31 Aug A Free Gift I Try to Pay For

I confess that I’m still a sinner
With more sins to confess
And though I’m no beginner
I still act as much or less

I’m quick to judge despite
It’s not true, but as I see
Things are either black or white
Except when it comes to me

But I know that I am nothing
But all that I ever am to You
Reseat in me and renew
So I might give my God His due

I ruin it all, I make chaos from my calms
I hear His call through the blades of tenders palms
The words of Paul spoke through to me
Despite my qualms, I was made to sing the Psalms

I’ll just sing if it’s too risky
To write psalms with David’s skill
I could never write one-fifty
Or translate verse from divine will

Or write in the voice of Christ
Can you see through all my cares
I found the pearl of great price
And I hesitate to sell my wares

I earned quite a proud misery
Slipping from His shepherd’s crook
Part of me would not dare to look
If He wrote my name in His book

So I wait on high and I might belong
This is fate, creation is a single song
What is to date is not the final harmony
It’s not too late to go through the narrow gate

I confess I’m still bearing my thistles
But God is calling, hear He whistles
Through the quiet and the Epistles
In the Psalms and Sunday missals

Replace my heart for one made from light
I could traverse the heavens with my mind

Replace my hearing, my thinking, my sight
I could capture stars and traipse on suns I find

Replace me, Lord, if it helps set things right
I could do it all, please don’t leave me behind