Heavenly Fire

As flames rise upward, Lord, I rise
And seek my God to know.
As Thy Spirit my flame doth blow
I soar to upper skies.

As the flame consumes the wood
So my soul, so parched and dry,
Is subsumed as in Thee I die;
In Thee I live to seek Thy good.

The ashes only there remain,
My soul, bound up in the bundle of life
With Thee, is released from death.
I find that all my loss is gain.

I was dead but now I live;
A living flame I rise with Thee.
A captive once, I now am free,
Lost in Thy life, my praise I give.

The Quest

If I could but draw near to Thee
Again, as I have so 'oft before;
If I could hear Thy gentle voice
And see Thy face once more.

Thou'rt constantly upon my mind
Yet my spirit wanders far away
From Thee. O Lord, where is that place
Where I may dwell alway?

Like David, chased from vale to glen,
I hide in caves and wilderness.
I seek but Thee, my Lord, to know,
I seek but, Lord, Thy face.

My heart pants after Thee, O Christ,
My soul pursueth Thee, and hard.
Hear Thou my plea and come to me
My Savior, and my God.

For in Thy Presence sheer delight
And light and life I find;
I learn that in Thee all is well,
I learn that Thou art kind.

Fire By Night

Oh night, thou hidest my God from me;
In thy dark shades I cannot see.
Where can I run from thee to'escape?
Where e'er I run I find but thee.

Slumber doth my eyelids lade
And memories of my Savior fade.
And nowhere in thy dark estate
Is there a peaceful glen or glade.

But when is most extreme my plight
Then Lo! I see a flick'ring light!
My Savior God at last appears,
And darkness then must take it's flight.

For my God in darkness dwells,
All the world His Kingdom tells.
The light becomes a pillar of fire,
E'en at night, then, all is well.