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Stephanos

Member Elite

since 2000-07-31

Posts 3618
Statesboro, GA, USA

0 posted 2001-02-04 11:21 PM

Lord I've felt your presence and your nearness with great wonder.
I've felt your hand like gentle rain.  I've heard your voice like thunder.
And many times in life you came in strange and unsought ways.
When I did not expect it you revealed your arm of praise
and took away the veil that somehow hid from me your face.
My hardened heart was broken as I sensed your love and grace
so full and warm and radiant like sunshine through the sky.
You melted my distress and shame and lifted me on high.
From feelings of despair that seemed like weighty iron chains
holding me imprisoned to my fears and helpless pains,
you delivered me and made me free and gave me new found peace.
I wept with tears of gratitude.  My spirit found release.
Then praise sprang forth so very real which I had lacked so long.
Before, I'd try to worship but my spirit voiced no song.
My mouth repeated words of praise I knew in mind were true.
And yet my heart refused your joy.  I felt so far from you.
But you saw through my stoney heart to deeper soil and seed,
past the cold exterior where longings live and bleed,
where godly hungers always dwell and make known their desires,
where love for God burns deep and true with flames of holy fires.
And there you opened blinded eyes to see what I possessed
and gave me strength to wait again for promised sabbath rest.
So Lord I give this prayer to you to say to you somehow,
if ever Lord I needed you, I surely need you now
to do again what you have done in faithfulness and truth,
to visit me again Oh God.  Restore my joy and youth.
Your ways so unpredictable, I welcome and entreat.
On my Emmaus road, that "stranger" how I long to meet.
Your paths beyond our tracing out, I welcome to behold.
For a curtain hides your plans within an ark of shining gold.
So overtake us righteous Lord by ways we'd never guess.
How can we dictate to you the ways you break and bless?
It's when we try to do so that great disappointments fall
and dreams we hold are shattered like a vase against the wall.
But when we finally seek you just to have you in your way
and give up trying to pin you in your method or your day,
perhaps we will lay hold at last on understanding sweet
and lay our broken dreams and selves before your very feet,
then see you in great power stretching forth your healing hand
to bring us from our wilderness to rich and fruitful land.
Lord we've felt your presence and your nearness with great wonder.
We've felt your hand like gentle rain.  We've heard your voice like thunder.
So come again and visit us in any way you choose.
For those who'll take you as you are, your grace shall never lose.

SDJ 2/99

[This message has been edited by Stephanos (edited 02-05-2001).]

pegasus111
Member Elite

since 2000-07-27

Posts 2219
ocala, fl, usa

1 posted 2001-02-04 11:57 PM

Stephen, this is a shining tribute you have molded here. I'm sure it was divinely inspired. You have given me great joy today.
Bless you.

the woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, and many miles to go before I sleep...Frost

kcsgrandma
Senior Member

since 2000-09-24

Posts 1522
Presque Isle, ME

2 posted 2001-02-05 12:07 PM

This is a marvelously crafted poem of praise, surely the result of a divine gift. Thank you for sharing it.

To love another person is to see the face of God.
- Les Miserables

Marilyn

Wesley the Blue
Member

since 1999-09-02

Posts 426
Forest Lake, MN, USA

3 posted 2001-02-05 09:45 AM

Normaly I cant read past the first few lines of a poem like this, but yours cought me and I had to read the whole thing. Very well done indeed.
Keith

every day is a new day with which we can change the world

Stephanos

Member Elite

since 2000-07-31

Posts 3618
Statesboro, GA, USA

4 posted 2001-02-05 04:25 PM

Thanks for your kind responses.

glad you enjoyed.

bestgirl911
Senior Member

since 2000-10-04

Posts 551
Clio, MI , United We Stand

5 posted 2001-02-07 02:06 PM

Stephanos...

This is truly inspiring...
You've made me smile today.

Ranea

laryalee
Member

since 2000-06-19

Posts 352
Alberta, Canada

6 posted 2001-02-07 02:34 PM

Stephanos - Such a joyous expression of faith and love - uplifting the reader - marvelous in its phrasing and flow...
A wonderful tribute, a thoughtful prayer!
Lary

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