This poem was written long before I heard the song The God I Know. I fold it in a folder, on two pieces of scrap folder -- obviously only a draft -- that I had forget that I had started The God I Know The God I know is full of grace and mercy and compassion. He is mysterious, surprising, and captivating. He is forever unchanging, Yet he's always brand new. The God I know is true and faithful, Keeping his promises. The God I know left his place of glory and wrapped himself in flesh He invaded this dark world, a rescue mission driven by love, His weapons were mercy, grace, and peace The God I know lived with us a while Teaching us the truth The God I know paid the price -- the cost of our rebellion and unbelief -- That we could not pay for ourselves. He covers up our sins With the blood he shed that day, So at the judgement we can stand, And in his kingdom stay. The God I know is with us Every minute of every day; He hears and answers all our prayers, And guides us on our way. The God I know gives us strength And courage, faith, and peace He uses our hands to heal And our mouths for us to speak The Good News of his love. I guess is okay for a forgotten draft. I went looking in the file cabinet when you asked us to share something.

O Density, thy song is staid and faint For in this world of little men But few escape restraint By skill of pen How then? By force of deed Can less be done today Then when this world was free to bleed And more there was to build than watch decay I wrote this poem in the 1980s, not knowing the answer to the question at the heart of it. Years later the Holy Spirit told me the answer. Reply with what you think the answer might be.

Thanks for the reminder that small efforts over time add up