Longing Heart

You are my bread, my life, my song

With you alone, does my heart belong

Deep within me calls to deep

Draw me close Lord, Your heart to meet

 

You are the great I AM

Take me Lord into Your hand

Mold me into your heart of grace

Until I look and can see Your face

 

You are my bread, my life, my song

With you alone, does my heart belong

Deep within me calls to deep

Draw me close Lord, Your heart to meet

 

Breathing deeply, I feel you near

I will sit quietly, Your voice to hear

Waiting until the break of day

When I know what You’re saying, I will obey

 

You are my bread, my life, my song

With you alone, does my heart belong

Deep within me calls to deep

Draw me close Lord, Your heart to meet

 

Into Your image I will be drawn

Though the process painful, the days are long

I know that You have a plan for me

To be like Your Son, my heart set free

 

You are my bread, my life, my song

With you alone, does my heart belong

Deep within me calls to deep

Draw me close Lord, Your heart to meet

 

 

 

 

copyright 2013  Jean Chamblee 

A Thought For The Day 9/29/13

Suffering…..

 

A word and concept that is avoided like the plague in many of todays churches,  although in the scriptures, suffering is mentioned often, by Jesus, Paul, and the apostles.  

 

The crazy thing is that it is mentioned in such a positive light by them all. Suffering can produce such valuable fruit within the soul of the believer.  Take a look at what Paul has to say….

 

2 Corinthians 1:5-7   “ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

 

The scriptures count suffering as a good thing, producing patient endurance, and opening a door for God’s comforts to draw near.

 

Romans 5:3,4  “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

As we read these scriptures that are often ignored, is it any wonder that the character of Christ is greatly lacking? Perseverance and character cannot be plucked out of the air.  As Paul said above “suffering produces…”

Denial produces nothing!  Neither does a lying mantra like “everything is good, everything is wonderful”.  Our positive confession is that God will bring us through it, better than we were before. God gets all the glory and we get the fruit it produces.

So take heart if you fall into various trials and temptations.  Trust God to have His way with you and to produce inner beauty and character.  He will not let you suffer beyond what you can bear and indeed He will lead you to victory, not forgetting His reward. 

Romans 8:17

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, IF indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

 

OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD

There is a dance to be danced

A victory won

As we join in the journey

And walk with God’s son

 

Though some days will be darkness

In the midst of the night

Something beautiful takes place

In our hearts through the fight

 

There is no quick shortcut

No back alley way

To endure is essential

To live in this day

 

God will waste nothing

Every tear in our eyes

As we stand against darkness

Dispelling the lies

 

The crown and the glory

Belong all to Him

But He promises rewards

If we endure ‘til the end

 

copyright 2013  Jean Chamblee

Eyes That See Things Differently

The wonder of a sweet, sweet heart

Is there for God to see

You think you’ve got it all messed up

But I’ve got news for thee

 

All the little things you do

The ways that your heart cares

Does not go without a nod from God

Please know that He’s aware

 

We focus on the screw-ups

And think that’s all there is

God does not see us that way

Especially when we are His

 

He sees us as His children

His love will not depart

As long as we stay close to Him

He will reveal His heart

 

God sees things so differently

Than we see things ourselves

He looks with love upon us

We’re never on the shelf

 

He actively awaits us

To turn our thoughts to Him

To come into His presence

So He can help us win

 

He takes such joy in watching

Our journey on the earth

I guarantee that you are more

Than what you think you’re worth

 

It’s times we focus on Him

And try to do His will

That shines like light before Him

We can continue still

 

So if you’ve royally blown it

Like I’ve done time and again

Don’t let that keep you from Him

Just start your walk again

 

Come into His presence

As you lie upon your bed

Start the conversation

Read the words He’s said

 

Know that God, He loves you

Like you’ve never been loved before

Let your sins be washed away

He’s waiting at the door

 

How hard is an “I’m sorry”

To come between your lips

Then you can start the dance again

Your past it will eclipse

 

You are loved more than I can say

Dare to make amends

Dare to believe what I have said

Start your relationship with Him again

 

copyright  Jean Chamblee  2010

Safe In The Harbor

Today I woke up drowning

Could hardly catch my breath

Some days it is astounding

Life comes at you like death

 

I reached out and I grabbed You

To the heaven’s lifted a cry

You heard my desperate sorrows

My heart did catch Your eye

 

I cried out with a knowing

That You are always there

That You, oh One will hear me

And You will always care

 

As I settled into thoughts of You

My heart did calm a bit

And fear turned into faith

My candle became lit

 

Oh how faithful are You God

You’re always there to hear

You’re drowning little daughter

Needed rescued from her fear

 

Now my heart is close to Yours

Safe in the harbor now

And if I slip and fall back in

I know You’ll help me out

 

copyright  2009  Jean Chamblee

A Clean Slate

Painful past

Mistakes made

Can’t change

The path was laid

 

Ironclad grip

Pulling down

Crying out

In tears drowned

 

Spinning round

A sinking ship

Life’s a mess

Can’t get a grip

 

What if there

Was really a way

A gift for you

A completely clean slate

 

If you can get past

Prejudices made

Open your mind

The price was paid

 

Forget religion

Not what it’s about

Embrace the Truth

That will let you cry out

 

Forget the steeple

The Easter parade

Jesus is deep

It’s no charade

 

The blood He shed

Is no laughing matter

Such a shame He’s been treated

With a light hearted manner

 

Love so deep

Heart so good

He gave it for you

He shed His own blood

 

So you could have

Another chance

Get free from your past

Set free to dance

 

Dance a new life

Leave the old behind

Take hold of His hand

He will take off the blinds

 

That’s right it’s a kick

Jesus is the Way

You’ve heard it all along

Thought it was a cliche’

 

Don’t need to be religious

To talk to the One

That loves you so much

Had me write this sweet poem

 

So guess what precious one?

He’s waiting on you

To give a clean slate

Start your life brand new

 

copyright  Jean Chamblee  2010

Capture A Moment Of Normal

Capture a moment of normal
Don’t forget what’s important to see
Those ones very dear that surround you
The ones in your own family

With a world that is in so much turmoil
Easy to forget to believe
That there’s still a few moments of normal
Still a few moments to breathe

So grab that grandbaby and hold her
Bounce that toddler around on your knee
Call a truce with your sister
And treasure your own family

Time is a gift swiftly fleeing
So quickly it runs away
So capture a moment of normal
And by all means, ENJOY THE DAY!!!

by Jean Chamblee Thomas 2008

Deep Calls To Deep

Walking the streets of another place

Allowed to go in by a special grace

Seeing the things that need to be done

Heralding prayers for everyone

 

Who will cry out if it is not me?

Who will cry out for the souls in the streets?

Who will feel pain of an uncovered place?

Who will engage in the heavenly race?

 

Who will see their neighbors all around?

Drowning in sorrows and hitting the ground

Who hears the cries of families undone?

The enemy raging, his battles are won

 

Who will come out of this natural realm?

Dwell in the spirit with Christ at the helm

Who will let others come into their thoughts?

Labor in prayer til a victory is wrought

 

Who will care and feel their pain?

When it’s easier to focus on our own selfish gain

Who will choose to take up the cross?

Do what Christ says, count their life as a loss

 

A cry has gone out from the heaven’s above

Who will rise up and give out Christ’s love?

A sacrifice, a dying that none of us like

Lay down our ambitions and do what is right

 

Lord give us grace for the depth of this walk

Let us live out on earth what your covenant has wrought

Help us ignore the superficial call

Follow after You, Lord, and give it our all

 

copyright  Jean Chamblee 2010

Honesty…..it matters

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

HONESTY….it matters.

Psalm 24:3-6   “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord and enter where he lives? Who may stand before the Lord?  Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying.  They will receive God’s own goodness as their blessing from him, planted in their lives by God himself, their Savior.  These are the ones who are allowed to stand before the Lord and worship the God of Jacob.”

In a culture that is so driven by image and appearances, virtual realities, and acceptance by success….it breaks my heart to see many of God’s people trapped and crushed by lifes circumstances unable to reach out for help.  And in truth….where can you find a safe place?  A safe place to be real, vulnerable and honest?  So many of us have tried to find this place in churches and around Christians only to be disappointed and sometimes crushed even further than the original circumstances.

But there is an answer!!  Your hope can be found in God!  Sometimes it takes hitting that low place, being rejected by others….to find that God really is there.  That when He said…”I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb.13:5)  He really means it!  He REALLY means it!  There is never a time that God will turn His back on you when you are turning towards Him.  NEVER!  

So what is it that God wants from us?  What is He waiting for?  Often it is as simple as HONESTY.  “Lord it really hurt when that happened”,  “Lord, I really messed up this time”,  “Lord, I was really being stubborn”,  “Lord I feel so crushed” “Lord what was done to me was so wrong”,   This list could go on and on…God wants you to pour out your hearts to Him and have an honest conversation.  

Think about what He asks us to do when we sin.  “Confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”  (1 John 1:9)   It’s a fancy way of saying….  “Kiddo get honest with Me about it!!  I will help you turn away from what is hurting you, harming you! I will help you walk in My ways which will keep you in the best and safest place to be.  I will heal the hurts in your soul and I will restore your soul.  You can be honest with me….get real with Me, My love is greater than anything you have and will ever do.  Trust me. ”

Numbers 23:19

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

 

God is not a man that He should lie.  He said He would forgive you, stay with you, help you, heal you and restore your soul.  Begin the process….just be honest with Him!  His life and light will start shining in!

Love in Christ