Morning Light

My soul breaks for the morning~
My heart cries out to thee~
Thou art my God, my fortress
He who cups the raging sea~

Whose hand rustles the willows~
Whose breath has formed the worlds~
Who tears my heart asunder~
As morning light unfurls.

See raging clouds a-rending~
Terrible torrents streaming down;
But thy word a-glints on my splattering tears:
Silver pieces adorn love's crown.

Before God's voice a-thundering~
Beneath the Potter's kind hand, I bow;
The Lord of glory calling me home~
(But lightning strikes, around).

So ancient shadows scatter~

And this weary world, it drifts~
And all my tears a-trembling fall

Into crucified canyon rifts.

O my Jesus, my Saviour, a-coming in the clouds
Rending hearts and Satan's shrouds~
My eyes look up. The Lamb's song o'erspills.
And morning light, it fills.

~sister Abby Elizabeth

ENDURANCE

 

O God, our hearts ever long for thee
And for thy holy fountains, as time unfurls.
This world and it's sorrows continue, on and on~
Help us, Lord Jesus, to endure.

Sometimes this narrow way seems so long
But we hearken to the Lamb's sweet song.
For a little bit longer~ in hope we yearn~
The Lord is risen: his word is sure!

O Father, lift us on thy silvery wing;
Etch our hearts with the love of Christ, the King.
May joy adorn the lips of souls redeemed~
By precious blood and water freed.

Glory~ glory~ light and love
Holiness cascading from above;
To comfort with thy perfect grace~
To cover in this burning place.

For no fire can touch~ death has no power:
Thy word holds true in temptation's hour.
Merciful Saviour, O righteous King
We lift our hands: by faith we sing.

O God in Heaven, Lord of all
Thou knowest the trembling hearts, so small
Yet thy holy wing o'erspreads above
This thy power: this thy love.

Fire erupts: hail hammers down~
Yet tribulation will refine each crown.
O God our Father, who knows and sees
Our life is safe in thee.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

REST

REST

Most people trust in chariots
And lust for power and gold~
But Christians hope in Jesus Christ
As God's purpose yet unfolds.


Like tulips unfurling in the Spring;
The daystar blooms at morning's edge;
Lying vanities must rust and crumble~
But in Christ our souls find rest.


Can you see the mountains shaking?
And the heavens a-shuddering hard?
Hollow temples tumble down to dust~
Watch the Lord cast down the stars!


But so many scorn the Lamb of God
Thus to be sealed in burning shame;
But the lowly heed the Shepherd's voice:
He calls us by his name.

Almighty Saviour, JESUS, Lord of lords~
The King who fills my heart
Guide us, keep us tenderly
A little flock, apart.

See this world and it's lies~ collapsing.
It's gods blind and silent~ useless, too.
But God our Saviour will never fail
Behold: Jesus maketh all things new!


Lord of glory, our God, our King

You have given us~ everything.

Joy unspeakable~ everlasting life and peace~

For this we bend in love, before thee.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

STORMS

O Father of mercy, Lord of light
Incline thine ear in the stormy night~
O consider this, my trembling prayer,
For thy people who walk on heaven's stairs.


For the way is steep and narrow
And in this world~ our feet are cut
Heavy clouds and smoke surround~
For Jesus's sake, please carry us.

Ever break us that we might be filled~ again and again,
By thy word~ by that holy light~
Mercy in the raging storm:
Truth in the deepest night.


That fountain e'er springing from the King that bled~
Tears and blood cast on the altar of gold;
By the glory of God he is risen!
The Son of God who redeemed our souls!


O Father of lights, thy curtains
O'er spreading as the storms go by
For this thy love we lift our trembling hands~
For glory's streams~ so deep, so high.


Praise the Lord Jesus who gave himself for us~
He will never leave nor forsake his own!
So we sing, no matter what we think we see~
For the greatest love ever known.


Kept in the midst of the whirlwind~
Hearts overspilled with holy love and light~
Held ever so softly beneath God's feathery wing
'Til time stops~ and faithful souls take flight.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

MERCY

O silly sparrow~ thou smallest bird

A-trembling in the holy word~
In brokenness thy song laments
With tears a-drip~ the heart is rent.


My Lord said, do you love me?
Will you trust me in the dark?
My Lord, my God, thou knowest me
In every secret part.


So in the storm, he sends forth stillness
To the heaving heart, his gentle word
Peace past understanding~
(O silly sparrow, smallest bird.)


O Lord of glory, King of the morning
What thou sayest, I will ever do
The heart that burned and faltered
Awash in thy merciful dew.







(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

THE SECRET PLACE

O Holy Father, God of Light
Hide us from this storm, this night;
For Jesus' sake, thy Son~ our King~
In fear and hope we bend. We sing.

Heaven's tents in glory above

A-flutter with the Father's perfect love~

T'is the secret place where the Spirit shines:
The Holy Word, where saints abide.


Joy unspeakable for the precious gift~
Tearful eyes in hope and faith yet lift~
For by thy word we know truth and peace,
And for Jesus' sake our soul's release.


Father of mercy, who named the stars
Thy glory beams from heaven afar~
And by thy grace jars of clay o'erspill:
O lead us to thy holy hill.


The mountains shake~ the world travails
But there is peace beneath that feathery vail~
The tabernacle of the most High God:
The secret place that Jesus bought.


Unto the praise of his glory, forevermore
May our tears be strewn, and our hearts be torn~
For the Son of God who bled, and died
In the risen King 

We rest, and hide.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

HOLY FIRE

 

O quiet candle, lovely light
Shining forth in the blackest night~
O soul that holds God's promise dear:
The Shepherd speaks.
He draweth near.

Light encircles the harmless doves
Carried by a whirling wind~ by love~
Eyes ever fixed on the Risen King:
For we are his.
In Christ, we sing.


And the holy mountain rumbles~
God in Heaven weighs every soul~
Darkness abounds in the world~ it squanders:
Men's hearts turn hard,
and cold.


As we were once, too
Ever lost, and wand'ring~
By the curse to sin and death compelled~
Until we saw JESUS lifted up on that cruel cross
And by him were washed, and filled.


Yet it offends men's pride, to mention
That holy fire draweth nigh;
And the Lord will come from heaven
(With a shout!)
To gather the righteous to himself, on high.


If each heartbeat~ each breath be uncertain
Yet we tremble at the Master's feet;
Our hearts burn with longing for mercy and truth
And the Light that burns within,
It speaks.
 

And thus tears will cascade into gladness
As the shadow of death e'er departs--
For as we suffer for righteousness~
In Jesus' name~
Holy light warms and fills our hearts.







(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

Mansions

Mansions

Walking on the narrow path,
We bear a little light~
By the crimson sea that washed our sins away,
(And the Serpent's subtle bite).

And if now we be tried by poison pools
Wherein Christ~ the righteous tree~ was cast,
Our thirst is ever quenched at the stricken Rock:

The foundation stone holds fast.

O holy streams poured out for the Bride, beloved!
O fountain from the Master's side~  He was pierced!
Even to the cutting asunder of the sin-sick soul
From death's cold grasp~ so fierce.

He is risen! He is calling! Jesus is carrying us home!
Little lambs on mighty wings~ all the way~
To mansions of glory built of truth and light
Little flock, fear not: only watch, and pray.

O Lord of love, who cut our hearts for mercy's sake
By his word and in hope thus we soar~
O behold~ in the clouds~ streams of glory
And mansions of joy, evermore.





(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

Our Father's Hand

OUR FATHER'S HAND

What time I am afraid, O God
My heart doth trust in thee~
Dogs surround.They mock, they laugh.
But thy gentleness, it touches me.

Weary, I fall before the King who bled~

Stabbed by nails and thorns, for me;
My shameful tears and sweat a-tumble down~
The Lord Jesus suffered first: he sees.

Now: behold the wicked, rising up~
Vicious tongues that lash and scorn;
The haughty build their final tower
(Saints on eagle's wings, carried o'er).

But we remember the promise of the morning star,

Jesus Christ, the Everlasting King of truth and light~

Soon he returns in the clouds with great glory!
God's mighty hand will break the night!

And the Lord Christ Jesus who felt the traitor's kiss~
Who bore the contempt and the cruelty of man,

He hides us, he comforts~  he whispers by his word~

We safely rest in our Father's hand.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

When a Sparrow Falls

O little soldier, baby bird
Nestled in God's perfect word
Behold God's enemies a-gathering nigh:
Pride and bitterness 

Raging high.

Striving tongues, scornful decrees!
Raging stronger and stronger: a terrible sea!
Contentions bitter~ curses hurled~
(They adore themselves. 

They think they own the world.)

Now: the tempest rages 'round,
But sweet songs in humble worship resound.
Awaiting our Master~ we ever watch and pray~

And faithfully speak the truth, 

While yet it's day~

Never to follow fools that wrest God's word
For the word is the LORD'S: 

And Jesus suffered for it, first;

Thus we rest beneath God's mighty wings.
We watch and pray: We wait. We sing!

Yea, the proud despise what seemeth weak,
But God strengthens humble hearts that seek;
And we know our Father's holy eye
Watches everything.

God laughs at lies.

The seed God sowed fills the trembling heart
We fall at his feet, 

(We are not so smart).
But the little sparrow that is despised, today
In the bosom of the Saviour, abides, always.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

(a prayer)

What time I am afraid, O God

Unto the Rock my heart shall flee:

Jesus Christ, the righteous King

Who endured the fire, before me.

Let my eyes be fixed on Jerusalem~
My face set on Zion's beautiful hill;
Ever trusting in God's mercy
By loving sacrifice, o'erspilled.

Strengthen the zeal a-flickering in my breast
Thou Lord of glory that rides the fiery storm~

As Jacob's faith, all the night a-wrestling~
Verily, thou knowest: I am a worm.

But my God, thou art ever faithful,
By thy grace we have life in thee;
The city of habitation shines above
By thy flaming sword, we see.

Now behold: God's wrath a-gathering.
Holy fire a-kindling hot and fierce.
As hordes of sinners rage all around;

And men's teeth gnash and pierce~

But my God, my God, we cleave ever more to thee~
A peculiar people, who in thy truth abide;
Thy name is our salvation, and our defense.

Thy word shines on our side.

Thou art our God, who regards the humble prayer~
Our King Jesus, who walks with us in the fire;
In tribulation may we be refined, as gold,

Our heavy hearts purged from mire.

O Lord of glory, despise not my plea
Regard my tears strewn on thy feet, this night;
As the shimmering curtains 'round about thy holy throne
Cloak us in thy love, and light.

~sister Abby Elizabeth

The Coming Storm

Precious Saviour~ O everlasting waterfall~
Thou that washes us from all;
Thine we are~ (oh, might we ever be!)
Please send a song to fill and free.

From far above the mountain spires
Mercy spills~ and the consuming fire~
To wash your bride with truth and light
To purge with fire all pride and strife.

See the clouds a-gathering fierce.
See the tongues of princes lash and pierce~
But to high and low shall judgment come:
All shall bow before the righteous Son.

The Almighty God, he rides the raging clouds
His glory cloaked in smoky shrouds;
His lightnings will bend to dust men's knees~
His thunder will break the stormy sea.

Our Father that hath made the worlds
By his holy child Jesus is love unfurled;
The Holy Ghost, cascading fills
Hearts awash with glorious rills.

Precious Saviour, O most splendid waterfall

Thou that washeth us from all

Thine we are~ and might we ever be!

O send a song, to fill and free.

~sister Abby Elizabeth

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SANCTUARY

Bit by bit, and day by day
Each fault and folly falls away;
In every trial so to honor the King
Who with his blood paid for... everything.

Here I am, O Master mine
Let me neither flail nor whine;
Thy perfect love doth carry me

By mercy and truth thy Spirit leads.


Ever so fragile~ so silly, so small
Yet Christ in me doth conquer all
So I take that cup: the Lord's blood, his tears
(Behold storms and dogs, a-gathering near.)


Bit by bit, and day by day

Thou art my light; thou art my stay.
O taste the glorious rain! I'm a-falling down~
For the love of Jesus: my joy, my crown.

(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

What of the Night?

What of the Night?

Here I am, my Father.
My heart is compelled by thee
To testify of thy mercies
How by thy word I am made free~


Rejoicing in hope to behold the morning
That soon shall rise above this night~
Behold: the world in turmoil turning;
Souls writhe in the Serpent's blight.


But here, I stand, rejoicing
Mine eyes ever upheld in hope
By Jesus Christ, my Master;
By the holy seed he sowed.


O thou rod of Jesse a-budding
Thou art the Light and life of men
Ruling in my heart, my hand
Soon to be seen of all, again~

To exact vengeance on the wicked
That in holy fire they be e'er devoured~
And every dark deed cast to the flame
By the King of glory in that terrible hour.


O Father, how I love thee!
How great thy mercies be:
For in every faltering torment
In Christ thou carriest me.


This is the daystar, arising.
This is the word that gave me sight.
The King of glory cometh soon
So what, then of the night?







(~sister Abby Elizabeth)

Love Unfeigned

 

                                              Luke 6:46

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
                                                                
                                                                    --The Words of Jesus Christ,
                                                                from the Gospel according to Luke
                                    
                                             
                                        Mathew 7: 22-23

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then I will profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

                                                                  --The Words of Jesus Christ,
                                                            from the Gospel according to Mathew 

The scriptures afore have warned us                                            
That the love of many would grow cold, and die   
For men would be lovers of themselves                                      
And cast the way of truth aside--                                


And for evil make explanation,                                
To make the Bible seem irrelevant and old;              
But God's word is life everlasting,                                
More precious than the rarest gold.                                                      


But strong delusion comes down to this-- it's simple:                      
Rebellious people have always contrived                                    
To carve cunning excuses for their sin--                                        
Thus falling to empty stones, and lies.                                            


But the sword of the Spirit-- it cuts both ways                                
God's word convicts, yet lends mercy and truth;                                      
Consider the day when Jesus bled--
Yet behold: he made all things new.                                        

                                             
Thus to love the Lord is to obey him;                                                
To follow Jesus is to overcome all, by faith--                                
Not rituals repeated, but love unfeigned;                
The Lord is risen: thus the meek find grace.

                                

Salvation is a gift, and cannot be bought or sold,                      
Nor does it any earthly wisdom claim--                      
For we do good even if men hate us:    
We abide in love, in Jesus' name.                  

                          

As children of the Righteous King

We pray for lost and heavy hearts--                
Ambassadors for the mercy of our God                                                    
Thus for heaven set apart.            

                    

But the Serpent likes to gnaw on human flesh,                          
Enticing men to hate and revile;                          
Still Jesus heals, with tenderness.                                                
He carries us, all the while.     

                             

O Jesus, Lord and Master of my life                                  
Pierce my heart with thy word, anew--                                            
That I might be found worthy, on that day              
To abide in your light, with you.
                   

                  

(~ sister Abby Elizabeth)


10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will be converted unto thee.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

                                 --Psalm 51, a Psalm of David