You Are Allowed to Choose Life

Hi Friends!

I found a few more of my old poems today, and was so encouraged by the thoughts of how God calls me to live as a free person - to run, rejoice, dance, and just "be" in Him.  Last night, as I was going through a book I'm reading called Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (by Ruth Haley Barton) I was struck by a single, simple line:

Remember, you are allowed to choose life.

Wow.  I am allowed, I am free, I am called ... to choose LIFE.  In every moment, for every day.  In every difficulty, in all the chaos, in everything ... choose Life.  I can choose Him.

That is a truth I'm pondering day, praying it will work it's way into the very deepest depths of my soul.  And as I ponder, I'm remembering the poems I wrote so long ago.  Here are a couple God has brought to mind (not the greatest meter, but somehow they still speak to me :-)):

COME, BE MY BRIDE

My King calls out to me,

His voice filled with light,

With joy undimmed by other's sin,

Shining through my night.

My burdens fall at my feet

As I follow Him

Who makes my heart beat fast and firm,

All else grows far and dim.

Freed from all but Him I love,

Freed from fears so grim,

Free to laugh and dance and play,

Free to be free in Him.

His eyes, warm and gentle,

Draw me to His side.

"Come, live and love with me.

Come, be my bride!"

ONE DAY THE KING CAME TO ME

One day the King came to me,

His arms open wide.

Said He, "Child, live with me,

Come to be my bride."

But I would not hear of it,

I had so much to do.

"My burdens are far too great,

I cannot come with you.

Look at all this work of mine,

Oh, why can't you see?

Come again another day,

For now I am not free."

So the King withdrew from me,

Sorrow in His eyes,

I turned my back on Him,

Ignored His quiet sighs.

One day the King came to me,

Welcome on His face.

Said He, "Child, live with me,

Amidst joy and grace."

But I would not hear of it,

I knew I wasn't clean.

"I am dirty, my clothes, rags,

I am not what I seem.

See this awful filth of mine,

Oh why won't you see?

Come again another day,

I mustn't come with thee."

So the King withdrew from me,

Tears upon His face.

I turned my back on Him,

Ignored His offered grace.

One day the King came to me,

Wounds in hands and feet.

But I ran away from Him,

This King I could not meet.

No, I would not hear of it,

I was afraid of Him.

"I must not let Him find me.

He died a death so grim.

He will ask that I die too,

And leave my sinful life.

Don't come back another day,

You cause my heart such strife."

Then the King withdrew from me,

His head bowed with grief.

I turned my back on Him,

Denied all belief.

One day the King came to me,

Despite my sorry plight.

I was far too weary now

To run from Him in fright.

My clothes were yet sullied,

My work still undone.

"Lord, go away from me,

For I'm a sinful one."

He just smiled, held out His hand,

And said, "Come live with me."

I took my burdens, filth, fears,

And laid them at His feet.

Then the King drew close to me,

Joy upon His face.

I went to be His bride,

Amidst amazing grace.