My Declaration (I am His)

I have strength

I am brave 

I'm protected 

I am saved 

I have hope

I can fight

In the darkness

I am light

I have peace

I am calm

I am resting

In His arms

I have life

I can see

I have wisdom

I am free

I have faith

I am kind

I'm in control

Of my mind

I have worth

I am blessed

I have power

I have rest

I have gifts

I am seen

I have purpose

I have dreams

I have love

I have trust

I am righteous

I am just

I have more 

Than all this

He is mine

I am His

All I have

All I am

I surrender

To His hands

I have joy

I can shine

I am His

He is mine

Hope

Sometimes it seems that hope comes and goes,

Leaving nothing but fear and pain.

When it seems hope has left, 

Leaving fear and death,

Remember that hope has a name

Hope is a man, a son and a king

He's saviour, a friend and a lamb.

When you feel hope's deferred,

And your vision is blurred, 

Remember that hope has a plan

Hope walked the earth, he healed the sick,

Lost his life so that you could be saved.

When you can't lift your head,

And hope's all but dead,

Remember that hope left the grave

Hope is alive! In hope you can trust,

Hope has called you to rule and to reign.

When the thief comes to say,

Hope has drifted away,

Remember in hope you remain.

Lord please keep my boy safe

Hide him away from harm

Wrap him up in cotton wool

And hold him in your arms

Oh please guard my sons life

Protect him every day

Don't let him fall or stumble

Or hurt himself I pray

Will you take his sorrows

And dry his tear stained eyes

Save him from disappointment

Comfort him when he cries

Keep his heart from breaking

Don't let him be alone

When evil does surround him

Please bring him quickly home

Could he live in safety?

No hair harmed on his head?

I'd rather all his trials

Were laid on me instead

These days it seems my heart 

Is walking next to me

Though I want to keep him safe

I have to set him free

I know that in this life

We all must scale some walls

If he's to stand on mountains

He'll have to face the falls

So Lord protect my child

Keep close to him I pray

Please teach me how to love him

With peace and joy each day

Who are you calling a freak?

Here is a new poem. It should be read through twice ideally.  Hopefully it speaks for itself. 

Who are you calling a freak?

And rolling your eyes, wondering

How can anyone be so weak?

Who have you been putting down?

Silently judging, disgusted

Whilst shaking your head with a frown

Who are you pushing away?

Closing your heart to, rejecting

And doubting their value today?

To whom are you so unkind?

Calling them ugly, repulsive

Their beauty refusing to find?

Why can't you see who you are?

Loved deeply, chosen, accepted

A treasure stored in a clay jar.

Look at yourself through his eyes

Knowing you fully, completely

He loved you so much He would die

When will you see the lambs blood

Understand that in your repenting

Your guilt's washed away in the flood

See now, you are a treasure 

Worthy, created, amazing

Unique and loved beyond measure 

The Bag

This week in my small church group we were asked to pick an item from a bag and see if there was anything we felt God was saying to us through the item. I felt immediately God tell me to pick the bag itself, so I did! (After awkwardly tipping the contents out!)  Here is the word he gave me (and you!?)...

A bag on your shoulder

A weight on your back

Dragging life's burdens 

Around in a sack

A bag that I gave you

You filled it yourself 

But gifts I intended

You've left on the shelf

You're carrying troubles

You're carrying shame

And fear for loved ones

You picked up in vain

So the moment has come

To unpack these things

And feel the lightness

That freedom can bring

And as the bag empties

You will start to see

I gave it so you

Could hold more of Me

A season is coming 

So prepare your heart

Now let's use the bag 

As I planned from the start

Walking on water

Our church pastor is an amazing artist. He recently painted a beautiful picture and as I watched him paint, over the course of a few weeks (during a church service), I felt God gave me this poem.  I will try and get a photo of the painting when I can. The poem needed finishing, and now I think it is...

I'm stepping out this vessel

Upon the violent waves

I'll leave my doubts behind me

For it's your truth that saves

I'm walking on the water

I'm following your lead

Your path my feet will follow

As from my fears I'm freed

I know your voice is calling 

Your arms are open wide

And nothing in this dark world

Can pull me from your side

I hear your gentle whisper

Above the stormy seas

You tell me I can do this

Your promise carries me

The spray obscures my vision

I see you through the haze

And find my peace and vict'ry

Are held there in your gaze

Those moments when I doubt you

You'll just reach out your hand

To pull me from the water

And in your grace I'll stand 

Together we can do this

The dream won't let me sleep

And so I'm stepping out now

It's time to take the leap

Edited April 2015 after a preach from my pastors wife helped me to finish it off.

Frustration

Laying on this cold hard floor

What else is there to do?

I've called your name, I'm waiting 

All my heart wants is you

I'm feeble, lost and hopeless

I only need your touch

I don't know what to give you

When you've offered me so much

So desperate just to hear you 

To feel your warm embrace

I've fasted, prayed and worshipped

Yet still you hide your face

I know that I'm not worthy

You said you loved me still

You said if I came empty

My hands and heart you'd fill

So here's my heartfelt promise

In all the joy and pain

With hope for what I don't see

My faith and trust remain

(Because a life of serving

In no part can repay

The sacrifice that you became

On Calvary that day)