Jesus Paper

Nothing But You

Fri, 03 May 2013 01:32:00 -0400

(poem by Jacob McMillen)

If I cannot reach You, what is left?
If I cannot know You, why continue?
If I cannot see Your face and behold Your glory
How could I even face the morning?
There is nothing else but You

You are not just the final rung to climb
You are not but Creation’s furthest height
You are not only the greatest prize defined
You are everything, and
There is nothing else but You

What else could I desire?
What could chance compete with You?
What else even holds a candle
To the never ending fire that consumes me like You do
There is nothing else but You

If I had the power that you posses
If my words ordained a universe
My sole desire would be to hand it back
To be satisfied within Your hand
There is nothing else but You

My mind, my heart, my soul, my flesh
Captivated and consumed
By perfect love and perfect truth
Found only in a perfect King
There is nothing else but You

What words are there to speak His name
A partial glimpse of timeless ways
Shadows hint at unseen glory
Flames that grow out of the rain
There is nothing else but You

Look into the Father’s eyes
Behold the beauty your heart desires
There is nothing else that satisfies
There is nothing else that burns with life
There is nothing else but You

Sensing

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:57:00 -0500

Give me eyes to see the things I miss
Ears to hear your silent song
A mouth that feels your subtle kiss
A heart that truly grasps your love

Stifled At The Precipice?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:13:00 -0500

(Poem by Jacob McMillen)

Everything within me cries aloud for more
Restless beyond words, I’m desperately searching for
A greater presence than I have felt, greater power than I’ve sustained
Something deeper than simple cares beheld most every day
The darkness screams, anticipating
My heart defiant, but hesitating
Am I but words and phrases neatly written for your pleasure?

I’m tired of the shadows, but really that’s a lie
I’m tired of the questions while the answers pass me by
I’m sick of feeling sorry, though it seems I rarely do
I’m done with feeling less a man whilst thinking about you

What would it take for me to tame the oscillating tides?
My goals, my dreams, my visions are no more easily derived
The future beckons, calls me clearly, whispers from inside
Let everything else I’ve known be false
But this… oh this…
No, this cannot be a lie

Here to Stay

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:40:00 -0500

(Song by Jacob McMillen)

Face to face I see you now
Silently you scream aloud
And through the painting I can see you fading

Stakes of gold pressed through your heart
Hollow laughter can’t impart
Burning bridges falling all around you

You look at me like I’m gone
Like I would never stay
Like I would sit here with you
Then merely drift away
You think of me like a mist
That simply fades away

You look at me like a curse
That when you close your eyes
You’ll open up, look again
Just see the sunrise
All I want is to show
That I am here to stay

How can I demonstrate with words
When every day has gone unheard
When every minute is just one minute closer

Fear has swallowed up your heart
The priceless treasure that you are
But only can take the captor captive

The crowds have left before
Been those who walked right out the door
But I will never leave you
As I have never left before
Nothing you say, nothing you do
Can ever take me away
Nothing you’ve lost, nothing you’ll lose
Can change my heart for you
I’ll stand with you, again and again
And again and again and again…

This Day

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:17:00 -0500

(by Jacob McMillen)

Early in the morning
I could never comprehend
The boundless love and endless grace
That covered all my sin
But faithfully you teach me
And every day I climb
Higher up to the mount of God
Where everything is mine
As noon draws near, I’m frightened
For the reality I see
Is but a shadow, a whisper, a ghost
Of the dreams inside of me
I’d love to write an ending
Quote the wonders of the night
But if just one thing I know for sure
The prize is worth the fight
So make me this one promise
Only this do I desire
Eyes to see and ears to hear
That you might never pass me by
I’ve trusted you with all I am
I’d give it all to you again
My Father, King, and perfect Friend
Come have your way in me

Words of a Son

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:00:38 -0500

(by Jacob McMillen: dedicated to my mother)

In the quiet still of morning’s first light
I sit quietly upon the hill and ponder
Slides and memories wish to show me my life
But all that interests me is this feeling
Gratitude bursts forth from deep inner wells
Reservoirs forged of sweat, blood, and tears
Hidden lakes formed slowly, ever slowly, over twenty-some years
What is the price of a virtuous woman?
Who can measure her value and worth?
What can be said of the love that you’ve given?
What can be said of your selfless, poured-out life?
If mere words could suffice, I would write you a ballad
A musical epic befitting your strength
But thankfully dear, I can do so much better
For songs, hymns, and ballads are not your reward
So day after day I pursue with a vengeance
That I might but apprehend, the One I was apprehended for
And line upon line I reach closer and higher
Experiencing the joy that is yours evermore
Oh virtuous woman, receive freely His grace
For your husband shall sit with the elders, he shall be known in the gates
Your children, clothed in scarlet, are taking their thrones
Oh blessed of women, the Word spoken is yours
Dear queen of our hearts, come and drink your reward
Surely mercy and goodness at your left and your right
Surely a fire by day and a cloud by the night
Many sons love their mothers, and for this I rejoice
But you have been chosen, you have answered the call
Your beauty only rivaled by your favor with all
And unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the King
The strength of His goodness, the power of His might
For you are His beloved, and you are my delight

Growing Pains

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 02:05:00 -0500

(by Jacob McMillen)

Gently laid upon the dust
Faint glimpses of a timeless love
Nestled deep in winter’s embrace
Hidden pressures purge the clay
Waiting, sleeping, drinking, dreaming
Flexing, shaking, tensing, aching

Enveloped thick in densest fog
Creation formed amongst the thaw
Whilst pale light frames a whispered form
Shadows dance upon the thorns
Stretching, seething, flexing, breathing
Searching, seeking, turning, breaching

As summer’s sun invades the dirt
Reflections speak of priceless worth
Soft ground unfurls yielded fruit
The heavens mumble priceless truth
Reaching, chasing, leaning, racing
Pushing, yearning, breaking, burning

Leaves of gold on reddish clay
Drop slightly, sweetly, like lingering rain
Musical quiet courts abiding peace
As nature aligns to the swelling beat
Listening, facing, seeing, tasting
Hearing, knowing, seizing, going

Likeness or a Lie

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:33:08 -0400

I generally would consider myself a half-decent individual. On occasion, I view myself a bit too leniently. But then again, many of the amazing things I do, the moments of character, are my own exclusive knowledge. I can also view myself rather horribly at times. After all, only I know the full extent of my depravity. But God’s view of me never changes. It’s fixed on a static image. He doesn’t view me in my current condition. When He looks at me, he sees the perfection of Christ, the glory of His Son. And consequently, He sees the best possible version of me, the sanctified me, the Bride in me. And deep cries out to deep in the depths of my being until His view becomes identical with my reality. Cause if God just looked at me and said, “perfect” and the story ended, then Christianity is the most elaborate trick to every be played on mankind. If I never actually become perfect, it’s all a lie. But as I behold Him in His glory, as if looking in a mirror, I am changed into His likeness. And as He speaks to me, not as I am by sight, by as I am by faith, I am further empowered in that transformation.

I want to give as I have been given. I want to view those around me by faith, not by sight. I want my interactions with others to empower them to become the best versions of themselves… to be the Bride.

"You are the wind that moves through the stillness Removing my doubts and lifting my wings You are..."

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:33:27 -0400

“You are the wind that moves through the stillness
Removing my doubts and lifting my wings
You are the rock that’s there in the quicksand
To crush all your foes and steady my feet”

- Jeff Deyo

Photo

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:16:00 -0400

Isaiah 1 Paraphrase

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:24:28 -0400

Isaiah has always eluded me. I never quite seem to grasp the depth of its passages the way others so often do. So I’m going to spend a little bit on each chapter, attempt to paraphrase it, and see if God won’t just open things up a bit for me.

(1) Isaiah’s vision about Judah, received throughout the reign of four different kings.

Listen, God has spoken. I have fed and raised children, and they’ve rebelled.

Farm animals know their masters, but Israel doesn’t know or understand

Ah sinful nation, people burdened with sin, children of evildoers, corrupters, they’ve left God, provoked Him to anger, and estranged themselves from Him.

Why must I keep having to punish you?. You just keep rebelling. There’s not much of you left. Your head’s as sick as it can get. Your heart won’t last much longer.

Your whole body is wasted and there are no bandages on your many wounds.

Your land, your cities, and your country is destroyed, burned to nothing by fire and plundered by foreigners as you are forced to watch.

And the daughter of Zion is left, like a forgotten cottage in a vineyard, like a helpless city under siege.

If God hadn’t spared a handful of us, we would have been completely annihilated, like the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Hear what the Lord says, rulers of “Sodom” and people of “Gomorrah.”

What’s the point of all your sacrifices? That’s not what I want from you.

Who invited you to put on a show in my presence?

Stop bringing your meaningless gifts before me. I’m disgusted by incense, your weekly and monthly gatherings, and your solemn assemblies.

I hate all your feasts. They burden me, and I’m done putting up with them.

When you stretch out your hands and call for me, though you pray many prayers, I won’t listen. Your hands have shed far too much blood.

Wash and cleanse yourself. Stop doing evil. Change your ways.

Do what is right: hold yourselves accountable, help those who are oppressed, defend the orphans, plead for the widows.

Come to me, let us evaluate your situation, says the Lord. As of now, your sins are as red as scarlet, but soon they shall be as white as snow.

If you are willing to be obedient, you will have the best the land can offer.

But if you refuse and continue to rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. This is the immutable word of the Lord.

(21) The faithful city has become a whore. It was full of justice and righteousness, but now is the home of murderers.

Your silver has become worthless scum. Your wine is diluted.

Your rulers are rebellious, the friends of thieves. They love bribes and chase personal gain. They do not execute justice for the orphans, nor do they care for the plight of the widows.

Therefore, says the mighty Lord of hosts, I will relieve myself of my enemies.

I will place my hand on you and purify you, eliminating the scum.

I will restore your just rulers, as before, so that once again you will be called the faithful city of righteousness.

Zion will be redeemed with justice, and the repentant inhabitants with righteousness.

And the rebels and sinners will be destroyed.

For they will be ashamed of their idol whorship.

For you will be as a withering plant, a garden with no water.

The strong will be like tender, his work like a spark, and they will burn, with none able to rescue them.

"I enjoy life because God’s gift of salvation means I don’t have to accept anything less"

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:06:52 -0500

“I enjoy life because God’s gift of salvation means I don’t have to accept anything less”

"Honor doesn’t mean we agree with the people we are honoring."

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:05:38 -0500

“Honor doesn’t mean we agree with the people we are honoring.”

- Kris Vallotton

"If you are secure in your relationship with Christ, and mature in the discernment of your spirit,..."

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:07:00 -0500

“If you are secure in your relationship with Christ, and mature in the discernment of your spirit, there is no reason to be scared of counterfeit”

"I’m a Christian, and no this isn’t an apology"

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:57:12 -0500

“I’m a Christian, and no this isn’t an apology”

Video

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:19:48 -0500

Redeeming the Earth - Genesis 3:17

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:18:42 -0500

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;” Genesis 3:17

Because of sin, the earth was cursed. But when Jesus died, not only were we redeemed, but the whole Earth was redeemed from the effects of sin. So we, the Body and Bride of Christ, have been given the privilege of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to a redeemed Earth. Its a faith image, and as we walk in faith, we come into agreement with God’s will and His power to perform His will.

My Daily Bread - Matthew 11:28

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:36:29 -0400

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

I’m tired. You are most likely tired. If you aren’t, congratulations to you… no seriously, I’m not being sarcastic in the least. More power to you. For those like myself, who are tired and weary, just look to Jesus. His love is deeper and wider and stronger and higher than anything this world can offer. God you are good. We rest in you.

"While I am waiting I will not be offended I will be faithful"

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

“While I am waiting
I will not be offended
I will be faithful”

"Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear..."

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:14:24 -0400

“Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Micah 6:1”