hearts to rise and do

and run for all we're worth.

So when this gift is given should

we wonder why it's come?

If the road was always smooth

we'd never learn to run;

We'd never build the strength we need

to finish in this race,

And so the chances to endure

are given in His grace.

Unbreakable Bond 203.

16.5.1989.

(Psalm 18:2/Isaiah 54:10)

The mountains all may be removed,

the hills may all depart,

Thy kindness, though, is ever near;

Thou, the Rock of my heart

Thou art my Fortress and my strength;

no word of Thine has failed

In Thee, though all around may shake,

Thy peace always prevails.

In Thee may I be ever found,

To Thee my heart is ever-bound.

Yet when I stand on mountains and

seek there security,

Or look for strength in hills of mine,

those are removed from me.

What treason to rely on things

rather than run to Thee,

Or fear when mountains are removed;

Thou always art with me.

In Thee may I be ever found,

To Thee my heart is ever-bound.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,

But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,

And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,"

Says the LORD who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

Tools of the Goldsmith 202.

14.5.1989.

As the gold that's melted down

and fired many times,

My Goldsmith with His crucible,

He melts me and refines.

Then with the gold that's purified,

that's clean and malleable,

He hammers into precious things,

and beautiful vessels.

His hammer falls until the gold

Is beaten crystal clear,

Till nothing's left but golden light

that shines for He is near.

The fire and then the hammer,

is that a price too high?

No, rather highest privilege that

He works with such as I.

Nothing Too Small for Love 201.

10.5.1989.

The little things that seem quite small,

and seem need not be done at all,

These Love loves to do just because

it loves in everything it does.

As Thou hast been so kind to me,

and patient with me endlessly,

Teach Thy servant, Lord, to be kind;

let love flow through me unconfined.

Enable me to live this way,

that kindness would describe my day,

That I would never leave undone

a loving small thing for someone.

A Wisp of Time 200.

8.5.1989.

(Psalm 39:4-5/90:12/144:4)

As brief as a passing shadow;

a wisp that's here and gone;

As momentary as one breath,

my life lasts just that long.

Though the time seems to pass quickly,

it seems in vast supply.

But the years, though they be many

are as twinkling of an eye.

Lord, show me just how transient

I am upon this earth.

And make me know my end so I

may know what each day's worth.

Teach me so to number my days

that I may bring to Thee

A heart full of Thy wisdom which

lives for eternity.

LORD, make me to know my end

And what is the extent of my days;

Let me know how transient I am.

Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,

And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;

Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.

Psalm 39:4-5

So teach us to number our days,

That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Man is like a mere breath;

His days are like a passing shadow.

Psalm 144:4

New Songs of Praise 199.

5.5.1989.

(Psalm 13:5/40:3/118:14)

Thou art my night and melody;

my only strength and song.

I look to Thee continually

and Thou dost make me strong.

New songs of praise Thou givest me;

I sing with thanksgiving.

O, that others hear and see

and also start to sing.

I sing of Thee for Thou has dealt

so lovingly with me.

No matter what I've ever felt,

Thou lovest constantly.

Each day is an occasion for

new songs of thanksgiving.

In Thee there's no provision for

a heart that will not sing.

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 13:5

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear

And will trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40:3

The LORD is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:14