Poem
A cousin sent this, and it struck home today.
I AM A CHRISTIAN by Maya Angelou
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."
I 'm whispering "I was lost,"
Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.
Author ~Maya Angelou~
I AM A CHRISTIAN by Maya Angelou
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."
I 'm whispering "I was lost,"
Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.
Author ~Maya Angelou~
posted by nai at 12:46 PM
3 Comments:
I think this poem is right on... and I'm made a bit uncomfortable by it. It could be my pride, but when Gal 2:20 says, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." It makes me want to spend more time boasting in Christ, which includes the wonderful stuff He is doing and has done in my life.
I'm definately a "work in progress". And I like pointing out the work Christ has already done. Like my wonderful marriage, family, friends. This is all Christ's work, and I'm not going to be self-deprecating about that!
I enjoyed the poem Ian, it made me smile.
"Struck home", when I read Jor's comment, is pretty much
saying that the poem disturbed me. In putting God first,
I believe I need to be humble, but my selfishness always comes in and makes that process difficult. My pride puts a "I must deprecate myself" spin on humility that is more "I am strong but must pretend to be weak to let Christ in".
I can't do right by myself. The Lord is inviting me in as I am, and my repentance must be because I love him, not because I think it is what I am supposed to do, or because I want specific help to avoid suffering, etc.
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