O the wretchedness of men who live out their days
Seeking help from a judge who they hope will say,
“Your motion is granted; you may leave today.”

But what good is leaving with all of your sins?
The burden that you carry is the sin within.
Will you take it with you?
Will you drag it around?
Will you hope for the best, or will you just drown?

You see, freedom comes not from leaving the prison itself
But only from freedom of the prison of self.

“How is it possible?” I heard one say
I’m glad you asked; I will tell you today.

For the judge of this world has given Himself
To die in your place
To free you from self.

The courtroom of heaven has ruled in your case
It’s here in His Word, written for you today.

By grace He has granted your release this day
Through faith He has washed your sins away.
If you only believe, He will save you today
And you will be free even if you stay.

Women from Galilee
Saw His crucifixion
Beholding from afar
Acts of His prediction

Women from Galilee
Stood by, unlike the men
Witness to suffering
And changed centurion

Women from Galilee
Could not Pilate approach
Pay for a sepulchre
Wrap Him in linen clothes

Women from Galilee
Observed where He was laid
Ointments, spices prepared
His corpse they were to bathe

Women from Galilee
The first day of the week
Came to anoint dead flesh
Where there was none to seek

Women from Galilee
Told of the risen Lord
Women from Galilee
They remembered His words

Now at the crossroads
At the stop sign of life,
With only two ways to go—
Is it left or right?

In life we have choices,
With different options to take.
Will we choose that which is righteous,
Or again opt for a mistake?

So many times in my past
I thought I had chosen my own fate,
Not knowing God already knew
What would happen on that date.

So, if you think you’re in control,
Step back and take another look
He’s walked with you hand in hand
Through every step you ever took.

O Lord, I want to live ALL IN,
O Lord, I give You all my sin.
O Lord, You broke my heavy chain
That held me bound in hell’s domain.

O Lord, I want to live ALL OUT,
To praise Your name, to sing and shout.
O Lord, please help me praise Your name,
Your grace, O Lord, each day to claim.

Lord Jesus, at Your feet I fall,
For You, Lord, are my ALL IN ALL.
Lord, let my spirit soar to You,
For only You can make me new.

O Lord, direct me where to go,
Lord, may Your light within me glow.
Lord, use my life, use every part,
O Lord, please come and fill my heart.

I wrote this looking out of my cell window and seeing all the beauty of life. The treetops really look like hands waving to God when the wind blows.

I am utterly amazed
By how treetops wave.
Effects of the wind
Causing nature to praise.
Reach for the sky,
You branches up high!
Thus known from joy,
Your God is alive.
Look at the clouds!
Oh pleasingly dense.
So haughty and proud
Over mountains immense.
As blessings pour like raindrops,
Wonder is found with wings.
Between the stars and forms of clay rocks
Live the names of beautiful things!

My faith,
Like a river,
Flowed smoothly.
Until one day,
The falls.
Crashing down,
Upon the rocks.
My freedom lost.
My river,
My faith tested,
Explodes,
Into mist and foam.
Forming rapids,
Of anger,
Of confusion,
Of doubt.
Thrashing about,
My river,
My faith,
Cries out,
“God save me”!
Then suddenly,
The rapids cease.
I am not afraid.
God has heard me.
I am calm.
I am safe.
A feeling of peace,
Freedom.
As my faith,
Like a river,
Flows smoothly,
Once again…

Beautiful and peaceful
God’s perfect world
Lovely and joyful
‘Til into sin we were hurled

Battered and broken
Tattered and torn
From one lie spoken
Our sin was born

Lost in our sin
Full of pain and sorrow
In a downward spiral
With no hope for tomorrow

Unto a broken world
Our Savior was born
Tattered and broken
Battered and torn

Our salvation was born
No longer tattered or broken, battered or torn

I am free, as free as can be
Because of God’s unfailing love for me
Set free from my sins, my guilt and shame
Set free by the power of Jesus’ name
My prison doors they open wide
Freeing me from my chains inside
Like a bird flying in the sky
Freed from my cage, I soar up high
The Lord has chosen a dog like me
From my pound he has set me free
Praise be to my God who art in heaven
Praise be to his endless mercies given
By his blood I have been set free
My dance now sings with all his glory
From my pit, on the rock I stand
Freed by my Savior’s loving hand
Released from death’s grim embrace
Freed by the Lord’s saving grace
To God I go, his arms out wide
With Jesus always by my side
Freed from all my misery and strife
For Jesus now rules my life!

On my own at such an early age;
Left with nothing by a heart full of rage.
Becoming too much for anyone to handle;
Self-searching with just the flicker of a candle,
The quiet scares me because it brings the truth;
A past that doesn’t let me forget about my youth.
See most think that I’m pretty and pure to the bone;
Failing to realize the only life I’ve ever known.
In this war I tend to be my own worst enemy;
Trying to conquer the darkness deep within me.
A daily struggle and I refuse to let myself sink,
See I’m much stronger than what you may think.
How do I rid the demons that absorb my sight;
To bring me from the darkness and into the light.
I can wash my face a thousand times but how do
I wash away the thoughts that torment my mind;
for my dreams a pure release I search to find.
No longer captivated by an obliviated soul;
But now finding the answers to make me whole.

*This is a poem I wrote at the age of 16. I was going through a lot and I was really introduced to God by my mom and grandmother. That is when I started looking at life differently and living differently.

The freshness and cold air of the morning,

The smell of damp dirt

The sounds of tractors,

Tree branches rustling.

The cling and clangs of ladders

People talking, people singing.

The smell of fresh peaches.

Lunchtime

Under a tree

Summertime

Everyday routine