Truth stands alone

I confess I have often prayed and used Jesus Salvation for me as a means for “life” not to be hard…

/ jill autrey dorman / 2 Comments
bible book business christian

Photo by John-Mark Smith

 

The crowds were waiting. The sick, the lame, the blind, the demon possessed were all waiting for Him. The One who they had glimpsed in other crowds on other days healing everyone he touched. Where was He? Those other men were his followers so He must be close by.

Jesus was away at a distance. He could see the crowds below growing larger. Jesus was praying.  Jesus was here for a reason but today it was not to go down to that crowd and heal them physically. Jesus was going on to “to other towns” to preach the Gospel.  It is not that he did not love and care for the infirm and helpless ones at the bottom of that hill. He did and does care but His primary healing is/was to be done to the souls of the human race. His Gospel is this, Sin kills, Hell is real but God is Merciful and He, Jesus is the Way to Life. Jesus is the passport we need to The Kingdom.

I confess I have often prayed and used Jesus Salvation for me as a means for “life” not to be hard or uncomfortable here on earth. I have prayed for healing for myself and others. I pray every day for a “not hard life” for my children and grandchildren” but that is NOT why Jesus came. Oh do not doubt, Jesus cares for our trials on earth but He cares more that we receive Salvation from our sin and spend eternity in His presence.

Jesus promises those that receive Him will have eternal life and that He will never leave us nor forsake us and as one of my favorite quotes says, “you cannot find the Cross of Jesus on your own. It is Jesus who must lead you there, as if you were a blind person.”

So, I confess I tried to manipulate my relationship with Jesus by asking Him to not let me or those I love suffer but in His Gracious infinite Love and Wisdom He forgives me and says, “now walk with me and tell everyone that Jesus Christ is Risen and the souls of man can be saved forever.”

Mark 1:39

Deep Purple Pain

/ jill autrey dorman / 2 Comments

 

purple abstract illustration

Photo by Anni Roenkae 

 

Weary days of  fear and foe

Deep purple pain just won’t let go

All through the day and into the night

Grief and anger fires burn bright.

 

My country weeps and cracks inside

Believers pray and mother’s cry

Dear God please hear us as we pray

We are sorry that we act this way.

 

Deep purple pain upon The Cross

No one else could pay the cost

Let us walk in your Salvation now

and humbly at your feet bow down.

What a Falling was there…

/ jill autrey dorman
man hit by boxing glove

Photo by Musa Ortaç 

 

Shadow Boxer

glitters like gold!

Shapeshifter lies

have all been told!

His candy is poison

but sure taste sweet!

He shadow boxes

down on Deception Street!

Shadow Boxer betrays

with silver, he stole!

His beauty hides his

evil lust for control!

oh your fall from the heavens

like a burning star

shook the deep of this earth

what a falling was there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am here now

/ jill autrey dorman
person kneeling on highway

Photo by Ricardo Esquivel

Have you ever had the strange sensation of having traveled off the map of your own existence?

It is like moving in a mysterious land where you only know a smattering of words in that language and feel so far removed from your core being.

Some scholars call this some kind disorder of adjustment but I disagree.

I find this to be a time of challenge and exuberance in this journey.

A bigger lens through which to view the magnificence of this great pilgrimage, from the cradle to the grave and beyond…

then just as quietly or quickly some sound or smell or jolt of love for someone brings me back home.

I am now standing in my familiar dimension and even though I do not feel totally whole in this earth shell…

I know that I belong here for now until I know that I don’t anymore.

…And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” John 8:32

 

 

It is this…the answer

/ jill autrey dorman

 

assorted color textile lot

Photo by Frans Van Heerden

 

The fabric we cling to so tightly that isn’t God, must break down

Our own coveted resources, our lifeboats all drowned

Though it may be beautiful fabric we have weaved

the failure of our remedies to control must be relieved

For that is when the Lord speaks…

 

 

Words on paper with ink

/ jill autrey dorman
blank bouquet card color

Photo by Pixabay

I cannot keep trying to impress you

or manipulate what you  think of me

it matters very little in the Truth of my identity.

 

To anticipate if  you to like my verse

or if you’ll sing my tune or see my worth

all is Vanity  and Vanity is a curse.

 

To know a person one must be true it is said

So do what you will and think what you think

It is only just words on paper with ink.

 

Scatters Like a Cloud

/ jill autrey dorman / 2 Comments

 

photo of heart shaped balloon

Photo by Andreas Wohlfahrt

Like a cloud scattered by a strong wind

All illusions of security have blown away

So now I must stand on the Faith I have professed

In The One that keeps me in his sight!

 

All illusions of control are laid bare

Idols crumble like sand castles in the air

Gratitude has pierced my soul

It leads me to The Cross of His might!

 

Palms up, letting go, cleaning the house of my soul

Rhetoric and cliches must be purged in the clutter

Returning to the purity of being His Child

I still Trust in Him,  the Lover of my soul, who has already won this fight!

 

The Shell Seeker

/ jill autrey dorman

 

 

brown sand

Photo by Miri

Standing on the highest sand dune people moved back and forth on the ground below.  She no longer has their youthfulness of an unlined face but she knew she finally possessed the joy of ageless Grace. The pilgrimage called her to this beautiful place. The wind and the sun an old friend on her face.

Now she is the shell seeker in the wide brimmed hat, as a child playing in the sun she’d laughed at people like that. She remembers younger  days when she grew weary but now the days of peace are what linger here.  Emotions don’t obey the rules they are the heartbeat in being human.  Like waves reaching the shore emotions can be kept for a moment but are better when given away.

The shell seeker’ s eye remains clear and adept while watching the children play. She knows that life is not going back but more of giving it away. The Truth is, life consists in learning and loving well with Grace underneath God’s sun.  To remain whole in the midst of life’s ups and downs, to surrender all secrets and lies is anointing oil to the soul. To shed insincerity and live in the present, the waves echo behind her now compelling her to go on.

Nothing about Love is passive…

/ jill autrey dorman
purple flowers

Photo by Nadi Lindsay

 

Wisteria vines will grow on walls, over other plants  and  along the weathered splintered gray fence that is long forgotten. The vine of Wisteria is thick and knarled and strong…

The fragrance of the low hanging purple clumps of flowers permeated the bright spring day and it made her feel lightness in her heart that she had not experienced in a long while. She thought about how precious her memories of first love are. There in lies the treasure. It is in the pleasure and the pain…if you allow it,  first love leads to the Truth that we know nothing much of love.

She is older now and reflects back often on what she thought love was as a young woman or rather perhaps she was simply in love with what she thought love was. She loved but then she lived. In that living she learned that love is tough as nails. Love is knarled like the Wisteria vine. Love will grow over barriers and around obstacles still blooming and still fragrant. Love is having the strength to stay. Love is a wild and furious risk, a pouring out of all that one can from that cup and drink it. Love is rich and poor. Love is sickness and health. Love is a verb, an action word. Nothing about love is passive. Love cannot be manipulated. Love. Risks. Everything. The Holy God is Love’s name…ponder this, ponder Him…you will find Him because Love never quits and perfect Love cast out all fear and Love never ever fails.