Lord Breathe On Us

Just as the dawning sun
kisses its warm breath upon the dew
burning off a steamy mist
greeting a day brand new
so does Your Spirit
breathe its fire, upon all the tears I shed
raising up joy from ashes
creating victory instead

Breathe on me Lord...
ignite Your fire within
burn away the dross
cleanse me from my sin

I don't want to be a light...
only shining unto itself
sitting in a church pew...
like a candle on a shelf.
I want to spread like wild fire
carried on the winds of Your breath
I have a burning desire
that others be spared from death

Breathe on me Lord and carry me
to the far reaches of hurting hearts
burn away their unbelief...
through the power Your love imparts
In my spirit...Your fire rages
let it billow from my mouth
Lord unlock their prison cages
so that they'll all step out.

Lord breathe on them
fan their flickering flame
Let Your fire burn
that they'll never be the same

Lord breathe on us
that we'd be a mighty rushing sound
like an angels' choir of praise
as we reach to the lost You've found
Let the fire burning within
like fragrant incense rise
for true worship reaps a harvest
through Your fire in our lives.

Lord breathe on us...


© Copyright 2011 Christine Maxwell

Shadow of His Wing

Psalm 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Psalm 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
I'm hiding here...in the shadow of His wing
praise the Lord the enemy can't see me
and I can not feel his sting

The battlefield is smoking
the enemy encamps about
and yet I am not choking
as my feet keep marching out

quickly... come to Him
won't you hide with me...
in the shadow of His wing
where you truly can be free?

under cover of His shadow
let joy fill up your life
suit up... begin to march
be rid of daily strife

it is a war... I trick you not
safety yet abounds
amazing and unnatural peace
through Jesus Christ is found

my feet prepared with good news of peace
they trample the serpent's head
as I grip my shield of faith
no longer a sense of dread

quickly... come to Him
won't you hide with me...
in the shadow of His wing
where you truly can be free?

salvation is my helmet
God's word in hand I grip
protected from all fiery darts
belt of truth upon my hip

praying always in the Spirit
persevering with words of praise
alert to pray for others too
and serve Him all of my days

I'm an ambassador in bonds
to speak boldly a mysterious thing
now is the time to run to Jesus
and hide in the shadow of His wing

quickly... come to Him
won't you hide with me...
in the shadow of His wing
where you truly can be free?

© Copyright 2011 Christine Maxwell

BRICK by BRICK

Sshh...listen freedom's calling
Give way to grace
bricks are falling
my walls are coming down

the corners break, the mortar crumbles
laws writ in stone
the heavens rumble
once stone cold, now beating flesh
grace carves my heart
blood pours out fresh
my walls are coming down

brick by brick I built my wall
he chiseled through
my name, His call
once captive behind my sin and fears
He shook the earth
He wiped my tears
my walls are coming down

A prisoner; I step beyond the walls
my chains are loosed
my Savior calls
I reach for Him, hungry, thirsty and tired
He lifts me up
out of rubble and fire
my walls are coming down

He carries me; I'm heaven bound
once trapped and lost
now forever found
my walls they all came down

© Copyright 2011 Christine Maxwell

ONE WAY

One Way

Quilted snow and leaves; woven together lay
those before me chose a path and pioneered a way
this trail before me stretches wide
it yawns past sleeping trees
with ruddy bedposts short and tall
and white birches with skinned knees
The way to go is plain to see; so the pathway tells
as the maple stretch their gnarly limbs in protective swells
but something within me clearly knows,
this path is not what I see
and to follow where others have gone,
could be the death of me
Have I not faith to set my foot, on untouched earthen sod?
must I always follow, only where others have trod?
in angst I stop and wonder 'which way then should I go?'
'to my left or to my right, through trees and untouched snow?'
I wring my hands with worry, my brow; in anguish twisted
I cry out to God upon my knees
and beat the ground tight-fisted
“Oh God” I pray “I wish you'd show me...
PLEASE tell me which way to go?!"
“I want to do YOUR will... if only you'd let me know?”
suddenly I know, the direction my journey is to take
the answer was within me, where HIS truth is surely staked
there was no big arrow in the sky... giving me a sign
HIS truth abides within me, as part of HIS perfect design
I know the gate is narrow, through which few will surely fit
I know what I'm to do...so I get up and get to~IT
into the wilderness I travel, to gather up the lost
to let them know that Jesus heals
and He's already paid their cost
I know there are dark valleys,
through this journey I might find
but knowing what I know, I can't leave others behind
Jesus is the only way that we are heaven bound
and I know I can't get lost because I'm truly found


© Copyright 2011 Christine Maxwell

The Godhead

One God distinctly three
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
the blessed Trinity

Triune God a puzzle to our mind
our Creator, Savior, and Indweller
in whose strength I find


© Copyright 2011 Christine Maxwell

Empty Vessels

In deflated applause they sit there
one atop the other, in stillness and askew

for without their Master within them
they are nothing more than empty vessels of hollowed cold

© Copyright 2010 Christine Maxwell

Rise Up!

Silver and gold have I none
but what I have I give unto thee
in the name of Jesus Christ; rise up
rise up and walk with me

come celebrate The Heavenly Prince; come to save a hurting world
while in a manger lay; HIS redemptive grace unfurled
born to give HIS life for ours; He came to heal the broken
salvation ~the priceless gift~ true love through thus is spoken

so rise up broken-hearted mother
and stressed-out, wayward father
rise up lost and angry son
and hurting, lonely daughter; rise up
rise up and walk with me

for silver and gold have I none
but what I have I give to thee
in the name of Jesus Christ; rise up
rise up and walk with me

have you heard the good news?
the Prince of peace and King of kings
has come to save us all
to heal the sick and bind up wounds
won't you answer to HIS call?

so rise up broken-hearted mother
and stressed-out, wayward father
rise up lost and angry son
and hurting, lonely daughter; rise up
rise up and walk with me

for silver and gold have I none
but what I have I give to thee
in the name of Jesus Christ; rise up
rise up and walk with me

so neatly fold and tuck away, your lengthy to-do Christmas list
His love remains forever, while things of this world pass swift
what HE gave can't be bought, it is a priceless gift

so dry your tears broken-hearted mother
put away the credit cards stressed-out father
rise up lost and angry son
and hurting, lonely daughter; rise up
rise up and walk with me

Come celebrate and remember, our dear Savior's birth
rejoice with love and His praises sing, all heaven and all earth!
for these too shall pass away, rise up, rise up and walk with me
haven't you heard? Jesus has come to set all captives free!

© Copyright 2010 Christine Maxwell All rights reserved

The Threshing Floor

the threshing floor can be a cold & brutal place...
but when the chaff is removed by the breath of God...
I'll stand strengthened in HIS warm & tender grace.

Fermented in HIS Love

Praise YOU Lord that I am stretched beyond what I can do
All powerful living God,
my trials are not beyond YOU!

YOU are the author and finisher of my faith;
YOU are writing every line
All glory to YOUR kingdom come;
YOUR will be done not mine

YOU are the Creator of the heavens and the earth
Who am I?
That YOU would write for me?
Mighty Redeemer and Savior of my re-birth?

I’m extracted and fermented;
out of the winepress YOUR glory flows
from water to wine I drink YOU in;
redemption’s glory shows

YOUR sacrifice completes me and I am covered by YOUR blood
fermented in YOUR Truth and YOUR intoxicating Love

When the enemy presses in, YOU turn it all around
through the pressing and the trial,
enduring strength is found

out of the winepress YOUR glory flows;
YOUR blood completely covers
hardships come upon me
that I might strengthen my brothers

Who am I that YOU would strengthen me?
delivered to the enemy
that I would be made strong
YOU prayed my faith to fail me not
against the enemy’s throng

I’m extracted and fermented;
out of the winepress YOUR glory flows
from water to wine I drink YOU in;
redemption’s glory shows

YOUR sacrifice completes me and I am covered by YOUR blood
fermented in YOUR Truth and YOUR intoxicating Love

I poured my new self into the old
and I did burst and bleed
my flesh tried to finish the spirit’s work;
O’ foolish me indeed

that day on calvary YOU already burst and bled
YOU already did the work, that I might just be fed

Who am I?
That YOU would die for me?
YOU cleanse me and forgive me
and give me my daily bread
I know by works I would die
but by grace I live instead

I’m extracted and fermented;
out of the winepress YOUR glory flows
from water to wine I drink YOU in;
redemption’s glory shows

YOUR sacrifice completes me and I am covered by YOUR blood
fermented in YOUR Truth and YOUR intoxicating Love

Mighty conqueror; “It is finished” was YOUR battle cry
YOUR words are truth and life;
the heavens can’t deny

YOUR victory complete and won all those years ago
a completed work YOUR will unveils as day by day we go

Who am I?
That YOU would fight
and conquer all for me?
YOU conquered all that I might live
by grace in victory!

I’m extracted and fermented;
out of the winepress YOUR glory flows
from water to wine I drink YOU in;
redemption’s glory shows

YOUR sacrifice completes me and I am covered by YOUR blood
fermented in YOUR Truth and YOUR intoxicating Love

Who am I?
I was once an ugly sinner
now redeemed by ALL YOU did



My image in the looking glass?
Behold I see YOUR glory!
I'm beautifully transformed
because YOU wrote my story!


YOUR sacrifice completes me and I am covered by YOUR blood
fermented in YOUR Truth and YOUR intoxicating Love!

The true question is not who am I...
but rather who is HE?
Indeed HE is The Savior...
Jesus Christ, who died for me!
HE paid our costs and died our deaths
that we would be set free!


© Copyright 2010 Christine Maxwell