The Thing About Labels

Labels are defined as a “small piece of paper, fabric, plastic, or similar material attached to an object and giving information about it. A piece of fabric sewn inside a garment and bearing the brand name, size, or instructions for care. The piece of paper in the center of a phonograph record giving the artist and title. A company that produces recorded music.”

A label can unfortunately be used as a “classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, especially one that is inaccurate or restrictive.”

I don’t hate many things. I hate jumpy outty things (JOT’s) in movies. They scare the tar right out of me, and I hate them. I hate peas, like the frozen peas, I can’t even stand the smell. That’s honestly the only things I can think of that I hate, except labels. I HATE labels when they’re applied to human beings.

I was thinking about stuff lately, just looking at the state of our world, and I really started to think about labels, how awful they are. How people let labels define them. How people hear a label that’s been used to describe them, and then they decide to live up to that label.

So, I’ve decided to do a small series on labels. I’d love to hear some of your suggestions. Please comment with a label you would like to see me include in this series. I will try to post a label piece every Sunday and Thursday.

Coming Sunday – Labels are for Washing Directions, NOT Body Types

 

My Life is Yours

Your truth, your love embraces me
Yet I still try to be,
my own person with a worldly view,
not considering to whom I should be true.

I stumble, fall and wonder why,
and I don’t even stop to look to the sky.

Your word sits at my desk,
cluttered in a chaotic mess,
like my heart, soul and mind
desperate to find
hoping to be
only to see
a worldly reality!

You SCREAM
You SHOUT
Yet, I’m still in doubt

A whisper of sanity crashes in,
tearing through my veil of sin.

Your mercy I find, yet don’t deserve
Promises written in your word,
of forgiveness, mercy and glory divine.
I pray that your love will forever shine.

Bind Me
Break Me
Mold Me
Make Me

Take my life and let it be,
a guiding light for all to see.
A beacon in this evil place,
so that I may glow with your grace.

I love you Lord, with all my soul.
I pray that you’ll help me continue to grow.
Please give me chances that I may talk,
and prove my love with my walk!

My Insanity

Psalm 55. When I read this chapter the desperation and darkness was the first thing that stood out. Verses 4-5, “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.” And to see in verse 13 it’s because of a trusted friend. But at the very end of the chapter in verse 22 the focus completely changes to, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Sometimes in our lives we let the world, pain, deception, and every other thing that is negative overwhelm what is positive and found only in Christ Jesus. So I guess Psalm 55 just reminds me that even if my heart is in anguish within me my God will take my burdens and he will sustain me and he will never permit me to be moved from where he needs me to be!

The following is a piece I wrote in my journal back in 2002. I still think it’s fitting for today!

I stand here debating a contingency that no longer exists. Dwelling in uncertainty and fear. Comforted by hypocrisy and lies. Thinking that this insanity is my reality. But, it’s the reality of the world. A hideous black hole of humanity… the world and me. I have embraced this insanity. Swimming in this sea of garbage.

Technology is not the helper of man, it is the destroyer. Sent here to enslave the population and convince them that they are immortal. Empowered with knowledge and false grace, they walk around blinded by their false sense of security.

So, I wallow in this world of self absorption. Concentrating on me, on what I am and what I want. Giving no thought on how my actions affect those around me. Seeing myself as the only thing that exists in this realm.

How disappointed God must be in me. What a consistently inconsistent Christian I am. I reside in my own reality where my action, or the lack thereof, affect everyone. Yet, I am so involved in my own humanity that I can’t even evaluate the humanity that surrounds me.

What are my goals? They are a husband, children, family and a nice home. Do these things reflect God’s purpose for my life? Or, is it an empty fulfillment in my life to pass the time?

My one and only goal should be to serve the Creator. It is He that made me, and He that sustains me, and He that directs my life.

Yet, even though I possess this knowledge, I still crave the worldly goals. Continually convincing myself that the Lord should grant me my desires.

Why?

What makes me think that God should grant me anything? My prayer should instead be, God, please help me to die to my selfish desires daily and only make Your desires the ones that I think about. The only desires that consume me.

Please God, consume my every fiber, every bone, and every ounce of my energy! And help me to stay focused on Your goals, so that they are the only desires of my heart.

Oh What a Dark Pit

The following poem is inspired by the following verses and dedicated to my Sister in Christ Jerrilyn! Love you Sis!
2 Kings 19:16, “Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.”
Psalm 56:8, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
Psalm 55:18, “He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage for many are arrayed against me.”
Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
Psalm 30:11-12, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”

Lord, sometimes all I see
is the oppressive darkness that swallows me.
It drowns me in the pain I have
there’s nothing that helps, no healing salve.

A deep pit of despair is what I inhale
I’m being whipped by a stormy gale.
I try to rest my weary head
but there is no comfort in my bed.

I pace the floor hoping for some relief
there is none to be had, I’m a dry dead leaf.

Oh God, where are you? Do you hear my cry?
Oh God, where are you? Just let me die!
Why are you mute? Why leave me here?
Do you even see or incline your ear?

The anguish I experience day to day
is more than I can bear or even say.
Words won’t be uttered expressing my fears
though I am reminded you count my tears.

Collapsing to my knees I finally see
Your overwhelming love surrounding me.
Battling the darkness and driving away
all the lies that try to cause me to sway.

I will NOT be moved from your arm
You are the only thing that keeps me from harm.
You, my God, redeem my soul
You, my Lord, rescue me from the hole.
You, my Warrior, fights the battle I wage
You never end, you’re from age to age.

Therefore

I will NOT fear though the earth gives way
though mountains may crumble and the sky is gray.
I will not turn from your loving embrace
nor move my heart from your perfect grace.

You have clothed me in gladness
You are claiming my sadness
You are turning my mourning and plight
into dancing and flight.

I shall soar forever on an eagles wing
I will NOT be silent, I’ll forever sing
of your mercies that abound all day through
and how I am changed by salvation in You!

To Jerrilyn – I love you my sister. I am sorry that this is the path God has you on but you inspire me every day with your honesty, strength, courage and light! To God be the Glory!