Poems

I wrote this psalm on December 7 while at

Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia.

I had recently been white-water rafting on the Zambezi. 

God You are Sovereign.

You created the amazing waterfalls that thunder.

The people that live here and all the animals.

The rich and the poor You made.

God, I don’t understand You or Your justice.

But I know You are just – the judge of all the earth will do right.

So God, I see my problem before me.

It looms up big like a dark cloud –

Like an overwhelming obstacle that will swallow me and consume me.

I did nothing – and You saved me
Such a simple lesson to learn
Yet all my life I try to earn
Your favour

I try good works – my righteous acts
You know the truth – You know the facts
My life is dead – it stinks – it’s rotten
Man’s righteousness has never gotten
Your favour

Again I need to learn this lesson
I can do nothing for Your blessing
So to Your throne of grace I go
You choose on whom You will bestow
Your favour

The devil accuses me of sin
I have no plea to answer him
Nothing I can do will save me
But God through Christ has placed upon me
His favour

Now I stand in Christ alone
Every day before His throne
Still nothing I do has any merit
Christ’s righteousness God gave as credit
O mighty favour

Spirit lead – I can do nothing
But submit, thank, praise and listen
Dead to sin alive to Christ
Help me live through Him who paid my price
and receive His favour

Man is talking
Mind is walking
When will this come to an end?
So I can talk to my friend
I did ask God to hear Him speak
But concentration now is weak
Really really hot in here
Mobile phone sounds fill the air
Why are we all sitting here?

Formal teaching can be dry
So I ask the question why?
Is it me or is it him?
(That translator is not slim!)
Why can thoughts so easily roam?
What’re the boys doing back at home?
People round me so distracting
Who is listening - who is acting?
Those things there – how much did they cost?
And the MP3 player that I lost

Man still talking on the stage
To these people in this cage
I hope their thoughts are not like mine
You can always find me on line
But how do you know what is real?
Can you trust the things you feel?