I guess the idea of asking God to show us our "next right steps" is a 12-step catch phrase.  I'm not a 12-step participant myself, but I hang with such folks a fair amount of the time, which I guess is where I picked up the phrase.  I found the chorus echoing in my heart for a bunch of weeks, and then the verses came together pretty suddenly.

I'm not a hundred percent sure I believe that we don't get long term visions that "last through the years".  But I am sure that knowing the next right steps, and walking in them is one of the more important things that God can help us to see.

                            Next Right Steps

                                                        Next right steps, next right steps

                                                        Father won't you show us our next right steps.

                                                        Next right steps, next right steps

                                                        Father won't you show us our next right steps.

                                            Well, I seem to want a vision that would last through the years

                                            To fill me up with confidence and calm all my fears

                                            But I'm slowly learning you don't work that way

                                            You give strength for the journey

                                            And bread for today

                                                        Next right steps...

                                            Now if we want a vision that will carry us through

                                            We don't need to know the what or how we just need who

                                            We need to know the Spirit who can show us the way

                                            And to trust that Jesus loves us at the end of the day

                                                   

                                                        Next right steps...

The Well

 I wrote this about 22 years ago, but I found it recently in my papers, and I think it is still relevant.

The Well

An imaginary conversation with God

Oh, God.  How kind of you to come.  I want to show you my prayer life.  Please come and look.  Isn’t it pretty?

What is THAT?

It’s a wishing well.  Look.  See how nicely I made it. It has a roof, and a bucket, and the walls are neatly cemented.  There’s even a dipper for people who want to take a drink.

What’s it for?

For wishing, of course.  When I want something, I take a coin, and make a wish, and throw it in. Other people can wish for things too.  Not everyone has a wishing well as nice as this one.  I’ve worked very hard to make it nice.  Everyone can see how nice my wishing well is. And look, I use really good coins. There’s fasting, and worship, and good deeds, and tithing. See how they sparkle and glitter? Everyone can see what a good wishing well I have.

And does this wishing change anything?

It makes me feel like I’ve done something. That’s what prayer is all about isn’t it?  Everyone knows prayer is a good  thing.  And sometimes good things happen, after I’ve wished forthem.

Yes, sometimes good things happen.

I know the wishing part may not work too well.  But this is still a wonderful well. Look at the water, here for anyone to drink.

I see.  It doesn’t look very deep.

Well, no.

Or very fresh.

No. But it’s better than nothing, you know.

Maybe. Where does the water come from?

Oh, well, now. Here and there. Sometimes I get some from someone else’s wishing well.  Sometimes it rains.  Of course, the new roof keeps out most of the rainwater. But the roof is pretty, don’t you think? It helps me keep everything under control.  Only the water that I put in goes into this well.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

O God.  Umm, this doesn’t look very much like that, does it?

[silence]

God, what do You want me to do?

I want to dig a well. A real one.

Aaah…Just where did you say this well was going to be?

You heard.

God?….A real well is going to mean an awful lot of work.

I’ll do the work.  But you’re going to be with me.

There’s going to be an awful lot of mud and stones. Plaes where it’s hard to dig. I’m not sure what we’ll find under the surface.  I’m a little scared of what we’lll find under the surface.

Don’t worry. I already know everything that we’re going to run into. I’m a master well-digger. Trust me.

God? It could get dark being at the bottom of a real well. And scary.  And lonely.

“I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.” I’ll be there.

Yeah, but nobody else will be.

Does that really matter?

No.  No.  No.

O God, forgive me for thinking that my fancy wishing well was prayer.  Come, dig a well in my heart. Let me go to the depths of my being with You, so that out of my heart can flow streams of your living water. Come Holy Spirit. Have Your way in my life and in my heart.

Lord We Trust in You

 A meditation on Psalm 125

Lord, we trust in You

And You fill us with a mountain of your presence

You fill us with a mountain of your strength

So we won't be moved.

Growing stronger and stronger so we can't be moved

Lord, we trust in You

And You surround your people with the mountains of your presence

So we can't be moved

So we won't be moved.

Lord, we trust in You

Lord, we trust in You

Lord, we pray that no wickedness

Would ever come to rule in our lives, in our land

Lord, we trust in You.

Let us stand in your righteousness

With your strength in us and around us

So we can't be moved

Lord we in you

With your mountains of protection

In us and around us

So we can't be moved

So we won't be moved

Lord, we trust in You

Help us trust in You

Lord, we trust in You

Help us trust in You.

If it hadn't been for God

I'm part of an amazing Bible study with a great group of women whose hearts are devoted to following God. We were studying Psalm 124 and as I was praying through the psalm this is what came: 

  If it hadn't been for God 

      If it hadn't been for God 

     If it hadn't been for God

     If it hadn't been for God 

            What would have happened?

If it hadn't been for God 

What would we do? 

 He delivered us 

He has set us free. 

When the enemy set traps 

He gave us all the key 

He sets us free. 

When the floods of life 

start to sweep us away 

He gives shelter from the storm 

Strength to come through the day. 

He sets us free. 

  If it hadn't been for God 

If it hadn't been for God 

If it hadn't been for God 

 What would have happened? 

If it hadn't been for God 

What would we do? 

 When the enemy sweeps in 

With a raging tide of sin 

You have hidden us within 

And they couldn't find us. 

You set us free 

You are God who made the heavens 

You are God who made the earth 

You are the one who wins our battles 

You bring your plans for us to birth 

You set us free. 

  If it hadn't been for God 

If it hadn't been for God 

If it hadn't been for God 

 What would have happened? 

If it hadn't been for God 

What would we do?

A Prayer from Hebrews 1

Over 20 years ago, I took a very vigorous Bible study course that required about an hour a day of homework, studying the book of Hebrews.  And at the end of the the homework for chapter 1, they asked us to ask the Lord for a song or prayer that would sum up the things that God had shown us.

This is what came.  In some ways, the fact that it rhymes and scans in a rather trite pattern dismayed me.  Am I just writing rhyming doggerel?  I do not claim that this is great literature.  But it still satisfies me at some deep level, so I share it here.

A Prayer from Hebrews 1

Father,

You have spoken to us through the prophets

In portions, a bit at a time--

And the word that you spoke overwhelms me,

Your law is so awesome and fine.

You spoke to the people through angels,

Great creatures of wind and of fire.

People shook at the visions in terror,

Such fear did their speaking inspire.

And now you have spoken in Jesus,

Not a shadow, but the brilliance of Your light.

The Word that created the planets

is spoken to us in the night.

The Word that holds all things together,

Came down to destroy all our sins.

When the world is changed like old clothing,

The Word that is Jesus will stand.

A better will never be spoken,

Through Him you have reached out Your hand.

The ears that I hear with are shallow,

The eyes I can see with are dim.

Father, speak Jesus into my being,

'Til my life is completed in Him.

Informed Consent

I wrote this close to 20 years ago, but I still feel this way, and need to remind myself of this from time to time.  And because this may not be crystal clear, let me say that the shape of this poem is deliberately a little bit like an exclamation point.

Informed Consent

Yes, Lord, yes!

Yes, I know there are times it will hurt.

Yes, I know there are times it will be scary.

Yes, I know You will lead me down roads

I would never have chosen for myself.

But now, I choose them freely and fully--

Any road that You will walk with me,

That You would choose for me.

And I know You will not hurt me

Any more than you have to.

And I know that I am save

Here in Your arms.

Yes, Lord, yes!

Yes, Lord yes!

I give my full permission--

To last through days and hours

When my flesh may scream, "NO!"

Do whatever You have to do.

Come in power, Lord.

Yes!

Rags

Another old poem, but one that still rings true to me.

Rags

God, I stand before you

Dressed in the tattered rags 

Of my own attempts to get it right,

And you hold out to me

The shining robes of Jesus' righteousness.

No question which is better,

But will I make the change?

Or will I choose to cling to what is mine?