Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Lamentations 3:55-66

Just in case we might forget
Or think our suffering unique
God has included in His Word
More than just a peek

A look into the sufferings
His people have endured
And all the times He’s come back
And helped them feel assured

Not that He would swoop in
And end their situation
(Although sometimes that’s what He did
For both individuals and nations.)

But there are many other times
The words that we now read
Were written by those for whom it seems
God didn’t intercede

It’s good for us to remember
God’s faithfulness remains
Even if the road we’re on
Doesn’t seem to change

God reveals in Jesus
A reality yet unseen
The place that helps us understand
What our reality means.

A more foundational dimension
Where God exists complete
Where Jesus is Lord over all things
And there’s no enemy to defeat.

The crazy thing about it as
We wait for such a reality to come near
The good news proclaimed by Jesus
Is that it is already here!

Will we help reveal it
Or will we get distracted?
That’s why each Sunday we remember
The resurrection He enacted

Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Philippians 1:21-30

To be so deeply loving Christ
He’s unsure which to choose
To die and be with Christ himself
Or stay alive so Christ may use

Paul wrestles briefly with this choice
(But for the readers’ sake-
As he himself is facing death
And knows their hearts would break.)

He wants every word to encourage
Whether he’s with them or apart
That they would live in ways that proclaim
And reveal their Saviors heart.

He knows that they are suffering
The same struggle that he had
And doesn’t sugar-coat the truth
Or tell them “it’s not so bad.”

He acknowledges what they endure
While drawing close together
That as they live by one spirit
No opponent can ever sever

Where God has brought salvation
By the gracious Love of Christ,
No enemy can stand against
Or charge a greater price

So stand firm, church, and know that Paul
Will do the same however he can,
And he will share in your gospel boasting
When he joins you again.

Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Philippians 1:1-11

The beginning of a letter
Compared to something like “Dear Church,”
Paul & Timothy began their words
So the people would not have to search

The words of the whole letter
Should be read through this appeal
Filled with thanks, full of hope-
That they’d know Gods’ love is real.

That God would bring to completion
All work that He’s begun
That even something like imprisonment
Cannot hold back the Son

He spoke with such compassion
Even though they were apart
He affirmed his desire to be with them
And knew they held him in their heart

A pastoral letter
From a shepherd to his sheep
Only something like prison bars
Would be strong enough to keep

Yet here is a reminder
The bars could not hold back
The Love of God revealed in Words
Strengthening for any attack

It comes as a reminder
For those of us with loving Words
To keep them unshared is something
Really quite absurd.