Friday, August 10, 2012

Washed Clean


Wash Me, image courtesy of Barbecue Master

I was raised by Southern women...
    my mother and grandmother.
These were “Old School” women;
    who had no need for process improvement.
    They had a method.
Now even though...
    there were modern conveniences
    like a clothes dryer,
    my grandmother preferred to use a clothes line...
    to dry our clothes.

As a boy...
    I hated taking a basket of clothes outside,
    and hanging each piece on a line.
I can still remember the scent of bleach in the sheets,
    and detergent in the clothes my brothers and I wore.
Back then, there was no scented detergent.
So if you smelled anything,
    it could only the hint of powdered detergent.
That's how I knew the clothes were “clean”.
But even though these clothes were clean,
    they would soon need to be washed again.

I believe God is “Old School” too,
    since He has no need for process improvement.
The bible says:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)
Even God Himself has said:
I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:8, NIV)

Since God doesn't change,
    it's only natural that we become
    “agents of change”.
When did I change?
Who changed in me?
How have I changed?

Having been washed in the blood of the Lamb,
    I changed from darkness to light.
Even though I’ve been washed,
    I still need cleansing;
    just like those childhood clothes...
    I hung out to dry.

I don't need to be washed again (in the blood of the Lamb),
    but I do need to be cleansed.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3, NIV)
…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26, NIV)
The Word of God acts as a kind of detergent,
    cleansing me through and through;
    my thoughts, my words, my behavior, my life...
    washed clean!

Poem by MTJ


Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte).Spiritual Sunday's

Friday, August 3, 2012

You Bless Me Like Rain


Rain on Me, (image courtesy of cindrellaforever.blogspot.com)

You bless me like rain,
    drenching my life with Your love.
Drops of blessings all different and unique,
    watering every facet of my life.
No need for shelter from your blessings.
No, I flee my hiding place and I run to You.
My spiritual roots are saturated with Your love.
David said, "My cup overflows" (Psalm 23:5, NIV),
    and he's right!

When storms come, You send a rainbow!
When lightning strikes, You are my rod!
When strong winds blow, You are my shelter!

So rain on me Lord, as You see fit to do.
When Jesus washed the disciples feet,
    it was Peter who declared, "not just my feet..." (John 13:9)
You bless me with life eternal, but that wasn't enough.
You bless me with joy everlasting, but that wasn't enough.
You bless me with peace beyond all understanding,
    but that wasn't enough.
So rain on me Lord, with a love supreme.
You bless me like rain,
    showering Your love upon me!


I don't understand why You do this,
    but I realize You love me so much.
It's no wonder that John wrote:
"See what great love the Father
    has lavished on us...!
" (1 John 3:1, NIV)
I look at this love from every possible perspective,
    and yet I am humbled by such examples of
    concern, care, and consideration for me.
You watch over my life with the utmost concern!
You nurture me with unbridled care!
You light my path with loving consideration.

So rain on me Lord, as You see fit to do.
When Jesus washed the disciples feet,
    it was Peter who declared, "not my feet only"
You bless me with life eternal, but that wasn't enough.
You bless me with joy everlasting, but that wasn't enough.
You bless me with peace beyond all understanding,
    but that wasn't enough.
So rain on me Lord,
    with a love supreme.

Poem by MTJ


Spiritual Sunday'sNote: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte).