picture: surrender

Here is the picture God gave me: I am up on Your throne. Finding myself the size of an infant, I crawl backwards off Your throne and backwards until I am in my rightful place–bowing before it.

surrender
©9-17-10 hannah mclean

who am i–
self-exalted
sitting without authority
upon Your throne?

looking around
my eyes open to reality
why am i where only You belong?
i tremble at my smallness
dwarfed by the enormity of Your reign

i crawl backwards
off Your throne
my feet hit the ground
with a deafening thud
my hands and knees follow

i crawl backwards
to behold Your throne
rising immense before me
grateful to be where i belong–
bowing before You

who am i–
surrendered
basking in Your mercy?
i know that while You should cast me away
instead You accept my surrender
and my worship

who am i?
i am blessed
blessed to bow to You, my King

perseverance=fruit :)

Romans 5:1–5 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance [perseverance], and endurance [perseverance] produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

perseverance
©9-16-10 hannah mclean

when i consider the places
i have walked
crawled
ran
and stumbled
the theme of perseverance
floods my mind
heart
soul
and spirit

prolonged trial
requiring choice:
to trust You
or to deny and seek another way

impatient nature
displaying ability to suffer long
You are the only way
such transformation has progressed
beautiful Lord
i can only praise You

Hope that does not put to shame
holds me upright
Holy Spirit
mold me as You will
steady my steps
as i persevere
to the end

Revelation 3:10–12 “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from My God out of heaven, and My own new name.”

"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise." Psalm 51:15

Isaiah 6:5–7 And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."

lips that deprive You praise
©9-13-10 hannah mclean

forgive me of these lips
that have deprived You praise
when only endless worship
could declare your worth
i lament the words that displace You

woe am i of unclean lips
meet me with the coal
offered on the altar
and extended to Your own

forgive me of these lips
that have deprived You praise
when Your faithfulness shines
on my darkened soul
i lament and flee from idolatry

woe am i of unclean lips
meet me with the coal
offered on the altar
and extended to Your own

on my knees i plead
forgive me
open my lips
that i may declare Your praise

hot, cold or lukewarm?

Your covering
©9-13-10 hannah mclean

i shiver
cold without Your covering
which i have pushed aside
yet again

why do i insist
on walking alone?
why does my heart wander
seeking familiar places
far from You?

why do i flee the wrong direction?
slamming into walls
tripping over debris
scraped and bruised and weakened
i shiver

faithful Father
it is You who open my eyes
to behold my gaping flesh
and the dark places in which i fester
it is Your hand that lifts me up
and carries my limping body
to the place from which i wandered
it is Your heart, moved by compassion,
that will not leave me
even when i push you aside

You warm me with Your covering
till i am ablaze with praise

pieces of poems

Colossians 2:9–10, Psalm 16:11
©hannah mclean

Filled by Him in whom all fullness dwells
Filled in Him with whom there is no wane or swell
Complete in perfect measure is
He who need not change
Bowing, we reach out to claim
the fullness of His name

____

Psalm 31
©hannah mclean

When troubles assail me
when trials derail me
when burdens outweigh me
when sorrows dissuade me

I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God."
My times are in Your mighty hand
and I stand.

___

Mark 12:41–44
©hannah mclean

the two copper coins echo as they fall
ringing out a humble widow’s offering of all
a gift that’s far too short to meet the world’s demands
belittled when viewed beside the rich man’s hand

but You say to the ones who follow You, “come see,
an offering that’s worthy of Me
a greater gift than what the others give combined
for all she has was offered from her palm to Mine”

how glorious Your measure
how merciful Your pleasure