Somewhere in the backwoods
Of Appalachia
Down a dark road
At the end of a zip code
Where internet lines
And WiFi cannot go….
Maybe out there….
Maybe there
There is still an understanding
That there is a faith
That reaches further
Than a hashtag
A faith that started
Way back in a Sunday school
Where you learned how to pray…
Do you remember?
Where you learned about Daniel and the Lions Den
Where you learned about the Apostle Paul…
Meeting God
I’m talking about
Something bigger than a newsfeed
Something bigger than NPR
Something quicker than an APP
I’m talking about something deeper
More moving
Than the current trend
Of pop culture billboard 100
——
I’m talking about the
Wake you up
In the middle of the night
Because your soul is being drawn to its knees
To pray for your brother
Your children
Because the enemy
The devil
Is come to steal kill and destroy
He is a liar ….
I’m talking about
Something bigger than
The next big thing
——–
God said
“Be not afraid.”
Why would he say that?
Unless there was something to be afraid of?
——–
I’m talking about an understanding
A deep understanding
In your soul
Your bones
A fire
To take back your peace and your home
The devil is a liar
He came to steal kill and destroy
But there is power in the,hashtag?
Self help?
Self work?
New thing?
No this is an old thing
This is a blood that was poured over the alter in heaven
This is a blood that understands
The earth will be cast away
It will be burned
This is all temporary
But this is something
That will raise you to stand up
And take back what’s yours
Tired
Tired
of
The suicides
The overdoses
The depressions
The lies
The lies
The lies
——-
He didn’t say
Ask
If you could just start another group
Another support group
Another
Me
And mine
Social commentary
——–
This is all temporary
We are made of star stuff
Meant to return to the heavens
And
I’m ready
For a get back what’s yours
Shake off the enemy
Stop trying to impress
And not offend
I’m talking about you on your knees
Because you’ve seen defeat
You’ve been surrounded
You’ve lost too much
You can’t go back
You’re not the same
And you see the face of God
And you raise up a new standard
With fire in your bones
And God moves over your house
Like fire from the heavens
And burns the foundations
And the dust beneath it
——-
I’m talking about a Gospel that lasted through concentration camps
I’m talking about a
Gospel that ran on hymns
Written on the shore
From the soul
From the sorrow
From the need
Like a cry in the middle of the night
You can’t replace
“I need thee every hour…”
“It is well with my soul.”
You can’t replace that with five writers and a pop station
Give me something with power
When I’m alone
At night
And the enemy is whispering in my ear
“You know you’re a failure
You should just kill your self
You’re nothing
You’re nobody
Nobody loves you
You’re a failure and a quitter.”
Give me something with power
That can meet me there
In the night.
Because a pop station
And a yogurt shop
Isn’t going to save my soul
“At the cross at the cross ….”
“His name is Jesus.”
Somewhere there is a remnant
That still remains
That hears his voice
And prays
——–
Prays for their co workers
Prays for their friends
Prays for their community
Prays for their country
Prays
Prays
Prays
I’m talking about knowing God.
Not knowing thyself
Self help
Me me me mine
I
“Lights shine every where we go
It’s so bright and happy.”
I’m not talking about that
I’m talking about a kind of knowing
That helped our grandparents through concentration camps
I’m talking about
A fire
That helped the martyred church
I’m talking about not being liked
But being sustained in spirit
And caring less
And living more.
Through knowing
Knowing God.
I don’t know that we are ready
I don’t know that we are ready
God
Help me to be ready.
Regarding Samuel 