What a month this has been. The first week, we were still in Armenia, where we camped and hiked up to a small village. We had plenty of free time to process (and write poems), had amazing conversations with fellow campers, and met a woman in the village who basically took us in and treated us like family. We then went to Yerevan, the capital, where we did some work while waiting for travel day. Travel day(s) was rough. It actually became nearly a week of a train, buses, taxis, and even ferries. In the middle of that, we did have a few days in an incredible tourist town named Cappadocia, which is actually found in the Bible! Now, we are here in a small city called Biga, where we are working with an amazing family/church. I think the theme of this month’s ministry, however, is going to be “subtle”. In order to spread the Good News, you have to build relationships and take the slow route. You can’t just meet someone and say “Hi! I am here to tell people about Jesus!” and start the Gospel conversation that easy way. It takes intentionality, care, love, and genuine friendships. To say I am excited to see how God works during this country, and the other countries on our list, would be a massive understatement! Like I always say, I hope to release another blog or two soon to give you a better look at what happened in the past few months! We shall see!
Anyways, here are a few poems (and one worship song) that I wrote in July!
Jesus, My Beloved- July 4
Loneliness, my comfort
Yes, darkness, my abode
Failure, my belonging
Shame, my heavy load
I could not find a friend
No matter what I tried
After countless beatings
My heart curled up and died
The whole world hates me
They cut me ’til I bleed
Watching with disgust
Deprive me what I need
They gouged my eyes out
And mocked while I stumbled
Took me to a mountain
Laughing as I tumbled
With no other choice
I embraced all my shame
Branded as unworthy
I accepted their cruel name
But there was Another
With sadness on His face
Rather than their hatred
He looked at me with grace
He despised their abuse
And how they whipped my hide
So He rushed to help me
Placed His hand on my side
Spoke to me with kindness
Softly kissed my head
He healed my eyes and scars
My heart back from the dead
He loves me so deeply
And took away my shame
Willing to embrace me
And give me His own name
Jesus, my Beloved
Yes, Jesus, my Friend
Jesus, my Companion
Who loves me without end
Gravity of Goodness- July 6
Upon my being
Sits a heavy weight
Though it presses down
I shall never hate
Rather than ruling
With damnation’s glare
It compels my soul
With compassion’s stare
No whips of anger
Or bondage of pain
It grants me freedom
And breaks every chain
Impossible laws
That leave me hollow
Are replaced by Hands
That help me to follow
Once I only knew
Evil things that seethe
But grace has a weight
Makes it hard to breathe
Oh, God, Your goodness
It overwhelms me
I am trapped within
Your kind gravity
To Him (Worship Song)- July 10
Praise the Maker
Of mountains and earth
Who created the jewels
That shrink at His worth
Worship the King
Of heaven and sky
One glimpse of His glory
And man would die
The One with higher thoughts
The One with better ways
He stands above all men
His name above all names
To Him goes every song
To Him goes all the praise
We bring Him all we have
We give Him all our days
Sing to the Father
Of the human race
Though they had sinned
He poured out His grace
Dance now for Jesus
Who came to save all
At His mighty name
The demonic foes fall
The One with higher thoughts
The One with better ways
He stands above all men
His name above all names
To Him goes every song
To Him goes all the praise
We bring Him all we have
We give Him all our days
We love You, oh God
Our beautiful friend
The Giver of mercy
Whose love won’t end
The One with higher thoughts
The One with better ways
He stands above all men
His name above all names
To Him goes every song
To Him goes all the praise
We bring Him all we have
We give Him all our days
Forgiven- July 12
“Child, it’s over
I’ve made it dawn
You are forgiven
It’s already gone”
Easy I remember
My disgusting past
The mistakes I made
Are holding fast
I sometimes still see
That lasting twilight
The comforting pain
Makes it hard to fight
After all I’ve done
The blood on my face
Surely I’m beyond
Can I have Your grace?
I keep on failing
And I struggle still
Why do I stumble
And anxiety, feel
“Child, it’s over
I’ve made it dawn
You are forgiven
It’s already gone”
You say You love me
You call me Your heir
You took my past
You’re all that is there
Night doesn’t hold me
Its reign is done
It fades so quickly
At the sight of Your Son
You’ve wiped me clean
And made me new
Though I’m not perfect
I’m saved by You
Like chasing the fog
Or catching the mist
You tell me I’m grabbing
Things that don’t exist
“Child, it’s over
I’ve made it dawn
You are forgiven
It’s already gone”
Thank You, Father
For saving my soul
Slowly but surely
You’re making me whole
Every dawn darkens
A few hours a day
But that doesn’t mean
That it goes away
When You look at me
It’s Jesus You see
Because You forgave
You declared me free
I just need to trust
The things that You say
Though I stumble
I haven’t lost the way
“Child, it’s over
I’ve made it dawn
You are forgiven
It’s already gone!”
