Poetry Page 6

The rain of Your
Spirit
has refreshed my soul.
Everything inside of me
is clean and fresh -
all the haziness is gone.
My heart is filled
with joy -
A new morning has begun!
All the colors of my soul
are bright and new!
Thank You for the
refreshing
of Your Spirit,
Lord!

In a moment of fear
I learned how much You care.
The strength You gave me
to deal with the situation
was more than enough.
Once the time
for strength was past,
You were there to comfort me
and wrap Your loving arms
around me.
You made me secure in
Your love and care,
and then gave me laughter
to refresh me
and renew my spirit.

In Your presence,
Lord,
I feel loved.
I see Your arms
reaching out to hold me
and hug me
simply because
I'm precious to You.
The tender touch
of Your Spirit
assures me of my value
to You
and with each moment
my love for You grows.

Holy Spirit
come into my life
dwell in my heart
and make it new.
I want to get
to know You better
and let You complete
Your work in me.
Make of me
a new creation;
Conform me
to the image of Christ.
I open my inner self
to You,
for Your ways
are above mine
and Your touch
will purify my soul.

I wrote this poem after visiting a local homeless shelter one evening. The singles group at my church went to this shelter once a month on a Saturday night, and prepared a meal for the homeless. While some of us were in the kitchen cooking, one of the group held a service for the homeless in the chapel, while others sat and spoke with some of the men and women who were there. There is a material need there, and we help where we can, but the greater need is the spiritual need.

My prayer is that those who don't know Christ come to know Him through His people reaching out and helping - not just preaching. There is a saying that comes to mind - "Preach the gospel; use words if necessary." Let us always be willing to live the gospel in such a way that those around us see Jesus through us. We are His hands reaching out to this lost and dying world - let us be willing to be used to touch the lost each day.

Defeat etched on
    their faces,
bitterness clouding
    their minds,
as the man preached
    with love
about salvation,
I saw derision
    filling their eyes.
Oh, Lord,
I ask that You
    touch them,
break through the
    walls of pain.
Restore the innocence
    of childhood,
give them a hope
    that will last.
Open their ears,
Tear down the barriers,
Break into the
    prison of self.
Pour unending mercy
    and love
into their lives
and use us
    to show them
You.

Return to my poetry page

Return to Anchored By Grace