Author: Jodi

For Sinners

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Jesus is with me

because I have the greatest need

He didn’t come for the Saints

For those strong in good deeds

He came for sinners

He came for me

Mark 2:17

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Tested Faith

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In the darkness, hope becomes visible

It’s the glimmer of light around the bend

In doubt, faith becomes tangible

Turning trials into a dearest friend

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance

Doubt, Faith, Possibilities

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What if…

I never discover a solution

My battles never find resolution

My actions never match my words

My thoughts are always disturbed

I never write a famous song

I never find a place to belong

My worry doesn’t cease

My soul never finds peace

What if…

Promises are fulfilled

I perfect the art of being still

I continue to grow and gain

I find purpose in the pain

I gain insight and faith

I discover new strength

I hold fast to the truth

I stay beside You

What if…

These Three

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Pride quiet yourself

You will not be entertained

Suffer silently through

your offense and inflated pain

Regret you’ve been replaced

This is no longer your domain

You ruled uselessly for years

Now turn and go on your own way

And last but not least

I am abandoning you fear

For all the missed opportunities

You caused me while here

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Being Mean

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This morning on the way to school, my 4 year old said “sometimes Caleb (his 7 yr old brother) is mean to me. So sometimes will you be mean to him too?”  I laughed a little on the inside thinking “of course I won’t be mean to your brother because he was mean to you. He’s my son too.”  

Then I wondered if that’s how it sounds to God when we wish He would “repay” the wrongs done to us. He hears us, gently smiles, understands why we feel that way but then reminds us that the person who hurt us is His child too.  And instead of “being mean to them”, He disciplines out of love and infinite wisdom, knowing exactly what each of us needs.  He provides mercy upon mercy just as He has done for me…. and for that, I am extremely grateful.

In the broken, In the silence

I sit and wait

Your hand is at work
I watch and pray
I give You the pieces
I trust what You say

Grace

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Just when I think I’ve found the right to judge

The right to hate, not forgive and not budge
You pull me aside and remind me of my sin

You remind me of your love and the grace You keep me in

1 Corinthians 13:2

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

Give Him Praise

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Should there be any comfort in Christ

By His blood, should we be saved.

Should His arms ever hold us tight,

Then let us give Him praise.

 

Should our failures ever meet His grace

Should our tears be wiped away

Should our hope be restored again

Then let us give Him praise.

 

Should our lives reflect His name

Should we be rescued from our shame

Should He speak to our hearts each day,

Then Let us give Him praise.

Friend of Sinners

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I don’t look the way you think I should

I won’t fit inside your box

I can’t get enough of the people I love

You may disagree with the way I walk

Don’t expect me to condemn I won’t

These are the people I long to know

They need me and I died for them

To walk along side wherever they go
Luke 7:34

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 

Jericho

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I walked up and down the wall 

Seeing if my hammer would chip away

I said “it’s not working Lord!”

He whispered “Let me lead the way”

Pray as you walk the wall each day

Don’t fear the giants inside as you go

Keep marching and believing me

Stop looking at Jericho

No strength of man can beat this

So do as I say each day 

Take your trumpet and your prayers

The wall will crumble when I say

Walk silently around the wall each day

Ignore their sneers as you go

Look and listen to only me

Stop looking at Jericho

No matter how big the giants are

They are not comparable to me

Do as I say and keep walking

I’ll bring you to victory!

Hebrews 11:30

It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

Your Junk is Worse

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My junk isn’t as bad as yours

I’m comfortable in mine,

I’m familiar with every crumb

It’s been here all my life

But when I see yours, 

My goodness what a mess!

You should really clean that up

Keep working, try your best.

See all my junk has a reason 

An explanation for every hurt

A story behind every bruise

But I’m comfy in my dirt.

But to me, yours has no reason

I wasn’t there and didn’t see

I don’t understand your mess

So your junk looks worse to me.
Luke 6:31

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Matthew 7:1-5
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

I am

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I am the woman at the well

The sinner thrown to her knees

The woman wiping perfume with her hair

Mary, Martha – I am all of these

 

I am the thief on the cross

Zaccheus and a Pharisee

Judas, a friend and a traitor

I am the least of these

 

I am Saul as he was blinded

I am Mary at the open grave

A witness on the road to Damascus

By my faith, I have been saved

 

Luke 7:47-48, 50

47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”…

50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Battle Scars

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I wish I could say I’ve been a victor

And stayed the course with You

I wish I could say I kept my faith

And never truly doubted You

 

I wish I could say I’ve been stronger

And stood on solid ground

I wish I could say I learned my lessons

And never looked back or turned around

 

I wish I could say I’ve been good

And won this war for You

Truth is I’ve been a traitor and a fool

And the only real hero is You