25 April 2017

From Ashes to Glory


You have journeyed with me
through the span of time
from Ash Wednesday
to Resurrection Sunday

I have compiled the daily psalms
into one volume, now available as 
From Ashes to Glory

come find the holy with me



16 April 2017

psalm 47

psalm 47

so this is it, all the prayers
worries, waiting, over
finished, rivers of tears
mingled with praise
bowing low, hands raised
awestruck again
He has risen, just as He said
one act, never seen before
changes everything forever
love unharnessed, profound
takes me deeper, lost
in Jesus, the only way
to be found

15 April 2017

psalm 46

psalm 46

the silence of waiting 
is deafening, here
in the in-between
almost afraid to breathe
are You Who You said You Are?
will I stand alone now, forever
the loss of Your presence, fresh
raw, my heart torn wide
the future veiled, I see
only memories, grasping nothing
hope slips fast away
morning will come
the promise of Your glory
but for now, faith trembles

14 April 2017

psalm 45

psalm 45

so dark this day
we feel the weight
thousands of years
and each year new
the gift given 
from despair 
and abounding love

an impossible choice 
was set before You
and You selected death
to give us life

so dark this day
where glory dwells

13 April 2017

psalm 44

psalm 44

this world is upside-down Lord
deaf to Your Word, blind 
to Your mysterious ways
and I, a stranger here
choose to see with Your eyes
hear with Your ears
feel with Your heart
carrying Your pain
and theirs as I come humbly
into Your loving embrace

12 April 2017

psalm 43

psalm 43

You set me on a high place
solid, stable, sure
my feet, heart, my mind
so prone to wander fixed 
where no enemy
can move me, Your hand
open, awaiting my grasp
all else may crumble
everyone else may turn away
reject me, despise me
push me toward dismay
or faltering faith
while You wait, hand open still
to move me higher
where the air grows thin
but thick with Your presence
inhaling deeply all that is You
and all that I need

11 April 2017

psalm 42

psalm 42

all creation exists
by You, for You
and I as well
to honour and adore
to sing with the stars
the wind, the waves
hymns of mysterious joy
choruses of endless praise

10 April 2017

psalm 41

psalm 41

You have planted seeds
where it pleased You
and all variety of life springs forth
some for food, many more
for beauty, splendor
to glorify Your name
and we too, first imagined
before time as reflections
of the One the Only
Creator of all

09 April 2017

psalm 40

psalm 40

Thou shall have no Gods before Me
I read, I heard, I know
so I bow to only one God
(with a capital G) and yet…
how many little gods
have I worshipped
giving away time, focus, and my heart
chasing money, comfort, health
power, position and praise
forgive me again, forgive
this foolish child’s wandering
straining against the very chains
that set me free
draw me closer, Lord I come





08 April 2017

psalm 39

psalm 39

we are never alone
You go before us, circle
round us, our rear guard
warrior, protector
wings stretch wide 
Your shadow over us
shade from the heat 
of the African sun
cover from icy stings 
of Canadian snow
here, there, all places
all times, You Are
and we stand, awestruck
in worship, helpless for words
to honour You

07 April 2017

psalm 38

psalm 38

it is a simple question
two words only
hardly a breath span
“may I?”
hardly a breath span
two words only
and my world stops
the request trembles
my heart bowing to holy fear
hardly a breath span
two words only
a simple answer
“use me”



06 April 2017

psalm 37

psalm 37

nowhere can I turn
run or hide, around every corner
I find You again
and my soul is stirred

You surround me
I am sheltered, shadowed
still, softened in Your presence
even as I often strain the leash

to think I would find freedom
anywhere but with You, in You
is foolishness, now
even Your laugh comforts me

05 April 2017

psalm 36


psalm 36

stretch
You asked of me
expand, spread-out
amplify, but to do so
I need reach the end of 
my self, the box that 
holds me, step out 
of me and in to You
where there are no borders
no limits, just bridges
that magnify Your glory

04 April 2017

psalm 35

psalm 35

so much time adrift
leaves my heart breathless
in the least predictable of winds
sails shape shifting
losing ground, dizzy

I have an anchor
held close and tight
my rock, strength
all that is solid and safe
but useless in my hand

I must let it go, release
the full weight of it
so it may sink deep and hold
in all that is true
all that Is You


03 April 2017

psalm 34

psalm 34

I cannot tell a story more profound 
than stars, a single blade of grass
a lilac breasted roller
painted by Your hand
all designed in perfection
for Your pleasure

I ponder bones, flesh, blood 
coursing through vessel highways
mechanics beyond human ability
eyes of sea green, topaz
aquamarine, variety for beauty’s sake
and glory shines

02 April 2017

psalm 33

psalm 33

nothing in my hands
in my head, in my heart
is good or worthy or true
I am crumpled, broken
fallen from the start
my eyes so often blinded
to my helplessness
forgetting to run back to You
I stagger, lurch and tumble
on ice too thin to hold
what was lost, then found
still foolishly seeks to stand alone
when only by Your grace
do I still breathe to praise Your name




01 April 2017

psalm 32

psalm 32

I am content no longer
to tarry in the outer courts
or even linger long
within the inner courts, no
take me deeper still
to the holy of holies
the chambers of Your heart
where I may dwell
shaken, but still
in the secret place