-This is a rap I wrote today. The end of a week with an earthquake in China, an explosion in Texas, and a bombing in Boston. All events that took the lives of loved ones. I then read this rap at a prison tonight full of men with familiar and unfamiliar faces. If anything this week reminded me how blessed I am to know, to serve, and to be loved by a God who loves me so much...so much that he was willing to sacrifice a loved one, his son, to die for me. To die for you. So that we may have everlasting life through him. Now that is something worth dying for.

Oh God you are my God

I will rise above and love amongst hate

Today is the day and this moment is the moment

Where I boldly seek the perfection in those that are flawed.

Break me. I dare for you to try.

My tears are not the sign of my weakness

For the lost and weary I will cry.

Do you honestly believe that this will separate me from the love of Christ?

By your actions you so hastily carry out you will only get me to the presence of my father faster.

And in that, there is nothing for me to fear. I will dance. I will sing. By the power of my presence here on earth I will look at you and tell you; You. Are Loved.

My words are truth. Though my heart may not always be a true reflection it is not my mirror you should fear. I face death all day long. We are sheep to be slaughtered. But I. I am more than a conqueror through him loves me. Through him who loves you.

We will suffer. And our hearts will be broken. I will introduce myself to you today and then I, too, will see you go.

I will look in the face of those who take away and I will BOLDLY SAY,

He died for you.

‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus MY Lord.’ And whether you choose to acknowledge him or not...your Lord too.

In my heart I have hate. I am a murderer and a liar. I’m a thief. I play both the role of jury and judge. And I am stuck in the mire. But there is hope for me. When I allow myself to be transformed and set free, by the Lord’s refining fire.

God did not promise that this life would be easy. In fact he promised it would be hard.

But if you listen to his voice God will say to you too, “Look now toward heaven and count the stars.”

I recognize you have wounds on your heart. So do I. But remember you are loved by a Jesus who also has scars.

You want to fight? Lets fight with our hearts proclaiming the love of Christ!

Shout out loud, He is Risen! He is here. And someday we’ll all dance on heaven’s shore.

But for now. I will look at you. I will love you. And I will tell you. You. My friend. Are worth fighting for.