Summer 1994

The Sum
Joan Forde
Pinecrest Staff

Father, You formed the universe, the world with Your breath;
You spoke it into existence,
You filled it with beauty and life.

Then you formed man. Within Your Father's heart
You knew man's frailty, his frame.
You knew that soon from You he would depart.

Yet, You loved him. You set Your gaze of light upon him,
and You freely gave the world into his hands; to subdue,
dress, tend, to be himself a light to fill all lands.

But man chose another way, filled with hurt and pain,
with sorrow and great loss. He rebelled and took his love
and set it upon himself,
thus separating himself from Your intent.

Yet, You loved him. You still set Your light upon him.
You had long ago provided a Lamb. This Lamb would become
the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the One through whom
You would unveil Your loving, mighty plan.

For bound up within this One was the extent of all Your
intentions, Your every hope, longing, and desire would
be expressed within and through Him.

His life and death would conquer sin. Your only begotten
Son in mortal flesh was He,
become the bridge between mankind and Thee.

He was the Sum, the Sum of all Your Father pleasures;
of all that spoke within Your Father heart. He would
make manifest Your love, Your power and Your glory.

Through this Man, mankind would make a brand new start.
His Name is Jesus. You gave Him oh so freely;
a Savior to save mankind from sin.

Now His life You still pour out to man, and yet unveil
Your mighty plan of victory over death, hell and the grave.
You yet draw a people unto Him. Through Your Son Your
love You rescue them, and He becomes the object
of man's love:

The Sum, the Sum of all of life's ambition, hopes, and
longings. He is man's dream come true.

Then Your Father's heart is satisfied as Your Son is
praised and magnified; for through Him,
You have brought man back to You.