God Provides

This one throws it way back, to when I was about 12 years old. I discovered it while rummaging through my childhood, which remains packed away in two blue plastic totes in my parents' attic. The note on the poem says I wrote it for my pastor's wife, Miss Debbie, when her dad was going through a health scare. While I definitely still believe the message of the poem, I like to think my style has grown a bit from the didactic, sing-songy tone of this piece.


Sometimes in this old, weary land
We just can't seem to understand
Things that happen day by day,
Things that just don't go our way.

When someone we love gets very ill,
It is very hard to trust God still.
But we must remember, when pain abides,
An important fact; our God still provides.

He provides strength in every test
And gives us perfect peace and rest.
He helps us in our hardest place;
Shows us his mercy and his grace.

And so, whatever you go through,
Remember, Christian, he's with you.
He'll guide you through that stormy way,
Bring you to live with him some day.

And I know that until then
He will always help you when
You humbly call upon his name,
Since he forever is the same.

From the Splendor of God's Heaven

Higher Ground Baptist Bible Camp played an incalculable role in my spiritual growth as a teenager and college student. My two years as a camper and my eight years on staff shaped my theology and my attitudes in huge ways. Higher Ground's teen leadership camp, known as "The Stretcher Program," emphasizes servant leadership based on Christ's example as communicated by Paul in Philippians chapter two: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..." After participating as a Stretcher one year, I wanted to express in writing the core concepts I had learned. This poem was the result.

From the splendor of God's heaven,
From the rainbow circled throne:
From unceasing praise of angels,
Admiration purely shown.

From sweet meaningful communion
With a Father deeply loved,
From perfection, unmarred beauty,
Jesus came to ransom us.


To deep poverty continual,
To a shameful, lowly birth
To a dirty stable manger,
Endless painful toils of earth:

To the mocking scorn of sinners,
Pilate's unjust judgment hall:
To that cross on Calv'ry's hillside,
Most accursed death of all.


Let this mind be in me, Father,
Which was also in my Lord:
Not vain pride in my position,
Selfish thought for man's reward.

But a mind of humble giving,
Caring not for earthly fame:
Living selflessly, your servant
For the glory of your Name.


And his Name is high exalted
Far above all other names
All will bow, each tongue confess him:
Christ the Lord forever reigns.

Lord of the Broken

Lord of the broken, Jesus, I thank you

For knowing my weakness and feeling my pain

You weep with my heartaches; you gather my sorrows

From the fragments you make a mosaic of grace

Lord of the nightfall, Sovereign, I thank you

For being the light even when I can’t see

You’ve already conquered the powers of darkness

You illumine your truth through my frailty and need

Lord of redemption, Savior, I thank you

That nothing I do can diminish your love

In spite of my failures, you’re building your kingdom

You’re restoring your image, your glory in us

My heart is not hidden from you;

You know me better than I even do.

Into my weakness your strong voice has spoken:

You bring beauty from chaos:

You’re Lord of the broken.