Modern Psalms

First posted in February, 2006:

http://www.xanga.com/cookie_monster44/440114853/item.html

I've heard it said that the books of the Bible are God's words to us, but the Psalms are our words to God. As I was trying to express my heart at the time of writing this, I found it best expressed in some "modern psalms" I was listening to at the time.




My heart is full right now, and I feel the need to write something, anything. Whatever comes to mind.

I'm listening to Keith Green now.

As each day passes by,

I feel my love run dry.

I get so weary, worn,

And tossed around in the storm.

Well I’m blind to all his needs,

And I’m tired of planting seeds.

I seem to have a wealth,

Of so many thoughts about myself.

I want to, I need to, be more like jesus.

I want to, I need to, be more like him.

Our father’s will was done,

By giving us his son,

Who paid the highest cost,

To point us to the cross.

And when I think of him,

Taking on the whole world’s sin,

I take one look at me,

Compared to what I’m called to be.

I want to, I need to, be more like jesus.

I want to, I need to, be more like him.

Remember, there’s no greater love,

Then to lay down your life for a friend.

The end of all my prayers,

Is to care like my lord cares.

My one and only goal,

His image in my soul.

Yes my weakness is revealed,

When by his stripes I’m healed.

He’s faithful and he’s true,

To complete the work he begins in you.



It's been so long. So long.

Since I've cared. About something more than myself.

Cared enough to at least do something. To be spurred into action.

Or maybe I've never stopped caring.

I've just stopped doing.

Doing things for others.



Oh Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clean
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear

I want to take Your Word and shine it all around
But first help me just to live it, Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You

It's been so long.

Since I've loved.

People, God, Me.

When was the last time I delighted in God?

There's nothing else in the world that can compare to it. Why would I try to delight in something else? How can I live without His joy strengthening me? How can I even think something else will make me happy?

How could I desire anything else?

How does a human mind trick itself into believing that it doesn't need God?



Draw me, oh, draw me, please draw me, my Jesus.
Into your presence, where I cannot lie.
My soul is so thirsty, I cannot endure it.
And if I can't get closer, I surely will die.

Take me, oh take me, please take me, my Jesus.
Quickly, before I forget that I'm lost.
For so many times, my mind has deceived me,
That I really don't have to carry the cross.
That I really don't have to carry the cross.

I just need to know how to pray.
My wicked desires block the way,
Sometimes I have grieved you away,
I don't want to do that today.

Help me, oh help me, please help me my Jesus.
Save me from sins that I thought were all gone.
Kill me with kindness, and break through my blindness.
I know till I'm dead, I can never live on.
I know till I'm dead, I can never live on.

I just need to know how to pray.
My wicked desires block the way,
Sometimes I have grieved you away,
I don't want to do that today.

Draw me, oh draw me, please draw me my Jesus.



Take me Lord, quickly. Before my heart runs away again.

Cause me to do something for you that I can't turn back from.

"Take my heart and never give it back to me. Why was I born if not to love you passionately?" (A Romanian pastor who was ultimately tortured to death)

How can I become not my own?

Why am I so afraid of holiness?

"If Christians were afraid of worldliness as much as they are afraid of holiness, they would set the world on fire for Christ." (anonymous)

Why do I so often feel alone?



Do you see?
Do you see?
All the people sinking down?
Don't you care?
Don't you care?
Are you gonna let them drown?

How can you be so numb?!
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes,
and pretend the job is done

"Oh, bless me, Lord!
Bless me, Lord!"
You know, it's all I ever hear!
No one aches,
no one hurts,
no one even sheds one tear
But, He cries,
He weeps,
He bleeds,
and He cares for your needs
And you just lay back,
and keep soaking it in

Oh, can't you see such sin?!
'Cause He brings people to your door,
and you turn them away
as you smile and say:
"God bless you!
Be at peace!"
And all Heaven just weep,
'cause Jesus came to your door,
you left Him out on the streets

Open up! Open up!
And give yourself away
You see the need,
you hear the cries,
so how can you delay?!
God is calling,
and you are the one
But like Jonah, you run
He told you to speak,
but you keep holding it in

Oh, can't you see such sin?!
The world is sleeping in the dark,
that the church just can't fight,
'cause it's asleep in the light!
How can you be so dead?!
When you've been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave,
And you!
You can't even get out of bed!
Oh, Jesus rose from the dead!
Come on, get out of your bed!

How can you be so numb?!
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done!
You close your eyes,
and pretend the job is done!
Don't close your eyes,
don't pretend the job is done

Come away! Come away!
Come away with Me, My love!
Come away from this mess,
Come away with Me, My love!
Come away from this mess!
Come away with Me, My love!
Come away,
Come away with Me My love!



How is it possible that all of my deepest wounds have come from people who say they love you, Lord?

Why is it so hard to be in unity with the rest of the body?

Why is it so hard for me to love other people? The ones you love. The ones you died for.

"We tend to treat problems as if they were mental conundrums, puzzles to be worked through by independent reasoning. But behind every question lies a better question, and ultimately every question takes the shape of a human face. Every problem, in other words, has a relational root. The only real problem in the world is alienation, and the only cure is love. Questions are answered and problems solved only as we come into right relationship with people. I had an agnostic uncle who used to say, 'There are no answers, there are only question.' To this my answer is, 'There are no questions, there are only people.'" (Mike Mason)



Rich Mullins

Though we're strangers, still I love you
I love you more than your mask
And you know you have to trust this to be true
And I know that's much to ask
But lay down your fears, come and join this feast
He has called us here, you and me

And may peace rain down from Heaven
Like little pieces of the sky
Little keepers of the promise
Falling on these souls
This drought has dried
In His Blood and in His Body
In the Bread and in this Wine
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you

And though I love you, still we're strangers
Prisoners in these lonely hearts
And though our blindness separates us
Still His light shines in the dark

And His outstretched arms are still strong enough to reach
Behind these prison bars to set us free

So may peace rain down from Heaven
Like little pieces of the sky
Little keepers of the promise
Falling on these souls the drought has dried
In His Blood and in His Body
In this Bread and in this Wine
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you

And may peace rain down from Heaven
Like little pieces of the sky
Like those little keepers of the promise
Falling on these souls the drought has dried
In His Blood and in His Body
In the Bread and in this Wine
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you



I love you guys.

Some of you I already know. Some I've never met.

It doesn't matter.

If you love Christ, we've never been separated.

And someday.

Someday.

We'll never have a miscomunication.

We'll never forget.

We'll never wound another.

We'll never turn away.

We'll never pretend.

We'll never fear.

We'll never wonder if anybody really cares.

We'll never live outside His presence.

And it will never end.



Let us bring everybody we can with us.



Keith Green

Most people don't find out
'Till it's too late
That someone has to pay the price

You can pay it your self (Hah!)
Or let someone else
But who would be that nice

To pay a debt that isn't his
Well I know someone like that
And He's your best friend
He really is
He really loves you

Most people don't find out
'Till they have death
That they need another life

You say you've heard everything
That's ever been said
About the way the truth, the life
You say you've heard lots of preaching
All before
So many times

But did you ever open up your door
Give Him a chance
To prove Himself
That He's real or not

I hope you find out
Before it's too late
That there's really nobody else

You know its breaking his heart
The longer you wait
Cause You've only been lying to yourself

Cause
No one believes a thing you say
Not even you

You know
You're gonna find out that He's the way
No matter which way you choose
But I pray you
Find out by His love for you

Some people won't find out
'Till it's too late

Some people won't find out
'Till it's too late

Lord, one more thing I ask?

Can you do it for me?

You know I don't have any love in me. Can I have yours?

If I give all of my love to you, will you give all of your love to me? For them?

I know you love them, and I want to love them too. But I've tried, and I'm not very good at it, at loving.

Could you love through me?

Somehow?

Someway?

Even when I don't want to?

Could you transform me so that I really do want to?





Lord, the feelings are not the same,

I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.

And how I wish it had been explained, that as you're growing you must remember,

That nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.

I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.


Lord, I remember that special way,

I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new.

But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you,

And I bet, I could deny you too.

But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.

I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.

But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.

I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.



Amen.