faith

Time

Poetry

I need a vail

Need some privacy

As I figure out

Who I want to be

Then I can be me

Without apology

I Want

Poetry

I want to create

Want to affect change

Want to add something to the day

That will make a different tomorrow

 

I want to make good things clear

And help bad things disappear

Want to smile with those in joy

And cry with those in sorrow

Sin

Poetry

Giving into it

Made it stronger

Giving it attention

Made it hold on longer

Always seeking it’s own satisfaction

While pretending to be my friend

Yet every road it chose for me

Led to pain and destruction in the end

Now seeing, I’ve turned away

From sin’s wicked ways and selfishness

I’ll follow Your Spirit to overcome

This battle with my own flesh.

Colossians 3:5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Galatians 5:16-18

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

Tether

Poetry

Tether me

Tether me

To Your side

For in my heart

Lurks desire

To go astray

Tether me

Tether me

To Your side

To keep me near

And protect me

From my own way

 

Romans 7:15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

When There Seems to be no way

Poetry

Shake off the dust

Get rid of the junk

Junk that’s been piling on for years

It’s weighed you down

Brought you down roads

That never were planned for you here

Your exit is now

Don’t miss the turn

This new road will be free and light

I’ve heard your prayers

It’s never too late

To turn all this wrong into right

Isaiah 43:18-19

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Give

Poetry, Thoughts

The other day I was approached by (I assume) a homeless man asking for money. I rarely have cash but happened to have some that day so I felt compelled to give him $5. Someone with me made a comment like “ya we know what he’s going to do with that!” And it was said in a not so nice way.

I understand that thinking and I’ve struggled with it myself. But at the end of the day, I don’t know his story and I don’t need to. I’m just called to help others in need, not just with my money but with compassion as well.

The beggar is an opportunity for me

To offer my help to a person in need

Will I glance away pretending not to see

Assume the worst and count him undeserving?

Or will I give simply because he is in need

No judgement or condemnation, no expectation

Just help for a man life has knocked to his knees

Matthew 5:42

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Treasures

Poetry

I give you my treasures

All tattered and torn

They’ve lost all their luster

They’re long over worn

At first I couldn’t see it

I didn’t have a clue

How worthless they were

Until I saw You

Philippians 3:8

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

Will You

Poetry

Will You do it for me

Will You be my strength

Will You face my enemies

And counsel me at length

Will You bring redemption

And hold me safely there

Will You offer forgiveness

Will You hear my prayer?

Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Heaven’s Power

Poetry

He’s the hope for the broken

The light in the dark

Our sight 

when we can no longer see 

where we are

He’s the producer of miracles

The way out of our storms

Bringing heaven’s power

To our fading earthly forms

Revelation 19: 11-13, 16

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. …. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Daily Prompt: Loop

Poetry

There’s a loop in my brain

Going round and round

No beginning, no end

No solution to be found

 

Traveling the loop

Day and night

Looking for answers

To make this loop right

 

Time to desert this train of thought

And leave my loop behind

Let it sit uninhabited

While I go live this life of mine

 

via Daily Prompt: Loop

Sin

Poetry

One thought and nothing more

Maybe fate guiding, intended for me

Just a thought lingering

Tempting me to make it be

So I examine it, explore it

Start wanting it to become true

It intertwines my being

Influences what I think and do

This thought, this seed

Fighting day and night to win

This thought that feels like destiny

Is really just my sin

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Tears

Poetry

My tears are released when I sleep

To let go of the pain of yesterday

And make room for a new tomorrow

My tears are released when I sleep

To wash away the deeper hurts

And rid today of yesteryear’s sorrow

Psalm 56:8
You keep track of all my sorrows.. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
Tear drops oh tear drops

You carry the pain away

With each new drop, a memory

Slowly fading away

In Freedom

Poetry

Do not promote guilt

When I died to set you free

Who decides which sin is worse

When this wasn’t even clarified by Me?

It is the condition of the heart

That only the Father can see

And He deals with it in grace

Not in condemnation to imprison thee

1 Samuel 16:7

“…The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Matthew 15:14
“Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

I’ll Wait

Poetry

I’ll wait for you, I’ll wait

Won’t do it as in the past

Won’t go my own way

Won’t jump in too fast

Your eyes see ahead

Your hand holds all the cards

You’ve made and erased all the rules

You’ve let me taste your heart

So I’ll wait, I’ll wait for you

Lest I err in my own way

I’ll take it slowly, let it unfold

And keep waiting on you today

Turn to Me

Poetry

People will let you down

They’ll disappoint you, fail you, 

misunderstand, mistreat and leave you.

And when they do, turn to Me.

Turn to me in your hurt, 

your sadness, disappointment and fear.

Turn to Me to learn forgiveness

To gain understanding

Turn to Me to be healed.

I forgive and love like no one else

I’ll teach you to do the same

It won’t always make sense 

but My way is the best

not just for you 

but for everyone here. 

Your Thoughts

Poetry

When it comes to things

 I don’t understand

I give them to You 

and trust what You say

When worry is tempting me

To care what others think

I remember your thoughts

Are all that matter anyway

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Blinded

Poetry

You were in front of me

Proving You’re true

Then You hid and allowed me to be tested

My blinders came on

And I forgot all I knew

 

James 1: 23-25

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Nothing Else

Poetry

Rest me not on my laurels

My good looks, fortune or fame

If I shall gain the whole world but not have You

I’d have nothing to my name

 

No applause shall appease me

No friendship, lover or affection due

My heart would be left cold and empty

Without the fulfillment of You

 

Mark 8:36

 

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

God

Poetry

May I never be so high That I fail to look up

May I never be so content

That I stop asking You to fill me up

May this world never answer

all of my questions

That I would stop bringing

all of my wondering to You

May my heart always long,

my hands ever reach,

my eyes always search

To experience You

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

These Three

Poetry

Pride quiet yourself

You will not be entertained

Suffer silently through

your offense and inflated pain

Regret you’ve been replaced

This is no longer your domain

You ruled uselessly for years

Now turn and go on your own way

And last but not least

I am abandoning you fear

For all the missed opportunities

You caused me while here

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Me or You?

Poetry

I long to follow 

my own dreams

Hoping my fairytales 

will come true

But I’m concerned 

That way of thinking

Is contrary 

to the truth of You

Culture says I can have it all

It says to follow my heart

Your Word says my heart is deceptive

To not trust in myself but in who You are
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Matthew 16:24-25

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their lifef will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

He Knows & Provides

Poetry

You know who’s hurting

You know each one’s needs

You know who’s heart is hardened

You know who needs some peace

Matthew 5:45-46

“…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you only love those who love you, what reward will you get? …”

Dry Bones

Poetry

Where’s the depth?

My spirit feels dry

I need some resuscitation

Bring me back to life

Ezekiel 37:4-6

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a]enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Loud Faith

Poetry

You hold my hand

And walk with me

You know everything on my mind

You understand

And see my heart

You’ve plans in your own time

If what I want 

Is beneath Your desire

I submit my will to Yours

You know better

And my vision is limited

So my wanting I’ll endure
Let my faith be my patience

Let is rise above the rest

Let it be the loudest voice 

My heart hears

As I’m tempted by trials and tests

Love

Poetry

You are inscribed on my palm

Your name is before me day and night

Your soul calls out and I hear it

Your heart has needs and I want

To move the mountains to meet them

For you are precious in my sight
For who can express the great love of God… unrelenting, unequivocal to anything else.  Grab hold, see it, feel it, hear it, it’s yours. 

My Faith

Poetry

I can tell you what I believeBut cannot prove to you it’s true

I can rest in my beliefs in peace

And not expect you to believe them too
Because I’m still trying to figure it out

Day after day, year after year

And I still have questions and doubts

About all that I’m learning here
I can tell you I believe in a Creator

One that everything makes sense to

I believe He made me and knows me

And He wants me to know Him too
I believe in my moments of failure

He’s the only safe place to run

And when He saw my chosen path

He rescued me with His Son
I believe He pulls life together

Gives me significance and a place

I believe He holds all power

Yet is humble and full of grace
I believe He reveals just pieces

Letting me see just what I need

Until one day He’ll reveal it all

And by my faith in Him, I’ll be free

Turn

Poetry

Simply turnToward open doors

Toward cleared paths

Toward His kind voice

Toward your destiny alas
Genesis 19:25
But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Here with You

Poetry

Here I am safe

Keep me in your arms

As I clean out the messes

That cause me nothing but harm

Here I am loved

Let me never forget

As I keep walking further away 

From a broken past and regret

Here I am hopeful

Fix my gaze on You

As I search to know You more

Align my thoughts with Your truth

Luke 4:32

They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. 

Love Without Fear

Poetry

Pain taught me to self protect

And it built its own defense

But now when I try to walk in faith

I’m trapped behind this fence

 

I push some people away

And hide away with You

Until I’m reminded hiding

Is not what You intend me to do

 

Exercise faith with courage

By loving without fear

Some of these people I’m turning away

Are blessings You planned for me here

Paddle boarding – Be Still

Analogies

We rented a paddle board. I put my 4 year old in front, my 7 year old on the back and I stood in the middle paddling us out into the deeper water. Just around the side of the mountain the water opens up to a larger part of the lake and it’s beautiful and serene and most importantly (for a home full of 3 boys) quiet. The boys had never been on a paddle board before. They had been playing with their friends close to shore most of the day and I really wanted to get a chance and show them what it was like to go out deeper and see the calmer, even more beautiful parts of the lake on the other side. So off we went. Noah, my youngest, is scared of anything that’s not a perfectly solid ground. So he was hanging on for dear life to the roping on the board. Caleb who is rambunctious and cannot sit still was turning around, sticking his feet in the water and dipping his water gun in the lake to fill it up. My main goal was not to fall. But every time Caleb moved, he’d rock the board. So I finally said “look, I want to show y’all something really beautiful and the only way we’re going to get there is if you sit still and let me paddle.” And they did! And it was such a wonderful time with my boys. Of course as soon as I said it, I thought I bet God has asked me to do the same thing but I keep squirming and rocking the board. And if I would just sit still and be patient and let Him do the paddling, I could experience a blessed ride and see the beauty on the other side of the mountain. 
“Be still, my soul,

The Lord is on your side.

Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to your God, to order and provide.

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul,

Your best your heavenly friend, 

Through thorny waves leads to a joyful end.”
-Be still my soul song lyrics 

(This version by Ginny Owens)

Contentment

Poetry

I asked for years how to find itI searched, pleaded, implored

Imposters came and went until

One day it arrived at my door
It came in unannounced

Hidden by the storm outside

It learned it’s way around

Waiting for me to recognize
So when the storm ended

I looked to see where it went

And standing right beside me

There it was, true contentment.
Philippians 4:11-13
…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.