Borrowed Breath

I’m thankful for a God whose love
has depths and dimensions
that defy comprehension,
whose mercy and compassion
have neither limit nor ration,
and exceed the confines
of my feeble mind.
I’m thankful for a God whose grace exceeds
my ability to squander it,
who pursues me in my wandering,
who never gives up,
who always lives up
to His name
and glory
and honor.
I’m thankful for the Christ, the Messiah,
who dwelt among the least,
the despised and diseased,
who was maligned and falsely accused,
whose body was battered and abused.
I’m thankful for a mount called Golgotha
where love personified
and incarnate died,
where mercy and justice united,
man and God no longer divided.
I’m thankful for a tomb,
empty,
gaping,
vacant,
evidence of a resurrection power,
proof that death has been devoured,
power that is now mine
thru the resurrection of the divine,
so I shall not die, but live,
forgiven so I can also forgive.
I’m thankful for the abiding and patient Spirit,
the living God in me
setting me free
from my captivity.
I’m thankful for the power of that same Spirit within me
using me to draw women and men
to the God who’s in love with them,
in spite of me,
not because of me.
I’m thankful for the blessed hope of the soon return
of the slain and risen Lamb,
Son of God and of man,
the King of kings,
the Lord of lords,
of whom saints and angels sing
in harmonious chords.
I’m thankful that His return will birth
and usher in the new heaven and earth.
Gone will be sorrow and sin.
Gone will be death and disease.
All the redeemed will be welcomed in
to joy and bliss that will not cease.
Gone will be all that keeps this feeble man
from pure communion
from perfect union
with my God and with my fellow man.
I’m thankful for a faithful God who has fulfilled His covenant
thru Jesus Christ our Lord.
So let us all in one accord,
each who now rejoices
lift our joyous voices
and proclaim, “We are thankful!”