Poems from a Friend

The Lord brought a new friend into my life recently. Today, she shared two poems she's personally written. I asked her if I could post them on my blog because they speak the words I have wrestled with all year.


Even

I will trust You
Even with yesterdays that are broken
And tomorrows that are uncertain
And todays that bear a weight
My shoulders can't stand.

I will surrender
Even with shaky hands stretched high
Having failed this task before
Feeling sweet release to tired bones
Holding on too tight for too long

I will kneel
Even when the world tells me to stand
Or my fearful heart tells me to run
Or my pride tells me to take control

I will pray
Even with no immediate answers
Or no exact reasons
Or no time-line laid out in perfect sequence

I will hope.
Even when it "feels"
Like there is none
Knowing that feelings deceive and
You are Truth.

I will believe
Even when it's hard
And I don't understand
Or I can't see what
You could possibly be doing here

Even Now
In the midst of doing life
I choose to do it in You
And for You.

E.R. 8-09


I Don't Understand

I don’t understand
But I guess I don’t have to…
To know that You are
Good and
Kind and
Just and
Faithful.

I don’t understand
But I guess I don’t have to…
To be held in Your arms
Quieted with Your love
Transformed by Your Word
And taken by Your Presence

I don’t understand
But I guess I don’t have to…
To walk with You
Remain in You
Believe in You
And be strengthened by You.

I don’t understand
But I guess I don’t have to…
To trust in Your
Promises,
Purposes,
Plans, and
Precepts.

I don’t understand
But I guess I don’t have to…
To step in Faith
Holding Your hand
Knowing the hurt today
Will lead to a Glory
That surpasses all
Understanding tomorrow.

E.R. 06-09

Beauty

Who is this woman in the mirror?

Her body has changed.
Her hair is gone.
Her skin is dry and pasty white.
Dark circles appear under her eyes.

Her physical appearance
is no longer the essence
of who she is.

Change her
from the inside out.

Create in her
lasting beauty.

Make her radiant
for His glory.

Inner Beauty

Being a woman who likes to look good, it's been difficult to look in the mirror and see a reflection that appears so different. It is only by God's abundant grace I have been able to face the big physical strikes against my femininity and the abrupt changes in my life. He has given me strength, courage and boldness that only He can give. He is with me to face the challenges and the changes that are happening.

I feel far from beautiful when I look in the mirror and see the affects this disease has had on my body, but I must remember it is not the essence of who I am. Fortunately, the Word of God reminds me that God sees beyond the scars of cancer. He looks at my heart. There is a deeper beauty that I cannot control or manipulate that He is in the process of creating IN me as I surrender my heart, mind and soul to Him. He is the only one who can make me beautiful from the inside out, because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

There are days it's hard to remember that, as I look in the mirror, because our world is so focused on outward appearance. I pray that He will help me focus on the inner work He's doing, not what cancer has done to my physical body.

He says in Psalm 35:4 that those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. May Jesus help me shine because of His work IN me, which is far more important and lasting than my physical appearance.


I Peter 3:3-4 - Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.