Be Still

Just be still

and sit with Me,

in your mad dash world
of pressing projects
and exciting events.

Take a moment
to be still in the storm
that overtakes you now.

It was fine weather
when you woke.

Breathe out,

and remember

to breathe in again,

slowly.

Your mind is whirling
and swirling
and skimming
and sliding.

Be still and know
that I haven't given up
on this blue green globe,

and all those who rush
to and fro on the face of it.

Fear is your counsellor,
anxiety your lord.

Let love displace them both.

Let Me show you
a way so wonderful,
you will wonder why
it has taken you
so long
to be
still.

Meditation on Psalm 23 Verse 3

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness"

I don't have to worry

or stress

or work it out

or pace back and forth

till my brain explodes.

I don't have to figure out

complex riddles

or mind bending equations.

I don't have to have a degree

in advanced moral ethics.

I don't have to fear

that I'll make the wrong choice

or fall at that hurdle

or come up short.

I am not the one who has to understand

everything

hold every possibility

weigh every fraction of opportunity.

He leads me.

He knows the way.

He knows the paths of righteousness

because He formed and laid them down.

What is my call?

To follow as He leads.

Thankful

 I am thankful

that I wake every morning
through the year's turning,

grateful for another day
laden with God's grace
towards me.

I am thankful
that I can speak
words of blessing
to my family and others.

I can breathe in
the new day deeply
and breathe out praise
to My Creator.

I am thankful
that I can walk
and run
and dance
if I want to,

work hard co-laboring amidst Creation,
and feel the pleasure
of accomplishment satisfied.

I am thankful
that I can hear
love and care
from others speech,

words chosen to bring life.

I can know the joy and
comfort in friendship shared.

I am thankful
that I can see
God's wonders
pressing in
causing me delight.

Sun, stars and moon
illuminating His Glory.

I am thankful
that I can know God.

Not just know about Him,
but know Him in the intimacy of silence
and the communion of worship.

I can speak with Him,
walk with Him, hear His voice,
see His works,

wake each day knowing
He is always there.

I am thankful.

False Doctrine

The enemy's intention

to separate God and man,

and mankind from each other.

Subtle turning of truth
to appear with authority,

but underneath
the usurping Edenic lies remain.

Hindering the Father's freedom
for His children,

glorious liberty constrained
by turgid tradition,

and aspiring arguments
sent to suffocate.

Contentions and

peace ripped harmony,

broken by bad behavior,

sanctioned by serpent cunning,

dishonoring close kindred,

and collapsing covenant.

Partial plausibility digs
false foundations in the heart,

tarnishing other truths
as they are filtered through.

There will come a day
when all false doctrine
with tears will be wiped away,

as we see God as He truly is,

and each other as we truly are.

Until then Lord
protect us from all that
would separate us,

from each other,

and from You.

Don't listen to his voice

 Don't listen to his voice,

the one who hates you and would see 

the destruction of your soul.

He is the father of lies, 

and no truth can come from him.

His very nature twists and turns.

He is serpentine in every way.

Don't listen to his voice when he puts you down,

or tells you that you'll fail,

you will never amount to anything,

you will not succeed, you have no hope, no future.

Don't listen to him or believe him.

Listen to My voice,

for I will show you your true worth,

your ability in Me to change the world around you.

Listen to My voice and I will speak words of life,

and hope, 

and Oh there is so much more to My Kingdom.

Listen to Me,

and I will show you how much I treasure you.

Be careful who you listen to,

your life depends on it.

Easter Sunday Morning

I can't see his face

through the tears.

It's blood stained, broken
I know.

I don't recognize my Lord and my friend.

I have no more tears.
I am spent, numb.

There is nothing left
of his life, or mine
except this ragged cloth
with which he wiped his face.

The blood has hardened,

the dirt dried,

but it has become my most precious treasure.

I hold it
and breathe in the memory
of the good times,
the healings,
and outrageous outpourings
of miraculous grace
that flowed out of him
those three full years.

Full of so much promise,
excitement, power, wonder,
compassion, love.

Love.

That is what I'm left with.

His love.

It made me complete,
healed, restored.

No longer judged and dirty,

a social leper, a society outcast.

He gave me dignity, purpose.

He restored my name to me,
who I really am.

I will go to the tomb today
to anoint his body.

My last act of love
given in return.

I will ask the gardener to help me
roll away the stone.

There he is.

God Be My Refuge

When troubled times befall,

and I can't do my all,

God be my refuge.

When the future looms ahead,

or illness confines to bed,

God be my refuge.

When responsibility seems too hard,

and my sense of strength is marred,

God be my refuge.

When others cause me pain,

or loss through dishonest gain,

God be my refuge.

When I forget I need to trust,

or I'm driven by should or must,

God be my refuge.

When the light is dim all day,

and memory fades away,

God be my refuge.


When I can't see the forward way,

and have lost the strength to pray,

God be my refuge.

When all I know is gone,

and I can no longer carry on,

God be my refuge.