When I say I'm a Christian

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I was lost!"
That is why I chose this Way."

When I say “I’m a Christian”,

I don’t speak of it with pride.

I’m confessing that I stumble,

And need Christ to be my guide.

When I say “I’m a Christian”,

I’m not trying to be strong.

I’m professing that I’m weak,

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say “I’m a Christian”,

I’m not bragging of success.

I’m admitting I have failed,

And need God to clean my mess.

When I say “I’m a Christian”,

I’m not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible,

But God believes I’m worth it.

When I say “I’m a Christian”,

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches,

So I call upon His name.

When I say "I am a Christian",
I do not wish to judge.
For I have no authority,
I only know I'm loved.

Carol S. Wimmer

Where the Echoes Stop

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Far past where sound has abandoned thought.

Where silence reigns over redundancy.

Where once well said is more than enough.

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Where words must be born to be heard.

Where speech is a gift and not a curse.

Where there is more of the unique and less of the mundane.

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Where meaning is rescued from noise…

Where conviction replaces thoughtless repetition…

Where what everyone is saying surrenders to what needs to be said.

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Where the shouting of the masses falls silent to the whisper of the one…

Where the voice of the majority submits to the voice of reason…

Where “they” do not exist; but “we” do.

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Where substance overthrows the superficial…

Where courage conquers compliance and conformity…

Where words do not travel farther than the person who speaks them.

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Where I only say what I believe.

Where I only repeat what changes me.

Where empty words finally rest in peace.

I want to stand where the echoes stop.

Erwin Raphael McManus

“Be still and know that I am God…” -Psalm 46:10a