a prayer

Lord of Light, Lord so bright
Your Love within me every night
I pray for comfort, I pray for peace
I pray for him, I pray he'll be all right.
And have this prayer fulfilled I pray tonight.

(c) February 26, 2015

A new day dawns within

“…a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” – II Peter 1:19a

A new day dawns
The Son is risen
The Bright and
Morning Star
shines
His Light
within you
His Resurrection Power and Strength
overcomes
the darkness
and the coldness
seeking
to penetrate
your heart.

(c) February 18, 2015

You are a New Person ... but do you live as one?

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

“…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” – II Corinthians 5:17

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.”  - Matthew 7:7

You are
a new creation – a new man, a new woman
The lies, sins
of the world you lived
no more.

Or are they?!

 Do you continue
keeping a firm grip
on that which you desire
but only brings
shame
and discouragement
to you
and to loved ones
around you?

Do you think
because you are
a new creature,
a new person in Christ,
you are above reproach
and the Lord
will not
discipline you
or bring judgment?

The deeds of your past
must die
if what you profess
to be
is true

Do not lie
nor pretend the old things are gone
if you are not obedient
to the way of Christ

The Holy Bible
that sits idle
week after week after week
is your lifeline
your instruction book
your manual to daily living,
to family life

When you
do not
open God’s word
you are clueless
to His every desire for you
to His every guiding principles
to His blessings

Don’t let your personal wants,
desires and misconceptions
get in the way
of God’s Reality and God’s Truth.

(c) February 17, 2015

Turn ... away from the darkness and to the Light of God's Son

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12

When
with
God
He
asks
that
we
accept
where
we
are
as
His
intention

He
knows
our
route
as
He
designed
but
along the way
choices
still ours
to make

God still
can
miracles make
from bad
to better
to best
when
with Him
we travel.

Never  alone
He conquers
our fears
in the night
shadowy corners
toying
with our minds

Escape

Go!
Run from where you are
you cannot hide
the mistakes
you make
the ones you refuse
to own up to
will bring judgment

You play word games
“Catch me, Catch me,
if you can.”
You think
you are
beyond
the law

You
already caught
the devil laid
his trap
you took the bait
Living a lie

You
among many
dazed
in a stupor
The lie
your life
meaningless
a forever nightmare
death and destruction
the end being

You lie
ruination
surrounds

You
and
significant
others
bent on
pleasure
bringing
no real
reward

The dungeon
lay
dark and damp
miserableness
in every corner
the night
consumes you

Morning
brings
a new day

but
there is
no newness
to your
days

Your desires
of the
night
deceive
over
and over
and
over again

You are
hidden
behind walls
of emptiness
No one listening
No one seeing
No one hearing
No one caring
to understand

So far away
pain strikes
yet feeling
is gone

The lie
you live
a pattern
can be torn
in two

Like the veil
of the temple
was torn
top to bottom
when the
Lord Jesus
Son of God
breathed His last

 The sins of all
you and me
upon Him
bruised
beaten
killed
the sacrificial lamb
given
and
God His Father
appeased
satisfied
all for you… and me

Come out
Come out
Remove yourself
from every uncleanness
that holds you in
and sucks dry
the goodness
buried deep in your heart

Abandon the lie
you think is your destiny
and reach for the
Truth
that God reveals

Go out
but not
as you came in
and do not
look back
to that darkness – a world
filled with evil
and rebellion
and be remorseful
over what you
have no more

Look ahead!
To the One
in the Light
who Is the Light
whose very presence
rebukes, destroys
the devil.
God’s power over you
is stronger
than the world’s hold
but you must
surrender,
turn away from
every deed
that hinders
your reaching
the full potential
God has for you

Accept His love
Receive His grace
given to you
at the cross
and be redeemed
reconciled
filled with the joy and peace
only found
in a personal relationship
with Christ Jesus

The life of the lie
you led
or lead now
brings rejection
resentment
resistance

The life of God’s Truth
brings rejoicing
restoration
renewal

Come now into His Presence
Be set free
Find refuge from the dark
and live
in the Light
of God's Son,
Jesus.

(c) February 11-16, 2015

Based on these Scripture readings: Mark 15:37-38, Ephesians 4-5, Psalm 23, John 8: 7-12

the world or a new life?

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” – 1 John 2:15-16 NLT

You
still …
places
go
your
mind
flittering
here
and
there
never
settling
no
peace

Worries
consume
blessings
here
and
coming
a
backseat
taken

You
still …
thoughts
depress
must
go
trudging
the
mountain
steeper
and
steeper
becomes
falling
grasping
no one
catching

You
still …
sorrows
drunk
alcohol
drugs
sex
delight
a moment
not
lasting
sickened
again
and
again
escape
brief

You
still …
understanding
vague
this way
being
pain
hiding
reward
where?
lifelessness
hits
in
and

out
over
and
over
death
speaks
and
you
answer

Come
away
loosen
the world’s
hold
tightening
Another
door
entrance
yours
bringing
hope
brighter
tomorrows
freshened air
breathing
new
life
God
whispers
your
name,
waiting.

(c) February 10, 2015

Who do you worship?

“Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you.”  - Deuteronomy 32:18

Who do you worship
when you come
to the altar

I hold Life
I hold Love
in the palm
of My hand

My Son
your Savior
Jesus
is He
offered
Jesus
is He
you take

Who do you worship
when you come
to the altar

Do you
worship
He
whose offering
you hear
Do you sit at His feet
and listen
or

Do you worship another?

Do you look and not see
Do you hear and not comprehend
Do you run with the wind
as the path of Life
and of Love
is taken from you
and any possible grasp of
knowing the Lord
with all your heart
is snuffed out
by the world’s pull.

Do you worship
He
whose offering
you receive
with joy
and excitement
or
do you worship another
convinced commitment
does not belong
in the face of temptation

Do you worship
 He
whose offering
provides wisdom
or 

do you believe you, already wise
cannot be bothered.
You do not grow in the way of Christ,

for the cares and riches and pleasures
of the world take precedence.

Do you worship 

He
whose offering
comes to you
and you hear
and you listen
and you are attentive
and you understand
and you are obedient
and you grow
with knowledge
and wisdom
and are filled with Life
New Life
and Love
His Love
My Love

Do you worship
He
who is offered
The Son of God - our Rock 
Given for you
Taken for you
your life, your soul
Do you worship Him? 

(c) February 8, 2015

You could have, you should have, but ...

“Are (you) confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness” – Romans 2:19

You could have
… been a guide
You should have
… been a light

Yet we fail
We fail to instruct another
and even ourselves
We are blinded
and the light
of Christ
we carry
in our hearts
is not always
bright.

We claim
oneness
completeness
with the Lord
but if we live
as creatures
of the sin
the Lord Jesus
delivered us from
our effort
to guide
and be a beacon
is futile.

Sin blinds us.
A conscious
every moment
kind of focus
on our Holy Father
is what we need.

The way is hard.
Satan’s tactics
dig deep
and deeper,
escalating
our feelings of self --
“It’s about me!”

You said
I said
He said
She said

When will we stop!
We are so pitiful

We have learned little
Or perhaps we have
learned much
but remember little

God is our maker
Our healer
Our protector
Our teacher
Our provider
Our Savior
Our constant Companion
Our forever King

Yet we act
like we are above Him
and we are not.

We are nothing -
nothing but senseless people
in a senseless world
going our own way

When will we see
When will we get past
the darkness
Why do we constantly let Satan
drag us down and keep us in
bondage to moral wrongs
and self-righteousness
and self-indignation
and self-pity
and jealousies
and selfish ambitions
and envy.

Where is our love
for each other
Where is the kindness
and the goodness
and the faithfulness
and the gentleness
and the self-control?

God our Father in heaven
is with us,
but are we with Him?

We could be
We should be ...

(c) February 7, 2015

Today is The Day -- a precious gift

“This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.” 

-- Psalm 118:24

Today is The Day – a precious gift
God has given

Will you seek Me today
Will you open the door
of your heart
so I may
gain entrance

Will you permit Me
to stay awhile
and show you
the wonders
of this day

Will  you feast your eyes
on the beauty
surrounding

Will you bring
every prayer
every praise
into My Presence

Will you believe
I AM
God the Father
Jesus the Son
and the Holy Spirit
who hears your call
your every petition
your songs of praise
and thanksgiving

Will you partake
in the good,
keeping a positive outlook
on this day
the Lord has given

Will you seek My guidance
My power
My mighty strength
to enable you
to overcome weaknesses

Will you tell Me of your
every trouble
big and small
so I can show you
My provision
My protection
is enough

Will your need for quietness
and rest
bring you to Me

I AM God
I AM He who is
and He who was
and He who is to come

Today is The Day --
a precious gift
I give to you

Will you accept My gift
and spend the day
with Me?

(c) February 5, 2015

Follow ... Follow ... Follow ...Me!

“For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, And by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”                                              - Psalm 18:28-30

Follow
Follow
Follow
Me!
He says to us
one
step
at
a
time
Does it fall on
deaf ears
Hollow
to the core
Do we sit
and stew
about all
that needs
done
and all
that is
wanted done
Fearing
nothing
will be
done
Deciding
it won’t
and
give up
How do you know?
Follow Me
God says
repeatedly
Trust Me

Don’t get
caught,
entangled
in the
frustrations
of the
moment
your own
or another’s
Follow Me
Walk with Me

The mountains
you see
in the distance
or
around the next bend
may dwindle
Do not
assume
your way
is
the only way
nor
the best way
My way,
God tells us
is
The Way
to go
Follow Me!
I will guide you
If you move
as I instruct
I will
equip
you
to accomplish
much
Trust Me

but,
if you act
and react
and respond
as
you alone
believe
to be
correct
and true,
you will not
accomplish
all that I,
Your God,
have planned
for you.

Remember,
I know the plans
I have for you.
Plans to prosper,
not to harm.
Plans to give you a hope
and a future.

To be
at peace
wherever
you are,
come into
My Presence
and commune
with Me
I will bring you
rest.
I know more
than you
about you.
I know
what you need,
when you need,
why you need,
how you need.
Look to Me
Focus on Me

…when your children whine
when your husband
or your wife
procrastinates
or sees more negatives
than positives
or
doesn’t listen
doesn’t hear
doesn’t understand
or struggles
to get out of bed
and moving full speed ahead
when soreness and achiness
and pain is everywhere.
Focus on Me
for it all.

Don’t lost sight
of Me
in the midst
of your
personal crisis
Don’t neglect
to pray
to Me
for guidance
to praise Me
for who I AM
to thank Me
for everyday
blessings
bestowed
simple joys
of love
shared
with family
and friends
and yes,
even for
the struggles,
for without the pain,
how would you know
when there is no pain.

Turn from you
Turn to Me
I AM The Way
I AM The Truth
I AM The Life
for you
Follow ….
Follow Me
Don’t look back
wishing
life
was different
Follow Me
Focus on Me
Trust Me.
You have miles to travel
Travel them with Me
I will protect you
I will provide for you
I will give you rest. 

(c) February 3-4, 2015

Winter stillness

Winter
lies still
Trees
once stark
now shrouded,
like leaves,
ice and snow
upon its branches
waiting
to plummet
to the ground
one by one
all in a heap

The winds
blow hard
tree limbs
break and fall
the frigid air
penetrates
all in its path

 (c) February 1, 2015

He called you

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. “Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – Matthew 9:36-38

He called 
us all 
you and me 
believers in Christ Jesus 
children -- 
sons and daughters 
of the most high. 
He called 
us 
to go out 
in the midst 
of the harvest,
ripe, 
like fruit on a tree 
ready to take and eat.

Those,
not us,
are they ready
to gain wisdom
and understanding
they do not possess
Are they ready
Are they willing

And we

whom God called
Are we ready
and willing

Have we moved
out of our comfort zone
to the couple
next door
to the family
across the street
to the homeless man
on a street corner
or walking
up and down
sidewalks
for warmth

They are weary
They are scattered
They go about
day in
day out
what is done
is done
but do they know
do they know You
and do they know
where they will spend
eternity

Who will tell them
Who will show them
Will it be us
whom God called

They may not hear

They shut up their ears
and their hearts
They thrive on foolishness
and fruitlessness


But what is that
to us
God did not call us to judge
or condemn
or second guess another

 He called us to go
to see the need
to meet the need
to be merciful
and kind
and gentle
and loving

Are you ready
Are you willing


 Have you answered
the call He makes daily
upon you?

(c) February 2, 2015