December 28, 2013

Trust in Him alone

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.”
    ~ Proverbs 3:5-6, 7a

Trust
in the Lord
not in yourself
Trust
Believe in Him
who designed you
created you
gave you the breath of life
With All your heart
With Love

Lean not on your own understanding
Your own ideas
and plans,
successes,
accomplishments
as well as
your failures
mistakes
anxieties

In All your ways
acknowledge Him
Recognize it is He
who provides
everything

It is not about me
or you

Although we live
our lives
like we are in control
of our destiny
we are not.
We are more than puppets
on a string
for God does not control
our every move
We make our own
decisions,
however faulty they may be.

We cannot tell another
how to live.
We can only make suggestions
We cannot be angry
over their decisions.
Perhaps
it is not their decisions
that anger us
but our inner turmoils
that stir within us and boil over. 

Have we lost our way?

We lean on our own understanding
and forget
God will direct our steps
We must simply ask.

Ask of God
Acknowledge Him in our lives
Wait for His Word
on the step (s) we are to take

Do not be wise
in your own eyes
Wisdom and understanding
we may have
but it doesn't come
from within ourselves
It comes from God
He gives us wisdom
and understanding
He directs the steps
we've considered taking
He guides us
on our way

Trust in the Lord
Trust
Keep my focus,
 your focus,

 on Him,
His Word
and He will direct all
my steps,
all your steps
so we will not falter
so we will not question
so we will not fall into deep despair.  
(c) December 28, 2013

December 24, 2013

We receive ... but what is it we have really received?

We receive
all of us
we buy and sell and barter
We are thankful
for what we have
but often we perceive
a need (desire)
for more .
What we have
just doesn’t seem to be enough

Even in our thankfulness
we complain
We are no better
than the Israelites
who wandered in the desert
for 40 years.

God gave them
gives us
what we need
when we need it
but we are not satisfied

Why is He not enough?
Why must we have something more?

We are dirty
live in filth day in and day out
in our homes
our lives
our attitudes
with all around us

We think we are cordial
give a sympathetic ear
show compassion to the needy
But God knows better
He knows our thoughts.
Our perceptions are often futile.
We are not cordial to all
We do not extend a sympathetic ear to all
Our compassion only goes to those
we deem worthy.
Whereas, God said All are needy.
We all need compassion
A little love and concern for all
goes a long way
But we personally decide
and God loathes many of our decisions.

We have outbursts
We seek comfort
But we don’t find what we need
It  escapes us
We are reprimanded
for our pain
No one to wrap us up in their arms
and just say I’m sorry.

God tells us we are His
He says He abides in all
who abide in Him.

He may abide in us
and we may abide in Him
but His instructions
we do not follow day in and day out

Where is our kindness for each other?

Why are we put down for the pain?

Where is our kindness?

Why is it so hard to say,
“I’m sorry for how you feel …
I’m sorry if I’ve said something that upsets you?”

All we hear is
“You should grow up…
You should behave …
There’s no reason to feel (act) like this.”

Where is our kindness for each other?

When does God ever reprimand us
for our pain?
He see what we go through
every day
He heals us
He cleanses us
But all our peers have not accepted
what God has done for us
every minute of every day.

God sent His Son
Jesus went to the cross
for me and for you
and we believe and accept.
Our trust, our faith frees us
But for all our freedom in Him,
we are still encased behind bars
with our peers,
who have not forgiven us
for our  trespasses,
who   hold our mistakes against us
every day.

We receive
We give and take
We say we are thankful
Where has that thankfulness taken us?
Do we live as Jesus did
or do we live
by our own reason and perception?

It is not about you.
It is not about me.

It is about Him.

But where is He?
Have we really received Him?
(c) December 23, 2013

December 19, 2013

One Gift

“Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do not expect.”
~ Luke12:40

“For a child has been born for us, a Son given to us.”  ~ Isaiah 9:6

God Himself
comes
to us
a baby
born of the Virgin Mary

God Himself
that baby in a manger
that child in the synagogues
that man upon the cross

God
He is
that one

God sends
His Son Jesus
It is He
yet too
The Holy Spirit
all three in one


If you believe in Me
then you believe also in He
who sent Me

If you hear My Voice
and reject it
you have also rejected He
who sent Me

I  and My Father are one

My Father
I AM
born of Spirit
born of flesh

I AM
God, My Father
Jesus, His Son
The Holy Spirit
within every believer --
those who come to Me
and follow Me
and are guided by Me

I AM
the child
born to Mary
for you

I AM
the Son
given by My Father
in heaven
to you

I AM
your redeemer
I came
to give you
hope
new life
purpose
I came
bearing
one singular gift
to and for
you
and your husbands
and wives
 your brothers
your sisters
your mothers
and fathers
your cousins
your friends
your neighbors

A gift
that offers so much
divides so many

It was expected
centuries before
foretold in Old Testament
prophecies
when I
My Father
would become human
yet when
the time came
only a few remembered …
The shepherds watching
as their sheep grazed on the hillside
Astronomers watching
the stars in the heavens
Only a few were expectantly waiting
and ready
for the Son of Man
to come into the world

Gifts
in praise
and worship
and thanksgiving
they came
and come still
to Him
The Lord Jesus Christ,
a radiant light
amid the darkness
of sin and evil
to bring Good News
to all peoples
of every generation
every race
every nationality
every economic level

Gifts
brought
to this Holy Child
of gold
frankincense
and myrrh
to recognize and
pay honor
to His deity,
His purity,
His death.
Yes,
I AM
He, My Father in heaven
Jesus, His Son
born of the Virgin Mary
I AM
He who walked this earth
who took upon My shoulders
all your misdeeds and sins
who bore your shame in silence
whose cross I carried
as My own
upon that one
meant for Me
I AM

He who died
and was buried
and after 3 days
arose
I AM
He who was born
who died
who lives again

One singular gift
I offer you
this day
The gift of
Eternal Salvation.
(c) December 18-19, 2013

December 02, 2013

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings

I’m sorry I hurt your feelings
It wasn't my intention
I’m sorry my words were damaging
my tone sharp and critical
I’m sorry I missed your pain
and only saw how your actions
affected me
and affected my perceptions
of those around me
I’m sorry I hurt your feelings
I’m sorry I did not hear
your cry for help
I did not see
your need for a loving embrace.


I’m sorry.

(c) December 2, 2013