The Beauty of a Woman

For Lindsey Glasier, as she turns 21...

The beauty of a woman

Is not in the way she combs her hair

But in the gentle care she gives to a friend

When life is too much to bear

The beauty of a woman

Is not in the clothing that she adorns

But in a humble heart of compassion

That mourns with those who mourn

The beauty of a woman

Is not in the color of her eyes

But in the worship that she expresses

To the Lord who holds her life

The beauty of a woman

Is not in the shape of her physique

But in the way she loves her neighbors

The poor, the needy, the weak

The beauty of a woman

Comes out of her heart for the Lord

When His light shines in her life

And in heaven her treasure is stored

A Broken Heart

Do I really want to ask Him

To break my heart for what breaks His

Would my world ever be the same again

Would I ever see through my tears

He weeps over our sin

And our sin is everywhere

He hurts when we hurt

It would be more than I could bear

Would I ever pass by a neighbor

Without asking about his day

Without caring about her heart

Instead of hurrying on my way

Would I ever pass the homeless man

Begging on the street

Without looking him straight in the eyes

And allowing our souls to meet

Would I ever allow an orphaned child

To go hungry or without a home

Without doing everything I could possibly do

To let him know he is not alone

Would I ever again look into my own heart

Without feeling the weight of my sin

Without recognizing the sacrifice He made

And that He would do it all over again

Lord, I want to pray for you to break my heart

Over the same things that break yours

But teach me how to be strong, oh God

When You give me your eyes for the poor          

And when you show me the truth of a person’s life

And it breaks my heart more than I can bear

Let me love them in the same way you would do

Show them You in the way that I care

So, yes God, I DO pray

Break my heart for what breaks Yours

And let my brokenness bring glory to You

My healer, my protector, my Lord

We battle not against flesh and blood...

Like a gentle breeze it swirls around me
This breath from another realm
It moves through me and suddenly I sense it
It's the lie that overwhelms

It tells me I'm not good enough
It tells me they don't care
These people that surround me
Would be fine if I weren't here

The Truth tries to find its way in
It battles for first place
But I give in to the lie that I believe to be truth
And let my mind accept its embrace

I listen to it as it whispers
What good are you to them?
They don't need you; they don't want you.
And the heaviness sets in

But then...

NO, I say, Evil One back away!
You are not welcome here.
My mind does not belong to you
I will fight you without fear

I am loved beyond all measure
Thoughts of me bring joy to His face
You will not convince me otherwise
You are a liar, a deceiver, a disgrace.

You had your chance to be loved by Him
You gave it all away
Your pride and arrogance was your downfall
Your need to be in first place

But God holds me in His mighty, gentle hands
He gives me a purpose and a hope
His glory and strength will reign in me
His peace in my spirit overflow

He has placed in my path people of faith
Who love me for exactly who I am
You will not take them away from me
With your lies and your evil plans

So praise God from whom all blessings flow
For His Spirit, His Peace, His Truth
That the father of lies has no power here
In the heart of one saved by You