Protected by Copyscape DMCA Copyright Search

Sunday, June 10, 2012

You are King

Lord, I come to You.  Lord I come to You.
Lord, I come to You
Today, this day.
I acknowledge You, Jesus;
I acknowledge You as King over all the earth.

Lord, I praise Your name.  Lord, I praise Your name.
Lord, I praise Your name
Today, this day.
Holy is Your name, Jesus;
Holy is Your name - You're King over all the earth.

Lord, My soul gives thanks. Lord, My soul gives thanks.
Lord, My soul gives thanks
Today, this day.
Your love saves me today, Jesus;
Your loves saves me today - You're King over all the earth.

Lord, I worship You.  Lord, I worship You.
Lord, I worship You
Today, this day.
You are lifted up, Jesus;
You are lifted up - You're King over all the earth.

Lord, I honor You.  Lord, I honor You.
Lord, I honor You
Today, this day.
I will follow You, Jesus;
I will follow You - You're King over all the earth.

by Julie Dunlap   5-23-2012

I came up with another simple tune as I played around on the banjo, then put these words of praise to the King of Kings.  This has become my prayer as I am faced with my utter dependency on my Creator.



Friday, June 1, 2012

Snow in the Basement

I found below a layer of snow;
It is icy cold down there.
Where's our warm winter clothes?
Let's take our shovels down the stairs.

Grab a coat and come to see -
Eighteen snowy inches cloak the floor.
It's summer so how can this be,
That our basement wintered heretofore.

Will you help me dig about?
Come, let's shovel side by side.
This frozenness I must move out
Lest ice expand and winter doth preside.

Each of us has snow within -
A frozen factor we must root-out.
Dance and sing and laugh and love
While we shovel our basements out.

By Julie Dunlap   May 17, 2012

This poem seems like a Dr. Seuss children's poem, and the thought originated from a vivid dream I had right before I awoke one morning.  I jotted down the thought right away lest I forget the idea.  Putting the idea down poetically was challenging in order to incorporate rhythm and rhyme.  I had to get out a rhyming dictionary, a thesaurus, and a college dictionary, and then my helpful editor (my husband) gave me needed critique so I had to reword much of what I had written. It took three days to get from the rough idea to the poem.  It will take longer to get the snow out of the basement, but as we place our trust in God's abiding love, we can have fun as we shovel out the snow.


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Not My Will

Not my will but Thine, O Lord,
Not my will but Thine, O Lord,
Not my will but Thine, O Lord,
I choose You.

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
My strong Tower;
You're my Refuge I will cling to.
I choose you.

by Julie Dunlap  May 5, 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

Transformation

Roaring waters swirl and engulf my home.
   Once an array of distinct colors
   Formed an uplifting
   Rainbow of promise.
A whirlwind struck at night
   Destroying all order
   Creating a conglomeration of mud -
   Thick, pasty, tasteless mud.

I am brought down to sense
   The minuteness of mankind.
For God formed Adam from dust
   And Eve from Adam's rib.
Yet, God made man in His Image.
   We are called to glorify His Name.

Open the shades which close us in darkness.
   Let the Son shine within;
   Let him mold us with His gentle hands;
   Let Him breathe color into our souls.

Turning our gaze outward
   We will see a multitude of rainbows
   Surmounting the surrounding clouds.

As soon as we open our hearts to our Creator,
He shines His Light upon our souls,
   Transforming slimy worms
   Scurrying through depths of mud
                       to
   Fragile butterflies fluttering
   Among meadows of wildflowers
   Scattered upon rugged mountain slopes.

by Julie St. John   l987
    

Thursday, April 26, 2012

In His Arms

If a wren can cling to a spray aswing,
In a mad May wind and sing and sing
     As if he'd burst for joy,

Why cannot I, contented, lie
In His quiet arms, beneath His sky,
     Unmoved by earth's annoy?

Author unknown

Sunday, April 8, 2012

A Better Resurrection

I have no wit, no words, no tears;
   My heart within me like a stone
Is numbed too much for hopes or tears;
   Look right, look left, I dwell alone;
I lift mine eyes, but dimmed with grief
   No everlasting hills I see;
My life is in the falling leaf
   O Jesus, quicken me.

My life is like a faded leaf,
   My harvest dwindled to a husk;
Truly my life is void and brief
   And tedious in the barren dusk;
My life is like a frozen thing,
   No bud nor greenness can I see:
Yet rise it shall -- the sap of Spring;
   O Jesus, rise in me.

My life is like a broken bowl,
   A broken bowl that cannot hold
One drop of water for my soul
   Or cordial in the searching cold;
Cast in the fire the perished thing,
   Melt and remould it, till it be
A royal cup for him my King:
   O Jesus, drink of me.

by Christina Rossetti   1830-1894

Friday, April 6, 2012

Free to Be

There came a time, I felt a longing
   To be free;  free to be,
   To be a limb on the Tree of Life
      That would reach out and offer fruit
      To nourish the poor
          So they, too, would be free,
             Free to be.

I searched here and there,
   From mountain tops to chapel pews.
      Peace was nowhere.
   Even the sweet air of the South Pacific
      Held the stale quality
         Of freedom withheld.
   I came home in despair.

In my search for freedom, I came upon
   A layer of fog;
   A blanket of doubt
      Lay on top my labyrinth within -
         A mouse in a maze
            Trapped!

It soon became clear, I was the capture
   Who held myself prisoner all these tear-filled years.
In order to grow, I had to let go -
   To open my deadly grip,
   To surrender all my pride and shame,
   To hang in His loving arms.
I found freedom in His pain.

by Julie St. John   December, 1986

Today is Good Friday,  the day we remember the crucifixion of our Lord and King.  It is a good day because Jesus demonstrated His deep and lasting love for us.  Only in Christ will we find the freedom and peace we long for along the path of life.