More Velvet Steel

"A Season That Will Pass"

When God is over all the year,
White snow and virgin grass,
We know that ice will disappear,
And winter soon will pass.

When God is over all the year,
And lakes are crystal brass,
We know the melting too is near,
And frozen spring will pass.

When God is over all the year,
And trees are dipped in glass,
Each twig will shed its April tear,
And icy wind will pass.

When God is over all the year,
And March is dark, alas!
We know that dismal skies will clear,
And darkness too will pass.

When God is over all the year,
And wintry days harass,
We need not dread nor need we fear
A season that will pass.

from Velvet Steel by John Piper

In Light of "Bad" News

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV)
"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places."

"Our Wedding Text: Habakkuk 3" from Velvet Steel by John Piper

Although the fig tree blossom not,
And all the vines of our small plot
Be barren, and the olive fail,
The sheep grow weak and heifers frail,
We will rejoice in God, my love,
And take our pleasures from above:
The Lord, our God, shall be our strength
And give us life, whatever length
On earth he please, and make our feet
Like mountain deer, to rise and cleat
The narrow path for man and wife
That rises steep and leads to life.

Blackberries

Yesterday made me think of this great poem. It's a favorite of my cousin, Kim.

"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries"

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning-

Lord, Change Me

I found this poem in a book written by Juanita Purcell.
Lord, will these pains and trials never end?
Just when I think it’s over, another You send.
You know my heart—how it hurts so bad;
I’m trying to smile, but I feel so sad.
What from these trials do You want me to know?
Oh, I remember; You want me to grow.
Yes, more like Jesus You want me to be;
That’s the plan You have in mind for me.
So keep on chipping and banging away;
Don’t stop till You’re finished, no matter what I say.

Ruth Harms Calkins has written:
Change me, God
Please change me.
Though I cringe
Kick
Resist and resent
Pay no attention to me whatever.
When I run to hide
Drag me out of my safe little shelter.
Change me totally
Whatever it takes
However long You must work at the job.
Change me—and save me
From spiritual self-destruction.