Agape

crushed under the weight of sound and fury

I sing a love song

I lift up my chorus to You

for You have poured out Agape upon me

into my heart

by the Holy Spirit, whom You have given

pressed down, but not destroyed

despairing of life, but refusing to give up

my heart is open, my hands

are wide to You

for there is no other name but Your beautiful name

buried in the agony of disappointment

I stand on a stage

and make a concert for You

for this anthem is one of hope

enduring, never-ending, ever persistent hope

the whole crowd swoons and sways to the sound

caught up in this moment, we are in another world

and we forget

we forget everything but Your sound

we forget our trials and tribulations

in the sound of Your voice

in the glory of this tribute

we disappear

we pay tribute to our tribulations

lest we forget the treasures gained in the darkest of darkness

here is a monument

an altar

here is a sacrifice of worship

where You cut me deep

and crushed me like grapes

where You pressed down hard

where You bound me and tied me up

from distress into a palace of glory

these troubles produce patience

patience, character

and character, hope

for Your love has been poured out

Agape is filling up my heart

and here in Your grace

I now stand

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Romans 5:3-5