I will arise

I will arise  

I will arise and go

I will arise and go

to my father's house

I am oh so unworthy,

yet maybe He'll 

let me serve Him

Let me work for Him

as a servant.

My work of redemption.

On the road I look

toward my old home.

Lo and behold, I  saw my father

On the road looking

Up the road toward me

And I saw hope spring into His eyes, 

And a look filled with love.

Then I saw my Father running,

My Father was running

Running with arms outstretched

Running to me

My heart leapt out to Him

I stumbled on the road, 

trying to run to Him

My heart was ashamed,

I was afraid.

Then, I felt His arms around me

He held me close.

I fell down and kissed his feet.

Clinging to Him 

I washed his feet with my tears.

But my Father lifted me up

and held me close to his heart

His eyes of love

shown into mine,

My Child, you were dead and

are alive again.

My father called out 

Bring shoes 

Bring the best robe

Bring the Ring,

The ring of belonging,

establishing my place.

Prepare a feast.
My child has returned

It was not my good deeds

Not my greatness

Not my value and worth

being honored, but

His amazing love.

And with the great joy

the celebration lifted me up,

Lifted me up on wings of

great undeserving forgiveness.

It was nothing good, I had done.

It was all my Father.

All I am,                        

All I have is: 

His gift,

His love,

His work

That gives me life

I only learned later 

the price HE paid

For my gift of sonship,
of forgiveness

Mercy and love.

The price for my life

was His death on 

A cross of shame

For my sins.

But even all the sins of

the world could not hold

the creator, the LORD 

of Glory,

The mighty God of Heaven 

And earth in death.

He arose,

He is alive

His death bought my         

life, and His life 

gave me my place

in Him.

Thank you Father.

Pride of Life

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

1 John 2:15-16  (English Standard Version)


We fairly easily understand "desires of the flesh" as wanting something, even if not good for me.  As a believer we tend to think of that as drugs, alcohol or sex but it can be as simple as wanted to eat food as a comfort, rather than to give us life.   To eat 2 pieces of cake, say, just 'cuz we like it - even though it will add volume to our bodies that will accelerate our body's destruction. 

And the "desire of the eyes" I believe is a lust for anything that we don't have, but seeing what someone else does have, and  wanting it to be ours.   This could be some one's husband/wife or house, or car, or even simply spending money.

But the Pride of Life?  I think this is as personal as taking pride in your intellect, your looks, your talents that have been given or perhaps a certain power or position.   This is a hard thing to overcome because  if you have it, you think it is because you have right to be given special attention because of it.   Your beauty or good looks can become a cause of pride, or your brains, your skill, say as an actor or a person who can effect change because of  these gifts.  All these things are present in people with gifts or power - and it is one of the greatest temptations to believe your gifts give you rights.

But, in truth all that we have was a gift from God, and can bring great good to the world if we don't begin to honor ourselves as being important or special, or worthy of special treatment because of them.  If we seek to use what God has given us to glorify HIM.