December 31, 2011

Day passes, year ends; 2011 ... 2012

Day is done
many
a full year
comes to a close

We remember
what has passed
and make no sense
of events
that have fallen
our way

Glad tidings
have come as well
Do they not
deserve more

And what of
Tomorrow
many there are
But
do not look back
in dismay
but forward
and upward
in hope and thanksgiving

Live these days
Live them well
Remember
to whom
they ultimately belong
and live them with Him,
The Lord Jesus.

(c) December 31, 2011 

"No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62

December 24, 2011

His Gift of Love

The gifts
under the tree
seem unnecessary

whether there is little
or much to give
and or receive
The gifts
are not important

If there is little,
we become desolate
If there is much,
we become proud and arrogant

We share and show
our love for another
but what have we to give
to Jesus?

Does He have need of material things --
toys or clothes or books
I think not.

It is love
and compassion
patience,
kindness,
comfort,
goodwill to another

He looks into our hearts
in the midst of wherever we are
He knows who we are
and what we are
He desires us to know Him.

There is no amount of good
we can ever do or achieve
to obtain the gift
of love
Jesus freely offers

We have only to accept
Accept, believe, obey, trust, love.

Love.
Trust.
Hold onto the promises.
Never forget,
Never let go.

Remember the baby
It is God
who chose to come
to earth
to be for me and you --
among us
to bring us new new life
to save us from our sins

Love Him
Trust Him
Never cease to remember
who He is,
the Mighty King
Jehovah Jirah,
Our All in All
Never lose sight of
His Glory,
of the Love
He has for you,
He has given us.

Do we owe Him any less?
Not as an obligation,
but of love.

Love and reverence,
Love and joy,
Love and trust.
He is worthy.
Trust Him.

There is nothing we can do
ourselves.
There is nothing we are
or can ever hope to be
without the Lord Jesus -
our lives are incomplete.
Without Him, we cannot
accomplish His purpose.

Remember
Always remember

It is His love for us
that is the true gift
of all
Our response
is our love for Him

Be it ever true,
full of faith
and hope,
but most especially,
full of love.

(c) December 21/22, 2011

December 17, 2011

Jesus is the Promised One

Real and certain
In days long past
it was a promise to come
In days future
it is a promise of His return
In days present
it is a promise fulfilled.
God's divine child
Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
He is
... the promise of Light
... the promise of Gladness
... the promise of Liberty
... the promise of Peace
... the promise of Extraordinary King
... the promise of Everlasting Reign

(c) December 17, 2011

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

December 16, 2011

IF ... then I

"Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 
He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart." - Psalm 15:1-2

If ...
you walk,
you obey,
then
I ...
I will be ALL that I AM
The Lord Your God

your Provider, your Shelter, your Overcomer, your Protector, your Friend, your Counselor, your Strength, your Teacher, your Friend and Confidante, your Deliverer, your Judge and King, your Compassion, your Comfort, your Door to New Life, your Hope, your Good Shepherd, your Peace, and more.

IF
you do not walk (with Me), and
do not obey (My commandments)
then
still
I ...
I will be ALL that I AM ...

Judgment
pronounced
The door to new life
closed.
The hope and peace you think you have
dashed in a second
Deep despair, overwhelming pain
as the fiery flames climb higher, surrounding you
penetrating your very being
This
your permanent home
as you face
Eternal Damnation

I AM the Lord God Almighty

(c) December 16, 2011 

December 15, 2011

Windows

Shadows peaking
Sunlight floods my soul
When I'm not looking
It's dark
Where do they go?
Death comes
stealing our dignity
Windows
Everywhere
I don't want to go
I don't want to stay
Life is easy compared to this
Life is full of moments
Death is full of pain.

Not always
But here, now
It is.
Windows
One way
I am the way
Jesus is the way
Windows
Reflections
Memories
Going away

(c) September 16, 1996
one week before my mother's death
(11:25 p.m. Sept. 23, 1996)


December 14, 2011

He came ... do you know Him?

He came.
God came.
He saw
all we are
and came.
It was promised,
foretold,
years and years
and years before.
a baby
would be born
lying in a manger;
son of Man
son of God
to search out the lost
to bring renewed hope
to save us from damnation
for eternal, everlasting, glorious
life.

He came.
God came.
Himself,
as a child, a babe,
in the midst of
sinfulness,
weakness,
wretchedness,
misery.
He came
and lived among us.

God
creator of all that is
and is to come
and has already been
He Is
The I AM

No one,
no, not one
is greater than He

He came.
God came
as Himself
as an infant
born of the Virgin Mary
Holy,
divine,
without blemish.

His name is Jesus Christ.

A miracle of life
and love
for all of humanity
proclaimed
anew
year after year after year
At Christmas.
When His followers --
those who believe in Him,
those who trust in Him,
those who obey His commandments,
those whose heart is focused on Him --
Celebrate
His birth.

Christmas is the season
we celebrate
the birth of our King
and give gifts
that bring glory to Him.

Christian is the name
His followers
came to be known by
(Acts 11:26)
Christianity
embodies Christ
as the God-head
and His followers
as the church

Jesus is not Santa Claus
Christianity is not Islam
Is not Buddhist
Is not Jehovah's Witness

Christianity is not living a "good life"
Is not "being good"
Is not a feeling
Is not "I hope so."

Christianity is knowing
It is true and factual,
It is based on faith alone
On The One and Only
Jesus Christ.

Do you know Jesus?
Are you one of His followers?
Do you admit you are a sinner?
Do you believe in Him as the Son of God?
Do you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

(c) December 14, 2011

December 04, 2011

We are at odds

We wait for His birth
We wait again
Season after season
time and time again
the waiting is near
yet so far away

The Christ has come
The babe is born
to manhood He grows
to teach and instruct
to make ready
to give His life
to be the sacrificial lamb
to love
and love again

We wait for His return
and remember
His life
His death
His rebirth

He lives
in me, in you
our hearts
sing with joy

In this season of love
we wait
for His coming again
when all things
will be made new.

(c) December 4, 2011

For "He, who sat on the throne said, 'Behold I make all things new.' " -- Revelation 21:5

December 03, 2011

Look up, Look up ... to Jesus

Look up
Look up
wherever you area
The Lord has come
is coming again

He seeks you
at every turn
every corner
every roadblock

He understands your pain
surrounds you with
love and compassion
is everywhere
you go
everywhere
you are

Look up
Look up
into the heavens high
The Lord has come
will soon return

This is the season -- Christmas
A time of Love
We remember the reason --
God the Father
came as flesh -- one of us,
a human being
His Son
Our Lord
Jesus Christ

Look up
Look up
wherever you are
in dark of night
and dark of day
Star-studded sky
brightly shine
One pointing the way.

Look up
Look up
wherever you are
Do not delay
There is no time
The Lord is coming
The Lord has come

The Lord is here --
in your midst,
all around,
within your heart

He beckons still
to those lost
and forlorn
Don't despair

Look up
Look up
It is Time.

(c) December 3, 2011

"Redemption Draweth Nigh" by Ernie Haase 

December 01, 2011

Only One

Between The Beginning
and The End,
The Alpha and The Omega,
there are many roads
to travel
but
Only One True Path
to follow
to set us free
from sin
to make us whole
and complete.

The path
that leads
to our salvation,
Jesus Christ,
The Son of God
Our Savior
Our Redeemer
Our Lord
and Master
and King
to our eternal home
in the heavens most high.

Only One Path
Only One Life --
We are many
but He,
The Lord,
is One
and
it is His Life
with whom
we pattern our life.

Only One Savior
Jesus!

The God of the universe
created you,
formed you
from dust,
loved you
unto death

and He -- as flesh --
Jesus,
The begotten Son of God,
came
into the world of mankind
to show ...
"whoever believes in Him 
should not perish 
but have 
everlasting life.
For God the Father 
did not send His Son 
into the world to condemn
the world, 
but
that the world 
through Him 
might be saved." 
(John 3:16-17)

Only One
Path
One Life
One Problem -- SIN
One Solution
One Truth
One Savior

(c) December 1, 2011

November 28, 2011

Is life ...?

Is life ... vanity ... is it grasping for the wind ... or is it more? 

A child is born 
A child dies 

To all there is 
in everything, 
there is a season
a time 
appointed by God 

to take that first breath of air 
to have 
to hold 
to rejoice 
to dance 
to laugh
to encourage 
to build up 
to keep 
to speak 
to comfort 
to learn 
to work and labor 
to embrace 
to find fulfillment 

but too, 
appointed by God
that last gasp of air
to mourn 
and grieve
to break down 
to cry 
to discard 
to kill 
to labor and labor and
constantly toil 
to discourage
to tear down
and destroy 
to keep silent

and in between,
precious moments
that last however long
God has given us. 

All of time 
belongs to God
is appointed by Him

We cannot,
should not approach life
like it belongs solely 
to us,
think whatever 
we do 
can enable 
whatsoever we desire. 

God gave us life 
each and everyone 
of us 

Individually
it is our 
earthly mothers and father
but beyond, 
it is our 
heavenly Father 
and in everything
there is a season, 
a time 
appointed by Him 
The Lord Almighty

A time to love .... 
and to hate 
A time of war ...
and of peace.

In all of life 
there is love 
and hope 
and faith
but the greatest 
of all 
is love 

Love takes you 
to and through 
places 
unknown to you

Without love 
in every aspect of our life
we are not,
have not, 
do not 

and sometimes, too, 
with love, 
we find ourselves 
lacking, 
sorrowful 
deep within
for all 
we are not, 
all we have not
all we do not.

"Seek those things 
which are above -- 
where Christ is. 
Set your mind on things 
above,
not on things 
on the earth." 
(Colossians 3:1-2)

Love
The Love God bestows 
bears all things 
believes all things 
hopes all things 
endures all things.

Without failing, 
feelings of failure,
of fear, 
of worry

Memories 
of precious moments 
hold together 
our love 
for another 
who has passed from us. 

Pursue life 
given us by God
Pursue love 
given us through Christ 
Pursue God
our creator, our sustainer, our everything
stay one with Him,
walking with Him, 
and even in the midst 
of much trial and suffering,
we will be at peace. 

(c) November 24/28, 2011

(Thoughts taken from Scripture found in Ecclesiastes 1-3 and I Corinthians 13:7, 13)

November 23, 2011

Are you sure Lord?

Are you sure Lord I am okay?
I am where I am to be for this moment?
Probably not.
Always seeming to be unsure.
Always it seems
I look to what others see in me
and wonder if what they see is real
is what you Lord desire them to see
I fear I am not.
Not even among friends
or those I think are friends
do I feel secure in that friendship
Fearful
I should not care
I imagine
I should just move on.
Rely totally on you.
Perhaps I am not
I never feel good enough
I'm not good enough
I will never be good enough
But friendship is important is it not?

Tell me Lord what I should do.
I feel sometimes no matter what I do, it's not right.

How should I
How do I
rise above
all that I feel
all the remorse
and sadness I feel

It isn't where I want
to be.

How Lord
How

I don't know how.

.... I can choose
to dwell
on negative thoughts
or I can choose to dwell
on Godly thoughts.

The choice is always
ours alone to make.

I am because of God
because of who God is
and what He is

No matter how strong
another thinks he is
God is stronger
God is more powerful.
God is mightier
God is.

And because of God
I am

Not because of me
But because of Him
who is greater
than I will ever be.

That doesn't make me a failure
God doesn't make failures.
Only in our own minds,
when we dwell there
and become distraught,
disillusioned within
we think we are a failure
But not to God
To Him we are a work in progress.

Today's devotional
Flawed and Frail
reminds me
The Lord is not
looking for super heroes
but rather those who are
frail and flawed.
That I am.
Through our frailness
and our flawedness
The Lord brings about strength and grace

Be willing
Be available
God will work in you
Through you
To reach another.

(c) November 8, 2008

Me oh My

My legs itch.
My selfishness gets the best of me at times
My plans go awry
Me
Me
Me
My feelings
My loss
My dreams
My everything

What does God think of me?
Where am I

Is He happy with me?

Can He see my love for Him?

Is He ashamed of me

Does He consider me an evil doer
a foolish woman
a prayer warrior?

Is God pleased with my attempts to honor Him?

Does God consider me
His daughter?
Or am I alone

Should I withdraw into myself
Should I hide
Should I withdraw from activities

No one sees
No one responds

My fears
My concerns
My desires

What does God see in me?
Where am I

Am I sunshine
or clouds of gray
Am I caring
Or do I care less

Do you Lord see my love for others
Or have I betrayed you

What does God think of me
Am I growing
or am I stagnant

Is this all selfishness
to write so much
about nothing
Am I nothing


Who am I Lord
Where am I

Am I in the midst
of others with greater

I know where you are Lord
I talk to you daily
I read your holy Word
I think about what you
have to say to me
You are here, right here,
in my heart.
But where am I Lord?
Who will answer?
Ed Ames once sang a song,
"Who will answer?"
Who am I Lord
Where am I

Am I where you want me to be
Are you pleased with me

Do I bring you any joy
or only anguish

It's not all about me.
But always there is a me.
The body of me make up mankind.

Woe is me

(c) November 3, 2008

I AM with you

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

It happened
The unimaginable
A child dies
A job is lost
Health deteriorates

Our concern
gives way to anguish
as we pursue
over and over
and over again
in our minds
the possible reasons

But the source
of all that is
The One
who knows
the whys
and wherefores
stays silent

Where do we go
What is the next step
How do we move on
past this point
of deep despair?

He tells us
to stay focused
not on the what if's and buts
not on the what once was
and is now gone
not on what we wish could return
No,
He tells us
to remember Him
to "Fear not,
for I am with you;
Be not dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes,
I will help you.
I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10)

We see,
but do we see Him?!
Does the brokenness of our hearts
cause us to dwell
more on our pain
than on the Lord
who can heal us?

Jesus,
our beloved Savior and Lord,
shows us
the way to peace.
Through Him
we find comfort and consolation,
we find beauty and love,
we find hope.

We must be in His Word,
study His Word,
talk with Him,
listen to Him.

We must not settle
our selves on events
in and of the world
that will cause us to stray
from
The One
who gives us life,
who is our life.

(c) November 18/19, 2011

Guilt

Guilt.
Amazing how another can make you feel
Not build you up
Not encourage you
Not say I'm praying for you
Not asking how a loved one is doing
   or how you yourself are doing ...

simply amazing.

You receive what you think
is an act of kindness
but find it is not.
Given under false pretense,
wrong motive

Guilt.
Feeling you need to apologize
for the situation you're in
Feeling you need to explain
why laundry and dishes
and grocery shopping
and preparing meals
don't get done
in a timely fashion.
Feeling you need to come to your own defense.
Of course I know how to cook.
I know how to do laundry
and wash dishes
and buy groceries
and pay bills.
Knowing how is not the issue.

Guilt.
Feeling the need to rest,
to relax,
to put your feet up
and do nothing for an hour or two
is wrong.

I am guilty before God,
but He does not condemn me.
He forgives me for all of my shortcomings.
He forgave me at the cross.
He forgave me when I asked Him into my heart.

(c) November 16, 2011

November 14, 2011

Near or far, He is there

Far far away
He is
but NOT.
We don't seek Him
We don't care.
We live,
thrive
on day-to-day pleasures
disinterested in our personal
eternal security.
We endure
the pain
and weariness
for what!?
What do we gain --
Our strength is weak
Our despair overwhelming
We collapse under our load
of guilt and remorse and
yes, frustration too.
We miss His nearness
yet, He is near.
He is always near
It is us, you and me
who has moved.
He seeks
always searching
We not necessarily so.
He is near
He is beside you
He is within you
He gives your life purpose
He is your purpose
He is forever faithful.
Our faith,
ever so small,
we think futile,
but not so.
With God
nothing is impossible
He is our hope
In Him,
we find comfort
forevermore.

(c) November 13, 2011

November 13, 2011

Help me Lord

Help me continue to move forward
Not go backward.
Bring me relief
from pain
and weariness
Let me feel your loving arms around me
Bring me encouragement
as I encourage my Jimmy
Give me time
Help me know
what is important
day by day
minute by minute
what your preference is
for the needs
and must do's
You are my comforter
yet I of late feel so
disjointed.
So much to do
So little time
Still,
I continue to find time for You.
Without You I am nothing,
nowhere
Yet,
sometimes,
I feel so alone.
But I'm not.
But the aloneness comes
and I feel helpless in it
feel I'm being
swallowed up
and the devil laughs.
I will not surrender.
Help me Lord
I pray
Help me
to continue to move
forward
one step at a time.
Amen.
(c) November 10, 2011

November 11, 2011

Help me to wait, to not be hurried

What is, was
What will be, has
Round and round
The lives of all revolve
Struggle to maintain balance
sanity
clearness of mind and thought
Fearful of the unknown
So much there
God said He would be with us
All
Nothing
is so perfect we can move without thinking
We cannot be in a hurry
But hurried we are
Harried too
Must rest
Must pray
Must stay rooted
Must seek His guidance
Must
Must
Must
So hard
Help me Lord
Help us all
Keep us mindful of all You are
Help us to not be in a hurry over anything and everything
Nothing is trivial
Everything we go through You are aware of it
Help me, help us to wait
Help me to be confident
in You, to trust in You,
Your answers, Your timetable.
I pray in your name.

(c) November 11, 2011

October 28, 2011

I AM is greater than i am

The Lord sees our oppression
He hears our cry
He knows our sorrow

He comes to deliver
to protect
to guide

I AM WHO I AM
is greater
than I am

He brings us up
out of the affliction
He meets us
at the point of our greatest need
He stretches out His mighty hand
to keep us safe and secure
and to strike down the enemy.

The Lord seeks,
asks of us,
His children
created from a speck of dust
to turn
from disceiving
conniving
selfish paths
to Him.

The Lord desires us
to keep our eyes,
our minds and thoughts,
our hearts
focused
entirely on Him.

The Lord WILL provide.

We accept, believe
without a doubt
His Son was sent to save us
from our sin.
But that is not the end!
Only the Beginning ...
The beginning of a
heart-filled love relationship.

Our fears
need not become
a steppingstone
of dismay,
setting us up for failure,
but a realization
that anything and everything
we can do
is futile
and meaningless
if our faith in the Lord Jesus
is not
and if also,
that faith does not grow.

For the Lord
there is no boundary
There is nothing He cannot do
He is everything,
all around us,
our Master and King.
We are His servants
And when we are in Him,
there are endless possibilities.

First we start
Then we continue
We don't look back
We look up
We stay focused
We don't stop
We trust Him
We obey Him
We believe in Him
We remember

Every step forward
is a gigantic leap of faith.

(c)  October 28, 2011

October 25, 2011

The Ten - God's Covenant of Love

The commandments,
The ordinances,
The regulations,
The rules,
The Covenant --
set forth
by God
to and with His people,
designed to shed light,
to be Light
to give instruction,
guidance
for holy living.

The Lord God seeks
a willing heart,
a love-filled heart.
The gifts, offerings
we bring
show our reverence
to the Lord,
our Master and King.

Those (gifts) given selfishly,
without love
and devotion
to Him,
the giver of life,
are not accepted,
are not approved.

If in our living
it is not to
The Most Holy One
our total allegiance
lies,
we have failed.
Our reward is just --
we face
eternal punishment,
eternal damnation,
eternal separation.

God's Covenant --
He has made many such pacts
But,
The Ten
boils down to
LOVE
"Love the Lord
with ALL your heart,
ALL your soul,
ALL your mind,
All your strength
and
Love your neighbor
as yourself."
(Mark 12:30-31)

Jesus,
son of God,
The Most High,
The Most Holy One,
tells us
no other commandment
is greater than these.

Jesus,
The One
Whom God the Father
destined would fulfill
His plan to bring mankind
to Him,
to Eternal Glory.

Jesus,
born of God and
the Virgin Mary

Jesus,
born to suffer and be rejected,
persecuted.

Jesus,
born to die,
to hang from a cross
pounded nails into flesh
Our Sin, Our Sin!

Jesus
paid the price.

Born to die,
to rise from the dead
to live forevermore
within our hearts
to bring mankind to a
saving knowledge
to Eternal Security
Eternal Life

Jesus
"the living stone
chosen by God
and precious"
(1 Peter 2:4)

Jesus Lives!

(c) October 25, 2011

October 24, 2011

God's Love

Love
is
patient

Love
is
kind

Love
is
fresh and new
each day

Love
is
viewing life
clearly
plainly
without grudges
without pretense
without masking feelings
that are false
and hateful

Love

True Love
is
God's Love

"It bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things."
(I Corinthians 13:7 NKJV)

(c) October 24, 2011

October 22, 2011

Him

He spoke.
His Word
Became flesh.
His Son
His only begotten
full of grace
and truth
dwelt among us.
Jesus.

He spoke.
His Word
full of grace
and truth
shows us
His commandments
His judgments
His promises

Fulfilled.
In Him
Through Him
in His time
now
and to come.


(c) October 22, 2011

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."         - John 1:14, 17

October 21, 2011

His glory ... everywhere

His glory
Everywhere
It surrounds us.
We think
sunny
cloudless days
are the best
We feel better
about living
about life
But
even in the midst
of darkness
and seemingly dismal
cloudy days
or lightning storms
He is there
Ever present
Our guiding light
Our protector
over every enemy
that stalks us
We praise Him
for the good
we receive
and perceive
But for
days that make no sense
praise belongs too
He preserves us
for another time
a better time
perhaps
His glory
always shining
We must seek
His word
to find His way
and rejoice
in all
that comes
For we are
only because
He is.

(c) October 21, 2011

October 18, 2011

We can be complete

God's glory
His power
His majesty
His completeness,
whole
and without blemish

We stand on the rock,
waiting
We want to see
His ...
Him
as He is

But,
His response?
"I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Exodus 33:19)

But, however,
"You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." (Exodus 33:20)

And so,
He sends His Son --
complete
whole
and without blemish --
JESUS
who is the rock.

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God ... a chief cornerstone, a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." (I Peter 2:4, 6, 8)

We want to see
and when we do
We reject
We rejected God
We reject His Son

We only reach out
when we glimpse
the results
of what sin has done to us.
When we accept
When we believe
When we choose
obedience to Him,
who passes by,
who shelters us
in "the cleft of the rock
and covers us with His hand." (Exodus 33:22)

Obedience
to the King of Kings
who was
and is
and is to come
He is our salvation
our truth
He makes us too
complete
Not pure,
not without blemish
But still complete

We are One with Christ
One with God
One with the Holy Spirit
His grace
His glory
and we are His
... a child of the King.


(c) October 18, 2011

October 15, 2011

A Prayer for You


O Lord, I pray
Keep these Your children in perfect peace,
 sheltered beneath Your wings.
Let nothing come to separate them
from Your mightiness,
all power and strength
Surround them
with Your compassionate love.
Renew them to a new day, full of life,
here still – I pray it’s Your will --
to bring another to faith in You
You alone Lord
for You are the answer
and yes, the question too
O Lord
Keep my fears away
out of sight, out of mind
Prevent the distress of the situation
from escalating
Bring me a calm assurance
that You are here, You are with me
With You there is
nothing whatsoever to fear
With You, My God,
All things are possible
Deliver me O Lord,
to the possibility hoped for.
Amen.

© October 15, 2011


October 14, 2011

Find a moment ... for laughter


God is the master ...
turns our burdens
into blessings

The stress
and trauma
and unending pain
in our lives

why do we stay there?

I go
to talk,
visit a friend

life is short
why spend so much of it
churning the turmoil
into bigger

laughter
a better medicine
remembering,
reminiscing,

pleasing the Lord
a much better plan
than distressing
oneself.

I think ...

when I get old
I shall laugh more

but wait,
I am getting old
why wait longer

from the moment of birth
age creeps upon you

how much older do I need to get
before I laugh more
before I see the lighter side
the humor

even in the dark,
there can be laughter.

We mustn't let
all that is
not-so-good
overcome us,
overtake us.

Find a moment
and then find another
for laughter

(c) October 14, 2011

October 10, 2011

I

I feel somewhat down today
Is it because of the cold
the time of year
the many projects I have
and not all my own
why is it?
not just today though
it has been many days
sometimes

I feel so burdened
I think of many
There are many
who cross,
who come,
who are there

Some
I visit with
through Facebook
or
Twitter
or
E-mail
or
phone
or
mailed letter

Some
I make attempts
but success
is fleeting
No answer
No reply
No comment.

They are not there.
And I don't know
where
or why
or what that means
If there is
something
I should be
doing
I do not know.

The tiredness I feel
is not
necessarily
sleepy tired
but
sort of
tired from thinking

would like to
be free
from it all

not
free from being though

Not
interested
in ending
my being.

There is only
One gospel
There is only
One way
To life eternal
There is only
One Christ
One son of God
Only One

That One
is there for me
He can
lift my burden
if it is
His will
My desires
are not
necessarily
His desires --
His will is what matters
ultimately.
But He hears
He listens
to my turmoil
my fears
my concerns

There are
some
They are
everywhere.
think
they
are
Failures
Junk
Unwanted
Unloved
Bored

So easy to fall
in a trap
of self
So easy to fall
into
believing
what another
says of you

Harder to
ignore
to step aside
to push away

Harder to
recognize
you are worthy
a Child of the
King
of Jesus Christ.
His son
His daughter
His.

So hard to do
So very hard
to do.

Help me
Lord
Lift me up
Lord
Show me
Lord
Where Lord
you would have me
go
or do
or be
Today.

Be me?
Do I hear
Him

Does He

"Be my child."

(c) October 28, 2008

He knows ALL

Problem continues
What to do
Scanning
always scanning
Persists
How to remove
At what cost
Waiting
is dangerous
Sometimes
I think now
Still . . .
Waiting
for a word
From the Lord
He knows
ALL
. . . even computers


(c) October 21, 2008

Ignorance is bliss?

Ignorance is bliss
or so it seems
for the many
who do not
have a clue

but alas!
a lightning flash
mind
a whirl

innocence
gives way

despair
dismay
dominates
uncertainty follows

Reach
Seek
Look

it’s what we
seem to be about
how do we
find
the answer?

How did I ....
find
the answer?

What method
Who answered

How did
I
get there
I know
where
I've been

I know
what
I've found

But only God
knows
the
path
I now journey
To
follow.

Hopefully, True to Him alone.


(c) October 15, 2008

Much To Do

Much to do
Think on
day to day
but not.

So tired
Listless
Encumbered
with lists
and projects
and stuff
but not.

Reading
Studying
Talking
Mostly,
only to God
who knows
where
and what
I am
about.


(c) October 15, 2008

Rain

Rain.
aches
everywhere
culminating
to complete
Pain.


(c) October 15, 2008

God understands

Distressed
Today.
All because
I remembered
what today was.
Of what it became.

I imagine.
I know.
God knows my thoughts.

Life ends
Life begins
What is sandwiched in between
is what is important.

Get me past Lord
these remorseful feelings I have

Gone, but not forgotten.
Help me keep the memories
of her life alive
and
bury the memories
of her death/demise

We all have loved ones die

Help me Lord
stay focused
... on You

Flood my soul with love
Encircle me ...


(c) September 23, 2008

I am a Christian, an Evangelical Christian

I am a Christian
an Evangelical Christian
I believe the Lord Jesus
saved me from my sins
He gave up the ghost
laid down His life
ALL for me.
ALL for me.

I am a Christian
an Evangelical Christian
I have many fears and doubts
I am much like another
But different you see
for I have Jesus
And He means more to me
than whatever you have to offer.

I am a Christian
an Evangelical Christian
I believe in God's power
His holy word
He is my Father
up in heaven
Understands me better
than any being here on Earth.

I am a Christian
an Evangelical Christian
I reside in the United States of America,
in Iowa
in Cedar Rapids
But its only for a while
Someday I will go home ...
to my Father up in heaven
I am a Christian
an Evangelical Christian
a child, daughter
of the King
For Jesus died for me.
ALL for me.
ALL for me.

(c) September 10, 2008

It's About Faith

Faith is not what we see,
what appears to be
Faith is not the spoken word of others
It is not what we view on television
or read in the newspapers.

Faith is
believing, accepting
God is in control
God has all the answers
God knows.

Faith is
Looking to Him for everything,
Thanking Him for everything.
Seeking answers to all our questions from Him alone.
Not questioning
the hows, whys, whens, wheres, what ifs.

Just knowing
Just believing

Faith
can be as tiny as a mustard seed
or as huge as a mountain

We each have a mountain or many to climb
Our successes are not really ours
We achieve through our faith
in Him alone.
My Jesus
My Savior
My Lord
My God

In His Name, Amen.


(c) September 10, 2007

October 08, 2011

The paths we take

Not from life
nor from experience
should we set into motion
our path
but on the solid ground
of Christ

He is all knowing
of who and what
we are now
and in our future comings

His Word
is the proof
we seek and need.
In His Word,
through study
and intent searching
of the Holy Scriptures
and meditation,
we can know
with certainty
and confidence
the way
of all our comings and goings.

(c) October 8, 2011

October 06, 2011

God never gives up

God never gives up on us
We give up on Him,
we ignore Him
we pretend He doesn't exist --
at least not in our personal sphere.
He may exist
Somewhere,
but not here,
not right here
and not right now.

We have gone so far away
Yet
God continues

He created us.
He seeks us,
desires we become united
with Him.

We are nothing without Him,
yet
we think we are more
than He ever was.

God is judge and jury,
merciful and loving.

He is the Almighty One,
The King of Kings,
The Great I AM
The Alpha and The Omega
Beginning and End.

Without Him,
what we think is in
the middle --
is meaningless.

(c) October 6, 2011


Won't you come, won't you come and meet with Me?

September 24, 2011

Many questions, one answer

What will we give
Where will we go
Whose voice do we hear,
and follow

Will the pain thought
prevent us from going
Perceived pain
Experienced pain

Whose word is it
that we listen
that we respond

Is it options of the world
we live in and appear
to thrive under that
keeps us here

Have we forgotten
where Jesus
commanded us to go
Have we missed
the reason
Have we failed
Is body and soul
given way

What will we give --
our possessions
our very lives

Where will we go --
nowhere....
to our neighbor down the street,
across town, in the Appalachian mountains,
the unreachables, untouchables
in Third-World countries

Whose voice do we hear
and follow --

Is it worldly desires, worldly thinking,
worldly pleasures, worldly dreams,
worldly ideals, worldly values,
worldly ambitions, worldly acclaim,
worldly reason

Is it fear of the vast unknown

Is it Jesus, Son of God, the Holy Spirit?

(c) September 24, 2011

"Too long we have been waiting for one another to begin! The time for waiting is past! ... Should such men as we fear? Before the whole world, aye, before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby-pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God, ... and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing aloud in our hearts. We will a thousand times sooner die trusting only in our God than live trusting in man. And when we come to this position the battle is already won, and the end of the glorious campaign in sight. We will have the real Holiness of God, not the sickly stuff of talk and dainty words and pretty thoughts; we will have a Masculine Holiness, one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ."                              - C.T. Studd, 1860-1931
(taken from "C.T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer" by Norman Grubb, reprinted in "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream" by David Platt)

September 19, 2011

Jesus is The Way


It is not the Christian religion we follow,
but Jesus Christ Himself.

It is not the way to God
but the way of God
that is our salvation.

It is called Grace
It is called Love
and it brings Hope.

(c) July 28, 2011 

To see a need and ...


To see a need
to strive to fill it
The Lord's will be done

What -- When -- Where?

To the least of these
is I says the Lord.

To see a need
but fail to act
you believe you say
you trust you say
but why
oh why
is foot not taken
the task not given
not begun
not carried out
not fulfilled.

To see a need
God has called you to
but rules
and regulations
requirements
of the world
all detriments
toward accomplishing
His will, His purpose
for you.

He tells us
in His word
to go forth
not in fear
and trepidation
but in faith
looking to Him
only to Him

Seeking answers
to our many questions
without questioning
His answers.

He knows the way
He created the way
He is the way.

He sees the needs of mankind
He sees my needs
and yours too
And all is fulfilled
And we are witnesses ...
but do we understand,
do we comprehend?

He has given us
eyes to see,
ears to hear,
a mind to discern
a heart to share
a love to give.

To see a need
to strive to fill it
to pray, meditate
and petition
believing without questioning
proceeding without faltering,
without stumbling,
not wondering if you are doing it right.

For what does it matter?
Who are you serving?
The Risen Lord
or the family next door?!

To see a need
to strive to fill it.
Just Go.
Just Do.
And the Lord be with you.

(c) August 1, 2011

Give me strength


Give me strength
for this day
Bring me peace
Bring me rest
Cover me, enclose me
within Your hand

I ask so much
and You continually give

You said our lives would be
filled with turmoil
and pain
and it is
but still you give
and give
and I will find comfort
only You can provide.

Only You can heal
Only You.

Bring me out of the dismay
Bring me peace
Help me to trust
Be my support
for my pain,
my personal physical anguish
and my emotional and mental trauma
Bring me relief

Show me how to proceed
Give me strength
Be with me
Be with Jimmy
Show us the way
We are one.
One in the spirit
One in You.

Thank you Lord Jesus
Bring me strength
and peace for this day
I pray.
Only in You
am I.

(c) August 3, 2011 

In Him, am I


Who
are you?
Who am I?
Have we forgotten
from where we came
from what we came
who brought us,
brings us still
face to face
with our sin
reminds us
we are far from
the perfectness
of the
Lord Jesus
yet He Loves Us
continually
never ceasing

There is an ever increasing
reason for condemnation
yet
He doesn't
condemn us

The Holy Spirit
the same
in Christ
in me

We,
"Those of us who are
in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk
according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit,
there is therefore
now
no condemnation." (Romans 8:1)
We have been set free
Jesus has proclaimed us
Not Guilty

Who are we?
We,
You are a man in Christ
I am a woman in Christ

The enemy
cannot touch me
or you

I must remember
You must remember
know who you are
Stay focused on
The One
to whom you belong

Who said it was easy
Easy is looking down
being swallowed up
by fear of the unknown

Hard is seeking out God
at every turn
Hard is soaring
like an eagle
wings outstretched
when fear and anxiety
take precedence

Easy is burying
our heads in the sand
or under the bed blankets.

So fearful,
we forget
the Lord above
can do anything
and everything.

We must trust.
Must trust.
We are in Christ
Christ is in us

Struggles do not
disappear
Struggles remain
Sin remains
yet God
does not condemn us.

We are His
Only in Him
am I
Only in Him
are you

Abide in Him
Listen
to His Word
to the sounds of nature
Watch
the glorious splendor
of a sunrise
and a sunset
Remember
He is with us
always
He is but a breath away,
a step away
a hand reaching out
toward you.

His gaze is upon us
we must meet His gaze
and remain constant

Do not look away
He will bring us through
it all.
He is our guardian,
our protector,
our healer.

He is
the Great I Am
and in Him
am I.

(c) August 3-4, 2011

To be there for another


To get out of the doom and gloom
everyday
not just one day
Yesterday came
All day
Today is here
All different

Reach out to another
Why haven’t you written
I’d like to hear from you
I hear

But me too

Wherever You desire us to go
I will go
Send me
Sometimes where you are
is stagnant
Need to move on
get going
Not just physically
but
mentally
emotionally
Must get past the hurts
Hurts come at every turn
and angle …
from siblings, parents,
personal sphere of friends,
even our church family …
who would think?!
The image of Christ
bears no resemblance in us
it seems.
Although we try,
our image of Him
is perceived
far differently
than the image
portrayed in His word.
Sometimes we are just like
the Jewish Pharisees,
seeing ourselves above another

Who is better
None of us can truthfully lay claim
to such reasoning
Jesus is who we follow
If we aren’t following Him,
we cannot be one with Him.
We must therefore
be one with ourselves,
which only leads to
selfishness and
self-centeredness.

We have a new life.
We buried our old life
with Christ
and is reborn
in His image -
not His physical image.
The image of
Who He Is.
We are to be like Him.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says,
“We must learn to look less
at what people do or don’t do
and more at what they suffer.”

To be there for another
You be there for me
I for another.
Jesus shows us
the way -
fellowship of love.

To be there for another
to show mercy ….
with cheerfulness.

To be there,
however it may be
God must give us the will
to do so,
to be so.

To get past the pain
past the “what if”
past the “how”
even past the moodiness
Just go
and do.

We cannot say
it doesn’t depend on me
to reach out to another
It is up to the church
But the church
is made up of many me’s
and many you’s.

The church –
the Body of Christ
and Jesus is its head,
not the pope,
not anyone other than Jesus.

There are not multiple foundations.
The church’s one foundation …
Jesus Christ.

There are not multiple platforms
in which we can follow and arrive
at the same place.

There is only one – JESUS!

No Allah

No Buddha

No Rabbi

No Pope

Only one Truth --
Jesus is the Son of God

Only one Savior --
Jesus is the way to salvation.

Jesus is available to all.
Believe in Him, accept Him
as your personal savior,
and eternity will be spent with Him
in the glories of heaven.

Only one basic problem with Humanity – SIN

All of us are sinners.

Some of us have been
forgiven.

Sin – what we feel
in our heart
is demonstrated
in our life.

Only one solution for Sin –
JESUS!

He died for us.
He went to the cross,
burdened with the sins
of ALL of MANKIND,
past, present, future.

He became the sacrifice
fulfilling Old Testament
laws and requirements
of animal sacrifices
for human sin.

A new life,
a new covenant,
buried in death
with Christ
Born again, alive,
renewed.

Be there with Him
for others
Our lives are not about us
But about our Lord
His will
Not ours
His steps for me
Not my steps for me

He took it all
my pain, my burdens
ALL upon himself
He took my SIN away

Who am I
to forget all that He has done
continues to do
and think only of me ….
poor me.

I need to be there
for you and you
through Christ
For with Christ
blessings will be.

Remember.

“for in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28a)

(c) August 15, 2011 

September 09, 2011

How important is it?


How important is it?
Living as the world lives
or living as God tells us
Knowing one from the other

Having what we need
Knowing what we need
Thinking, wishing
What one has is not realistic thinking
that is what another needs or doesn't need

Each is different
Each person
Each family

Follow the Lord
Follow Him alone
Listen to His words, His widsom
Only He knows
He sees all.
He knows our needs and our desires.

Some will attempt to meet
their needs and desires
by themselves.

Some will succeed.
Some will not.

Some will rely on Scripture, on the Lord
...follow His lead.

The Lord made us.
We are His.

Some have much
Some have little
Some make do
Some falter

Some complain
worry

where does it get you?
what have you accomplished
with worry and anxiety?

Listen, obey, do ...
The Lord will guide you.
He will show you the way

In every aspect of Life,
God is present.

Reach out
grab hold
He is there.

YOU must believe
YOU must seek
YOU must reach out and hold on

Where are you in your walk with the Lord?

Are you walking with Him at all
or
are you walking on your own?
(c) July 28, 2007 

My Anna


My friend
a special one
I've adopted
as my mommy

A relationship
started
nourished
bloomed

She walks
with the Lord
She cares
for the sick
and disabled
She talks
of her childhood
of her years
married to Ray

Of present pain
of past hurts
of a future time
with her Lord

She is my friend
my very special friend
my adopted mommy

Anna

(c) July 12, 2007 

Suicide


People give in
give up
Quit
There are some
who do that
Why?
What have they achieved?!
nothing.

Tired of fighting
of repeated attempts
of trying

Give in
give up
Don't do that.
We were given life
You, me
Everyone of us.
It is not for us
to take it away

Only God.

We must persevere
Persist
Endure
... to make life worth living.
(c) July 7, 2007

Death


Death comes
like a thief
in the night
silently
tiptoeing
ever so quietly

We hardly know
it has come

Except
in the aftermath

Our loved ones
family, friends
gone.

Only our memories
will keep them
alive
within us.
(c) July 4, 2007 

Struggles


Struggles
Always
Never ending
No matter who we are
What we hope to accomplish
God's will
or our own


Struggles
Small or big
All important
to us
individually

Life's challenges
where we work
the place
the type
the accomplishments
the process
the ending
the beginning again
where we live
how we live
the friends we have
the people beyond ... that we meet
at work
our neighbors
at church
at businesses we frequent
Everywhere.
the foods we choose to eat
the words we read
the choices

Struggles
never ending
morning to night
over and over
and over again

Aging
not just in years
But our bodies
wear down, wear out
We can get
new knees, new hips
new legs, new arms,
new teeth, new eyes
new heart, new kidney,
new, new, new
Only a replacement.
Struggles

God waits
He is ever present
He will carry our burdens ... IF we ask
He will show us the way ... IF we seek
He will fill us, renew us again and again ...
IF we accept, IF we believe, IF we obey

Struggles can be overcome.

Our God, my God is an awesome God. He is with me always.
But,
unless I actively seek Him,
obey Him,
follow Him,
He waits ...
(c) July 3, 2007

And ...


 And what now?
What to do.
What to think.
Does anyone think, does anyone care?
Where are we?
Where are we going, heading, anywhere?
What is the end?
Where, when, why.
So many questions.
Do you know ...
Do I know.
Who knows?
Who cares?


God.
(c) June 18, 2007


His Grace, His Glory

His Grace
His mercy and love
bestowed unto
His people

His gift
Salvation

His
to offer
His
to give

Ours
to accept
Ours
to share
Ours
to proclaim
His Glory
to all nations.

(c) September 9, 2011

September 05, 2011

Whole and Complete

Jesus says,
"Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden.
Come to Me and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

You who are pompous, full of pride and rich
with more and more possessions
You have no time for Me.
Your reward you have already received.
You are damned.
There is no peace where you are ...
only torment and eternal separation.
(Luke 16: 19-31)

Alas, come to Me
And I will give you rest
Come, do not tardy

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 
(Matthew 11:29-30)

(c) September 4, 2011

The way .... is

The Battle
- what we fight for
The Renunciation
- what we give up

is nothing by itself

Faith in God
and
Obedience to God
is the way
for all.

(c) September 3, 2011

Go Forth and Follow Me

On Sept. 3, I posted an entry entitled "Go, and" on my Journeys blog. The post was the result of a two-week mini study on Jesus' commandments of "Go." I say Go, Do, and if you stop and think about it, in all of these, it is still Go, Do. Go, and do preach, go and do sell, Go and do give, you get the picture.

To read the original post, go here: http://windowtochristianministries-journeys.blogspot.com/2011/09/go-and.html

Go, preach
Go, sell
Go, give
Go, come follow Me
Go, show mercy
Go, tell
Go, forgive
Go, keep My commandments
Go, meet
Go, pray
Go, watch and beware
Go, make disciples
Go, baptize
Go, teach
Go home
Go in peace
Go, be healed
Go, find
Go, go
Go more
Go and do not sin
Go, obey
Go, believe
Go, be
Go forth and Follow Me

(c) September 4, 2011



Jesus is the vine

Jesus is the vine
I am but one of His branches
I can do
I can be
anything and all
but if not to Jesus
for Jesus
that I give my all
All achieved
is to nothing
to no avail.

My eternal bliss
has died on the vine
I am alone
and my aloneness
brings no joy
only dismal thought
and torment
as I face bitterness,
defeat,
death in the deep.

Jesus is the vine
I am but one of His branches
I draw my lifeblood from Him
who died for my soul
who rose from the dead
who reigns on high
who lives within me.

Jesus is the vine
I am but one of His branches.

For me to bear fruit
I must succumb to His pruning
I must abide in Him

for Jesus is the vine
My Lord and Savior
and I am but one of His branches
A child of The King

(c) September 4, 2011


September 03, 2011

Hope Eternal


I have it
Yes. I have it.
I know.

God showed me the way
Through others
My heart was open
Ready to receive

Walking, running, skipping
joyously, excitedly
Through the Scriptures
Wondering what the Lord
would say
To me

Something new
every time.
How to live

Trust and obey
His will
Not mine
(c)June 3, 2007

September 02, 2011

We can live!

The Lord - He is God,
The mighty King
The Prince of Peace
The Holy One
The Only One

We are but dust - like that found in corners
or underneath beds

Our life span is limited
Tomorrow may or may not come
We are destined to die

But through the grace of the Lord's son Jesus
We can live!

(c) February 19, 2007 

August 31, 2011

This is God's World


This is God's world
All that is is His
It is not mine
Nor is it yours
It is God's
and only His.

No other power
nowhere no how
in times past,
present or to come
God has it all.

We - you and me
created in His image
to rule
the fish of the seas
the birds of the air
and all the animals.

But, alas,
it was not enough
We - you and me
wanted more
and more
and more.

And now,
we have more
don't we?
Or do we?

We - you and me
wanted so much
more
that destruction and utter chaos
settled around us.

And now
we - you and me
struggle to find a balance.

God provided that balance ...
in the beginning.

Why wasn't it enough?

(c) June 3, 2006