Sheepdogs of Rhythm ( A Poem to the Pastors of my Church)

God stirred your hearts to do what was right
To take all you experienced and church plant
Miami’s darkness was yearning deeply for God’s light
Jesus knew so he turned the answer to can instead of cant

The souls of the community deeply burden you
As each morning rises this is where your prayer starts
Much like a doctor tending to a child with the flu
With Jesus we know the only way to heal is through their hearts

You have listened carefully to the Sheppard’s command
As Satan desires to sift us as wheat
All alone his desire has us hopeless, as if in quicksand
But our sheepdogs of Rhythm keep us safe from that defeat

We hear of Pirate Island Theology
Oh and how our worship times mend our souls
Though you are apologist you make no apology
Knowing without a doubt Christ has conquered Sheol

Your desires and passions are rooted for this city
Christ shines through each of your talents and smiles
You love us whole to keep us from focusing on self pity
Our feelings, many times “Justified”, enduring our life trials

Each of you turn your hearts to God
Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you
The acceptance that everyone, but Christ is flawed
Has empowered Rhythm these years of Divine breakthrough

There are problems and obstacles that truly reveal
That Rhythm is human and always in need
However, our Sheepdogs have no fear to pray, bow and kneel
For it is their number one desire for Christ Almighty to succeed

Next Breath

We take each one of our breaths for granted
Just as every single beat of our heart
Pretending we live a life enchanted
Not realizing our next breath could be the final depart

Living to be free and in peace
Is far from what we achieve
The busyness of our lives never seems to cease
Then with that last breath everyone chooses to grieve

Reconnect with souls from the past
Because fear of your last breath becomes real
Now you cannot even remember the last time you asked
If they would like to come over for a meal

Then someones next breath becomes their last
Our hearts skip as we remember their smiles
When we look at the years they have gone by so fast
OH! if we only knew how we have all endured many trials

No matter if our next breath becomes our last
With Jesus that breath will be with a calm release
Though they will mourn they will accept we have passed
Though broken and hurt they will say with no regret ” Rest In Peace!”

It Is Finished!

The last words of Jesus are so profound and clear for our understanding. However, because of the complexity of our brokenness we just don’t get it. Jesus breathes His last breath and completes the first part of His sacrifice by saying “It is finished.” As we live our lives we act differently then what our Savior claims. We live walking on egg shells or focused on our past mistakes. Rarely do you find someone ready to be thankful or praising God for their past. Many of us want people to know what we have survived almost like wearing a badge of honor. These are the battles I have fought and look at how strong and cold hearted I have become. Look at how selfish this has made me! I know these feelings because this has been me in my solitude. Then Jesus has revealed to me what He meant by His statement.  I am here, breathing, smiling and walking only because of the sacrifice He made on that cross. I have received God’s mercy and favor so many times over.  When Jesus said it was finished, He meant that it was the beginning for us. The battle is not against the wrongs we don’t want to do, the battle is against believing we are worth God’s Love.  Scripture says that perfect Love (Christ) cast out fear and when we grab a hold of that truth we truly are being sanctified.  Jesus wants us so badly to be in love with Him as He is with us. That longing is being fulfilled in knowing that we have the righteousness of Christ in us because of the cross. He took all of our sins on and into Him and in return God gave us His righteousness.  We can live this life with the confidence of Champions because as Christ has said ” It is Finished!”  This wisdom is key in our walks. I learned as the Holy Spirit shared with me the other day. The reason the devil brings up our past failures, our bloopers reel, is because he has nothing new! Wow think about that even when you sin today, once it is finished it is in the past and becomes void when we repent and turn to Jesus. Amen and Amen to our One True Amazing, Awesome, Powerful, Loving, Graceful and All Knowing God! Selah!

One Love, One King, All Christ!