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