Woulda've been a pitiful shabby life

You did not wait for me
to draw near to you
But you clothe yourself in frail humanity
You did not wait for me
to cry out to you
But you let me hear your voice calling me
And I'm forever grateful to you
I'm forever grateful for the cross
I'm forever grateful to you
That You came
to seek and save the lost
--Mark Altrogge, 1985

I had always known about you but I did not come to know the intriguing gist of what you generously did for me until one quiet afternoon in 1988. I had gotten on my sister's nerves as usual and I thought she was going to go on in her usual rant but instead she sat me down and told me about you. She introduced you so convincingly and with so much passion infact it was written all over her face that she knew something that I didn't know. It was clear that she was tired of fighting me and picking unnecessary battles..it seemed so unreal! what has come over my sister? I thought. but the more she talked about you the more my heart opened. I wanted the peace written all over my sister, the calm, the joy, the different person seperate from the wicked witch that always got in my way.

And though I was the most religious fan you ever had, I was suprised to learn that you did not want a fan of me but a friend. Me? your friend? how come? you said it was simple...that it is because you love me. I couldn't resist the power of your love through your words and actions and so I succombed. I said yes to you. Our journey started, the more time I spent with you the harder I fell for you. I longed for you, your company, your encouragement, your embrace, your gentleness, and warmth. You became my essence...my living bread. You showed me what I am and discarded the lies around me. You assured me that I could be all that my heart desires in you, that I could move mountains! YOU BELIEVED IN ME and destroyed the chains of inadequacies and doubt. Before I called you you answered and while I was still speaking you heard me. You are my dearest and best friend. My glory and the lifter up of my head. You chide me when needed and correct me firmly in love. You never shy away from telling me the truth

You are my LIFE, MY LOVE, MY JOY. You brought me out of the miry clay - a sinking hole, a mess, a dangerous path, the lies and pretenses and you planted my feet upon the ROCK. You are my ROCK, my eternal ROCK! You have been there through the thick and thin. You have been closer and more real than my husband, children, father, mother, brother, or sisters. You know me inside out. Your light illuminates my life, your laughter warms my life, your word anchors my boat. You have become my all in all. Some pride in riches and fame, and mark their success by tangible achievements but through the years I have come to glory only in your presence...my desire is that I am walking with you, rising and laying in your path...in this journey of love that continues....thank you for being my world and the reason I journey on the way to my promised land.


Prayer: One thing I ask for that I will seek as long as I live is to dwell in your presence all the days of my life and to be never parted from the beauty of all that you are about.
original writings of SongReach 2007