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
Wordsmith
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…
Two Angels in Sodom
Photo by Sebastian Voortman
From the purity of Heaven’s halls
to the famous hedonism of Sodom
Two Angels obey The Master’s call…
The earth heaves and groans in it’s underbelly
hail fire scorches, giant stones demolish the walls!
Two Angels in Sodom save the only Remnant known
those who remain yours Oh Lord God
In the midst of unholy abomination
The Holy One will restore the Glory of His Name
Two Angels in America prepare for our rescue!
Sharp Shooter on the roof tops…
Photo by Pixabay
I dream I am in guerrilla warfare, watching for sharp shooters on the roof tops
The King was right when he said we do not fight flesh and bone
Yet we insist on killing our own over and over, the choice made, cannot be taken back
There are many traitors among us, or most likely they never were a child of the King
They look just like me so I cannot know who will gun me down, it is not for me to judge
The Truth can pierce the bone from the marrow, I know because it happened to me…
I must don God’s armor at all times, be vigilant in lie detection, oh the enemy is so smooth, it is a false light…
My heart is pounding, I cannot be silent, for every day is a day of war in the spiritual realm, to immense to be ignored.
The manifold wisdom of God sees all, the Captain of the host holds all power in his name, Messiah, Jesus, God with us
So I take up my weapons… the belt of Truth, the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation …
I continue to walk behind the enemy line for I know the Battle is the Lord’s, I long to remain a diligent warrior
The sharp shooter is still on the roof, the scope on the rifle is aimed at my head, I can see his eyes dead like dolls eyes
I choose to keep walking…
I walk on vigilant always for any inkling of the enemy’s presence…deafening silence
yet in a split-second a pervasive white mist envelopes me…
I feel heavy weight and aching in my body and spirit, it is the supreme stealth weapon of the enemy
It is shame, my most relentless foe
The ballast of Shame slaughters aggressively, the deadliest of weapons, worse than sarin gas…
If I don’t kill it, it will kill me and all it touches, shame is unholy from hell
I cry out to the King, blood seeping from my chest, a razor-sharp slice
I did not feel it at the point of entry
Towering above the shame the King appears, brandishing his two-edged sword
it blazes and radiates like a million Suns, in a blink the sharp shooter
on the roof top falls dead
I am blind now, crouching down behind my shield of Faith
the King wields his Holy two-edged sword and shame screeches like the demon it is…
instantly there is silence, my heart is no longer bleeding, I regain my sight
The Holy Spirit is the watchman, the Angels encamp around me
I savor the Holy rest of victory this day…
I
“Death begins with bad feet…”
Photo by Specna Arms
The older experienced soldier watched as twenty new young men were milling about the base. He knew they had no clue what they were in for. The Korean “police action” at the 38th parallel between South Korea supported by the United Nations (largely the United States of America) against North Korea supported by China and The Soviet Union. The older soldier was still recovering from the unexpected and brutal Battle at Naktong River. That is where his best buddy’s feet went bad. The wet boots along with pouring down rain never allowed much time for drying out. His buddy didn’t even try to get his feet dry and by the time the battle ended his feet were black. Three weeks later he was dead. The Koreans have a saying, “death begins with bad feet.”
My take away from this wisdom is that I have learned to pay attention to where my feet are walking on this journey of life. The small things. My feet get soggy with the cares of the material world of what people think of me. According to scripture we are in spiritual warfare as believers who follow Christ…
For the follower of Christ Jesus we are taught to put on the armour of God for the daily warfare with an evil , fallen world. Part of that armour described in Ephesians 6 encourages us to Shod our feet with the Gospel, the Good News that the Savior of the world has come.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…Isaiah 52:7
The Shadow of A Poet
Photo by Pixabay
I want to sleep deeply in a minor key
Need that old emerald sea washing over me
Sprinkles of “should have” drop into the sand
A seeker, a woman, just had to love that man
I put my mind on pause till the midnight moonrise
I smile a reverent smile when the church bells chime
Painted soft flames of love lick around my heart
The shadow of a poet she is only catching sparks
“…but what comes to you contrary to your choosing, thinking, desiring, that is where you must follow, there He is calling.”
Photo by Josh Willink
For many years I have tried to manage Christian “doctrine” and the “Truth of Jesus and His Cross.” I write about this a lot because following Jesus Christ and being used by Jesus Christ to further his Kingdom has been the greatest longing in my life. I was basically and literally born into it. I am more than grateful for my raising, even the hardest parts where I learned what a mess I am.
I say this because while my deepest and strongest desire in this world is to be a disciple of Jesus I am now in my sixth decade and feel I am just beginning to understand what that means.
It is really quite simple. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we could be put “in right relationship with God.” Which is marvelous in and of itself however God’s plan is to put the whole world right as well. Not just you and me. Salvation is NOT just me and my loved ones but ALL the people in ALL the world.
This has been quite diluted in the Church since the moment Jesus ascended. This Revolution Jesus started on the Cross, this most powerful declaration of God’s love for us cannot be reduced to formulas or catchy slogans or politics or religious formulas and traditions.
Again this quote from Martin Luther says it so much better than I can…
“things must happen NOT according to your own knowledge but rather immerse yourself in the abandonment of understanding and Jesus will give you true understanding. You cannot find the way of the cross. Jesus must lead you there like a blind person. Not the work you chose for yourself, not the sufferings you think up for yourself, but what comes to you contrary to your choosing, thinking, desiring, that is where you must follow, there He is calling. There you are the pupil, there is where your teacher, your Savior has come and is found.”
You see, our LORD has walked this path before us as a human. His Holy Spirit is here walking this path with us, teaching us, guiding us…
As we walk so closely to Jesus, like a blind person. Trusting Him (Jesus) the way He trusted God, our Father, becoming a true disciple is about these things… giving up control, not being my own god…Yes Lord.
You can look for me…
Photo by Dominika Roseclay
You can look for me on the streets or home
my footprints are there but I may be gone
There is a scent of rose and a south wind breeze
a slight Texas drawl and a gospel hymn…
They say no one knows where they belong
without a doubt I know this is wrong
For every step taken must be redeemed
this journey’s path is seldom what it seems…
You can look for me in this Texas town
where all my roots lay deeply in the ground
A sense of strength and a southern swag
and a Gulf Coast pull that calls me back…
You can look for me on the streets or home
Some familiar paths and some still unknown
You will hear my laugh dancing in the trees
the cottonwood’s shade as the church bells ring…
The Feast of The Fowl
“I saw the angel standing in the sun and he cried out so all heaven and earth and under the earth could hear, saying…Come all you fowl in the heavens to the feast of the Great King and eat upon the flesh of captains and kings of this world!” Revelation 19
Photo by Alex Fu
All who hear open your hearts and eyes!
Not out of fear or dogma but for His name’s sake
He will execute perfect love and mercy!
They who think they are wise but are enemies of The One
who is Holy and Faithful and True be aware!
His name is Faithful and True
His name is The Word of God
The King of Kings is His name
His eyes burn with the white flame of justice
Many crowns are upon his head
He will judge those who hate him still!
The sword of His word will judge in perfect righteousness
All the fowl of the earth
will feast on their flesh on that day!
Axe to the Tree
Photo by Tookapic
when Life is not always
a merry Tale
or Thunder makes war
from east to west…
when Day leads to
a comfortless Night
or Evil and danger bring
your Soul to unrest…
put an Axe to the Tree
of all things hidden
keep your Sword always drawn
and sharpened…
let the Fair and the Fresh
be your Dream
never forget the High King
of Heaven…
Jill Autrey Dorman 