Lead On.

February 14, 2010

Sitting in church this morning looking around at people, people whose lives have intersected mine in different ways over the past nearly 5 years...struck by all the evidences of God's involvement in their lives...those dealing with destructive addictions, those dealing with serious illness, those healthy and strong, yet not seeing clearly the call of God on their lives yet, those desiring to know God more, those who are growing and faithful to the journey towards deeper faith....whether their family and those they love understand and accept or not.... And, some days, when I'm willing to look beyond all my failures and preoccupations, I see it in my own life, too....the changes that He is bringing about - in my heart, in my family...

....the needs represented are overwhelming to me, and I often feel confused, powerless, reluctant to be involved, or unsure how to be involved appropriately....Yet God continues to work, and draw us to Himself, and help us see His goodness and how we fit into His story. It seems to point to the reality that there is a fundamental longing in all of us to be different, to be whole...an inherent disatisfaction with the way things are....not an unholy discontentment, but a divine, sometimes unutterable, desire for completeness... And a God who knows, who is in control, who longs with us, for change, who speeds to our aid or to the aid of those we pray for, when He sees that tiny mustard seed-size faith...

God's ways seem so different from ours...His movements so uniquely His...so unassuming, yet focussed, intentional, persistent... And more surely than the sun comes up every morning, He is actively pursuing and building us, His church, out of love for His Father. He is loving, protecting, empowering and leading his bride. He is bringing us through this war of the worlds. And He will make us beautiful.

Lead on, O King Eternal.

Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
thy grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin's fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords loud clashing,
nor roll of stirring drums;
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal,
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where'er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.