From Lisa-Jo Baker: We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that I post here at 1 minute past midnight EST every Friday.
Wide
The first thing that came to my mind at the prompt wide was “deep and wide, deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.” Do you remember the little kids song that used the hand motions for “deep and wide?” I do and it takes me back to my childhood, a time when it was easier to sing the words and know church was a safe place, a sanctuary for lost sinners. My memories of going to church are blessed ones of being loved and doted on, with music at the core of it all. Even at a young age, I loved to sing and let the music take me to a quieter place of peace and certainty.
Then my heart remembered the lyrics to Selah’s “there is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” The words flow over me. Lose all their guilty stains. In this world of sin and conflict, anger and misery, these words pour over me. Lose all their guilty stains. Oh, that the love of Jesus washes away those guilty stains.
And the tears flow from the depth of my soul, from a place where grief has long been suppressed. Unleashed, I let the words pierce my soul. “It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished.” My sin. My emptiness. My vanity. All pierced Him to the cross. Yet with his dying breath He has given me life.”
My precious Lord has given me a new song to sing. Years of just persevering, of putting one foot in front of the other, barely believing that the heartache would one day end. Today my loving Lord has given me a new song. A new season. A rebirth. A fresh start. As I sing those sweet little lyrics, “deep and wide” they are a reminder of the unending love that has “washed away those guilty stains.”
Beautiful Marty. I absolutely LOVE Stuart Townend. I thought of “In Christ Alone” when I was writing for my five minutes. Thank you for introducing me to new music as well. May you fully know His love, how deep and wide it flows and holds and saves and fills you to overflowing. Blessings Sister!
Thank you so much. God always speaks to me through music and I’m grateful that He does! Have a blessed weekend.
sometimes nothing speaks more intimately to our souls than music… i love all of these songs, too!
You are exactly right. I’m grateful for God’s gift of music. Blessings!
Thanks for sharing such a lovely post.
Thank you for reading and for your sweet comment. It was good just to write and release. Have a blessed weekend!
Visiting from Five Minute Friday. I so completely relate to your last paragraph. That is totally me right now. Here’s to new beginnings!
I am so thankful for this new season, too! We have walked through hard places and know we will again, but God’s presence on the journey was worth it all. Blessings to you!
I love that so many have shared about the depth of His love (and that precious song). Oh how vast is His love. I am not sure I will ever fully comprehend it! Have a blessed weekend.
I know we can’t comprehend the depth of His love so I cling to the promise that one day I will see Him face to face. On those days of struggle and heartache, sometimes it’s all there is. Thank you for sharing with me.