The words in the Bible say,
"Keep your lamps burning,"
For Christ will return and
The faithful are yearning.
This lesson, as I study,
Is speaking to me
Of a greater revelation,
But what could it be?
Keep the lamps burning?
I've been here before.
This deep seated feeling
Has opened a door.
My memory cries out
To a time spent before
As I waited for Daddy
To return from the war.
The pain of separation,
We wore it everyday.
Life didn't stop or hesitate,
It rolled on its way.
At times I thought
My heart would break.
My cry, "How long
Will this waiting take?"
The years they passed
And my loved one did return.
But my heart, not quite whole,
Found new ways to yearn.
The person that I dreamed of
Had changed to someone else.
The dream I'd been dreaming
Changed to something else.
The dream I had was perfect
But the people, not so much.
Who are they? I'm not so sure,
We're all so out of touch.
There will be separations,
On this you can depend.
Whether by war or death or change,
Then your heart you must defend.
From these times in life
A pattern can be set.
Now separation can feel
Like abandonment.
This feeling of abandonment
Comes with an evil twin.
This feeling's called rejection...
Against them it's very hard to win.
They make their home
Within your heart
And teach that trusting others
Isn't very smart.
The enemy leans to to whisper,
"But you're no good, you know.
No one loves you, really,
That's why they always go!"
Soon the need for others
Is bigger than yourself.
Without their love and closeness
Your heart sits on a shelf.
Scars are left behind
When loves been torn apart.
Who can you trust
To mend this hurting heart?
To find the cure for broken hearts
On earth is very rare.
We humans guard ourselves
And find it hard to share.
Yet, when we finally do let go
And our secrets melt away,
We're open to God's truth
And what the Bible has to say.
"I'll never leave nor forsake you..."
God's word is very clear.
His promise keeps repeating
To those who hold Him dear.
He loves us so much
He sent His only Son,
That by His cross
Eternally we are one.
Then the Holy Spirit,
The Counselor He sent.
He dwells within our hearts
And helps us to repent.
We believe in His presence,
We are close to Him now,
Through our prayers, praise and worship
We are connected somehow.
Our faith will sustain us
'Til at last we shall see
Our blessed Redeemer
When face-to-face we will be.
My past makes it easy.
Upon the Lord I can wait,
And keep the lamps burning
And stand by the gate.
I learned to stand in wonder,
For a moment yet to be,
By thinking of a loved one
Who was far across the sea.
I've stood beneath a full moon
And hoped they saw it too,
And counted stars and wondered,
Were they counting these stars too?
Somehow it makes them closer,
The distance not so far,
To think about your loved one
Doing exactly what you are.
To close your eyes and dream
They're really very near,
Close enough to touch
The one you hold so dear.
I hold now for Jesus
The lamp I held for others,
And by His word I can depend
On Him as in no others.
When separations come,
And often they still do,
I hang on tight to Jesus
And know I'll make it through.
The evil twin, rejection,
No longer has a say
For now I am a child of God
And from His lap I say,
"Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong."
