Grey Skies

The storm has passed;
Yet in its wake the clouds remain, skies are still dull.
No hint of sunrise splendour here –
Just shades of grey, from dark to light.

Then suddenly – a wondrous change:
The gloomy clouds, now edged with gold, provide
A striking frame for
One bright spot of intense blue.

Dawn, though unseen, had still arrived.
Although I could not see the sun I knew
Its glory shone
Unhindered by the clouds below.

And then I thought – how often does my day
Seem covered by a cloud? I cannot seem to sense
The presence of my God.
I wonder why this darkness comes, why can’t I understand?

Yet He is near! He’s promised that
He will remain with me. His Spirit lives within my heart
As pledge His Word is true.

So Father, next time clouds appear to block my view of You,
And when I next feel all alone, and doubt that you are near,
May I remember that You are
Unchanged, and faithful still.

You’re in control; You have allowed those clouds, but if
I’ll patient wait for You, You’ll edge those clouds
With dazzling gold,
And turn my grey day brilliant blue.

EF - August 2011

I was disappointed by the grey cloudy skies when I went out to the deck for my morning devotions, but then ...

ONE THING

“One thing”… oh such simple words; such meaning lies beneath.
For what we hold as our “one thing” defines the life we lead.
Do I desire with all my heart to dwell within His gates?
To gaze upon my blessed Lord? To worship at His feet?

Or is there something here I seek, some treasure dear to man?
The great deceiver does his best to fool me if he dcan.
For money, praise or fame he’ll make appear before my eyes;
He tries to make me think of them as something I should prize.

Perhaps it is a “something good” – no harm it seems to hold;
A spouse, a child, a cause so dear; a friendship made of gold.
Yet if I value it too much, to it devote my life
In serving it I’ll lose that joy for which Christ paid the price.

And if I can resist those lures, there’s yet another snare;
I try so hard to serve my Lord, yet trouble, grief or care
Can quickly come if I’m to tired to spend some time with Him,
For then I start to look around: my spiritual sight grows dim.

“One thing I know …” – I once was blind, and He has given sight,
Has shown me that I need His help to set my goals aright.
Oh Lord, I ask, let my “one thing” while here on earth below
Be all my days to follow You, Your glory forth to show.

You’ve taken hold of me, my Lord; Your work begun in me,
You’ve shown to me the value of committing time to be
Apart with You to start each day, to read Your Word, to pray;
To quietly commune with you; to hear what You will say.

So by your power in me, my God, this “one thing” do I claim;
Forgetting that which is behind, toward the goal I strain
To win that prize for which, O God, You’re heavenward calling me
In Christ my Lord: Him will I praise throughout eternity.

EF - June 2009

After finishing Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" study: functional vs professed gods. Is there something, even something right and good in itself, that I unknowingly am "serving" instead of Christ?