Love... by George Herbert

George Herbert (1593-1633)

Love Bade Me Welcome

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back

    Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

    From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

    If I lacked anything.

"A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here";

    Love said, "You shall be he."

"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? Ah my dear, 

    I cannot look on thee."

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

    "Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame

    Go where it doth deserve."

"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"

    "My dear, then I will serve."

"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."

    So I did sit and eat.

I hope this encourages you as it does me. Thank you Christ for loving my marred eyes...

A remembrance of Christ's work.

"26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,3 not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being4 might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him5 you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”


1 Corinthians: 26-31


     I became a Christian soon after I graduated High School. I was raised in a Christian home. We attended a Southern Baptist church faithfully through out my elementary, middle, and high school years. Regardless of the attendance to church and morality in life, I wasn't a changed life. Soon after high school I was working in a Summer Camp where I had the chance to observe the life of a young man be changed into following Christ. This young man seemed to change within the week that I was there. I realized that I wanted that, and regardless of my faithful participation to church I didn't have the change that Christ brings. Around this time, in an obvious working of the Spirit, I heard a sermon dissecting 2 Corinthians 5:17, which led me to really think about my hearts desire and if Christ had changed them. I asked Christ to do so, and be the master of my life. I then began seeking Him and not reputation before men. My reputation had been the motivation behind my pursuing anything of God. I had wanted to look good to people, not look good before God. Christ brought reconciliation to my life by converging the life I led on the outside before people to the life I led behind closed doors. He taught me integrity.

    He led me to Tennessee Tech. University where I got involved in Campus Outreach. After much school work and all my summer spent on Campus Outreach Summer Projects, I graduated. I went to live in Brazil for about 5 months. It was suppose to be a year, but I came home early to get married to my wonderful wife, Katie.

   We have been following Christ around Tennessee for the last 4 years. From Cookeville to Athens, He has been faithfully leading us and growing us. We are now members at Cornerstone Church of Knoxville where we seek to serve the body by loving our neighbors and serving our small group when we can.

To my love, for my Love

To my love, for my Love

The one who shows me much of Love married me today.
Not today exactly, but four years ago, today.
I'm not sure how to explain her... I am speechless in love with my love.
A perfect picture of true love.
Proof of the seventh point: the best of all worlds.
Proof of Psalm eighty four: eleven.
Proof that love never fails.
Proof of Proof.
Abundantly, lovingly, quietly, she helps me serve Love.
Grace abounds in our gospel picture.
Clinging we step out, our faith will be strengthen in our pursuit of the path less traveled.

Bless us with a hundred more expounding upon the last four, then when its our time, Lord of Love, build my mansion next to hers above.

-David