Photo by Angelo Duranti
Her passion is tender.
Her pain is massive.
Her mind is lithe and quick.
Her body is no longer as swift.
Her temple once was a house of cards,
built by her birth, her fear, and her works.
Now she stands on the rock called Jesus
careful to follow him with her cross.
A new temple foundation built,
she is sure of this The Holy One.
He makes all things new with his Holy breath,
and will lead her in both life and death…
Home.
Photo by Frans Van Heerden
When day falls hard
it is ever so clear
Comfort is not essential
for a good life…
The dam that breaks
then sends the flood
is clearly essential
to cleanse the strife…
When day falls hard
and doubt whispers loudly
Truth and tenderness is essential
for growth in this life…
Photo by Alex Fu
Even in the darkness I cannot hide from you…
When my fear whispers that I will not be able to cope
that I will never make it out of this hole…
Faith tells me my Father knows what I need
The Father who keeps filling me with his strength
and just in time He supplies all the Holy Light
that I need to battle through this dark night…
I raise my head from my prayer and I see Jesus kneeling there
The Light of the world has prevailed and no earthly power can keep me from His care…
Photo by Rakicevic Nenad
The Angels have not grown older.
I always see them over my shoulder;
gentle, yet piercing mighty eyes.
Always checking the road maps and signs.
I have grown much older;
my dreams like nets all thrown.
Some I’ve known have wished me well;
a couple of them said “go to hell.”
Words, just words without caring.
Words, just words both wrong and right.
Still, I journey on toward His Holy Light.
Still, the Angels lie down beside me each night…
I journey on.
Photo by Leo Cardelli
I heard a story ’bout a poet who gave himself away
The inner city was his canvas with no color in his dreams
He was a wanderin’ grifter but no one knows for sure
It is said he still wanders ’round downtown at local bars
This City is a hard place and it stings when North winds blow
It shows no mercy to the poor child with no where else to go
I heard a story ’bout a poet who sang his songs for all the lost
Then he set himself on fire to warm them from the chillin’ frost
The children who roam the Night Streets tell the story of a man
called the Inner City Poet who comes each night to tuck them in
Inside their cardboard boxes they lay there heads upon the ground
and the wanderer sings them lullabies ’til morning comes around
Photo by Daria Sannikova
We lost all of the image of God when we were found outside of His Holiness. We are born rationalizers, barterers and liars. Yes we are all created in His image just as he says but Sin’s first act shattered that mirror image inside of us, at least until such a time as we receive the Power of the Cross of Jesus to regenerate us, to rebirth us from our darkness into His perfect light!
It doesn’t take much to look around us and see these powerful tools of the deception of Sin.
Sounds bleak doesn’t it? However, we have been given The Good News. We have been given infinite Grace flowing in the River of Mercy so that we might repent and obey to be Reborn into the Image of God in all His Goodness and power!
I am learning that the River gets deeper not shallow the further down stream I go. I am depending and counting on the fact I have been born again by the Blood of Jesus Christ and I have nothing to offer Him and never did but here is the beauty of the Truth of God’s plan to bring us back to Him in every way… The beauty of The Gospel is this: His love and Grace and all that implies is freely given to all who will receive it.
I have seen the River of Life and Mercy
A crystal clear river flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb
All who come to this river will be clean and whole
All burdens washed away, no more sorrows, tears, or death…
Revelation 22
Photo by Sebastian Voortman
They were each alone and tired of talking.
She remembered when she thought she told the Truth.
Then she grew up and knew it an impossibility for the corruptible man.
Yet their longing made them bolder and knit them together.
It is a risk you choose, even if it means you lose everything else.
Like The Master said, “you must lose your life to save it.”
Photo by Flo Maderebner
You may think you know me but you best beware,
I am stronger than any thing so You best take care
You mistook my illness as my identity
but the Healer came to me and set my spirit free!
I won’t run from haters or keep quiet your lies
The Spirit teaches me the Truth and why
You mistook my smallness as fragility
But my Maker gave Eagle’s wings to me!
I soar, I speak up, and I tell the Truth,
lies make you sick and bitterness takes root
Your Pharisee bondage is a con artist scam
I will listen and obey the great I AM!
Photo by Vinícius Vieira Fotografia
A mystery revealed. When we are born we know nothing of Truth. We believe those around us are truth tellers. We believe WE are truth tellers. We believe our parents tell us the truth and they believe it too. Our homes are warm and dry so safety must be true. Our siblings play and live the same as we do so how we live must be the true way to live. Our schools must teach true facts so educated people must be true. Our religion must be true because it rules our behavior, our traditions but the fact is we are born liars. We are born enemies of God and do not know truth. We are born liars, decievers, and accusers. The Truth is not in us until the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ utterly dwells within us. God’s Word states that not one of us is good and that humans love darkness and when the Light of the World came we did not know him. Until He chose to reveal to us, by the Spirit of God himself, who came in the flesh. Until Jesus! This is the Epiphany, the Light of the world who is the God Man Jesus. The One born in Bethlehem. The One who grew up without sin. The One who was crucified for all sin. The One who rose from the dead. The One who ascended and lives on High. The One who will return for His people and will reign forever. He is the only Truth!
So why are we surprised that we lie to each other and put on masks, and build detailed facades of being perfect families, perfect marriages, and perfect churches? Why are we surprised that some of us had Godly truth telling parents and some did not? Why are we surprised when our five year old child lies to us or sneaks candy from the pantry? Why are we surprised that we are or once were liars and not valiant for Truth?
This is an important part of understanding the ” state of human kind and our sin. Understanding our sin is the way that leads to falling on our faces before The Holy and repenting with humility. There is not plural Truth! There is only One Truth!
“All have sinned and fall short… (Romans 3:23). All of us need redemption. All of us are liars if we say this isn’t true. Truth is a person in flesh and a person in the Trinity of God’s very being. We do not know Truth in our lives until we humble ourselves to receive the Grace and the Mercy of The Holy One who is the very definition of Truth.
” and they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for Truth…Jeremiah 9:3
Photo by Lisa Fotios
I remember that sweet lavender dawn
you looked at me across the room
you were thinking I was still that little girl
who cried over all the pain and gloom
Ah yes that sweet little girl is still here
but she is not afraid and her heart is free
By God’s grace she has grown into a woman
and can face each path with eyes that clearly see…
We have traveled far, that little girl and I
We have danced and died, laughed and cried
We have known romance and reality
We remember and forget, we dream and sigh…
I love that little girl and the woman she became
she could always spot a faker and call a spade a spade
She is me and I am she woven and spun by God
We travel well together upon this earthly sod…
You said I had become a grown up girl
and what you say is true
This grown up girl is a woman now
and has no need of you…
Jill Autrey Dorman 