May 30, 2012

A child is given, A child is taken


A child is given
A child is taken
One was enough
One was just right
And then another to come
A child we weren’t looking for
A child we weren’t sure about
A child nevertheless we would provide for
And nurture 
And love

A child is given
A child is taken
God, in His wisdom, knows best
Even when we don’t understand and question
Knowing  if  boy or girl of little matter
Knowing not what to do
how to go on
how to take it all in
A child is given
A child is taken

And for family and friends
how to give comfort
at this time of grief
for the child carried
is no longer growing,
warm and cozy in mommy’s womb
but released from its cocoon
and free …
a child of our heavenly Father

A child is given
A child is taken
We just don’t understand
It is beyond all comprehension
But God knows why
There is a reason
And perhaps
At the moment God alone determines
The reason will become clear

A child is given
A child is taken
No longer present within,  
but absent,  
safe in Our Father’s loving embrace
for all eternity.

A child is given
A child is taken
And we grieve over what is lost
What will never be

But perhaps in our grief, our hour of deep despair
As we persevere
and seek His face

we will find solace and comfort
hope
compassion
everlasting mercy
love.


© May 29-30, 2012

May 25, 2012

When we see Jesus, we will see God

Ah,
to see Jesus
when we see Him
we will see God
in His awesome presence

we hear Him
through His Spirit
His holiness
residing within us
to show us
to instill in us
the true way
the only way
to achieve all He
desires of us
body
mind
and soul

we study Him
through His Word
mighty and sharp
loving kindness
and compassion
yet
yet provoked to anger
and judgmental
when our sins
of hatred
and personal desires
take root
and we thrive on disobedience

... thrive only for a short while
because in the lap of personal luxury
all will,
eventually,
wilt and die.
Only in obedience
to the Lord
Our God and King
Our Master
will we truly thrive
and be

Ah,
to see Jesus
when we see Him
we will be in the
presence of
Purity
Completeness
Love

Eagerly waiting
I am
for His return
so I may reunite
with Him
who brought me to life
once
and once more.

(c) May 25, 2012

May 24, 2012

The tree

The tree
silver
barren
lifeless.
beauty
gone?

The tree
still.
To gaze upon

turning
turning
fading
in and out

The tree
a glimmer
hope radiates
each branch
each strand
each needle
to another

a highlight
a memory
long ago
forgotten
dreams ...

The tree
like a prism
bright
in
noon day sun

do you see?
the colors
playing
the golds
and reds
and turquoise blues
and greens

Silvery blue
like wide open spaces
sky
with storm
looming
and
cool swift water
lazily
flowing
over rocks
and stones

Bright green
like fresh grass
and flowers
budding,
bursting forth
in
springtime
beauty

gold
the fabric of life
born and reborn
and born
again
The richness
of God's grace
springs
eternal

red
embers glowing
stop.
Be mindful
Reflect
Listen
to your heart

The wheel
round and round
spinning
specks
of light
travel
up and up
to the top
and down
again

Warmth
and
coldness
together
apart

"To Everything
there is
a
season
a
time
for
every
purpose
under heaven."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV)

The seasons
continue
begin
and stop
again and again

"That which is
has already
been,
and
what is to be
has already been. ...
that which
has been
is
what will be
That which is
done
is what will be
done."
(Ecclesiastes 3:15, 1:9)

One season
to
another
We live
We die
We live again

The tree
Is it lifeless
Is there no beauty
Is there meaning
or has it been lost
Is there peace



(c) January 17, 2011

The Day

The Day
Each moment
No
not each
but
many
combined
becomes
a day ...
of
light.

The Day
God created
from nothingness
and
is given
to us
who
God created
from dust.

The Day
a gift
Each day
The dawning
Sunrise to Sunset
returns
to us
Bringing
opportunity
to
be and
become
fruitful.

"God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:5 NKJV)

"And it was so ... And God saw that it was good ... And He rested ... And He blessed" (Genesis 1-2:3)

The Day.


(c) January 30, 2011

We are at odds with ourselves

We make choices.
God allows.
The promises He makes
are true.
He is forever
faithful.
But us?
We are at odds
with ourselves.
We question.
We see one thing
and yet another
Never the same
it appears.
Our faith is weak.
We falter,
we fail
to keep our eyes
our heart
our mind
on Him
who knows us
beginning
to
end.



(c) February 7, 2011

Who is the Good One?

The Good One
is not you
Nor me
But God above
The Lord almighty

The Good One
is
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
The I AM
of
yesterday
today
tomorrow

The young ruler
asks
"what good thing
shall I do
that I may 
inherit eternal life?"

There is nothing
good or bad
not one thing
not his works
nor yours
nor mine
Nothing
we could ever
do
will enable us
to achieve
eternal life

It is not
to work for
like buying a house
or car
There is
nothing
we can
accomplish
on our own

But,
we can
accept ...
God's gift.
For it is
His gift
of eternal life
that He gives
to you and me
through
His Son.

Thinking
all you need do
is obey
the Ten Commandments
or
what you deem right
in your
personal thinking
lowers God
from the
honor and glory
He rightfully deserves.

The young ruler asks.
And Jesus,
God's son,
answers.
"Go, 
sell what you have
and give 
to the poor, 
and you 
will have 
treasure in heaven;"

Be obedient
to your Father
in heaven
Seek to do
the Lord's will,
not your own
Hear, see, be open
to what the Lord
instructs you.

The Good One
is not you
is not me.

It is not about
your rights
It is about
what is right.
GOD.

"No one 
is good 
but One, 
that is, God." 

"...with God all things are possible."  (Matthew 19:16-21, 26 NJKV)


(c) February 16, 2011

Could you be the one for whom God still waits?

The uncertainty
of it all
near
nearer than desired
yet
farther than hoped

Coming
All of us
to face it
No escaping.

For some,
a gentle and peaceful
release
For others,
a struggle of emotions
churning within

A looking forward
to eternity
with
our loved ones
and
Jesus,
our Savior

or
a grim matter-of-factness
there is nothing more
Life is ending
It is over
There are no more chapters,
no more
chances ...

or is there?

Could you
be the one
for whom God
still waits ...
to usher you
into His presence
to embrace you
to love you
forever and ever?

Another chance ...
perhaps.
Another chapter
waiting to unfold

Yes.
Life is ending.

So,
why wait!?

Seek Him
while He is near.

"Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, New Living Translation)



(c) February 17, 2011

Practice reaps rewards

Practice Practice Practice
"Practice makes perfect"
we've often heard said
from our parents, our teachers.
If you want to get it right,
If you want to be better,
practice first
and then,
practice again.

You cannot wait
until the mood strikes
It may never come
Your "I don't want to"
may become
your famous last words
repeated over and over and over

In every field
every avenue of life
practice is necessary
for us to be
"accomplished."

Even with God
practice
is a necessary
component.
How will we
talk, pray, interact
with Him,
if we don't practice,
work at it.

How will others see Christ
in you
and so,
glorify Him,
if you do not
practice
what He teaches?

The walk of Christ
is our walk as well,
one we must
continually practice
to be
accomplished in Him.

Don't be misled.
Don't let discouragement overcome you.
Don't give up or give in,
but
Persevere.

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9 NKJV)





(c) February 18, 2011

Death without the Lord does not bring peace

Oh
woe

To be
lost,
separated
forever
from Him
who came
and lived
among us
who died
for our souls,
for our freedom
from
damnation,
continual torment.

Dead.
No more,
no more.

It is finished.
The Book closed,
clamped shut
at your last breath.

You
the unbeliever
reside
among
the cowardly
the immoral
the murderers
and
sorcerers,
idolaters,
liars
in a place
of
fire and brimstone.
There is no peace.

"I am the Alpha and The Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone..." (Revelation 21:6-8 NKJV)



(c) February 19, 2011

May 21, 2012

Who is the victor?

God's will
vs. our will

God's pleasure
vs. our pleasure

God's knowledge
vs. our knowledge

God's answer
vs. our answer

God's strength
vs. our strength

God's judgment
vs. our judgment

God's reality
vs. our reality

God vs. us

Who is the victor?

God is not against us
He came to save
that which was lost  --
of which we are.

He came
because He loves us
Loved us then
Loves us now
His love never ends
His love is eternal
His love is faithful and true.

(c) May 21, 2012


May 19, 2012

Teach me, revive me, strengthen me, save me

Teach me
the way

Direct me,
my walk
in the path
of Your will,
Your commandments

Revive me
Remind me
Rejuvenate me

Turn me
from worthless things
and toward
Your righteousness

Keep me
firmly planted
in the ways
of You
My precious Lord
and Savior
so shame
in You
and You in me
does not,
is not.

Strengthen me
so my weaknesses
do not overcome me
and I lie distressed,
filled with remorse,
fallen from Your
wondrous love.

Accept me,
Save me,
Deliver me,
Your child
Your daughter.
Do not forsake me
Do not reject me
The stone
which the builders
rejected,
The chief cornerstone --
Your Son
Jesus
I accept
I believe
Accept me God
through Him
who came to save ...
me.

"Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments." (Psalm 119: 175-176)




(c) February 23, 2011 

Thankfulness reaches beyond ... to God's gift of love

a gift
received
a gift
given

were you, are you
thankful
appreciative
grateful

Thanks
returned
not from an upright heart
is hypocritical,
presumptuous

Thanks
given, returned
from God's word revealed to you
is humbling

Little
and big.

Thankfulness
returned
in all things
all ways
The minutest details
of daily living
Are you thankful
for what you have

or
are you greedy
for more
and more
and more still

Does thankfulness
only come to you
when you have reached
what you think you deserve

Are you deserving
Are any of us

Do you refuse
to accept ...
is it because
there is something
about the other
you cannot, will not condone

Do you accept a gift
only with plans
to return it
to the giver

Where is your thankfulness
Where is your gratefulness
Who are you
to think you are
more deserving
than any other

Do you forget
from where you came

Do you live
like its only your life
that matters and no one else

Are you dissatisfied
with everything,
everyone

Do you doubt
the sincerity
and question
the love
of another?

Do you not know
Are you not aware
Do you not care
(about)
The gift
that God offers
to you
The gift of salvation
The gift of freedom
of new life
of Life! everlasting

In God's gift
there is only love

God, our creator
The One who is
and always shall be
loved us so much,
even in utter despair
over the choices we make,
He reached out to us
to bring us,
reunite us to Him.
God sent His Son
to die for us,
the ungodly.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God 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)

Yet,
we refuse to accept,
to believe.

We follow
a road leading nowhere
a tunnel of darkness
The light of true understanding and insight
escapes us.

The gift offered ...
we see only what is
perceived,
our individual thinking
and beliefs.

The syndrome of ...
This is what "I" believe
What another believes
is all fine and good
But this is what "I" believe
and therefore, this is truth.

There is only One Truth
One Way,
not many, not more than One.

It is not
the individual "what we believe,"
but what God says,
God's Truth,
God's love.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I believe God's word
I accept God's love
I accept His gift
of eternal life
offered me
through His Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe there is only One Truth
One Savior - Jesus
One basic problem with humanity - Sin
One solution - Death

Too late, too late
Too old you think.
Until the moment you have breathed your last
or until Jesus returns,
it is not too late.
Every moment counts.
Act now.
Don't go to your grave
without God's gift of love,
without His peace.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)

"have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)

Some, many are in the darkness now
and some are among the "used to be"
Those who "were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord, walk as children of light."   (Ephesians 5:8)

"Let us walk properly (decently), as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness; not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:13-14)

Thankfulness reaches beyond ...



(c) February 26, 2011