SILENCE

 

Silence is golden; could this be true?

How is it golden; when I'm without You?

Silence is golden; but a tarnished hue,

Midas knew gold; and emptiness too.

 

Peace and quiet, the sages say,

Is quiet peaceful? I say – No way!

Quiet is lonely, rejection, despair,

Waiting to hear from a God, - who cares?

 

Love one another; in theory great,

But love unreturned can turn to hate.

Unconditional love, God’s realm, we hear,

Yet a longing for love begets only fear.

 

Still perfect Love casts out all fear,

A Loving Saviour draws us near,

He pours sweet oil on all my doubt,

And drives the false accuser out.


And as I claim the right to love

My own dear Father from above;

My heart is once more free from pain,

The house, swept clean, is His again.

 

He does not chide me, nor condemn,

Because I slipped and fell again,

But gently helps me to my feet,

And, oh, His smile is piercing sweet.

 

His love is more than I can stand,

Yet with Him holding to my hand,

I dare approach His glorious throne,

And claim His love meant for my own.

 

It is not God who draws away,

The times I feel I cannot pray;

But satan's clever, cunning lies,

That cover both my ears and eyes.

 

He weaves his cloth with actions subtle,

And I, too slow at his rebuttal,

Am quickly smothered by his guile,

And blinded from my Saviour's smile.

 

But though his powers on earth are great,

Jesus' death did seal his fate;

And won for me the right to claim,

His love, His grace, all through His name.

 

© 28-30/12/96

 

 

 

REFRESHING

 

When things go well and all is fine,

We oft' dismiss You from our mind,

We think that we can cope alone,

Neglect to bring things to Your throne.

Nor fears, nor praises bring to You,

And close our eyes to all You do.

Beguiled to think that all is well,

Deceived by he who rules o'er hell.

 

Our lives become a thirsty ground

Where doubts and fear and sin abound,

Yet when we finally turn to You,

Your Spirit soaks us through and through.

He pours the living water on,

Till all the dust and dross is gone.

The stains of sin that still remain,

Are by Your blood made clean again.

 

And thus refreshed we wake anew,

To love and life that comes from You.

You draw us into times of prayer,

With arms outstretched, You meet us there;

And every time we turn to You,

We do because You called us to.

This love we cannot start to meet,

But lay ourselves before Your feet.

 

And yet You would not have us so,

You lift us up, that we might know

The joy of gazing in Your face;

You urge us to complete the race.

You cheer us on at every stage,

And with Your blood, You cleanse the page

Of all the smudges we have made,

When from Your pathway we have strayed.

 

And somehow we can feel complete,

When we take time with You to meet.

Your blessings seem to pour like rain,

To love You is a sweet refrain,

A song we hear, with inner ear,

Which overrides all doubt and fear;

And settles in our inmost soul

Your Spirit, who does make us whole.

© 5/1/97