31 March 2017

psalm 31

psalm 31

branches lifted, shifting
dancing in the breeze
dogs staccato barking
chase beneath the trees

cattle calling lowly
soon the birds join in
choruses of worship
where the air is thin

I, in silent wonder
need not make a sound
while all else that has breath
let’s His praise abound



30 March 2017

psalm 30

psalm 30

there is a direct line, connection 
between my hand and heart
when I lift one, the other elevates 
there is a direct line, connection
between thanksgiving and contentment
when I drop one, the other falls

but shall I bless Your name
for selfish gain
forgive me when praise
has been for reasons
other than Your worth-ship
please receive me 
with no false intent, that I may be
awestruck by holiness
silenced by glory

29 March 2017

psalm 29

psalm 29

the morning sun
the evening stars
mid-day rain refreshing
You are
all I can imagine
and beyond
You have shattered every box
we ever thought could hold You
higher, wider, deeper
I come knocking, devastate me
with Your beauty
consume me with Your glory
leave me broken
and yet whole, in You

28 March 2017

psalm 28

psalm 28

all that I have, piles of nothing
all that I am, dust
all that I need, You
as You I magnify
and You I glorify
You will satisfy
all that I am

27 March 2017

psalm 27

psalm 27

why do I hesitate to linger
in Your presence, the place of fullness
where submitted, surrendered
I am surrounded, filled
with peace, contentment
joy unspeakable
why would I choose to turn
in any other direction?
teach me, my Lord, Master
to run only to You




26 March 2017

psalm 26

psalm 26

rejoice for the sun rises
and here am I while many
did not awake to see this day
broken wide open in glory
the safety of Your promises
sheltering me, driving me
comforting me, filling me 
with courage to shout 
Your name, proclaim 
Your majesty
and walk again 
into the newness 
of life in The Light

25 March 2017

psalm 25

psalm 25

I have known too well
the darkness, deep pools
that beckon, lies convincing
sharp edges hidden 
in the appearance of softness
muting all sensibility
“come down lower
come quick come”
I have known too well
the tricks, skilled at a game 
I thought I was winning

while You waited, patient
knowing You created me for light
Your voice ringing clear, clean, true
“come up higher
come away with Me”
only by Your Spirit
did I choose the better way





24 March 2017

psalm 24

psalm 24

when I stop, breathe
cast a glance, up
down, around
there You are
beauty, power, glory
inescapable and undeniable
only a fool contests

23 March 2017

psalm 23

psalm 23

this world down here, Lord?
is filled with clutter and chatter
people struggling to be heard
sound building upon sound
until I hear everything and
nothing but the endless noise

I want to know the sweet song
of my shepherd, the voice that is true
that leads me to the silence
to safety, abundance and peace
where I will feast on Your presence
forevermore


22 March 2017

psalm 22

psalm 22

colour streaks the end of day
lived hard, but well
marked by Your hand alone
who could deny the glory?

21 March 2017

psalm 21

psalm 21

I grow weary, waiting
knuckle nerves firing
pain as I grasp that thin rope
my heart often as shredded
as those frayed ends

my cries to You sound
childish, weak, nails scratching
on chalkboard
and You, are not surprised
or annoyed when I call
no, You long for my coming

your answer today, like yesterday
hold on, as if I would seek comfort
elsewhere,  I hold on, and on
to You

20 March 2017

psalm 20

psalm 20

if earth is Your ottoman
how merciful your heart
that You do not crush us
under foot
we live in Your shadow
ever sheltered
ever safe
because of love
because of grace


19 March 2017

psalm 19

psalm 19

only You, one hand raised
can calm this storm
only You, silent, still
can speak all things
only You, Lord and King
can Master me
only You

18 March 2017

psalm 18

psalm 18

Lord, hear Your people
thirsty tears streaming
recognising that enough
is not enough of You,
Who will pour out
more than we can hold
broken vessels, created
by divine design to drip
leaking light, truth
love  

17 March 2017

psalm 17

psalm 17

my mouth orates heart
intentions spoken as 
truth, while the flesh kicks
screams, contends for itself
I consent to the breaking
but my humanness struggles
to pick up pieces
recreate in its own way
help me to surrender my Lord
my Master, the only One
let me be shattered, reconstructed
by Your hand alone

16 March 2017

psalm 16

psalm 16

and You suffered through
all that I can imagine
every tear, drizzle
or deluge
each prick of pain, jagged 
sharp and raw
You felt it, carried it
before I noticed
and You whisper low
into my cloud
“come, let’s talk about it
I’ll take that from you”
why then do I sit reluctant
almost afraid to release what I 
never needed
let it go
Your hands far more
capable than mine

15 March 2017

psalm 15

psalm 15

another morning, fresh
Your hand never rests
creating light
the wind gentle
into a the day
all nature bows 
a portrait of submission
searching for new ways to worship
ever anxious to adore

14 March 2017

psalm 14

psalm 14

here again I am
not on my knees
this flesh too ripe for bruising
I ask your pardon if my position
appears rebellious, lacking piety
or poise, my spirit is bowed low
the part of me that cannot be seen
but You see, and You know
and I need not give a moment away
to fear of man’s disapproval 
here again am I
heart surrendered, not for show
for real

Here’s what I want you to do: 
Find a quiet, secluded place 
so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. 
Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. 
The focus will shift from you to God, 
and you will begin to sense his grace.
Matthew 6:6 The Message



13 March 2017

psalm 13

psalm 13

night by night
I seek the stillness of sleep
to be lost, caught up in dreams
light sneaks through window cracks
in the silence
inner noise is deafening
let me hear from You
I wait, turning
let me hear from You

12 March 2017

psalm 12

psalm 12

I have been quiet, compliant
not wishing to disturb 
as if You did not already know
my heart songs
the deep, low wail of distress
questions build upon questions
ever seeking the answer
that would obliterate the need
for more discussion, yet
I hear, more than enough
the expected reply  “wait”
the ache rushes in, the sad sinking
“how long then?” my lament
 is sharp, cold, bitter
“how long?” David also queried
and waited, aching, lamenting
yet choosing to turn, I will also turn
my back to the wall 
and the wind, and the wail
and I will worship, yes worship
until…




11 March 2017

psalm 11

psalm 11

to choose to walk surrendered
a laying down, giving over
day after day, moment by moment
this a precious, priceless, peculiar
path, a way contrary to the world
spirit rising as flesh descends
what earthy mind can reason it out?
this,  a radical, relational, remarkable
road, not by my choosing I tread
a continual dying gives way
to life

10 March 2017

psalm 10

psalm 10

and even if the sun refused to rise
and even if the darkness closed in thick and heavy
and even if I could not count a friend among the living
and even if I wandered long with no direction
and even if I lost my words
my soul would yet rejoice
my heart would elevate in praise
You are worthy, more than worthy
greater still than “even if"

09 March 2017

psalm 9

psalm 9

this pair of eyes looks hard
up and down, around
seeing all there is to see
naturally, but with lenses self-crafted
that distort, deceive, and deny truth
mirroring back what my wicked heat desires

this pair of ears listens hard
hearing what there is to hear
naturally, but with filters self-designed
to mute or amplify or alter sounds
echoing back what my hungry heart requests

too much of me, ENOUGH of me 
give me Your eyes, Your ears
vision and perception Holy Spirit clarified
to know and be known by You

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. 
Now I know in part, but then I shall know 
just as I also am known.



08 March 2017

psalm 8

psalm 8

after all 
before all
centre of all things
desperately I seek to know You
even as I ache to be known
fractured and broken I come
grateful for Your reception
hungry for a taste of Your
intensity
justice
kindness
love without restraint or
measure
nowhere else can we find such an
open door of
promise, yet our 
questions never cease
reason blocks true sight
stops forward motion, leaves us
tired and frozen in place
until the touch of Holy Spirit
whispers and Your
x-ray vision pierces a heart, now
zealous for more, only more of You

07 March 2017

psalm 7

psalm 7

when life seemed unredeemable
not merely broken, shattered
when the pieces could not fit back together
no glue or tape could mend
when You looked upon our depravation
You chose the only tools of restoration
when You boldly took the nails that saved us all
and blood flowed free
and grace flowed free
at Your cross I fall 
claimed and surrendered
where love flows free eternally

06 March 2017

psalm 6

psalm 6

Master of the rain, Keeper of the sun
Ruler of the border between day and night
Holy is Your name, all surpassing Love
often I am silenced, trembling at the sight
of Your creative breath, that once spoke life
and speaking still sustains us all

05 March 2017

psalm 5

Psalm 5

where can I go to find peace
comfort, joy?
all that nourishes, sustains
is hidden in You

I cannot comprehend
explain, imagine
any power wider, deeper
stronger than Your love
You and You and You alone
three but One
perfect in unity

what is the colour of holiness?
what is the sound of truth?
what is the taste of glory?
You and You and You alone
together

04 March 2017

psalm 4

Psalm 4

the world spins often 
too wide, fast
eyes strain to focus
heart grasping for a hold
in the midst of the wild
I get lost in the turning

help me to trust
deep, long
when I cannot see You
may my praise echo loud
from the haze

03 March 2017

Psalm 3

Psalm 3

if I had millions of phrases
a basketful of languages
and eloquent oration skills
my tongue would yet fail
words cannot, will not
contain You
You are beyond all attempts
at description
glory beyond measure
and who am I
to call You mine?

02 March 2017

Psalms for Lent

A young writer friend and I have chosen to write a psalm a day during this Lenten season. Here then are my day 1 and day 2 attempts:

Psalm 1

to Him who holds my breath
inhale Spirit
exhale flesh
You alone are worthy
of all of my words
to You, of You, from You
now and evermore


Psalm 2

I circle round and back to You
always to You, my Light, the Source
of all that lives, and breathes
and shines
the darkness never dark
in You
why should I choose the shadows
as if I could hide
what You already know
stepping in to my Light
shine on
not for me, for Your glory