Tag Archives: victory

Another 18th Psalm, a blackout poem

How do I go forward when my story seems to be encircled with weeping and great loss? King David found help in his King of kings, and he penned a God-inspired poem — Psalm 18. Although not nearly as verbose as Psalm 18, this blackout is a reminder to us that our King still listens and still responds with help. He has armed us with His Spirit’s perseverance and His Son’s namesake. With this truth, we can and will overcome the hard with joy. The King lives. He is my Chief. His purposes for me are good and great. Therefore, I give thanks.
 

Cost of Influence, a blackout poem

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I remember wishing that I wouldn’t be picked to lead a team, group project, or committee simply because I didn’t want to pay the price for leadership and influence. As this poem implies, sometimes we want to refuse the honor of influence and let someone else lead. Unfortunately, we have done that too many times, and now there is a vacuum of influence that is being filled by people and forces that I don’t want influencing those I love. This poem doesn’t delve into the cost of choosing NOT to influence. It’s a high price. So, when offered the chance to influence, my friends, may we take up the honor, face the hardship and criticism, and lead our followers toward righteousness and integrity, toward truth and faithfulness, toward love and unity, and toward growth and maturity. Will we face aggression, injury, and wrong? Yes, the criticism will come. Leaders suffer. May we never leave a vacuum of influence for the world to fill because we decided influence was too difficult and too costly for us to possess. Vacuums get filled. We can’t afford to falter in our calling or give away what was ours to do.