More for me than for y'all

So I think I'm a pretty cheesey writer, but I enjoy making the attempt--thus the title of this post. I'm pretty sure this writing thing is more for me than for you, but maybe you'll find some joy in these messes of words I am calling poems/lyrics. So here we go with another one I'm working on. Hope it doesn't offend anyone. I have just been struck lately thinking about saints in the church who have stayed and stayed. They've remained faithful through thick and thin. I admire these people greatly as I am learning that while there were aspects of moving from church to church as a PK that were challenging, there are challenges also with staying where the Lord has planted you. I've recently been so saddened to hear about some family members of mine who have poured themselves out in a lifetime of ministry to a church and it now looks as if, through some painful circumstances, the Lord might be leading them out to a different place. This family has been such a witness to me throughout my life. They've loved their church passionately. They've given all they have and more to the Kingdom work the Lord had for them there. While they've experienced many joyous moments there, they have also had many, many difficult times. They've dealt with oddballs in the church, weak leadership, and just down-right frustrating folks. But because they believed in the notion that there is no such thing as a perfect church--only a perfect Savior, they've remained where they felt the Lord wanted them to remain. From the outside looking in, it seems as if there were many times when they could've justified throwing their hands up and saying, "I'm outta here! I've had it!" But they remained submitted to the Lord's will for their family. He may or may not be transplanting them into a new body of believers, but what a testimony they've been to me and so many as they have loved their church, served Christ there wholeheartedly--recognizing that they bring their own imperfections to that Holy Spirit hospital we call the Church. I have to believe that their dedication and desire to lift Jesus higher despite the enemy's attempts to confound is a spiritual discipline that can bring the angels in heaven to their feet singing songs of praise to Jesus who has given them the fortitude they've needed to stay. I love them and am so grateful for them. For the lives of service and love they've shown to me and so many. I wish I were a better writer, because their lives are worthy of greater excellence in writing than what I can create. Here are some thoughts I've been mulling over in the last few days as I have been praying for them in this challenging time.

"The Perfect Church"
v1
They'd been serving in that church for nearly thirty years.
They'd had a lot of joy,
but they'd shed their share of tears.
Pastors came and went
Friends came and went too.
The devil hard at work
tried to split the church in two.
There were days, weeks and months
when they felt their hearts would break.
And showing up Sunday mornings
was sometimes a tough step to take.

(chorus-1stX)
But there's no such thing as a perfect church
There's no house of worship where the devil doesn't lurk.
The church is full of broken hearts
but jump on in and give it your part.
So give up the hunt
You'll never be pleased.
Perfect only comes
when we're all on our knees.

v2
Miss Alice had been there for nearly 50 years
she didn't stick around 'cause of how things made her feel.
Her time, her talents, her gifts--she'd made a promise.
And she never once thought
of stepping away from us.
Church was a place to worship and love
Baking cakes, training acolytes
serving her Father above.
Glamorous and exhilarating?
Not all the time.
But Kingdom work had its way of satisfying
No, things didn't always go as she thought might be best
Knowin' His hands were on her life
gave her heart joy and rest.

(chorus-2ndX)

Cause there's no such thing as a perfect church

There's no house of worship where the devil doesn't lurk.

The church is full of broken hearts

but jump on in and give it your part.

So give up the hunt

You'll never be pleased.

Perfect only comes

when we're all on our knees.

(bridge)
Bring all your hurts
He wants them to be His.
A place to find freedom
that's what the true church is.
There might be disappointments
There might be pain.
We're all just sinners
who need grace the same.

(chorus-3rd&finalX)
Cause there's no such thing as a perfect church
There's no house of worship where the devil doesn't lurk.
The church is full of broken hearts
but jump on in and give it your part.
So give up the hunt
You'll never be pleased.
Perfect only comes
when we're all on our knees.

(tag)
So come on, church

let's get on our knees.