The Lord

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” ~ Psalm 111:5
Who are we
who claim likewise?
We who claim
righteousness
because we have been made so
by Him
who saved us
cleansed us

We
called to go forth
and be the eyes, hands, feet, voice
of Jesus
sent by Him
to be as He

Jesus
more righteous
more gracious
more compassionate
than we could ever be
Even in His anger
He is calm
He sees the need
He sees with His heart

How do we see?
Do we look at the individual
and see inner turmoils, pain,
or only outward appearances
and act accordingly?

There is more to be seen
than with our eyes
and our ears

Seeing, truly seeing another
without responding to how it affects
you personally,
without making it about you
who is defamed,
and takes what God has given us
His graciousness
His compassion
His justice
His truth
His redemption.

All that we have to bestow
on another
is only real through the power
of Jesus Christ,
through His Word,
His Love.

Nothing of our own
is worthy without
the Lord Jesus Chris
abiding in us
and with us
always
and in all ways.

(c) September 17, 2013

Have we lost our first love?

It is not for a fellow Christian to tell
what you should do or should be
God alone will do that
to each individually,
when we are in His Word,
one with Him,
seeking His answers.
And for those times we are in despair
for whatever the reason --
and there are many --
we do not need another to pull us
further down
but to build us up
to give encouragement
Words can help,
Words can hurt
We reach out – however we can
and we are slapped down
further broken.

Is this how Jesus responded?
Is your life showing how Jesus
would do or would be?

Honoring God is not about preaching
the ought to’s and should be’s

Honoring God is about being obedient
to Him and to His will,
trusting in Him,
loving others as He loved us
and loves us still.

No one is guiltless.
We have each gone astray
in our walk with Jesus.
We do not show the love of Christ in all we do.
And many, within Bible-believing congregations,
wonder, question,
and some leave or stop coming,
believing there is no place for them.

No place for the downtrodden,
whoever they are,
whatever their circumstances.
Knocked down and out
and those left behind wonder too ….

Why?

Why?!
because, as Jesus said,
“You have left your first love.”

“Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” – Revelation 2:4

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

Where is our love, our compassion?
Why has cruelty and condemnation taken hold of our hearts?

Where is your first love?

(c) September 3, 2013 

"I AM with you"

The Lord tells us
Be strong!
I AM with you
Do not fear!

So we wait
for help
funds
direction

We wait
Fear gnaws
What if?
But God
He is never too late
Always on time

He will provide
We must trust

If we fail
If our trust is not in Him
who IS
then we are held captive
within ourselves
and the freedom we seek
escapes us.

(c) August 28, 2013

God is in control -- always

Fear settles in

Whatever comes our way
we fail to remember
who is the one in control
and succeed instead
to believe in our own personal beliefs
or listen to our friends and neighbors
Who knows?!
Not they! Not really!
We wait
God is in control
Surely the answer does not always lie
in the immediate answer that comes to mind
Surely God does not say,
“Yes, go, buy”
With what do we buy?
The Lord knows what we have and what we have not
The Lord will provide
He has provided before
Surely, He will again
The Lord tells us,
“Have faith. Trust Me.
Don’t give in
to those who know not.
I will take care of you.”

He takes care of the birds of the air
and the grasses that grow under our feet.
He provides for all the critters
of the universe … why not humans?
Why not me? Why not you?

We all have needs.
One need is not less important
than another.
One person is not less important
that another.
Not in God’s eyes.
To each other
we do not always see the need.
We see instead
how we think another should act
not the reason behind the action.
If we all could see the reason
for the way another acts,
perhaps instead of judgment and condemnation,
there would be more love and compassion.

God is the true judge,
but there are many --
believers and non-believers alike
who sit in judgment,
failing to see the error of their ways.
No one is better than you, than me.
No one is worse.
We are all sinners.
God calls us all to be as Him.

We are to love one another
What is this love
How does this love show itself to others
Is it how we perceive it to be
or is it how Jesus shows it to be?

If we say we abide in Christ,
then we need to walk as He
in love
If we stumble and fall off the path,
and cry out for help,
where do we go
when no one hears,
no one sees our need,
no one answers our plea
for compassion.

But God sees
God knows

In the midst of every need
God is there

and God will provide.
We must place
all of our faith in Him alone
He can accomplish
what man or woman cannot.

 (c) August 27, 2013

Decisions

Decisions
always
for what to do
and what not to do
for  what to say
and what not to say
We consider
the good reasons
the bad reasons
in our mind
and move,
decide
on that which is best

But sometimes
that which we deem best
is not always
what we think
Sometimes
the path that is worse
that we want to avoid
is the better one
to  take.

(c) August 20, 2013

Spiraling

I feel myself spiraling downward
I can’t seem to stop
I can’t get off
the speeding roller coaster,
the churning merry go-roundI don’t know how 
to get out of this emotional prison
I seem to be drawn into
I need the Lord’s help
I need.
but what is that?
It is unimportant
I ask of others
I forever remember
the negative responses.
It is hard
to be positive
when soreness and new pain 

gathers momentum
and takes over
and I feel shot down

My struggles cause others
close to me
to struggle too
and I feel remorse
for what I have caused
I want to help you
but I struggle with how
when I don’t even know
how to help me.

Only God knows how
and only God can.
He is my true lifeline
He is my All in All.

Help me Lord.

I know you allow things to happen
so we can learn and through You
become strong in our weakness
But I plead dear Lord,
do not move away from me.
Give me Your wisdom, Your strength,
Your compassion.
Bring me past this.
Help me stay on the path
and not wander aimlessly.
I fear I am heading into the darkness
and I would much rather follow Your Light.

Help me Lord I pray.
Amen.

(c) August 17, 2013

You are no better than me

Most people really don’t want to know how you are
It’s just trivial talk
It’s better to usually say I’m fine
Even if you’re not
It’s better to hide behind what others prefer to see
than be how you feel

What’s real is hardly important
If you don’t feel good,
 stay home
If you stay home enough,
returning to wherever you’re staying home from
is less likely to happen

My actions don’t meet up with  your expectations
Your expectations are what is important
Does that mean you are important? 

Since when did you become better than me?
Since when did you become perfect?
Since when did God say to you,
go ahead, throw the first stone,
show no compassion,
point out another’s errors
make them feel less than they already feel

Most people don’t really want to know
how you are

All across the board,
there is no difference
You might think there should be
but people are human after all
and no matter what comes along,
it seems, to me anyway,
truly caring for another
is very much lacking.

We may try
and to some extent
we may succeed

But because of our humanness
every event at every
emotional, mental, physical and spiritual level
we are dealt and have to face,
individual compassion
for each other ranks low

Job asks in Chapter 2, verse 10 --
“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”

I ask --
Is it right and just and true to accept and receive adversity from our peers and not a kind word?  Is it right to feel belittled for prayer requests?  Is it right to point out how a person should act and not consider why a person acts a certain way?

You are no better than me
You are not perfect
You have burdens to bear
You are no better than me

I am me
I have burdens to bear
I am not less than you because your burdens are less burdensome

I am still loved by God
He feels my pain
He knows my needs
He sees my hurts

You are no better than me
You are not perfect
You were not given the right to downgrade another

I am still loved by God
I am not perfect
I don’t claim to be more than I am

You are no better than me.

I am still accepted by God, even if by you I am not.

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

 (c) August 11, 13-14

Who?

Who are the strong
Who are the weak
Who are the healthy
Who are the sick, suffering
Aren’t we all?

Who serves who
Who cares

Is it right --
the weak serve the strong
or is it –
the strong care for the weak

Who are the strong
Who are the weak
Who?

 (c) August 9, 2013

Be wise and repent

Be wise and repent

For when the world ends,
and it will -- it is no mistake,
where will you be?

The Lord God
He created you and me
He came as one of us,
only Holy
and without blemish.
He came to die
in our place
for us.
He,  The Lord God
came.
He took our place
He took all of our sins
upon Himself
To make us free

Be wise and repent

Or don’t
Go ahead --
be foolish … ignore the signs, pretend

When the end times come
When Jesus returns
all who do not repent,
who do not turn from
evil and wickedness,
will die
and will descend into hell.
There will be no escape

Be wise and repent

Know the way of Jesus
Follow the path
He trod
the path He leads us on
Accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior

And when the end times come
When Jesus returns
we too will die
but we can rejoice
our journey through life
will lead us to heaven’s gate
We will enter into the Holy of Holies,
into the presence of the Almighty God.

Be wise and repent
while there is still time.

(c) August 3, 2013

A river flows

A  river flows
eastward
as a trickle it begins
and we
see ourselves
stepping in, stepping out
taking care of things
we do not see a problem
We do and go and carry on

A river flows
eastward
more than a trickle
It’s depth to our knees, our waist
harder to navigate
yet we trudge on
toiling day in, day out
struggling
worrying

A river flows
eastward
the current is rough, deep
We cannot cross
There is no way
We are stuck where we are
or we drown

A river flows
eastward
God shows us the way
If we ask, seek
we will find
God sees all
we do
all we undergo
the steps we take
beginning to end

The Garden of Eden
eastward planted
God-created
as He did Adam
… and Eve
instructions given
to obey

A river flows
eastward
a trickle
of disobedience, sin

grows
becomes a way of life
We will do it our way

Caught in a net
no way to escape

A river flows
eastward
Yet God remains
His anchor holds steady

He is the calm
we seek
within ourselves
and through the circumstances
we are dealt

He is.

(c) July 27, 2013

I AM

I AM
your inheritance
I AM
your possession
God has given us Himself
No need of any other
He Is.

(c) July 26, 2013 

Forgiveness must be more

Forgiveness
must be more

more than
not thinking any bad thoughts
toward another

more than
attempting to make things right
only to be slapped down

more than
avoiding a person because of unpleasantries voiced
by them toward you

Forgiveness
must be more

like love perhaps

God’s Love

What is God’s Love?

Is it quiet, silent, unassuming?
Is it always patient, always kind, always humble
It is never jealous, never selfish
Never rude, never provoked, never angered?
Is it always enduring, always hopeful
Eternal?
Does it build up another, encourage
come along side, stand beside, walk with you
share your burdens

Is this God’s Love
Is this friendship
Is this forgiveness

Or  is it much more?

(c) July 25, 2013

It's all about love -- the love of God

True friendship
is all about love –

The Love of God
shown to all of mankind
when He sent His only
begotten Son to earth
to become the sin offering
for every single human life
on this planet.

Jesus, the Son of God,
knew no sin
yet He became sin
for us – me and you
He went to the cross
and died for us –

that was His mission,
His goal, His purpose
to give us new life
a new purpose
a new reality
not of our own making.

True friendship
is all about love --
The love of God

Jesus tells us, shows us
to be fishers of men (and women)
not to catch and release
not to catch and let die
but to catch and change

Change for a better life
a Christ-filled life

To be as Christ
we need to devote our lives
to Him, with Him
we need to do as He

It is more, much more

that reading, studying, listening, meditating
His Word
It is experiencing all He is
with Him within us.

(c) July 24, 2013

I AM the Lord

"Thus says the Lord God: Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?" ~ Ezekiel 38:17

"I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went." ~ Ezekiel 36:22

Are you he?
He who was prophesied about
in years gone by
who will come against

Are you he?

But you
do not come
do not go
without My say

It is
My Word
My judgment
My cause

You may be he
but
without Me
you are nothing
you will stay nothing

All that is done
yesterday
today
and yes even tomorrow
is for My sake
not yours

My sake
My Holy Name
Me
I AM the Lord
and I have spoken

And ALL
will know
I AM.

(c) July 12, 2013

God's reality or ours?

God’s reality is for all
Ours is for but a few
We tend to exclude groups
forgetting 
Christ is knocking
at the door of every heart

We are all sinners

The difference --
Some have been set free
and made righteous
through the shed blood
of God’s Holy Son,
Jesus Christ
Others remain chained
ignorant and rebellious
of what they could have,
could be

God’s reality desires all
to come to Him
be bound in Him
be One with Him

God’s reality is true and right

Are you –
the one set free --
are you bound to Him
or do you remain stuck
in your own world
like those
who have yet to remove the lock?

 (c) July 6, 2013

Tell me Lord what I must do

Tell me Lord
what I must do

I read
and study
Your Holy Book
future foretold
by prophets
who put their trust
in You,
and delivered too
from the vengeance
of their enemies

I am so small
I am yes,  Your child
but I am far away
from performances bold

I went
I returned
You orchestrated it

Show me Lord
what I must do
what is best
better
optimum

Show me Lord
frustration
showing itself,
sitting endlessly ... working
the pain escalates
Uncomfortableness
climbs
with every continuing hour

I want to stop
Do you …
want me to stop

Show me Lord
what I must do
to work
A day’s work is never done
yet it is
for that day
God gives no more
than we can handle

He knows above and beyond
what we know or understand

Help me Lord
to handle
today’s work,
to accomplish
all that is necessary
Help me rest
and not fall behind
Help me overcome
and be calm
Help me.
Show me.
Point the way.

Tell me Lord
what I must do
Help me to hear
Your voice
Help me to listen
Help me to obey.

You are true and faithful.
Help me Lord
to be likewise,
to follow Your guidance

Show me the way.
Today.
This day.
Every day
and any day.

I beseech You Lord
Tell me what I must do.

(c) July 5, 2013

Our end is near

“Our end was near; Our days were over, for our end had come. The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished. … He will no longer send you into captivity. He will punish your iniquity. … He will uncover your sins!” – Lamentations 4:18, 22

Jerusalem
The City of God
died --
The end was near
and then,
over and done

Its deadness
preempted
by years
and more years
of prophecies
foretold
but ignored
disregarded

God’s chosen
would not turn away
from the evil lurking
within themselves
and surrounding them
Rebellion was preferred

God’s chosen
would not turn back
to the Lord
Would not stop
and examine
their wayward ways
Would not cry out
to their Father God
lifting hands and hearts
seeking forgiveness

Jerusalem
The City of God
dead
sins  her demise
God prevails;
punishment accomplished

The Gentile Nations
God’s people
found too among
yet not all pursuers
of love and justice,
the Lord’s way

The end
was near
is near again
The end
of days
lives lived
over
once, twice
and again
The end
theirs – gone
ours
yours
It is coming

Will you reconsider
re-examine
your ways
and turn back
to the Lord?

Will you stop
search your heart
Will you seek
the Lord’s pardon
to set you free
to remove the choking chains

or will you continue
as you are
waiting for His punishment
justified punishment

to come? 

It will be accomplished!

(c) July 4, 2013 

to sit and be still

Woe is me
I do not sit
and be silent
though God may say “Be Still!”

I am distraught
My anxieties
frustrate me so
and I resort in anger
to yelling matches
that only serve
to grieve Him
who leads me
and me
who yearns to follow

He does lead me
but the path
is not always
clear and smooth
So many obstacles
block the way

Sometimes it is
God Himself
who makes me travel
the ever-increasing
corridors of darkness
and then
in my fear
I forget
my hope is still in Him.

God tells me
do not fear
yet I falter

He says
continue to seek
to search
to examine
to wait
to listen
to turn back to Him
to remember

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly …. He will show compassion … they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him.”

Lamentations 3:25-26, 32, 23-24

(c) July 3, 2013

"in the dark"

In the dark
we listen to our selfishness
and follow our hearts
to wherever we are led

We have determined
The Lord does not see
nor hear

We are mistaken
but we do not care

It is our body
Our life
What is the difference
anyway

The Lord has turned His back on us

but He has not
Time and time again
He seeks us

but we refuse
Refuse to repent
from the violent acts,
relentless wickedness
pursued

We will worship who we please
and when it pleases us
We will honor ourselves
We have time only
for ourselves, our wants
our needs, our desires

The Lord punishes
His punishment we read
as forsaking us

We do not understand
why His fury and anger
is set against us
Why He has condemned us
Why He does not care
about us, our needs

Woe to you
Woe to me

He has been with us
He remains with us
He loves us
We are His children
He  wants what is best for us

But we have turned from Him
It is us who have forsaken Him
We have gone astray

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” ~ 2 Peter 3:9

He calls
continues to call to us,
seeking us, encouraging us
to return,
to engage in Him
be in Him
One with Him
He wants us with Him.

The seeking,
The calling,
The encouragement
given is not forever

You who continually stand against
will fall
The darkness
you surround yourself
with now
will become more intense
There will be no escape

The “I’m sorry Lord”
will not be heard
for your compassion
is not

The darkness will be your own doing
Your destruction

The Lord has not forsaken you
You have forsaken the Lord
You have forsaken yourselves

You have quenched the Spirit,
the Light of the Lord
and darkness has overcome you

You are doomed
Woe is you

If only we would repent
If only we would abide
in Him,

In His love
If only ….

but we could.

(c) June 16-17, 2013

It is Christ's Church

The church
The body of Christ
The human form of Christ
The followers of Christ

Not independent to self
Not separate
United with Christ
The head of the Church
His Church.

(c) June 14, 2013

No Room?

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:7 NKJ

No room
No room for Mary and Joseph
No room for Jesus

There was no room
yet space hindered Him not
His ministry began
He witnessed
and proclaimed
and taught
to the world all
not a select few

And what about today’s church
God’s church
comprised of Christ’s followers
Some claim too “No Room”
Others “No One”

We become caught up
the affairs of the world
and of self
result in fightings
and frustration
and endless whistleblowing
and confusion
We consider ways
to do something for ourselves
and have forgotten
our primary purpose

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 NKJ

God is the bringer
and the taker
People come
to hear the Word
to seek fellowship

Some stay
some leave
Departure
need not destroy
bonds formed,
friendships made

It is not
the number of individuals,
families
It is not
the age
It is not
the activities
for children and youth

There is more than this
more than amenities
like that found in a new home
or hotel stay

There is God
The God we worship
praise
Bow down before

God
is the reason
for church
a body of believers
united
one common goal

No room for Jesus

He may have been born in a stable
But that was not a hindrance
to all God His Father called Him to

We have much more
yet it seems we are hindered
and have little or
no room
for our King.

(c) June 13, 2013

I am new, I am free

I am New

I am Free

I became new

A new person
with new beliefs
new thinking
when I found He
who I sought
The Mighty One
All power
and majesty
belonging to Him

Him who I sought
Him who I found
Master of the Universe
Creator over all
The Lord God and King
Jesus!

I became new
I was set free

God’s Holy Word
penetrated my whole being
The gifts of
peace
and joy
and faith
extended
I received
I accepted

Jesus
Son of God
Son of Man
My Savior
My Lord
He died for me
He lived His life
He showed me the way
not once
or twice
but countless ….
through His Holy Book

His death was planned
It was His destiny
God, His Father
ordained it

His life
a new life
He became human

His death
my sins
yours too
He carried to the cross
He bore the pain
and humiliation
deserved by those He came to free

His rebirth
His body laid to rest
in a borrowed tomb
three days buried
and then
He  was alive!
Born again
His body resurrected
a new creation

and I
through my faith
in  Him,
The Lord Jesus,
am a new creation
Old things have passed away
All things have become new

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am new
I am free

Free from sin

I
made free
because of Christ’s death
and resurrection
I
profess
I
claim
I will live
according to His Spirit
pleasing to the Lord
and not myself,
my own desires.

I am free
I am new

“Morning by morning
the Lord wakens me
and opens
my understanding
to His will.”
(Isaiah 50:4b)

I profess, make claim
to live
as the Lord desires
of me
I strive to be
what He asks
of me
….to be obedient
to trust

I strive to distance
myself
from the sins
that circle me,
that want to keep me
locked in to
me, me, me.

It’s not about me
Not really
We think it is
My Life, My World, My Dreams

My life
set free
to serve
… not myself,
but the Lord Jesus

I am free

Free to walk in the Spirit

and not in myself
not in bondage to the world
that seeks control
over every finite detail  of my life

Free to be the new me
designed by Christ
He  created me
and re-created me
I am free in Him
I owe Him
my life, my love, my praise, my honor, my all

He is my Hope
My Anchor
My Teacher
My Friend
My Everything

I am New
I am Free
I am indeed!

(c) June 10, 2013

God does not fail me

I am reminded
yet again
God does not fail me

I fail myself
Expectations I put on others
fail me
and cause me
to become disgruntled
but that is only them
them and me
Not God
No, God does not fail me.

What is time
What does tomorrow matter
or yesterday
It is today
and this moment
that is
Significant

I may pray
and make bold petitions
to the Lord

I may dream dreams
and make big plans

But I cannot flee
from His presence
from this moment
for it is now
that is Significant

If I flee
from the present
and from His presence
I am lost

I may recognize
who is God
I may bow before Christ,
my Savior
I may give space
to the Holy Spirit

But
Am I present
Am I abiding in His presence
Am I serving …
not myself
not others
but God

He, who does not fail me

Have I failed Him?

(c) June 8, 2013

My prayer ... Another Time

I pray

Not now

Not today

Not tomorrow

Not that day soon to come

I am ready

Yet I am not ready

Fearful yet joyful

I pray Lord

Don’t let it be

More time I pray
I desire more time

My life
His life
in Your plan
when our work is done
when You deem it is time
It is time

Yet I pray
Not now
Not today
Not tomorrow
Not that day soon to come
Another time

Bring peace
comfort
Not comfort from pain
different
to put it into words
difficult,  cumbersome
God knows

Bring  peace
to me
to him
Sorrow not our hearts
with fear
when “what if’s”
become “why” and “how”

Help us rely on You
Help us listen
to Your still small voice
to hear it above
the roar of the pounding
of our heartbeat

Help us stay calm
Enfold us within Your
loving embrace
Keep us content
Help us rely on You
for our every need
our every want
and desire

Help us move on
alone

But yet Lord
I still pray
Not now
Not today
Not tomorrow
Not that day soon to come
Another time

Help us remain faithful,
obedient to Your call
on our lives
always

Helps us Lord
hear my request
deem it worthy

I pray dear Lord
My Savior and Redeemer
I am Yours
as is he

The walk
we’ll take
alone to You
Let it not be

Now
Not Today
Not Tomorrow
Not the day soon to come
But another time
Another Day.

Amen.

(c) June 7, 2013 

God leads

God leads
We seek His direction
We follow the route deemed to be
We are relieved
assured we have chosen the best route
for we have asked …
and why would God lead us astray

But another
one like us
points out other routes
routes to the same end
shorter routes
less costly routes

But again
Is it the best route

We sought
We looked to the Lord for guidance
It was no foolhardy decision

Where we are to go
Where we do go
will be where God brings us

He knows the best route,
the best of everything we need
It is not always the shortest path
that leads us to where
God wants us to be

We will follow Him.

Another’s opinion is
worthy to be heard
But it is God’s answer
that we are to obey.

(c) June 5, 2013 

Are you ready?

Any minute He could come
Are you ready
Are you ready
Have you reconciled
Have you told
shared God’s love
with another
Are you ready
Are you ready
It need not be you,
perhaps your spouse
or your children
your parents, siblings, friends
Are there things left undone
unsaid
Are you filled with remorse
or with joy
Are you ready
Are you ready
He could come
today
This minute
Do you know the Lord
Have you made preparations
Are you ready

(c) June 2, 2013

My truth -- God's truth

My truth
focused on me
splattered with falsehoods
enslaves me

God’s truth
focused on others
beyond me
is love, grace
does away with hatred
makes us free

(c) May 30, 2013

Three Gifts

They came
Astrologers from afar
to worship
the baby Jesus
King of Kings
prophecy foretold
bearing gifts
…  of  gold
frankincense
and myrrh.

We too come
to this Holy One
Accepting His love
Believing His death and resurrection
was and is for our salvation
God the Father
Christ the Son
and the Holy Spirit
indwelling within
and Jesus
gives us gifts
…  of peace
and joy
and faith.

(c) May 27, 2013

God loves us all

God loves us all

My worst enemy

My best friend

There is no in-between

no middle ground

He wants us all 

to come to Him
be One with Him
Through His beloved Son,

Jesus,who came to earth

because of Love
who walked the road to death
on the cross
because of Love
who was resurrected
and sits at the right hand
of His Father in heaven
because of Love

God wants us all

to come to Him
be One with Him
Through His Son, Jesus Christ,

who offers us Salvation

His blood shed for ours
He loves us so much

He holds forth his nail-pierced hand
The Gift offered
Will you accept
The Gift
Will you begin the journey
to be one with Him,
He who loves us all,
oh so much.

 (c) May 18, 2013

a glimmer of hope

a glimmer of hope
arises
a heartbeat is heard
an opportunity for God’s Love
to thrive
and bring joy in the midst
of a cruel world.

a glimmer of hope
arises
and then dashed
by medical doctors
whose level of compassion
lay dormant
beneath “their” wants
“their” desires
“their” beliefs

a glimpse of hope
arises
a baby grows within the womb
Abort! Abort! is heard
but no! it will not be
That is not my desire
Not mine, not ours
and certainly not God’s.

God’s will will rule.

a glimmer of hope
arises
God brings life
into the world
His will is not to destroy
that which He has created.
He desires to bring life --
abundant life.

May the glimmer of hope
be ever brighter and bolder
and come to fruition.

(c) May 14, 2013

The expectant waiting is fulfilled

Sunset to sunset

in Old Testament day
a time of expectation

Sunrise to sunrise
in this New Testament day
the time of expectation
fulfilled
The Lord –

promised, prophesied
has risen …
from the dead
has He been reborn.

JESUS

A light in the darkness
is born
a babe in Mother Mary’s arms
Night falls at midday
with suffering and death
on Calvary’s cross
But in the morning,
on the 3^rd day
a glorious light
fills the heavens

He has risen!
He is alive!
The expectant waiting
has been fulfilled

A new day has come.

Are you living in the new day
Are you alive in Him
or are you still stuck
in the Old Testament
waiting for what is already here?

(c) April 30, 2013

The Lord God does not deceive

The Lord God does not deceive.

gods of other nations refute the claim
claiming their god
is the one
to whom all loyalty belongs;
propaganda chains them,
believing promises made of a greatness
that will instead lie in waste.

The Lord God does not deceive.

He
The Mighty King,
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
The Lord Almighty
Ruler of the Universe,
of all Creation.

Deception will be squashed.

The Lord’s response
is swift and just
when the time is right – in His time.

We must wait
wait and pray
and listen

and obey.

(c) April 23, 2013 

God will

God will avenge
the deaths of His people,
His inheritance,
the work of His hands.
All that is His
will remain --
a remnant of Jew and Gentile
will reap the crown of life.
All that comes against
to dishonor
will perish,
drowned in shame.
God will prevail.

(c) April 20, 2013

Bud, Flower, Bloom

The darkness
The gloom
invades our every pore.
Trapped.

We envision sunny skies
and warmth
to remove the tiredness, achiness
and negative thought that permeates
our mind, body and soul.

The darkness
The gloom
Evil surrounds us
so subtle
it is missed
we let it pass
It is as it is.

But No!
Not as it should be.

Never God’s plan
The darkness
The gloom
The pain
The grief

We decide.
The consequences
ours to bear.

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

It is for a season
Today, maybe tomorrow
and another.

The Lord has made everyday.

The darkness
The gloom
We can overcome.
Spring is coming
New life is near
Jesus will return

Bud, Flower, Bloom
Today!

No more darkness
No more gloom

 Live each day rejoicing
and be glad in it. 

(c) April 19, 2013

God's Plan brings Peace

God created

humankind
and commanded obedience
Human heard
and listened
until personal will
got in the way
Obedience fell
and any love esteemed
for The One
who made him
was evaporating
like the mist
that watered
God’s Holy Paradise.

God cringed
when His will
was bypassed
Deeply saddened and angry
God strove to right the wrong
created by His people,
the  very ones He created
in  “Our Image” – the image of
Spirit,  of God, of Jesus.

Rightness,
righteousness in His people,
among His people
was not the standard
Evil and wickedness prevailed.

God judged and punished.
Sentences of long-term captivity,
of fire and brimstone, of floods
were carried out,
yet still,
His people went their way,
esteemed Him not.

God determined another course

He came as Himself,
born of Him, of God,
and the Virgin Mary,
who carried His seed
and from her womb,
He came – Jesus.

And when the time had come,
When it was His time,

God executed judgment
on Himself – on Jesus,
Son of God, Son of Man –
taking every sin from every person
He created
upon Himself.

Our sins
upon His shoulders
brought His death
Our sins became His shame We look up at Him,
see Him hanging limp
on that cross
and see His blood,
our blood – the blood
of our guilt
flowing from His lifeless body.

God reconciled Himself
with His people

He offers hope

All who come to Him
through His son, Jesus,
who accept His death,
His burial, and His resurrection
All who believe
He died for me personally,
All who commit their lives
to following and obeying
All who love the Lord
with all of their body, mind and soul,

There is Peace.  

(c) April 13, 2013

Our fear ....

Our fear
of offense
be it true or false
hinders us
from moving forward.
We take a step back
wondering if we said
or did
something
to another unaware.
We sleep,
but in those moments
when we
suddenly wake
the fear comes to us
again
and sadness
intrudes upon our faces
our eyes downcast.

Oh woe
we cry
but why?

The valley of doubt
lies deep
Our fear
of wounding another
with words
brings our misery
deeper still.

But is it true?
Or  is it false?

Ask.
Ask he or she --
that one perceived to be
the offended one

Ask Jesus – The Holy One
who casts out our doubts
and fears,
replacing with trust
in The Only One
worthy of all reverence.

Ask. Pray.

Apologize if necessary.
Move on.

There is no room
There is no time

Our fear can drive us
to a wasted life
a stagnant life
a miserable life

Or
to a God-filled life
of love, faith, hope, obedience.

Our fear of offense
need not hinder us
but take us forward,
growing step by step,
with the Lord our always guide.

(c) April 8, 2013 

We err, We stumble

(Based on readings in Isaiah 28)

We err in vision, we stumble in judgment
Our heart is not resting with the Lord God
We are intoxicated with foolishness,
selfish desires and lie upon lie
The Lord teaches
Little by little
but we do not learn
nor understand
We refuse to hear

We fall
Our vision is darkened
Our judgment lost
We fall
We are in a continuum
on and on we go
backward
We are caught in a trap
We are desolate

We err
We stumble
We faintly hear the Lord’s calling
but we do not answer
We refuse to give up our ways
We refuse to give in to Him
We know the way

We will be trampled
Destruction will come
The Lord will have the final say
He is The Way.

(c) April 6, 2013