I am a Dash

Who am I?
          A line, a dash,
A little space between two dates—
Little dates with honor's weight,
Little dates with baseness splashed.

Connecting finish to the start,
I fill the fullness of this time:
While toiling in the pure sublime
Or squand'ring all or even part.

How should I live to fill this space?
What purpose shall my life pursue?
I know I cannot worth accrue,
While life sits idly by its race.

For springtime turns to fall too soon,
Then winter with its discontent;
I want to see my life well-spent,
Not lived in waste nor anguished ruin.

So to my God I'll turn my heart,
My soul will closely follow Him;
My life well-lived as joyous hymn
Will purpose to my dash impart.

- D. Benning

Be Holy!

"And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there..."
~ Isa. 35:8-9

"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
~ Heb. 12:14



Ev'ry good and perfect gift
   comes down from heav'n Above
from th'eternal Father God
   and filled with light and love.
In Him are no doubt nor shadows—
   He is e'er the same.
He commands His people likewise live
   and to burn with Holy Flame

   Be holy, be holy!
      live life all for Him and blameless in His sight.
   He is holy, so be holy!
      without which you will never see His light!


Walking by God's just commands,
   the way of holiness;
No unclean nor fools thereon
   and nothing to distress.
This is then the Father's will
   we walk this way with Him;
So be done with ev'ry worldly way,
   and be purged from ev'ry sin.

   Be holy, be holy!
      live life by His law and live forever blest.
   He is holy, so be holy!
      without which you will never enter rest!



Jesus lived this way on earth
   and told us live the same:
"Be holy as your Father God
   to wear His righteous Name."
We can never earn a place
   to live in heav'n Above;
but if we can't follow His commands
   then we dwell not in His love.

   Be holy, be holy!
      live life all for Him and by His love and grace.
   He is holy, so be holy!
      without which you will never see His face!

- D. Benning

"If you love me, keep my commands."
~ John 14:15