230. Into The Depths

8.8.1989.

We say that night is approaching
when we cannot see clear.
The darkness hides the face of things,
sometimes enhances fear.
In Thee there's much I cannot see
but not because of night.
It's not the dark that's hiding Thee;
no cause in Thee for fright.

A deep but a dazzling darkness
conceals the depths of Thee,
Though full of a blinding brightness
if eyes could only see.
I long to plumb the depths of those
dark places not in view,
To see Thee where Thou dost expose
Thyself, and be made new.

229. Through the Wilderness

The Country we are hastening toward
will have no desert place;
No wilderness to get across,
no dryness to be faced.
Only here we have the chance
to drink of His cool streams.
As He leads through a wilderness
that for our best He deems.

We also have the chance to show
some others where to drink
That they may be refreshed as well
]and not from deserts shrink.
He gives the opportunities -
may we not miss the chance.
In His Land there will be no thirst,
just richness of expanse.

228. Offering Transformed

8.8.1989.

I offer a distracted mind,
a lukewarm heart and wandering eyes.
How can You take this offering
and listen to pathetic cries?
And yet in Your wondrous mercy,
and with a Father's loving smile,
You take all that I offer up;
Your thoughts of love flow all the while.

Lord, take my mind and capture it,
and make my heart burn white with flame;
Fix my eyes full on Your face
and there to steadfastly remain.
I praise You for Your loving smile
that always makes me glad I came.
I'm grateful for Your Father's heart
which doesn't let me stay the same.

227. Restlessness Banished

I'm restless.  What's the reason?
I'm lonely. What's the source?
Why can't my thoughts stay on one thing...
They're on some random course.
This general sense of vagueness
and feelings undefined
Begin to look familiar now;
I recognize the signs.

Begone from me, I tell him,
that liar and the thief.
I stand in my authority
and there I find relief.
The restlessness has vanished;
His presence makes me full.
My thoughts are captured by one thing -
my Lord who's wonderful.

Treasure of Complete Surrender 226.

29.7.1989.

A great contentment, perfect peace,
follow abandonment;
Surrendering without reserve,
regret or resentment.
A growing depth of knowledge leads
to growing depth of trust,
Bu knowledge of His father's heart,
not just what books discussed.

A laying down of rights, and a
heart of full acceptance.
A purity of life, and a
will of total deference,
He takes as fragrant offering
and to that life reveals
The depths a heart will never know
until it wholly yields.

Unbroken Practice of Presence 225.

28.7.1989.

By steadfast gaze on You alone
my soul begins to know
And see unclouded who You are;
from this my worship flows.
No difference does it make that I
have lists of things to do,
My day can be unceasing praise;
unbroken time with You.

The task at hand - no matter what -
can be an act of praise;
One long unbroken practice of
Your presence and Your ways.
How glorious the little things
can be when done for You.
How light become the bigger things
when gazing just at You.

A Stormy Trial 224.

24.7.1989.

Job 37

The sky is dark and clouded;
the sun is blocked from view.
No light is seen but flashed from clouds;
all life's a grayish hue.
Life seems devoid of all color
amidst the dismal storm.
It's hard to think what it was like
to be at peace and warm.

A north wind comes in a fury,
how can this storm get worse?
What else will come descending next;
when will this all reverse?
The wind, though cold and icy
begins to clear the sky.
It blows until the light breaks through
all golden to the eye.

It was He who brought the north wind,
that's clear now in the light.
He also caused the storm to blow,
and made the day as night.
From weathering comes strengthening,
and roots go deep in storms.
His works are awesome all around;
His love takes many forms.