"but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing" Psalm 34:7-10

I can breath better

in your presence, Lord.

Does anything evolve into something weaker,

something less equipped to survive?

Like,

are any Pokémon ever worse 

after they are reborn?

I am more trusting,

more patient,

more long suffering,

but also alive and well

are the things that distract,

the appetite's of the flesh.

I think only those destined for corruption

evolve into something worse,

and still,

I know I have a delightful inheritance,

so why the increase of darkness's lure?

Why the strength of my spirit, 

not feeling more focused?

Is God so illusive, 

that he cannot be known,

Yet,

even as I write the words,

"But I know Him!",

shouts (from the depth of my soul).

Tears.

Repentance.

Rest.

I'm so sorry, Father.

I'm so sorry.

I can see you said to love you most,

even with all my heart,

all my soul,

all my strength,

and to have no other gods

before you,

to protect me.

All other loves lead to bondage,

all other masters,

are crewel.

Like drugs or other addictions

"the first one's free."

the first time seems great,

the first one opens the door

to those we would never welcome in.

    The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, 

    and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good;     

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.     

    Fear the LORD, you his saints, 

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

        The lions may grow weak and hungry,

        but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

And even as I experience the safety, 

and the relief of your promise to protect,

even to forgive and cleanse,

these words "lack no good thing" 

typify the temptations

of this season of acquisition, 

where we call the day after we give thanks 

"Black Friday",

because we put 

the sellers of goods,

in the black for their annual income.

we can't focus on the Lord,

with so many things to buy,

so many loved ones to please,

so much money needing to be spent.

So many bills,

so many wants.

But God whispers:

Come sit with me a while.

Come,

my children,

listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD...

turn from evil and do good.

Those who fear the Lord are radiant,

they lack no good thing.

We do not renounce giving gifts to our loved ones,

or Christmas shopping,

rather:

Let's pray for holiness,

for the affections of our soul,

to be singly compelled to Christ

and Christ-likeness.

Let's pray the intimacy we have with Christ,

will be light in the darkness 

for those who are hurting, lonely, and lost,

even those we love.

 Jesus replied, 

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’                 

This is the first and greatest commandment.                                                                     

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’                                             

The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

This command is well known
not one I need to be taught,
or need to learn to obey,
rather it's a litmus test.
I hear it's echo in my heart,
"Are you loving him more than these?"
"Are you loving them, more than yourself?"

Today as we hear his voice,

we are to focus on the Love of God,

and ask God to fix our affections,

for it is Christ who works in us both 

to will and to do his good pleasing and perfect will.

to all who are eagerly waiting for him

 He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Heb. 9:28

Sometimes when I read a sentence,

I immediately know how it ends,

sometimes, I worry what the end will say,

and then sometimes, I'm really challenged by the end.

This one took me through the latter two.

First, I worried,

then I was challenged.

Do I "eagerly" wait for him?

Like a child for Christmas morning,

cant sleep, 

are distracted with excited anticipation?

Then I am totally aware of my habits that distract me.

God said the difference between the 5 wise virgins,

and the 5 foolish ones,

was a matter of oil in their flask,

but I studied oil,

to see what God meant.

It's not about the oil.

It's about the heart of the one 

who dreams of their beloved,

and really knows them,

who longs for their return,

who keeps watch,

who keeps the prophecies of Revelations,

who keeps their clothes close at hand,

who gives to the poor,

who visits the sick and the one in prison,

who considers how they might stir one another on to good deeds,

who loves God most,

who is running the race to win the prize.

Not the one who just hangs out with Christians.

Not one who just prays and prophecies in his name,

but the one who get's to know him now.

Someone said, 

they wanted to be lead by the principals of the Bible,

but we are asked to hold the hand of the Holy Spirit,

and be lead by his very presence.

To have ears to hear,

and walk in his ways.

My frustration wants distraction.

waiting hurts.

life hurts.

people hurt.

But the Holy Spirit desires to sit with us in our hurt.

To give us his very nearness in our hard times.

When you feel God near you,

it's so good you would pay any price to enjoy the experience.

And we are offered this feast for free.

Yet, there is another offer.

It's a counterfeit.

It's sometimes called entertainment.

Sometimes, your phone,

sex,

money,

alcohol,

drugs,

family,

shopping,

and the list of idols goes on.

Everyone of these things can be a helpful gift,

or they can be an idol.

"Peter, do you love me more than these?"

Jesus asked.

but I always hear: 

"Kim, do you love me more than these?"

God, I do,

and I'm too honest to not admit,

sometimes no, I also don't.

"So today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your heart."

Never mind Meriba,

I need to hear his voice,

and pray my heart will 

"not grow hard in the time of testing."

If Jesus tells us to pray something,

we would do well to obey.

I know plenty of believers with cold hard hearts.

My job is not to judge,

it's to pray it wont happen to me,

keep my oil flask full,

waiting eagerly for him,

love him more than everything.

With all my heart,

all my soul,

all my strength,

all my mind.

and consider how I might spur others on.

Treasure?

Is your treasure a noun or a verb?

Is it a thing

or a thing you do?

This is not semantics

or my attempt to play with words

(which I do ((so)) enjoy)

but a desire to peel back our outer layer

and discover our inner want,

for me, and if you like, for you.

The surface desires for stuff,

has an enormous stronghold on hearts,

and I both hate it, 

and if I'm honest, 

I also love it.

I love shoes, and clothes and art supplies, 

and matching accessories 

and shopping for fresh new, 

beautiful things!

But Jesus said:

"for where your treasure is, 

there your heart will be also" Mtt 6:19-21

And I have learned, 

Jesus is always right.

John Piper said to:

"treasure Jesus above all else,

because God is most glorified in us,

when we are most satisfied, in him."

Do you do this? 

Take thoughts about what scripture says 

and what happens in real life, 

and ask God for wisdom,

ask what faithful affection looks like,

and how to take these contemplations

into family celebrations of Christ's birth,

with holiness, and glory, and worship?

Isaiah says God promises to give people 

hidden treasures and riches stored in secret places!

Paul tells us that if we are raised with Christ, 

we are to seek what is above,

think about what is above,

not what is on earth.

Love 

who is above 

long for who is above, 

desire and crave, 

cherish and adore, 

who is above.

The fear of the Lord is our treasure,

and wisdom is more valuable than gold,

so,

God, will you be glorified in me,

will you purify my affections

and put your majesty in my sight,

so much so, that I disappear,

and only You are seen;

so much so, my longings,

are swallowed up in worship

to my King, The Lover of my soul.

God is (after all)

not our hobby.

He is our betrothed.

God help me as I surrender to you

and treasure you,

to glorify you. 

Amen

Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory

 Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory

like the glory of the sunrise? 

or the glow of a campfire. 

Like the glistening sun off new fallen snow? 

Or like Majestic mountains and roaring oceans. 

Like shooting stars and the dancing sky of the aurora borealis, 

Like the smell of fresh baked bread 

or the smell of cloves 

(I always have to close my eyes and drink in the aroma). 

Is it like the sound of crashing waves 

or grand symphonies? 

All so glorious! 

Or like I traveled through a desert 

and I’m finally offered water so I drink deeply. 

but these only a glint, 

the reaching out of the glow of God, 

the beckoning of His radiance, 

calling my attention, 

to my Maker, Savior and King 

We humans stare in awe, 

speechless in wonder, 

tears of humility 

knees week with frailty 

our frame aware of the power of God. 

I envied Moses up on that mountain, 

coming down with God’s glory all over his face. 

but we all with unveiled faces, 

reflect that glory. 

We are crowned (!) 

with that glory. 

There’s a crown to lay at his feet! 

Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory 

and the exact representation of his being 

Like, I love Monet 

by beholding his art. 

And I adore Spurgeon, 

because of his words. 

and some people know my kids, 

because they resemble me 

and share my mannerisms. 

but those all just a glimpse. 

just a type of this, 

because Jesus 

is the exact representation 

of the Father’s being. 

That’s why He told his disciples, 

“Whoever has seen me, 

has seen the Father.” 

Because the way Jesus behaves 

toward the poor, 

the sick and broken, 

makes me adore him, 

and makes me know the Father better 

and trust him more! 

because in his great glory and goodness, 

he laid the foundations of the earth, 

sustaining all things by his powerful word, 

and provided purification for my sins, 

and he is seated in a high and holy place, 

yet, with the broken and humble. 

How could I be invited 

into that compassionate intimacy? 

He has even given us 

his very great and precious promises, 

so we can participate in the divine nature! 

God, has set him above his companions 

by anointing him with the oil of joy 

And so we worship him, 

and adore him in complete surrender. 

Paying attention 

(as warned) 

lest we fall away. 

And in humble awe 

we live to the praise of His glory. 

Kim Damon 

Hebrews 1:3

Barely Hanging On

 Barely Hanging On

Sounds like impending doom

but faith whispers the Lord's promises.

He said:

"I will lose none of those he has given me,

but raise them up at the last day."

 He promised to raise me up.

So when my strength feels tired,

and my mind feels full.

When my heart is conflicted 

and I feel the effects of isolation.

I listen closely,

and hear his voice.

"Nothing can ever separate us from God's love."

"Nothing"

I'm tempted to make a list of all the separating things,

all the reasons I can't feel His love,

but this says "nothing" and goes onto clarify:

"Neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither our fears for today

nor our worries about tomorrow-

not even the powers of hell 

can separate us from God's love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below-

indeed, nothing in all creation

will ever be able to separate us

from the love of God

that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

and I'm encouraged.

I spend some time repenting from my steps away,

from my acts of disobedience, and I hear:

"You have abandoned your first love.

remember how far you have fallen.

Repent and go back to what you were doing at first."

More time in prayer.

Not like reciting a dutiful set of words,

but pouring my mournful heart out

to the lover of my soul.

and I know He receives me.

and as I come to him,

I know he comes to me.

And as I seek him with all my heart,

He is found by me.

No longer barley hanging on,

but carried.

How gracious is our God and Lord.

How profound is his love.

He said:

"I live in a high and holy place,

but also with the one who is contrite and humble,

to revive the spirit of the lowly 

and to revive the heart of the contrite."

The Feast

 In my study,
fasting informed
a feast.
Not merely indulging hunger;
Rather a savoring
of God's glory
kindness and goodness,
brought me to 
understand,
I have never
feasted.

A glimpse of Communion past,
a flash of 
Julie McCorman's
dessert table
(maybe)
But never have
I ever
feasted.

Then God gave me an image.
I sat at the table
and the warmth from my bowl 
lifted to my face.
The aroma filled my senses
and I lifted a taste to my lips.
At first touch to 
my tongue
tears welled in my eyes.
I turned and along the table
I saw my Great Grandma,
my Grandma and Grandpa,
and my Dad.
I saw my nephew
and my friend.
I saw all who had gone before me.

And then I felt him.

The glory of the Lord 
was at my side.
And as I turned to face Him,
He poured wine into my glass,
as tears streamed down my face.
He wiped them away,

and knelt down to meet my gaze.

Face to Face
all my life,
every prayer I had prayed
all my sorrow and pain,
were just moments we had shared together.

The brightness of His glory,
the melody of
His Voice,
the rhythm of His breath 

and heartbeat
and mercy
all filled the air

and joy I have never known,
we all enjoyed
at just the first 
bite.

c. Kim Damon

Rest

Mom would say it when I was sick

maybe with a hand on my forehead.

Something you long for when pushing through 

a full day, or week, or year.

But there's a deeper meaning than just physical.

Rest can be mental and spiritual.

A mind that is racing with worry and fear,

regret, and self-loathing.

A spirit that feels forgotten by God,

or worse, unloved by Him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened."

Unloved by Him?

These are His words.

Jesus is the friend who comes along side the weary soul

and offers help; 

offers a solution.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

He offers a solution.

When I'm tired, it's generally 

because I haven't taken Him up on this sweet offer.

Our humble, gentle hearted friend,

who longs to labor with us

who longs for us to learn from Him,

still makes the invitation.

Shalom dear friends!

"Today when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts"

The Alter

Father,
I lay my addictions 

before you today.
Help me with fleshly 

distractions and hungers.

Phone
shopping
news
social media
alcohol
fried foods
sweet treats
caffeine

Father, 

help me to bring my attraction,
and magnetism of soul
to your alter, 

and release them to you.

Surely I was set free to walk in freedom.

I want to be sparked into 
the flame of action
by your Spirit alone.
I want o rest in the peace of gratitude
and rejoice in the 

God of my salvation 

alone.
I want to love you 

with all of my heart
all of my soul
all of my strength
all of my time
all of my money
all of my attention.

God, I want to love you with all 

that is within me,

and all at my disposal
for your glory 
and for my joy.

2022 was hard.

 2022 was hard.

As I look back,

this was not my hardest year,

but so many hard things happened,

I owe it to myself to say

this was hard

I don't mean to complain.

I actually am not fond of complaining,

not from others,

not from self.

Still,

how do you know

how miraculous the sustaining,

how do you know how costly the rescue,

if you do not know how difficult 

the preceding events?

When I had my presbytery,

it was so glorious,

so so encouraging and uplifting,

I thought it was imperative that I explain

the context,

the need for these words.

The prophets gave me medicine 

by their visions and scriptures,

and I had been struggling in silence.

So I shared about the spinal cord tumor,

and the clumsy, painful weakness 

that preceded their words.

I found myself surrounded by my loving church family;

prayed for by so many.

I was humbled by gifts and cards 

and words of encouragement

as well as the Lord

(daily)

giving me strength for each moment.

and words,

for each frustrating new limitation.

and then meds 

which clouded my mind a bit 

but managed the pain.

And then my dad died.

And then my dog died.

And it was hard.

So I said to God:

"You gave me those comforts to sooth my soul,

I need you to comfort me by your own hand now"

And of coarse God,

being God,

did.

So in answer to hard,

God increased his personal help to me.

And then I had a month of breathing trouble.

If I say it was easier not to inhale,

and that I rested in the peace of surrender 

with each breath,

that would describe the (yet undiagnosed)

sarcoidosis that had swelled the lymph nodes in my lungs.

And God helped me more.

He helped me to be at peace (again) with dyeing.

I am as ok about being here 

as I am about being with the Lord in Heaven.

which only sounds dark,

if you have not wrestled with mortality,

and been healed from fear.

OK, 2022 was hard.

But it was also full of love.

I said to the Lord 

(I'm sorry to admit)

"If I had no self love,

I'd have no love at all!"

Then the Lord showed me in a thousand ways

(after immediately saying sorry)

Just how much love he has showered over me

through humans.

I think that's my problem with complaining,

when you state the negative thought in your head,

you rob yourself (and others)

of seeing all the miraculous things 

that buffet us and buoy us up 

in the sea of our trial.

When teaching a class once

the Lord spoke words out of my mouth that I love.

"I am not a victim,

I am an object of Christ's affection".

And that is what I choose to focus on.

and by this, my mind and heart are guarded

by Christ.

As I look to 2023,

I just want to do better.

I have no grand goals.

Just (please Lord)

help me do better.

My weaknesses are more clear to me now than ever.

I think when we are physically weak,

we are less emotionally patient.

And I don't like the words I ear myself speak,

or the judgments I mentally make,

or the conversations of mean things 

my mind says:

"I should have said."

Oh God,

clean the inside of this vessel.

And fill me with more of You.

It was after you had been beaten

and after you had been spit upon and mauked

it was after you had been betrayed and slandered

that You said:

"Father forgive them,

they know not what they do."

I want to be like Christ

(unoffendable)

I want to be better at remaining silent

until I have the words of the Father.

I want to be better at laying my life down for my friends,

better at washing feet,

better at being humble

and submissive and kind 

in word 

and deed 

and thought,

in 2023

Forgive me, I was asleep at the wheel. [and other terrifying excuses]

 Forgive me, I was asleep at the wheel.

[and other terrifying excuses]

Like,

I'm sorry, I have cancer brain.

honestly, I don't play the cancer card very often

and being asleep at the wheel would mean I crashed my car.

I have actually fallen asleep at the wheel before

but thank goodness,

woke right up!

I've heard "I had a senior moment",

and that's more accurate,

but I'm only 54

so I don't really think of myself as a senior.

There are more young folks in my friend group than ever before,

but I just thought that meant I was hip

(I am immediately aware this word dates me).

I did so love the 90's,

but I wouldn't go back if you paid me!

It's not that there weren't a few moments

I wish I had done better,

but God's grace helps me forgive myself,

and I try to apologize to the humans involved

if it seems important for their (or my) healing.

Sorry I digress,

When the bottom of the To-do list,

grows faster than the top is accomplished,

it would be easy for a few things

to drop through the cracks of the day.

I think that's what actually happened

the day I didn't do the thing, I said I'd do.

This does happen more now

than in past years,

or maybe I have forgotten

about all the times it happened before.

At any rate,

I have found the best way to make up for my failings,

is to repent, and try to make amends.

It's actually important (to me)

to keep my word,

so

"better late than never" if I'm honest that is plan B,

sounds contrite and

I'd rather be on time, but if not,

I will humbly show up late

and bring flowers.

And this,

is my preverbial bouquet.

Did you ever wish?

 Did you ever sit there

and just wish.

Wish there was a plain

simple text

Something that could give

guidance when perplexed,

encouragement,

when down cast,

inspiration,

when stagnating

strength,

when worn out,

the key,

to open untold mysteries,

and the goal,

for every best life lived

A guide 

for our wandering lives.

A caution

for imminent danger.

Did you ever wish 

for the perfect prayer?

I found it.

Psalm 19

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or word;

their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

It rejoices like a great athlete

eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens

and follows it's course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from it's heat.

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, 

reviving the soul.

The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The commandments of the LORD are right,

bringing joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are clear,

giving insight for living.

Reverence for the LORD is pure,

lasting forever.

The laws of the LORD are true;

each one is fair.

They are more desirable than gold,

even the finest god.

They are sweeter than honey,

even honey dripping from the comb.

They are a warning to your servant,

a great reward for those who obey them.

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?

Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

Keep your servant from deliberate sins!

Don't let them control me.

Then I will be free of guilt 

and innocent of great sin.

May the words of my mouth 

and the meditations of my heart

be pleasing to you,

O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

A dark thought

Could I share a dark thought

that really helped me?

Like usually,

I can't say dark things 

without making those I love sad,

but I feel like you guys will get it.

OK, here goes:

I was reading survival rates and side effects of the surgery(s)

that lie in front of me,

and I thought

(as I wrestle to get up off my recliner

because my back hurts)

what if this is the best I will feel this year?

Even though this season is making me weak,

what if this is the most strong I will be

for the foreseeable future?

Well,

it helped me want to get up.

And put my house in order,

and write letters

and say what should be said...

and I thought you guys would get it,

and maybe that would help someone else

as well.

Also, taking baby steps,

and being kind to myself

when I need to rest.

Seize the day,

and God grant you peace,

my dear friends! 

xoxo

If Left To Myself

If left to myself
I'd sit in the quiet for a bit.

I love quiet.

I'd check my messages,
and be captivated by some video's charm,
Then, (suddenly)

I'd look up
and find far too many minutes had passed.

If left to myself,

I would allow cravings
to guide me
Food, shopping, alcohol, entertainment, art...

As I made the list
there was both conviction
and also freedom,
with the knowledge that none of these items are sin
(in and of themselves).

But if left to myself,

I have very little restraint
when it comes to feeding my cravings.

In fact, 

my only restraint comes from a surprising place.
It's not out of a fear
of reprisal or punishment.
My greatest self control
comes from the freedom given me
to choose.

And I already choose... 

God's love.

The love of God 

(so) compels me,
by His generous gifts
of grace,
and mercy,
and forgiveness,
that the thought of grieving
the heart of this
All loving, and sacrificing,
All patient, all cleansing,
All compassionate, all powerful,
Almighty, God,

melts me.

Left to myself,
I know I would ruin it all!

But I have surrendered
my everything
to that All loving God,
and in turn,
his benefits wrap around me,
and give me greater pleasures
than my flesh can dream of.

My sight is filled
with wonder and awe,
as I sit (eyes closed)
tears welling up behind my lids,
in the presence of God.

He actually doesn't leave me
to myself.
He promised me,
he would never leave me
or forsake me.

Yes,

he makes that promise to everyone,
but He made that promise to me.

To me!

I have been set free from fear,
because he said he'd help me.
he'd never leave me.

Jesus said he wouldn't lose any
who had been given to him.
He won't lose me.

I will be made perfect.
God said he would finish what he started in me.
When I don't know
if I have what it will take 

to get to the end,

I remember:
I'm His.

If I lose everything,
this earth dangles in front of me 

(as a treasure),
I have lost nothing,

because God said,

I have stored up my treasure 

in Heaven.

If left to myself,

my only hope is a brief guilty pleasure,
and the consequences of sin (death).

But thanks and praise be to God,
who delivers me 

(through Jesus Christ our Lord).
So then, I myself in my mind
am a slave to God's law,
but in my sinful nature
a slave to the law of sin.

Maybe that's why Christ
by his sacrifice condemns sin.
(I don't get how he can isolate sin),
that is in me,
and pass judgment 

(condemnation),
on the sin,

but not on me, somehow,
he condemns the sin,
and sanctifies me.

Like a surgeon who goes inside,
and finds death,
and cuts it out,
and goes down deeper,
and find wounds,
and corruption,
and generational weakness,
and harbored bitterness
and unhealed deep injuries,
and does his unknowable searching,
and then brings healing and forgiveness,
and regenerates new life,
and gives new abilities and strengths,
and wisdom and power.

All, by this Almighty God.

So when fear whispers:
"I could ruin it all!"

God's promise (to me) reminds me,
"I will never leave you or forsake you"
"I will help you"
"I will finish what I started in you."

And I find peace,
and more,
I'm carried to a place,

where I am sitting at the side of God,
sometimes I'm on the floor at his feet
sometimes I'm sitting on the fathers lap
(with my head on his chest)

And somehow I'm still here,
and I feel the tears streaming down
and feel his loving presence
(filling and showering over me)

in light
and wrapped all around me.

If left to myself,

God is with me.

Shalom.

c. Kim Damon 2/24/22

I like to shop on my phone

 I like to shop on my phone

I like to have a glass of bourbon 

at night to relax.

I love to drink diet energy drinks.

And I’d like to spend all day

Everyday

Making art.

These are things I crave,

Things that take my time,

And things that are mostly 

Not healthy for me

And have nothing to do with heaven.

Ok, well the art thing is almost exclusively 

For charity right now,

To help the homeless, indigenous,

And those in Ghana

But I don’t have good balance.

So even my best, can be broken.

If I had my way,

These things would (selfishly)

be all that I am.

[that’s messed up]

Those things are not sin,

They are not my enemies,

They are not the devil.

But if I let them,

They would consume me.

I also love (and long for)

quiet

I love to listen to God

And write what I hear.

I love to sit with friends 

And give them comfort and guidance.

I love to teach,

I love to worship in song,

I love to cry prayers for those who are hurting.

I also love to have tears overtake me in the presence of the Lord. 

It’s cleansing.

It’s humbling.

And if you see it,

Know, God is near me

and I feel him.

I love to talk about God.

And how he helps me.

He helps me so much.

I would not be alive if he did not.

Also, 

God is my favorite.

This invisible 

(all sustaining)

(All powerful)

(All knowing)

One,

is my air 

and my heartbeat 

and my joy 

and my tears 

and my peace 

and the best parts of me.

And for him,

I wish to do better.

I don’t deserve this life,

my family and friends.

And I could (as easily)

Been born on the streets,

Or in a war torn place,

Or to a drug addict.

But he put me here,

And lavished his goodness on me,

And I don’t want to take for granted 

the gifts he’s given 

or be ruled by my passions.

I want to serve him.

And live worthy of my calling.

I am a child of the living God.

I do not need 50 watches, 

or 30 pairs of (really cool) shoes.

God, forgive me.

Help me give more.

Serve more.

Love more.

Obey faster,

All the days you lend me breath.

Amen