What's it worth?

Finding what matters is harder than it seems
Because if what matters is what lasts
It cannot be determined without time.
What is long-lasting, what is worth-while?
Time holds no answer to anything, the measure is near impossible,
Time is relative.
Or what's worth measured by investment?
Energy spent = worth gained. Like hell.
If what we get out of it is what we put in we might try a bit harder,
Love a bit better, live a lot longer, and not get treated like shit.
Is it a measure of gift and reward, give and take, won or lost?
Big things seem so over-rated in hindsight,
But before the little things so large they border on crisis.
Life-altering, earth-shattering, heart-breaking, love-making...mess.
But what does it matter? What's it cost? Will it last or will it pass?
We pass on, pass by, pass over so much.
Can someone truly love with priorities in place?
How am I supposed to know what it is you think I deserve?
Because what I expect matters, is relative on your scale of preoccupation.
How you rate the world, how it treats you, what you deem worthy,
What you think you need, or want, or what you choose to cherish.
It dies, fades, rusts, melts, decomposes--dust to dust.
But one. The greatest thing--the only thing worth the offer.
But what's it to you? What's it worth--my love?
--9/27/08

Pray Without Ceasing

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.


These lyrics were penned by Joseph Medlicott Scriven, a man well acquainted with grief. To me I find them a comfort, even while I ponder the promises and curiosities of the Psalms.

The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed;
In his illness, You restore him to health.
Ps.41:3

The way of the Lord is far from my understanding, and I suspect it shall always be, but I know with certainty He makes good on His promises. We know that by His friendship Jesus committed to much more than "a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard." Rather He defined His friendship by His sharing in life and service, suffering and death--

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
John 15:14-15

He also defines the bounds of His friendship as selfless, unto death; to suffer for, to endure with, to be victorious with us--

"Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

Thereby His Love we have Life.
By His Wounds we are Healed. By His Death, Victory in Life-Everlasting. Truly, what a friend we have in Jesus.

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be thine.

Storm-Lifehouse

how long have I
been in this storm
so overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
water's getting harder to tread
with these waves crashing over my head

if I could just see you
everything will be alright
if I'd see you
the darkness would turn to light



and I will walk on water
and you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
and everything will be alright
I know everything is alright


I know you didn't
bring me out here to drown
so why am I ten feet under and upside down
barely surviving has become my purpose
cause I'm so used to living underneath the surface

if I could just see you
everything will be alright
if I'd see you
this darkness would turn to light

and I will walk on water
and you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright

and I will walk on water
you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright
Everything's alright

Everything's alright

Hostias

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine
laudis offerimus
tu suscipe pro animabus illis,
quarum hodie memoriam facimus.
Fac eas, Domine, de morte
transire ad vitam.
Quam olim Abrahae promisisti
et semine eius.

Lord, in praise we offer you
Sacrifices and prayers,
accept them on behalf of those
who we remember this day:
Lord, make them pass
from death to life,
as once you promised to Abraham
and to his seed.