February 15, 2011

• iron struck ~ fellowship & Joy's face | letter 107 on assurance & fighting for joy

  Proverbs 27:17: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
  
  iron struck
  my face I turned away

  inwardly focused
  on self I sharpened my gaze

  my heart injured and pained
  a partition my flesh did raise

  my narcissistic measures
  buried me here in this lonely grave

  death struck
  I must now turn away

  no life or freedom did I attain
  but only a joyless thirsty heaviness

  angel of light deceived, bewitched
  led me down to this gloomy emptiness

  only in rising and turning and facing the iron
  will my face be lightened, radiant and blessed

  Christ was struck
  He did not turn His face away

  looked to joy, humbled Himself
  His life, His all, He willingly gave

  King of glory became incarnate
  the last Adam suffered disgrace

  for all were enemies, in sin conceived
  sheep gone astray of the first Adam's fallen race

  iron struck
  the spotless Lamb as on the cross He silent lay

  living God went down to the grave
  on the third day He was from death raised

  His precious blood reconciled us both
  the partition of hostility He has razed

  born of one Spirit, drank of the same Rock
  wretched man am I to have turned my face away

  Word strike
  quicken, let me no longer delay

  sharpened Sword, pierce and divide
  deliver me from this devilish, grievous cage

  Living Water refresh and revive
  Love flow into this arid desert place

  melt my rigid stony heart
  Holy Fire, consume and blaze

  Grace strike
  set my feet in the narrow way

  turn my face to the sharpening iron
  lead me in the everlasting way

  the sharpening iron from which I turned my face away
  is loving sustenance from God's hand divinely ordained

  for as I rise and turn and face that sharpening iron
  I see You, Jesus, Your countenance, Your shining and lovely face ~ Joy's face
  

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  Related:

  true repentance leads to joy (Letter 37 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror at past hurts, # 5
  How I've not been pressing on (friendship and fear)
  resting in the love of God & pressing on in friendships (letter 46 on assurance & joy)
  Reasons for Thanks Giving, Part 6: Christian Friends
  Friendship through His Spirit (a hymn of thanksgiving to God)
  Do you love the saints . . . ALL the saints? (reflections on church hurts)
  Lent IV.-"If you love Me you will love the church"
  May the mind and word of Christ dwell in us so we might arise as one man
  my words were for your joy (letter 44 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  we are a wilderness and a desolation today (lack of love in the Church | Isaiah 64:10-11)
  forgive us for dividing Your Son, our Lord
  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when we dwell in unity!
  All things (even bad things) work together for good...
  God's sovereign grace & care in Genesis (the story of Joseph)
  Whitefield's prayers: more reminders of God's sovereign grace & care
  Are you a radiant Christian or a drunken old woman? (letter 82 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  my other letters on assurance & fighting for joy

  • 5:17 PM
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