Washed

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given

all things into His hands, and that He had

come from God and was going to God, rose

from supper and laid aside His garments,

took a towel and girded Himself.”

{John 13:3-4}

I have read the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet many times yet somehow have always overlooked this part of the story. Jesus lays aside the divine glory given Him by the Father to wash the dirty feet of His followers. Wow. And God desires merely that we allow His love and forgiveness to wash over us and purify our hearts and that we love and serve others as He has done for us. What a truly amazing God we serve.

This poem is written from the perspective of Peter; perhaps you will identify with his experience in this story. May you, too, be filled with gratitude and awe at the love of our Savior as His grace and mercy continually wash over you.

The Passover Feast was near at this time—

We disciples with Jesus had sat down to dine.

We partook of the bread as we’d all done before

And hungrily ate until there was no more.

We then kept on talking when supper was through;

I was speaking with James—as I usually do.

After a long day of walking, our feet filled with dust,

And a leisurely supper that night was a must.

But every so often I would look up and see

The Teacher, Christ Jesus, was looking at me.

I saw in a moment that His eyes shone with love

And reflected the heart of His Father above.

I thought back to Sunday when He rode into town

As people laid palm branches and coats on the ground.

“Hosanna!”—the people all praised their new King

And were certain that He would restore everything.

But now, as I looked at my Master’s worn face,

I glimpsed, not His power, but His unending grace.

For as we were talking, He arose from His seat

And took a basin and towel—to wash all our feet!

All mouths then were silent as we looked at our Lord—

The One whom the peoples had praised and adored.

He now was our Servant—O what could this mean

After all of the teaching and miracles we’d seen?

I thought finally He now would establish His reign

And put the scribes and the teachers of the Law to shame.

But a Servant? Now this I could not understand;

My feet never should be washed by my Master’s strong hand.

But I still kept on waiting, and soon I could see

That Jesus and His basin were coming toward me.

I arose and said, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Then Jesus allowed our eyes to meet.

“What I am doing you’ll soon understand—”

And He dunked the small towel He held in His hand.

With the tension in the room now as thick as the heat,

I said, “Lord You never will wash my feet!”

The Lord, unperturbed and as kind as could be,

Said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

I paused as I lingered on what He had said.

“Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head!”

And, with that, His towel was pressed to my skin

And I knew I was clean—both outside and within.

Though what He was doing I saw only in part,

I knew He had washed both my feet and my heart.

No Words

“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you,

O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel:

‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; You are Mine.’”

{Isaiah 43:1}

Sometimes I find that I am so accustomed to being a Christian that I begin to lose my wonder at the amazing story of redemption that Abba unfolded throughout history and of which I am now a part. But when I do stop and linger on this thought, I am overcome with awe that this God would redeem me. I am reminded once again of my brokenness and desperate need for a Savior and am humbled to think that the life and forgiveness I now enjoy in Christ came at the awesome price of His death on the cross. What a wonderful, merciful God we serve—He not only created us but also redeemed us and calls us by His name. No words of mine could ever adequately describe the glory of God or render Him the praise He is due; He is so far beyond us, yet present with us and working through us. What a marvelous God we serve!

No words have I to describe who You are—

You who comprehend each person’s thoughts from afar,

Who laid out the earth at the beginning of time

And say of Your children, “This one is Mine.”

Who through Your own breath filled up Adam with life,

And promised redemption through Your Son, Jesus Christ;

Who called out a people to be known by Your Name,

Then sent Jesus to die and take on our shame.

At the beginning of time, why’d You choose to make man

When Your only Son’s death was a part of the plan?

Why cause so much pain to be brought on Your Son?

And why would You save us after what we’d become?

I have not the answers to the questions I bring,

But I know You’re a God who works everything

For the good of Your beloved and so Your glory may be
Seen by all people here and in eternity.

I cannot praise You right, for my heart wanders far

As I worship myself and forget who You are.

My pride takes control, and this world I embrace—

But praise the Lord for Your ever-present grace!

You love and forgive me each time that I fall,

Though You never forget that it cost Christ His all.

I know oh so keenly that I’m broken and weak,

So I look to my Savior, and His strength I seek.

Why You chose to redeem me, I never will know;

I only pray through my life that Your glory would show.

What a powerful God that You use vessels of clay

To tell forth Your glorious grace day by day!

I’m so blessed to be Yours—to walk with You each hour

And sing of Your mercies and tell of Your power.

Though I can’t comprehend You, what I know will suffice;

I will serve You, my Father and King, with my life.

All That I Need

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

{2 Corinthians 5:7}

I wrote this poem on my last day of college this spring. As I opened my journal, I knew I wanted to write a poem to the Lord to praise Him for who He is and how He had worked in my life during the past year; however, I was surprised at how this poem turned out to be so unlike any other I had ever written. I also thought it was strange that I wrote about being surrounded by darkness even though I was not in that place when I wrote it. But this past weekend, I re-read this poem and found that I resonated very strongly with its words and rhythm. Although the rhythm of this poem is less predictable than that of others I have written, there is a certain constancy to it. I came to realize that this is how God is—while we cannot comprehend or predict Him, He has proven to us that He is constant, faithful and worthy of our trust. He is in control, and He is good. And He is all I need.

You’re all that I need.

            In gladness and pain;

            In sunshine and rain;

            When I’m strong and when I’m weak—

You still are all I seek.

You’re the Creator of time.

            Every breath that I take,

            Every choice that I make,

            Each new chapter I begin—

I know You, my Father, have written.

Sometimes darkness is all I see.

            Earth surrounds me as the night;

            I walk by faith, not by sight,

            Yet I trust You are good—

And will do what You said you would.

What You do stands forever.

            Your Word will not fail;

            Your plans will prevail.

            You make us more like You—

            And teach us to live in what’s true.

You’re the Beginning and End.

            I will praise You each day

            And will walk in Your ways.

            Infinite Creator, Master and Lord,

            Loving, merciful Father—You’re the One I adore.

Seek My Face

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’

My heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.’”

{Psalm 27:8}

Prior to the writing of this poem, the Lord impressed upon me how often I seek His hand and how little I seek His face. I find myself daily surrounded on all sides with needs small and great, and I take them to my Father—as I should. Yet I often don’t seek God purely out of a love, and desire for, Him. Just yesterday I heard of a rather urgent need and found myself praying, “Lord, I pray that Your hand would be on…” and I stopped myself. God certainly desires that we bring our cares to Him (1 Peter 5:7), but He wants even more for us to love Him for who He is. Our Savior is sovereign and sufficient and infinitely worthy of our worship. “O come let us adore Him…”

Lord, You are my King and the One I adore.

I’m complete in my God and can ask for no more.

Your grace falls like rain every day of my life,

And I witness Your glory in triumph and strife.

I’m so glad I can trust that You have a good plan

And are doing what’s best when I can’t understand.

I am glad in this life we can praise You through pain

And still sing of Your glory through storm clouds and rain.

It must’ve been hard, say, for Daniel to rejoice

When he prayed by a window and the king’s men heard his voice;

A feast for the lions in a pit of despair—

Surely he never had wished to be there!

But You were his Savior—You delivered him still.

As I read in the Scriptures, I can see ‘twas Your will.

You gained so much glory through the faith of this man

And why You allowed it I now understand.

This is my comfort through the pain that I see:

You are working for good so You may gain glory.

If I’ve trusted ‘til now and You never have failed,

I can trust that Your promises still will prevail.

Though time and again I have sought our Your hand

And have asked You to work when I could not understand,

I now see not Your hand but Your face I should seek—

You are hope for the broken and strength for the weak.

When I look at Your face ‘stead of the troubles that surround,

I am filled with Your joy, and I hear a new sound.

My God singing over me—how could this be?

I’m enthralled with Your glory and sheer majesty.

The things of this earth quickly start to subside.

As I’m filled up with You, I have learned to abide

In the joy of Your Presence—for where else can I go

To see grace and mercy abundantly flow?

Lord, the call You have left me is clear: “Seek My face.”

I say yes, O my Savior, for I long to embrace

What You will to accomplish; so may my life be

A song never ceasing to sing our Your glory. 

To My Dear Sister on Her High School Graduation

“May the LORD bless you from Zion,

he who made heaven and earth!”

{Psalm 134:3}

Today is the day in which my little sister graduates from high school! While it is hard for me to believe that she has already reached this point, I am so proud of her and am excited to see how God continues to be magnified through her life. I wrote this poem both as a reminder of how much she means to me and as a blessing on her as she steps into the next chapter of her life.

A beautiful smile, an imaginative mind—

A sister more thoughtful one never could find.

A heart bent on praising the Lord Jesus Christ,

And showing His glory each day of her life.

She loves to bring joy to each person she sees

And show how sweet living for Jesus can be.

She’s a beautiful daughter and kindhearted friend

Whose love and excitement seem never to end.

But to me, she is more than these things I have said;

I never would trade her for another instead!

When we long are apart, I often have missed her,

For she’s not only my very best friend, but my sister!

I cherished our times playing dolls in the car—

I realized then how creative you are!

Our story—it always began in your mind

And Kit and I just came along for the ride.

And then there were nights when we stayed up so late—

Our endless discussions ‘til the morning could not wait.

I’m so thankful God let us be friends from the start

And blessed me with a sister with such a sweet heart.

So now as your high school years draw to a close,

I’m so thankful that your future God already knows.

He has shaped you thus far; the good work He’s begun

He’ll continue that you may look more like His Son.

May God bless you and keep you each day that you live;

May He bless you from Zion and His grace to you give

That you may declare that He’s holy and just

And lovingly obey Him and in His name trust.

I know He will do this and can’t wait to see

Just what kind of young woman God shapes you to be.

I love you, dear sister, and I hope that you know:

I’m so proud of you, Rebecca Elizabeth Go!