Hold the Line

Living with spiders, insects,
snakes, and creeping things,
the lizards crawl from my feet
to the top of my head.

Their fangs and stingers
break my flesh with precision,
the pain seems to linger,
each moment wickedness remembered.

Their little faces, familiar,
laughing and mocking,
human beasts with gleaming razors,
slicing my heart with wrathful talking.

Looking about, inside and out,
there is no one, who is there to be?
Who will lift their voice in outcry,
who will stand with me!

Their fallen faces,
they are weak and passive,
broken, whose enslaved spirits, captured,
the stasis of willful blindness and liquor.

Come, drink your fill, disappear
into the fog of your sinful smear,
refuse to listen, refuse to see,
destroy the remaining trust, a lost silver key.

So many have severed,
the bonds of brotherhood shared,
with disdain, loving the blackness,
loving their evil, they no longer care.

Who is faithful?
Who is trustworthy?
Who never disappoints,
or spurns a brother’s hand?

The light of His truth,
is a beacon to the downtrodden,
to those in pieces,
to those rent by cowardice, forgotten.

There is only one mentor,
One who is loyal and always there,
No one else guides, no one else strives,
no one to find or share.

Looking about, inside and out,
none have taken courage!
Who will lift their voice in outcry,
who will face the beast with me!

Where are the courageous?
Where are friends?
Where are those sworn
to trust until the very end?

With voice raised to the heavens,
the might and faithfulness
of the One, the only One,
who can be trusted without fear.

By the strength of His courage,
by the power of His hands,
He upholds those who love Him,
and declares the Truth that stands!

Repent! Repent of your evil!
Turn from the horror of your hearts,
the bloated lies and seared flesh,
His wrath is not far but near!

Who will stand with me without fear?

Simply my heart cries
to You precious Jesus,
in the shadow of death
our corrupt flesh sighs
of exhaustion of yearning
for freedom, for redemption.

You, my Savior, my Master,
when will the time bend
and space be shorn,
a door in heaven wide and torn,
and the call of the desire
for believers to be restored?

The wickedness, the flesh,
I would tear it from my bones,
I would rip it apart, to destroy
the evil, with hatred and wrath,
the pain and suffering felt.

The creaking of old joints,
the dieing fire of youth,
the loss of simple vitality,
winding down like a blue
and green top, spinning on a
vast space of expiring dew,
waiting for the dry ground to crack,
to split and find the black
depths of unknown places,
and an end to all races.

Almost flying, fast as lightning,
driving in this race of races,
I see an empty track before,
and empty track after,
and nothing in the way
to reach the line of finishing,
empty lanes, so many say,
only me in my way.

To love and be loved,
to grip wrist with my brothers,
working as one, in design, by
the will of the Anointed One.

Why is it cold here at times?
Why do some ignore?
Why do some castigate?
Why do some hate?
Why do some wag a tongue
in the shadows of secrecy?
Are we not brothers, soldiers
side by side, fighting for each
one, standing back to back?

Puncture our hearts, oh Lord,
remove the diseased cysts from
our hearts, the selfishness, the pride,
the fighting, and the lies,
pour us out, break us on stones,
do what it takes, show us the truth
of our existence, open our eyes,
lift the stupor of stupidity
plaguing our meager lives,
dirt, only dust, all of us
are but dust! Driven by the Wind!

The desire to be loved,
to love as brothers, in trust,
in peace, in Your power,
The rock of Your strength,
the will of our Father,
Lord, let your love crush
all bitterness, jealousy,
petty trivial thoughts,
end deceit, end the plans,
end the pompous shows.

Remind us Lord of Your will,
reveal the vastness of Your Kingdom,
let us be concerned in others,
let us wash the feet of our brothers,
Your will our ultimate desire,
put us in our places, lead us
in Your direction, on our faces,
whether in the spinning waters,
the lone moments of diligent
unending labor, in hidden tears,
in dripping sweat, in aching
backs or raw hands,
let us serve You,
let us be Your slave,
though our worthiness
does not allow us to
even touch the sole
of Your pierced feet.

Let Your will be done,
Heal this fevered mind,
Let our tears turn to joy,
Let us love in You,
As we worship You,
As You shine in Your glory.

In the weariness of my mind
your presence through darkness shines,
with the power of thousands of suns.

In the moments of this disease,
although my lungs rattle and burn,
your soothing touch can be discerned.

My fever rages and heaves,
my breath only comes in a wheeze,
and in hope I reach and squeeze
the hand you offer me.

My God, my King,
I lift your name on high,
in darkness and light,
in disease and in health,
in weakness and strength,
I cry your name among the nations!

I know as I stand on this precipice,
looking into the inevitability of
this death that I slide toward,
I know that when I reach it,
I will be your ward!

My God, my King,
I lift your glory on high,
in peace and war,
in famine and plenty,
in calm and in storm,
I lift your glory on high above the nations!

You are the Rock that is not moved,
a friend who never betrays,
a brother who never delays,
a God whose faithfulness is stayed,
A mighty hand, a grip that never loosens!

My God, My King,
I lift your decrees before their eyes,
in want and fullness,
in gentleness and controversy,
in the day and in the night,
I lift your decrees before the nations!

May your love be seen,
Your commands be understood,
Your greatness displayed,
Your grace be arrayed,
by the work of your hands.

My God, My King,
Who is like You?
Who is mightier?
Who is more faithful?
Who is always there
in the summer, in the winter,
in the crashing of waves,
in the raging fever,
in the onset of death,
in the last wheezing breath,
when others shrink away,
when they pull back in fear?
All that is left is You!

Your faithfulness is shown,
in the falling rains,
in the blowing winds,
in the bright shining stars,
in the seed, in the fruit tree,
in the light of the night,
in the burning of the day,
in the changing seasons,
in the passing of time,
You are always there.

My God, My King,
I lift your faithfulness before them,
in Your deeds of the past,
in Your deeds of the present,
in Your deeds of the future,
I lift your faithfulness in praise!

Oh Lord, why do the people
provoke you,
why do they mock you,
how can they continue
in their evil ways,
consumed with darkness,
bound into pain?

I bless your name, my God,
for your enduring patience,
your long suffering heart,
and kind merciful part,
through Jesus, my Lord,
who holds your mighty sword,
a blade none can escape or ward
away, bringing your judgments.

Why judge, I ask,
“They reject me, they refuse
to repent of their wickedness.
They are lovers of violence,
party to all sexual immorality.
They mock my Word and
scoff at my instructions even
though I have poured out my
blood on their behalf.
They have persecuted my people,
persecuted the people of my Father,
murdered my brothers and sisters,
like in the day of old they slaughter
their own sons and daughters,
they know only lies and vulgarity,
in their foolishness they use my name
as a curse and in their vile words.”

I cry for your patience, my Savior,
I beg for the lives of those who
do not know your sweet love,
even though I desire nothing accept
to be with you, I will endure here
as long as I may, pointing the way
to you, my precious God.

Who knows your peace,
who knows your care,
you have proven yourself
through Christ on the cross,
when no one stood by you,
you felt such loss,
Oh Lord, I hope I will always
stand, lifting my hands no matter
the cost and cry your name
before the nations, all the same.

Like bubbling hot springs,
your love comes forth,
offering a soothing bath
to the filthy and impure,
I immerse myself in your love,
freed from the shackles of depravity,
healed from blind insanity.

I can see your promises,
the green mountains of peace,
soaring high on unseen wings,
in this place, you took away my pain,
replaced it with your angels that sing
praises to your name and never cease.
Carry me higher, my God away
from all this death, bring me to the day
where your words as you say
will be proclaimed from Jerusalem.