Life-Altering Love
Endless Strength!
Your love authored life
when you spoke that one Word.
You’re the One ordering
order, creating
creation, your own
way.
And your Word dressed himself
in flesh, embracing the disobedience-stained
form we inherited from Adam,
and that’s how Jesus removed the sadness from his clothes.
The Savior’s love liberates the world,
for what’s ever been kinder than his incarnation?
His sinlessness breathed life into compassion,
cleaning that sad smudge from the boney outfit every human wears.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!
He erased the anguish from our flesh.
That a King Would Bow
How miraculous—
that a king would stoop
to enter the world
of the ordinary,
of the commoner,
of his subject,
of woman.
But God did this. Why?
Because humility,
ever the lowliest of the low,
always rises—
and triumphs—
over everything else.
The Most Sanguine Moment
When the Creator actually spilled
his blood on the elements,
earth, air, water, and fire
screamed,
collapsed with grief,
shook from sadness.
Now, Father, with this gift
anoint our weaknesses.
From Poverty to Greatness
Father,
we’re so needy.
We beg you,
by your Word
through whom
you made us rich
in everything we lack,
please (we’re begging you)
help us, or we’ll fail.
Don’t let us darken your name with shame.
Help us.
The First Verb
The Holy Spirit animates
all, moves
all, roots
all, forgives
all, cleanses
all, erases
all
our past mistakes and then
puts medicine on our wounds.
We praise this Spirit of incandescence
for awakening
and reawakening
all
creation.
To Wisdom
You soar, sustain, and animate,
climb, dive, and sing
your way through this world,
giving life to every beating
heart.
You never end.
You keep circling, crossing over us
on three wings—
one speeds through heaven,
one holds the earth together with a kiss as light as dew,
and one whooshes over, under, and through our lives.
We praise you, Wisdom!
The First Fire
Spirit of fire,
Paraclete, our Comforter,
you’re the Live in alive,
the Be in every creature’s being,
the Breathe in every breath on earth.
Holy Life-Giver,
Doctor of the desperate,
Healer of everyone broken past hope,
Medicine for all wounds,
Fire of love,
Joy of hearts,
fragrant Strength,
sparkling Fountain,
Protector,
Penetrator,
in you we contemplate
how God goes looking for those who are lost
and reconciles those who are at odds with him.
Break our chains!
You bring people together.
You curl clouds, whirl winds,
send rain on rocks, sing in creeks,
and turn the lush earth green.
You teach those who listen,
breathing joy and wisdom into them.
We praise you for these gifts,
Light-giver,
Sound of joy,
Wonder of being alive,
Hope of every person,
and our strongest Good.
The First Daylight
You’re the Word of our Father,
the light of the first sunrise,
God’s omnipotent thought.
Before anything was made,
you saw it and
designed it and
tucked your all-seeing nature in the middle of your sinew,
like a spinning wheel
with no beginning and no end,
still encircling everything.
The Sheep, Listening
Shepherd of our souls, and First Voice
of creation, now let there be …
freedom.
For we’re still wretched creatures,
always weary, always weak,
and only you can rescue
us from the unhappiness
we make.
