new birth

Faithful Father True

Anna SmitLeave a comment 
We the faithless turn away
But our Father, 
He the Faithful, does remain
For He can never, ever 
Disown Himself.
When heart He opens 
To confess Him Christ as Lord
There He does bind us to Himself,
Promise spoken:
Work of faith He will complete. 

No weapon forged against 
Can ever prosper 
He holds us fast
Even when we turn.
Lies may lash and whip
Hearts begin to doubt,
Hardening where once soft and true
And yet He holds us fast. 

Each cell and fibre
Woven there in mother's womb He knows,
His Word made flesh did bleed 
Not just for sin, but for each shard of lying lips
Sown in accusing shame and fear.

His compassion faileth not 
His mercies they still fall
Each morning dew anew
For blood did flow to silence 
Our accuser's many schemes.
And so our Faithful Father, He does wait
Love so kind, love so patient
He faileth not.

Each cocoon
Bound and silenced
Waiting there in dark of night
Yet to reveal Christ's final Masterpiece.
Truth and light sent forth
Before each child of His so dear 
Holy Word falls afresh 
Now dew on tilled and yearning hearts.

And just when all hope seems so far,
Precisely there life begins to birth,
Small green shoot
He buds, growing ever stronger. 
That once so tiny mustard seed
Sown so long ago
Broken open wide, multiplied to life,
Strongly rooted, firmly planted. 

Now when same winds and storms 
Do lash and whip
Faith no longer waivers 
Heart no longer hardens shut.
Instead each lash and whip
Do now reveal
Fresh green leaves and fruit anew
Breaking open, death to life.

These new leaves
They will wither not,
Nor will their many fruits ever fail.
For now fresh waters flow
From Sanctuary High.
Fruit of heart's delight
Promise spoken powerfully birthed.
Leaves now balm to heal
Wounds so deep, tended gently whole. 

For our Father 
He has promised
To seek the lost
Bring back the scattered
Bind up the broken 
And strengthen there the sick.
Filled with compassion 
He runs toward,
Kindness to repentance leading.
Arms wide open to embrace
Long lost son and daughter 
Home.






					


	
	


			
				


	


		
Trembling Awe

					

				Anna SmitLeave a comment			

		
	


	
		

			

Oh my heart
So worn, so torn
Emptied of all 
No more to give.

Kneeling here
At these Your feet
What do I have 
To offer You, my Lord.

"My child" I hear 
Your gentle Voice 
"Here at My feet
You have given all.

"An offering 
Of poverty 
But more 
Than ever before.

"Shed here your clothes 
Of old
Let me clothe you 
In all newness of Life

"A living Hope
An inheritance 
Imperishable 
I am your crown.

"Behold, the new has come
Shed here the old
Arise in Me
Truth kissing grace.

"Stand in the light 
Of My morning sun
Shining ever brighter 
Till the full light of day.

"I have not left you orphaned
My Living Word
A lamp unto your feet
And a light unto your path.

"Behold
Do you not perceive it?
My way in the wilderness?
My rivers in the desert?

"For, my righteousness 
Within I have forged
My burning fire all dross
In jealous love consuming.

"Refining 
To silver
Testing 
Unto gold.

"In My streams of life
Your trembling heart 
Shall now rest 
In my love One.

"My vine 
Not in one, but each 
And every season 
Harvests.

"The rivers from my throne 
Now streaming freely in you
Shall wash all devouring 
And destroying tongues away.

"Here in my presence abiding
Your delight shall grow
In My delight 
Abounding.

"My Spirit now revealing 
A flood of beauty 
All desires buried deep 
Now powerfully unveiling.

"Promises true and pure 
You shall speak
No longer in fear of man
But in trembling awe of Me.

"My Word in you
Not empty 
But accomplished 
Returning."

"In fruit for food
And leaves for healing
In My love abiding
And My life abounding."






Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to me from ages past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.





Psalm 16:2
. . . every good thing I have comes from you.





2 Peter 1:3
By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.






					


	
	


			
				


	


		
With You

					

				Anna Smit5 Comments			

		
	


	
		

			

I told You





I would go anywhere 





Do anything 





For You





But I didn’t see





Where You would take me





I didn’t see





All You’d do.















I didn’t see 





All the cutting off





And pruning 





That every step forward





I’d meet 





Another ending.















But now I know





Each door 





You close so firmly





Is not Your withholding





But Your bestowing.















For when all I can see 





Is pain and labor 





Birthing nothing but air  





You see 





The Living Word





Crowning in me.















You see each dying





A resurrection birthing  





Mercy meeting truth 





Righteousness kissing 





Peace.















Blessings and prayers





Pouring from my lips





For in each trial and temptation





You are paving my path straight





Uniting my body, mind and soul





In You.















Bought with a price





Each surrender You are working





A sacrifice holy





And pleasing 





In Your blood





Becoming.















Your Spirit in me





A sweet scent wafting





From Your dwelling place 





I AM 





Awakening.















For each closing door





Is but Your purpose for me





To be still and know





You alone are God





That You will be exalted





Among the nations.















Each closing door





Is but Your knocking





That I might hearken 





To Your heart beating in me





And open the door





To dine  










With You.





























Isaiah 66: 8 – 14 (ESV)
8 Who has heard such a thing?
    Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
    Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
For as soon as Zion was in labor
    she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”
    says the Lord;
“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”
    says your God.
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
    all you who mourn over her;
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied
    from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
    from her glorious abundance.”
12 For thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
    and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and 
you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
    and bounced upon her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts,
    so I will comfort you;
    you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
    your bones shall flourish like the grass;
and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,
    and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.





Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.















Psalm 46 (ESV)
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah