Photo by Matheus Bertelli
I was lovely then
blushing peachy cheeks
I was funny then
laughter honeysuckle sweet
I lay down with you then
beneath a full white moon
I smile when I remember
The symphony of my youth
I smile when I remember
Relationships
The coldest nights are God’s mercy (survival is fear based and slides into dying)
Photo by Pixabay
It is the coldest night in years
The heavens in the sky so clear
The burden on her back slid off her shoulders
She thought, I must lay down this boulder…
It is time the voice said, there is no more to do
I want you to leave this burden here tonight
Survival is fear based and slides into dying
Thriving mercy comes from Me the voice cried…
She lay down on the cold ground shivering
When she woke a spring morning shining
She looked around with a pounding in her mind
And the boulder was no where in sight…
Proverbs of a Foolish Man
from freight trains to Ferraris
cigarette butts in the gutter to Cuban cigars
wanted to go home so many times
but it was just too damn hard…
hidden in the desert rock and sailed the Aegean sea
scrounged like a pauper and feasted like a King
ran and ran as fast as I could
but still could not get away from me…
she deserved a better man than me
she is the whole of good and light as can be
gripped all my shame then threw it in her face
and she rose above it as she walked on in grace…
These are the Proverbs of a foolish man
Please hear this and then walk another way
Avoid the Proverbs of this foolish man
the price is much too high to pay…
It was the brightest sky in a hundred years
Photo by Luck Galindo
It was the brightest sky in a hundred years
an ancient song that drew me here
There is no burden that these stars will fall
I know you will answer when I call
Like a dazzling topaz you fill my sky
as you drift from me to that Holy high
I knew that you were glad to go
though selfishly I did not want it so
Then you spoke to me in that gentle way
There are worse things then dying you said that day
I cried and agreed but did not want you leave
but we both know the One in whom we believe
For He holds all our days and all our joys
although I can no longer hear your voice
Today I know you’re both watching over us
The family that you love so much
Kneeling at the idols of burning dreams…
Photo by Pixabay
No I didn’t worship as the pagans do or did I? That realization was a rude awakening for a girl raised in the knowledge of Christ and the Bible. Hey, those false, other gods had nothing to do with me or did/do they?
I have always been curious and believe I now know why John the Apostle wrote in the last verse of his book “children, be aware of idols.”
I have read and read that Gospel of John’s and that verse always convicted me.
After bowing down to man made works (supposedly for God), after walking many miles in my journey with Jesus I have come to know that everything and everyone put before God in my life is an idol. Sounds simple yes but it is gut wrenching because my idols come in the love of grandchildren, love of admiration, love of being right, love of caring for the sick, the love of (fill in the blank)…
As a young woman I believe my idols were rooted in the identity given me by birth. Later I believe my idols were turned to the insecurity of fitting in so I would do what everyone else was doing. Just to fit in. I could list them all but the one in my older years that finally got my spiritual attention like no other was when my first grandchild was born. Oh how God has lavished his love upon those of us who are given grandchildren! It is a good reward undeserved but I began to put that love above everyone and everything. I didn’t even realize how deep I had waded into that “good” idolatry.
But God… in his purity and fury thundered through to me one sleepless night as I was telling him that he felt so distant lately. I had taken a gift of Joy and great love and delight and turned it in to a god!
How could that be I said? I am following you Lord. I felt His Spirit say, “if you follow me then you must put no other gods before me…”
So I knelt down before my Lord had one of those snot slinging, sobbing moments of repentance…
Paul wrote, “for what do you have that you did not receive? If you received it then how can you boast about anything?” 1 Corinthians 4:7
Jars of Clay…we were enemies of God
Photo by Fancycrave.com
The heavy burden of baggage, the relentlessness of clocks. No none likes to see something break. It would not be normal if we liked to see something or someone break yet we are all broken. The day we are born we begin the journey into decay. Some see this as morbid. I see it as part of the “fall” or disobedience. The brokenness that had to be reconciled. The healing that had to happen in such an earth shattering, heaven and hell kind of way. Complete light and complete darkness collide and God’s light wins.
Everything about us, our appearance, the miraculous functioning of our bodies and brains are designed. Some of us dress plainly. Some wear costumes of bright plumage. Some of us are Primary clay. Some of us are transformed by miles of rain, wind, and ice.
I was once broken but have been transformed into his marvelous light.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:24
Summer Sun
Photo by Jens Mahnke
The summer sun is baking the side walks and streets.
The Texas horizon looks like a melting mirage.
Summer solstice has arrived and a few things never change.
Even in the shade it is one hundred degrees.
My grandchildren have begun their love affair with the sprinkler and popsicles.
In the backyard with their parents.
And wonderful cool sheets for an afternoon nap.
And all is right with my world today and I am grateful.
Box of Secrets
Photo by Kat Jayne
She took the cover off her box of secrets
No longer afraid someone might see them
Shreds of shame and names in pieces
No more to carry the cruel deceptions
And now Truth reigns with love God only shows
She knows they wonder what really keeps her
Guarded from those who want to meet her
The ones she loves they tossed like trinkets
Their distorted religion can no longer reach in
And take her soul from the love God only knows
She has put her weapons down for good you see
Knowing nothing good ever hides in a shroud
Of course life giving Truth is what remains
Shame forever crucified into the ground
And her being is now in the love God only bestows
The Pedestal
Photo by Sebastian Voortman
He said I was too good to be true
but of course there were obvious clues
He said your eyes are like pools of mystery
but of course he couldn’t see my history
The pedestal was so lovely for a season
but of course in time it crumbled all to pieces
He said the crumbled ruins were better
of course no one can love a stone cold pedestal
Louisiana June
Photo by Irina Iriser
I saw the first bloom of cotton
White and puffy like a cloud
it made me grin.
Mama Mae’s deep well water
Tasted like the honey of heaven
It rested my thirst.
My daddy had a smile
An umbrella to my world
it covered my heart.
