“TO THE ONE”
What do you say to the One who comforted you even while you murdered their child, not one, not two, but three. Who held you close even while you laid on the table as a doctor, who is called to do no harm, punched a whole into the head of a young baby and removed its brain thereby causing you to abort. What do you say to the One who comforted you afterwards while you bled and your stomach cramped and you felt the pain in your heart of all that you had done? You say I am sorry each time - You say it and He accepts even though He knows full well that you will do it again. What do you say when the same young girl then turns and questions the One about why He allowed such a thing to even happen with Him being who HE is? You say I am angry and You are not who I thought you were. What do you say to the One who blesses you with three other children that you might understand what it is to give Life to another? You say Thank You and then begrudge the work it takes to raise the blessings. What do you say to the One when the same young mother has now married “the love of her young life” and she places Him on a pedestal to be worshipped and adored in place of the One? And then after seeing that this “love of her life” is but another man destined to disappoint in one form or another because her expectations are too high, goes to the One angry now because of the disappointments, with a bitter and hardened heart. You say I am hurt because you did not protect me from this. Erica Kemper © 2008
Then the One responds to the young girl… He responds through His Word, He responds through His peace, He even responds through His reprimands He humbles her, He forgives her, He LOVES her and calls her His own, He saves her (only to have her stumble and fall short countless times), and then He restores her each time. He shows her the faithfulness of God, He gives her the promises of God, He provides for the restitution of all that has been taken from her.
He gives her her purpose and then He supplies power, His power and anointing, to fulfill that purpose. He sanctifies her and her family. He gives her homes – both a spiritual and a natural one, He provides her strong spiritual leaders that will pass her a mirror when it is needed, He gives her countless sisters and brothers, He returns her daughters to her (gifts carried by another woman because she was unwilling to do so at the time). He gives her a husband that is chasing after God’s own heart to rule over her and places her spiritual partner in her life. The young girl responds… I thank You… I adore You…. I love You…. I magnify You, I am desperate for You, my heart has found MY OWN TRUE LOVE and I WILL NOT LET YOU GO!! I give You glory,… I give You praise… I honor You,…I worship You But surprisingly it just doesn’t seem to be enough Erica Kemper © 2008
“PEACE MOST PROFOUND”
I remember you O Lord as a brook running through the mountains Quiet, yet loud in the peace and stillness and profoundness that is you I think on you icy and yet hot to the touch Your coolness quenches my thirst and revives me I think of your rushing waters that beat against the rock of my heart, eroding away rough edges causing smooth beauty to appear and your good work is revealed
The brook has quieted because I have mistakenly removed myself from the mountain and the clutter and chaos of my inner city distracts me O how, I long for your cooling, reviving waters that run clear and true and pure O how, I long for the icy hotness that quenches and revives me at the same time I seek to be on the mountain with you once more in peace and stillness most profound - Erica Kemper © 2008
“POWERFUL WOMAN” She is confidant when she stands for it is Truth that she speaks She wears a countenance of peace as her business suit
It emanates from her very pores as compassion for the many children that were given to her It beams forth from her loving gaze and from her humble smile
It is her very presence and can change the atmosphere she finds herself in The power is so strong that it overflows and changes the very circumstances of the women surrounding her There is life in her words, healing in her touch, answers in her tears, and Anointing covering her I thought I knew powerful women, until I saw one personified Erica Kemper © 2008
Hurt, broken, and confused is how I came to you Walking in a darkness so thick that I fell constantly
Surrounded by a constant void of nothingness which became filled with my shame And then, you filled it with your Word. My shame was revealed to me As your Word spoke to the gaping emptiness that threatened to consume me, to consume my very purpose
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He, the Word, saved me from myself He, the Truth, tells me I was created for purpose He, the Teacher, instructs me how to walk in the Way He, the Counselor, promises to abide with me day by day and to make himself known to me He, the Light, orders my footsteps and brightly shines that my path is made straight and clear He, the Resurrection, led me out of the darkness into the light through salvation, freed me by the Truth, taught me to walk in your Way of righteousness, and brightly lit the Way to Him that first loved me. My true glory was hidden behind the veil, the veil of my shame Thank you for your sacrifice, O Anointed One, That tore it asunder Thank you for my unveiling - Erica Kemper © 2008
“THE UNVEILING”
“WORDS” If only there were words, words to express all that you are to me Time and time again I seek the right ones, I pace and I stand But my eloquence is insufficient for the task presently at hand Or, maybe the truth more plainly told Is that words cannot say all that my heart truly holds
So much so that I am moved to tears, humble, and made meek For the words I cannot find to express what my heart longs to speak So the tears that pour out are all my heart can ever say Let them be anointed for worship to my Lord on this day Let them anoint Your feet just as the sinner of old Whose actions You remembered and continues to be told
Words to the giver of the Word and the Holder of all wisdom seems futile, But still I continue to try I try because all that is in my heart simply can’t be denied
Let the worship bring a fragrance which perfumes Your Holy Place Let the incense of my prayers be opened in the presence of Your face
When I think of Your kindness, abounding love, faithfulness, and grace I am overwhelmed with words of adoration flooding my inmost place
See the heart of your servant and let it touch Your heart still As I search for the words of expression, which say all that I feel
I find my vocabulary inadequate to truly capture what I feel Though I know many words both impressive and simple, yet and still I feel the weight of my shortcomings in expressing all that you are to me
As I attempt to find words to sing Your praises and extol Your name As I purpose to try again tomorrow, with more of the same If only there were words, expressions of gratitude, thankfulness, and love To give worship and praise rightly due the Most High ruling from above Erica Kemper © 2009
A PRIVATE DANCE
Erica Kemper Š2008
I dance to your tune only It is a beat that is as loud as a drum at times Or as soft as a gently blowing breeze at others My heart hears and quickly attunes itself to it I alone can hear for it is a private dance Between a man and a woman; bridegroom and bride; God and a servant It is for Your eyes only, so I willingly and with purposeful intent Dance outside of myself, my clothes, and my position For I am honoring You I dance as worship unto You in remembrance and thankfulness of all You have bestowed upon me I care not of the eyes, nor the pointing fingers, nor wagging tongues For if they talk, let them talk. For they understand not my joy and my boast For my boast is that I know You, I love You, I serve only You I pray that my dance is infectious and contagious That it would touch the heart of my King And that others would also see
And they would join in in their own personal dance before Thee That there would be bowing, leaping, jumping, praising, and worship as none have ever seen before I pray that it would please my Redeemer, my Savior I pray that it would please my Lord Oh, that my dance would be pleasing in Your sight That You would allow Your face to shine upon Your servant It is a dance that is heartfelt. For I wish to worship You in Spirit and in Truth It is a perpetual dance of praise For you bless me continually and liberally Out of the abundance of Your mercy, grace, and loving-kindness It is the dance of a slave who has been freed Whose shrouds worn in death have been utterly destroyed A dance of Life……Life overflowing: A dance of joy and peace It is a private dance, between a man and a woman; bridegroom and bride; God and a servant It is as intimate as any one of these relationships For it is a personal tune heard by no other than the two involved.
Erica Kemper © 2008