Saturday, February 14, 2009

Paul [Paraphrased]

I witnessed the killing of Stephen
Put men and women in jail
For believing in Christ, the Son of God
My mission? to watch them fail

As I neared the town of Damascus
A brilliant light beamed down on me
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say
Saul, why do you persecute me?

My eyes were blinded for three days
During this time I fasted and prayed
A believer was sent to heal me
And the scales from my eyes fell away

Yes, I was a chosen instrument
To take Your message to the Gentiles and Jews
I then became the persecuted one
For preaching on high the Good News

Five times I took thirty-nine lashes
Three times I was beaten with rods
In toil and hardship, in hunger and thirst
Frequently driven to fasting by want

My life is one worth boasting about
But that's something you'll never hear me do
For no one should think more highly of me
Than what they see in my life through YOU

Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom
Or the strong man brag of his might
Let not the rich man flaunt his riches
Or the prophet seek praise for his sight

So, if I must speak, I would rather boast
About how weak in the flesh I've become
That the power of Christ may be shown in me
For when I am weak, then I'm strong

[began writing on february 10, 2005 and inspired to finish on february 14, 2009]

Influenced by: 2 Corinthians 12 & Jeremiah 9

2 comments:

  1. This one made me cry. It was personal, in that it was a perspective of a person. Something not just to learn or glean from. A pair of shoes to step in.

    These lines could stand on their own!! As a hymn maybe? A poem?

    Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom
    Or the strong man brag of his might
    Let not the rich man flaunt his riches
    Or the prophet seek praise for his sight

    So, if I must speak, I would rather boast
    About how weak in the flesh I've become
    That the power of Christ may be shown in me
    For when I am weak, then I'm strong

    Thanks for really encouraging me with your words this morning! You were my pastor, on this Sunday morning. And I receive your message.

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  2. I do agree with you that the last two stanzas are my favorite. God wrote His poetry into them. Finishing what was started 4 years ago was inspirational to me. It made me purpose to give God more time to write through me creatively, not just in the form of a blog. And not because I think these particular writings are fabulous and could be published - hardly - but because it's allowing God to be creative instead of me always being directed inward to what I'm learning or processing what I'm going through. Make sense?

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