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Lament Cycle Part 3: Supplication and Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving is not, however, a mere return to the cadence of praise--as if nothing happened. Psalms of thanksgiving keep alive memories of time spent in the pit, because what has happened has not only changed my life but has now become a part of my life--my story...Faith does not require us to ignore the scars from our losses; even the resurrected Christ still had His wounds. Nor does faith promise memory erasure so that we can live and act as if nothing happened. Something has happened--death in all its forms: abuse, pain, grief, rape, aggression, divorce. Nonetheless, in the rhythm of resurrection, God's work in our lives becomes a part of our faith story and integral to our new language of thanksgiving.

Glenn Pemberton, "Hurting with God: Learning to Lament with the Psalms", p. 178

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds." Psalm 73:28

I was hopeless and void

Covered in darkness deep

Entrenched in my sorrow

Overcome by grief

But Your Spirit is hovering--moving

Breaking through where no expectations I keep

For only You create out of nothing

Only in You will hope and comfort I reap.

You breathe Your breath upon the sea of tears

Cause the dry ground to appear

Bring new life were none was found

Restoration abounds

And I respond

For I have this hope

That confounds, surrounds, astounds

And purifies the soul

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"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." Isaiah 43:2

Water rushing down the rocks

Forward falling

Pounding relentlessly onward

No stopping the torrent

No stopping the waves

The pure white egret stands on pencil-thin legs

Poised in the deluge

Fixed amidst the cascade

Through the non-stop torrent

Through the non-stop waves

Give me the strength to remain

Firm despite the sorrow

Steadfast during the trials

Remaining still in the torrent

Remaining in You in the waves.

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"But You are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head." Psalm 3:2

Whisper

Whisper to the darkness

Blow

Blow back what crushes the soul

Infuse

Infuse the knowledge of Your presence

Guide

Guide me to peace's sure shoals.

Usher

Usher in Your gentle radiance

Impel

Impel joy to imbed

Raise

Raise my eyes from my afflictions

Lift

Lift up my head.

____________________________

"But I, by Your great mercy, will come into You house; in reverence will I bow down toward Your holy temple." Psalm 5:7

Today I will praise

Although the dust has yet to settle

And the skies remain gray

Today I will worship

While the battle rages on

And expressions are cliché

Today I will adore

Raise my voice to sing

Speak the truth of You again

Today I will worship

Today I will praise.

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"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the earth." Psalm 19:1-4

The foam-filled creek before me lies

Rose-hued tints light up the skies

And the world cries, "Glory!"

I bring to You these fractured prayers

Upon Your altar I place my hurts and cares

And I whisper, "For Your glory."

With creation Your name I praise

No matter the cost--for all my days

Every breath rings out, "Glory!"

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"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." Psalm 86:5

If I perceive that You called me

Chose me; made me Your own

If I grasp that You're with me

That I'm never alone

If I'm certain You uphold me

Righteous and just cornerstone

If I say You are faithful

Then I can say You are good.

If I call out Your name

In the darkest of nights

If I scream for Your refuge

In this painful plight

If I adhere to the truth

You alone are my strength and might

If I say You are faithful

Then I can say You are good.

If I hold that Your ways

Are not mine

And that I could never comprehend

Your infinite design

If I can trust beyond reason

More than the circumstances define

If I say You are faithful

Then I can say You are good.

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"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

The Plea of Philippians

To complete the work You've started

To grow and abound in love

To be filled with the fruit of righteousness

To shine like the stars above.

To live my life worthy of the gospel

To make myself nothing

To be humble and obedient

To work out salvation with fear and trembling.

I want to know You, know You

And the power of Your resurrection

I want to be found in You, found in You

Share in Your sufferings

I want to press on for You, press on for You

And win the prize eternal

For to live is Christ and to die is gain.

For to live is Christ and to die is gain.

To put no confidence in the flesh

To boast in Your name

To count everything else as loss

To only You proclaim.

To find contentment through Your strength

To let Your peace guard my mind

To rejoice in You always

To be poured out fully refined.

I want to know You, know You

And the power of Your resurrection

I want to be found in You, found in You

Share in Your sufferings

I want to press on for You, press on for You

And win the prize eternal

For to live is Christ and to die is gain.

For to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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Soli Deo Gloria


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