There is no IF

IF Christ had not
did not
rise up
from death to life
from nothingness to somethingness
from eternal damnation and separation
to hallelujahs and eternal hope
IF He had not
did not
rise up...

then
the lives of we
we who profess faith
in Him
the Lord Almighty
would be meaningless
in shambles
chaos would rule
Satan would have won
Satan would have defeated
the Son of God ...

IF ...
But there is no if
Only FACT
Christ did rise up
He overcame death
He conquered sin
He defeated Satan
He lives

A forever life ...
A cleansing wind

and we
united with Him
in death
are born again
into a new life
in Him, with Him.

A cleansing wind
God's gentle caress
removes
the burden of our past
the bonds of sin that strangle us
the sprays of Satan's fiery tongue
and the sharpness of his pointy darts

We have been set free
to a new life
to be filled
with joyful wonder
to be surrounded
by God's beauty

A cleansing wind
to set our sights higher,
high in the heavens
to seek the best
to choose His plan
instead of mine
to endure
when it is tough
to see another future
Hope.

A cleansing wind has come

Has it swept into your life?
Have you be cleansed?
Are you free?
Is your life changed?
Does it show?
Can those outside see the difference?

Jesus died for your sins and mine
Jesus rose from the dead
Jesus lives

His Spirit lives within my heart
He can live in your heart too.

Reach out
Seek the cleansing wind
Seek Jesus

(c) April 18, 2012

God is pleased

His mistakes,
her anger,
doubts
do not need
to be mine

I do not need
to bring troubles
from their past
into my present

If I do, then I do
but it it not
God's plan or desire
that I cling
to another's burdens,
baggage in life.

If God wills me
to reach back
and strike a new chord
with a past relationship
of another's,
one I never knew,
then I will obey.

But a new relationship?
that remains
questionable.
Reasonably unlikely
if death has since come

You're too late.
You're too late.
You hear.
But are you? am I?

God sent me
on a mission
The mission was not
one from decades ago
but only a few
weeks
and I
responded

God does not make
mistakes.
His timing
is perfect.

Perhaps
it was too late
from their perspective

But my obedience
to God's call
was not
too late.
I was right on time.

And because
of my obedience
God is pleased
with me
and that
should be
reason enough
for joy.

(c) April 14, 2012

Thank you Jesus for Easter morn

Thank you Jesus for Easter morn
For without the risen Son
the life we claim
the hope we cling
is meaningless

You came
You moved about
with purpose
living the life
Your Father God called you to

You stood
before your accusers
silent until near the end
And then You proclaimed,
"It is finished."

But it is not
You were
born to die
to live
and live again
forever and always

The tomb
in which Your body lay
could not restrain You
It was not Your final resting place

You arose
Up from the grave
Your resurrected body

You are not dead
You are alive.
You have risen from the dead

And after 40 days
You ascended into heaven
where You reign
until You return again.

Thank You Lord Jesus
for Easter morn
Thank You for finding me
and loving me
and healing me
and saving me
Thank You for the new life
You have given me
Thank You for Your Promises,
Your Blessings,
Your Truth
Thank You for Your Word

Thank You Lord Jesus
for my new life
a life reborn
Thank You for Easter morn

You are risen
You are risen indeed!

(c) April 9, 2012

Staying the course

Stay the course
Bearing up
Perseverance
Patience
through and in
every experience
encountered
Stay through thick and thin

Not give in
to ways of the world
what is fine
on the outside
considered reasonable
is not necessarily such
when you claim to be
a child of God.

He wants a relationship
with you
and that alone
not one shared

He wants obedience
to His commandments
but not without love
He wants the love
He has for us
to be reciprocated by us
for Him
but He will not beg

He is not of this world
He created the world
in which we live
He allows our choices
to determine our end
He knows us
He knows what choices
we will make
yet He doesn't interfere

Stay the course
Stay true
to what you remember
as you pray and ponder and meditate
on His Word.

Experiences
and with it
pain and suffering
come
new every moment
round and round
come and go

Keeping God in the midst
of our experiences
and not on the fringes
we come to realize
as we persevere,
earnestly pursuing patience,
defeat does not come
and in its place
hope.

Hope in the Lord Jesus
who lived and died
and lives again
and still lives

and in this hope
we have
peace.

"For He Himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14 NKJV)

In Him we have all we need
He is our everything

The world does not offer
the peace we desire

It can only be found
one place ...

at the cross
of JESUS

At His feet
I lay my burdens

and am comforted.
at peace ....

(c) April 7, 2012

Peace ...

Jesus carried
The cross
bearing every sin
known to man
belonging to man
because
of His great love
for every one,
each one,
believer and non-believer.

We
the Christian
a follower of Christ
are called
to carry
to bear up under
our cross,
every struggle,
pain
and
hardship
that comes upon us
because
of
our love
for Him
who loved us first.

The peace we seek
is not found
in a life
without chaos
turmoil
agony
misunderstandings.

Peace is found in Jesus
Peace comes to us
in the midst of
living life
and can last a lifetime
an eternity.

Peace
like a river gently flowing
no rocks upon which to stumble

Peace
no anxious waiting
but calm acceptance
Rest
in His strength
who carries us
where we are to go.

(c) April 5, 2012

The Blackness

The Blackness
dark
blank
deep.

Do we crawl under
Do we dig deeper

The walk we travel
is it
will it
are we okay
are our wishes and desires
different
have we given up,
given in
do we still feel safe
is the Lord protecting me
have we now become more real
more human
more guilty
are we closer to knowing,
to understanding
the meaning of
participation with God
in His suffering?
is this, this personal suffering,
yet abiding in Him

some days the blackness goes away
and we
see the light
And our desires
are to be with Him, our Father
but our hour has not come
He is not yet ready for us
Our rooms are not quite prepared
We must still wait

In our perception of good days
we hang on
me and they
they and me
each to each other
to memories we cling
to another's future
and wish we could
see them then
but we have them now
and it must be enough

The Future - the days ahead
not ours to know
not mine, yours or theirs

We walk on
slowly
quickly
with purpose
we have people to see,
places to go.

Remember,
God goes before you,
behind you too
He surrounds you,
He is right there beside you
Do you feel His presence
He is carrying you.
His love knows no bounds.

(c) March 30, 2012

Sinners we are, but forgiven

Sinners
we are
you and you
described
as "others"
unbelievers
and me too
once
upon a time

But, alas,
The Lord God Above
found me
and
in His finding,
showed me
His forgiveness
I accepted
His death
His burial
His resurrection
I accepted
His offering
of a new
and better
life.

And I,
still a sinner,
because different
became His
A child of the King
A new creation

Sinner still,
but no longer bound
Set free

I became a Christian
a follower
of the Living Lord
My Savior
My Redeemer

No longer
was I
one of the "others"
I was
I am
a believer
in and of
Christ Jesus.
I strive to trust
in His promises
be obedient
to His commands
to rest
in Him.

(c) March 25, 2012

More of God's Love

God's Love

is patient, kind

Not envious

Not jealous

Not proud

Not selfish

Not in a hurry

Not bearing grudges

Not rude

is passionate

Rejoices In the Truth

Not wrongdoing

Not a falsehood

Not a lie

(not even a little white one)

Sees clearly

Not with malice

is faithful

Not dependent on our courage or lack thereof

Not giving in when we fail

is miraculous

is mighty and strong, powerful

Not weary

Not weak

is perfect

Not to be feared

is complete

Not separated from the frenzied hurriedness,

busyness of our lives

Shares with others

Moves you to live righteously,

not as sinners

is gentle and compassionate

Not angry

Not quarrelsome

Not forceful

is supportive

Always concerned about the well-being of His children

Never fails

is like a lamb

Not a roaring lion.

is for us

undeserving,

without any thought of return

is calming

Pursues us

Not to punish,

but to have a relationship

because of love …

God’s Love.

God’s Love

is a reminder -

He is Pure and Holy,

without blemish

Not flawed

Not the deceiver

Not the enemy

God’s Love

is invisible, yet not

Surrounds you

Embraces you

Reveals His Son to you and reveals Himself as your Holy Father

is the Holy Spirit,

living within your heart

when you have accepted His Son

as your Savior.

God’s Love

Builds you up

Not a disappointment

Not conditional

Sets you free

Not enslaved

God’s Love

grows

Not stagnant

Fills you to overflowing

Instructs, guides you

on your life’s journey of twists and turns

Created you

Gives meaning and purpose

Understands your pain and anxiety

and gives comfort

Shows you the foolishness

you give in to

God’s Love

searches high and low

for you, His lost child,

and when He finds you,

there is much rejoicing

and gladness of heart

God’s Love

gives you reason to thank Him

always, continually

Shows us how expressing

our love for His Son, Jesus,

frees us

from the burden of our guilt

Knows you,

your innermost being

your troubled heart

Helps us

to forgive others

to let go of the past

is genuine

Not a list of errors

does He keep

is always with you

Always has your best interest

God's Love

expresses joy

in the face of a believer

when we give

sacrificially

to Him alone

a single solitary act

of returning His love

for us

to Him.

to Him alone.

God's Love

a longing for more and more

of Him.

God's Love

brought us

a mediator,

a savior

Jesus!

God's Love

is sufficient

deserves our praise, our honor

Not our mocking

Invades us

our very being

enfolds us with Him

bring us to Him

one with Him .... alone without Him

is never ending.

Eternal.

(c) October 30 / November 2, 2010

“... God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.”  (1 John 4:16-18)

 “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” ( 1 Corinthians 13:6-8)

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:35, 37)

His song

Praying
singing
praising
rejoicing

Morning light
noon day fair
in the night
His Song -
The Song of Life
The Song of Joy
The Song of Sweet Remembrance

His Song -
shall be with me

(c) March 15, 2012

You shall love your neighbor as yourself

You shall love your neighbor as yourself
That is
The Lord's command

Your neighbor
All those around you

Your self

Love
does no harm
is the fulfillment
of the law
is all Jesus is
all Jesus does

I am
sorrowful
saddened
dismal

An encounter
with another
does not bring
does not bear
the fruit God desires
of each

Where is our love
and patience
and kindness
and self-control

Where is Jesus
to whom
we both
profess to be one with

Where indeed?!

We see instead
outbursts
of anger
selfishness
dissension
conceit
provocation

One provokes
One responds
but not
I tell you
in God's love

We provoke another
We respond in kind

Did it set us free?
No.

It gives Satan pleasure

but it saddens the Lord
and breaks our fellowship with Him.

We are
to do good
to all,
as the opportunity comes,
and especially,
to our brothers and sisters
in Christ.

We are
to walk in the Spirit,
as we live in the Spirit.

(c)  March 26, 2012

"Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:26) 

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10)

In our temptation, do we remember?

In the wilderness
when we
completely alone
no aid comes
we are
in solitude
tested
how well

God watches
sees
but does not show Himself
Is removed
from us
No one
for us to turn to
We call out
but He does not
answer.

We are
alone
in our weakness
our temptation
whatever it may be

Are we overwhelmed?

Jesus was not
Jesus withstood the test
40 days,
40 agonizing days
He spent
alone
weary, hungry
He remembered
His Father
He remembered
and He spoke
the Scriptures
again and again.

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4 and Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV)

"It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God." (Matthew 4:7 and Deuteronomy 6:16)

"Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." (Matthew 4:10 and Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20, Joshua 24:14)

Do we turn to what we know,
what we remember.
Do we use God's word
to keep us away
from Satan's tactics
when faced with
that which looks good
and promising
but is really not?!

Be it 40 days
40 years
40 minutes
or even
40 seconds
the temptation
is God's way
of testing.

"And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not." (Deuteronomy 8:2)

How well do we fare?

(c) March 24, 2012

wanderings within

rejection
rational
honest
hope -- wasted?
more here than nothing
return return
to the love of your first
remember
from where you came
to where you go

to whom do you listen
who is calling

what is life
is it only a vapor
a mist
small and narrow
without meaning
without purpose
without joy?

is it all for naught?
to have some
but not all
to give up
you cannot make that decision
you can,
but you cannot

you belong to God
you are God's dear child.

do not turn away
do not escape
to an older path
perhaps as well-worn
as another
is it any safer?
is it safe at all.

illusions
wishful thinking
things
unnecessary
more here than nothing
you are more
you are life
a living being
created
by
a living God.

more
return
struggles remain
up the hill
down the valley
nothing easy

Yet you have hope
your burden lighter
less cumbersome
less painful

remember
from where you came
remember
He who brought you to His side
He who gave you new life
He who returned your joy
remember
and return
to Him
who knows your name
every speck on your body
every hair on your head
every part
of you
who loves you
completely
compassionately
fervently

remember,
return,
be mindful of Him
as He
is
mindful of you.

 (c) March 13, 2012

The Door is still open ...

Feelings

get in the way

of what God has said to us.

We ask for a sign,

we look for the open door,

and it is there,

ready for you to enter in

and explore and be

and do great things,

all for His sake.

But our feelings

about this or that,

whatever

we find

after we enter that door

God had readied for us,

stop us

from fulfilling

His plan for our life.

We see reasons

not to go on

we see our life lived

and then come up short,

all because

our plans

failed to come to fruition.

Our plans.

Our plans are only ours

in so far as they are in

God’s will.

Our plans may change.

We make choices.

What about God’s plan,

His will, His desire

for our life?

You heard the call.

Why do you

not hear it anymore?

Have you closed the door

He opened for you?
Have you decided

there is no reason

to go on?

Some doors God closes

because of

disobedience to Him.

But God

does not close every door.

A turn of events,

happenings

in our lives,

however humbling,

even disabling,

is not a closed door.

Perhaps our walk

has slowed.

Age or health,

even finances

may be deterrents.

But deterrents

are not

synonymous with a

closed door.

God did not say

life would be

all beautiful roses

for even roses have thorns.

You want to live

You want your life back

You don’t like the changes

appearing –

the good health has given way to poor  health

the great job has become no job

God desires us to walk with Him

all our days,

to not give in to feelings,

to not give up and close the door.

God has opened a door –

and you stepped inside.

The door

did not latch shut

and lock.

You are free.

Free --- to be,

to do, to fail,

to get up and go again,

free to live totally with Him.

Free to live a life 
centered on God.

Free too

to rely on outside influences,

free to allow conflicting

thoughts fester

and cause turmoil

and poor decisions.

Free to live a life 
centered on Self 
and feelings.

The door is open, still.

You stepped in.

What now?

© March 12, 2012

Jesus shows us the way

Jesus shows us the way

He is
the way
to salvation
He is
the solution
to Sin
He is
our redeemer
gifting us
with freedom
from our sins

He is
through His very life
He is
the illustration
of how we
are to live

He shows us the way

He is
all
about
being
obedient
to His Father
Being loyal
and trustworthy
faithful
and true
embracing righteousness
living responsibly

He is
the standard
our standard
He is
the Light
He is
Love

In Him
there is
no darkness
And we,
if we
claim fellowship
with Him,
if we
profess to abide
in Him,
we must not
walk in darkness.

In the darkness
sin awakens
and we stumble
and we do not practice
the Truth

Jesus is
the Truth.

Do you know
where you go
or
has an area
of darkness
overshadowed you
causing blindness

He is
the One who loves
the One who is love
the One to whom we love

He is
our guide
Do we pray for guidance?
He is
patient
Do we pray for patience?
He is
our encourager
Do we pray for encouragement?
He is
all powerful
Do we pray for strength to continue in the midst of struggle?
Do we pray for greater faith?
Do we pray for compassion?

Jesus shows us the way
It is up to us to go the way
Not just any ole way,
but His way

Are you committed?
Are you obedient?
In your life walk,
do you walk with Jesus
or apart from Him?

(c) March  10, 2012

God ~ Jesus

God can do it all
He created the heavens
He created the world
From dust He created man
and from man's rib He created woman

God does not change
He is not at your disposal
He does not move at your whim

God is Lord of all
He is love
He implanted the seed of life
in the woman destined to be
the mother of the Christ Child

God is that seed,
that baby,
the Son of God,
the Spirit within us

God is the I AM
He is everywhere,
wherever you are
and where you are not
In the silence before dawn
In the crackling thunder

God desires our faithfulness
He seeks a relationship
with each one

He has no favorites
We are all sinners
and He desires to set us all free
from the bondage of sin
that keeps us trapped
within our selves

God is one
All He does He does alone

And in that "oneness"
we are reminded --

There is only 1 Truth
There is only 1  Savior
There is only 1 basic problem with humanity -- Sin
There is only 1 solution for that problem

The Way, The Truth, The Life
is found in
Jesus!

"in Him we live and move and have our being" - Acts 17:28a NKJV

(c) March 8, 2012

Single-Minded Obedience: So simplistic yet so hard

To obey
To be obedient
To rely totally
always
only
on Christ
on His Word

Not on self
Not on peers
Not on feelings
Not on governments
peeling promises
resulting in half truths
and lies

But to cling
to all that the Lord is
to all the security He offers
no matter what the world
suggests

To remember
the dream
He gave you

To listen
to His still small voice
heard
during the nights you cannot sleep
or during an exam you struggle to comprehend
or even with another with whom personalities clash
Don't let barriers prevent you
from hearing
with your ears, your eyes, your heart

Jesus hears
He listens
He answers

Do you pour out your heart to Him
who does hear your agony and
frustration?

Do you wait for His reply?

Are you obedient in your response
when His answer
requires
a step of faith?

(c) May 27, 2011

I call

I call
You hear
I am Yours
yet disjointed
are my thoughts

Darkness all around me
But Lord
with You
there is Light

Loneliness comes upon me
even when surrounded
by many
But You remain
constant
You do not leave
my presence
and I am comforted

My body is weary
and restless,
movement escapes me
But You, O Lord
bring peace,
a calmness to my soul

Bitterness over turmoils
past and present
churns
But You
have enabled me
to endure
and be patient
as I go,
whatever the outcome

I do not understand
Your ways
But I know
Your Way
is the best way,
the only way,
the right way.

O Lord,
help me
to accept all
that comes
The good
with the bad

Help me O Lord
to live
fully live
to life
prolonged
to death
however soon

You will not give me
more than I can bear
for You are with me
You carry my burden
You enable me to endure
You bring me assurance
I can rest in You,
the shelter of Your wings.
I am free in You.

(c) February 29, 2012

Silence

Silent we
First Word
Last Word
Not mine
Not yours
But His

Waiting
Listening
Hearing
Speaking
Obedient to Him

Are we?

Silent to His Word?
Listening to His Word?
Hearing His Word?
Speaking His Word rightly?

(c)  February 27, 2012

A visit ...

We visit
We part
Steps retreat
The door closes
The silence
The longings begin

Replayed
over and over and over again
Why is it so
Why must it be
Is it useless, meaningless
Or is there some grand plan
to be gleaned
from everything
in a former day
that only our Father God
knows and in His wisdom,
leaves us to ponder,
however disturbing
that may be.

Remember ...
the past,
but not to dwell.
A visit.
Remember ...
you accepted.
Jesus died to bring you
new life
and you accepted ...
You accepted
His offering, His gift.
Accepted
the offering of a
new life, a better life.
Remember ...
yesterday,
many years ago,
last month,
the day before today,
but live ...
today,
this moment,
for it is enough.
Tomorrow ...
we plan, but
may it be with a
new hope,
not an old pain.

In looking back,
don't let that glimpse
be your destruction.

You gave your past life
to Jesus
Let Him build your life today
And live in a new life forevermore.

(c) February 20, 2012

In the mood?

We cannot be
in the
"right"
frame of mind,
"in the mood"
 before we have
an encounter
with God.

God
is all around us,
waiting for us
to join Him,
interact with Him,
but we cannot
wait
and wait
and wait
some more.

What do we wait for?
A better time?
There is
no better time
than now.
We wait and then
when our numbered days
are finished,
there is no time.

No time to wait,
no time to begin.
The right time,
the right mood
escapes us.
We are no more.

We need
to be
ready.
How to prepare
 It certainly
is not
by doing
all there is to do
whenever
we please
with no thought
of another.

We say
practice
makes perfect.
What kind
of perfect
do we
achieve.
Practice
makes things
come together,
jell.

Are you
"in the mood?
to practice?
Practice
living,
learning,
teaching,
hearing,
listening,
obeying.
Perhaps not.

Not inclined
to be
nor
inclined
to practice
to be.

But God
He is
still waiting
He waits
whether
we are
in the mood
or not.

He waits
for that
chance
encounter.
He waits
for you.

He waits with love.

(c) February 18, 2012