Emptiness

Within us all there is an ache
An empty wanting more.
A hole so large it drives us hard
Pursuing something more.

So many souls strike out in search
To fill the void within.
They dabble deep in pride and self
And steep themselves in sin.

They seek fulfillment in their work
Or lose their heads in play.
Thinking they can fill the hole
That haunts them day by day.

Yet fear remains and truth obscured,
The gap is still the same.
The bitter sadness in their soul
Grips tightly with its pain.

They cry for hope and search for rest,
Yet peace eludes their soul.
The aching void within their heart
Is still a giant hole.

I long to tell them of God's love,
To bring them to His face.
For only He can fill the gap,
That begs His saving grace.

The hope they seek lies in my soul,
For Jesus' grace is there.
The blood He shed on Calvary
Is hope for my despair.

The bitter ache within my heart
Is filled with joy divine,
For He alone has set me free
His precious peace is mine.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
He'll be your Strength and Guide.
Embrace His truth and let Him lead
His joy and peace you'll find.

'Tis only He who brings new life
To every troubled soul,
And only Jesus Christ can fill
Your giant aching hole.

Corrine Horst
July 10, 2016

A Robe of Grace

I cannot boast in righteous deeds
My heart has no desire,
To stand upon the good that I
Might carefully acquire.

I would not stand on judgement day
Before a Holy God,
All filthy in my self-made rags,
Uncovered by His blood.

I need the cleansing of my Lord
The purifying grace,
The Holy Spirit's working power
The kindness of His face.

My human heart stands lone in guilt
It bears no peace or shine,
'Tis Jesus blood alone that cures
This vile heart of mine.

So when I've run life's final course
And see my Saviour's face,
I'll come before Him kneeling low
Clothed in a Robe of Grace.

Corrine Horst
September 1, 2015

Constant.

The word was posed across the hardwood pulpit as the white-bearded minister opened his evening's message with the title, Constantly Abiding.

Constant. As I sat hunched up in the balcony peering down over the pews, I was struck with its reality. Akin to the solidity of the unforgiving wooden bench I was seated on, I was well-acquainted with the idea of constant. Continuing, Never-failing, Safe. I let my mind travel back in time. Back to the mistakes I had made, the hills I had climbed, the tear-jerking days, the battles I'd won and the fights I'd lost. I was struck with how untrustworthy I really am. How often humanity fails at best.

But I was soon to be reminded...

I sat in contentment as the minister behind the pulpit continued to speak.  Speaking of Someone constant. Someone who never yet has failed me or anyone else who put their trust in Him. His words spoke peace and life to my battle-worn soul and as the song-books were pulled from the racks for the closing hymn, I grabbed my pen and quickly added the reference Romans 8:35-39 to the bottom of my already full page of notes. Like a neat footnote at the end of an essay, the verses folded up and secured the hemline of my life. Speaking the truth of a Saviour who has never failed or let me down. The security of Someone constant amidst the uncertainty and upheaval of life. The only True Source of peace I have found.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.