this adventure with the Most High: rhyming a bit

Showing posts with label rhyming a bit. Show all posts

Thursday, April 7, 2011

my ponderings from a courtroom

I went to court a couple of weeks ago. Yes. Humbling. Back in January, a delightful police officer *wink* gave me a traffic ticket on my way out of town for a conference. A conference in which I was the speaker. About the Bible. And God. And holiness. *sigh*

Anyway, my court date finally arrived in which I had the chance to explain "my side of the story." I pictured myself going before a huge man in a black robe, with shackles clanking at my ankles. It ended up being much less dramatic.

As I sat on a hard bench in a mostly brown courtroom with 200ish other traffic offenders, I started thinking. And then I started writing. So here they are, my ponderings from a courtroom...

clouds above the skyline--

floating quiet,

while I sit in a stale room

with faces looking forward.

waiting. waiting. waiting.

but He's here--

knowing each and every soul,

every tear that fell last night,

every fear that steals the peace.

I wonder how many know.

how many see?

how many look to You for life--

the Maker of the skyline?

I wish I could tell you that revival broke out amongst my fellow violators and we had church. But the magistrate was firm in her no-talking policy. So I settled for quiet musings with Him, praying that those beside me might be blessed by my conference notes laid open on my lap. The word does not return void.

And I know you are just dying to know the verdict. Well. I have to go back to court. Again. One day before another conference. Apparently the magistrate cannot hear defense. Though, I might add, she thinks I have a good one. So I'm on the books, still without shackles.

Bringing it home...

How has God shown up in the most unexpected of places?

OR, how have you been humbled lately? Oh, come on. We're all friends.

Monday, March 7, 2011

priceless art

The canvas awakens my morning eyes.
Truth swirled into this moment of time with purpose.
Hues my eyes cannot fully define.
One glance and my spirit dances--free.

photo credit

I pause as the relevant graces the page.
Taking it in slow, I encamp over His word.
It whispers my name.
It's here, I'm known.

This quiet moment created for me,
Or maybe I for this moment,
To behold the glory and splendor--speechless.
It enters my marrow. It alters my plans.

Fascination, nondiscrimination...Revelation--
Given to all who seek.
As bread it feeds my soul-hunger.
As water it quenches the dry.

Piercing.

The Creator holds the paintbrush.
His love drips from the bristles, crimson red,
In fierce pursuit of my wayward heart.

Bringing it home...

How has he proven his word to be priceless art in your own life?

Friday, January 21, 2011

the shuffle of faithful feet

He wins some small battles for our heart affections. We walk in a fog, playing the game of deception. Hope he steals and joy he swipes, with no regard for my own tear-stained, dark, sleepless nights.

But the shuffle of glorious and faithful strong feet move high above the clouds, with His-story to complete. His children under covenant, sealed with sacrificial love; songs of praise seep out of His throne room above.

photo credit - brenda starr

Listen deep, breathe Him in, though the wolves may surround. He sees your earnest longing--in Him alone true life is found. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. His plan is unfolding. His name will be known.

Stand firm; His own promises cannot be thwarted, in spite of this cold world's declarations distorted. Stir up the fire, the coals, burning ember. Believe, abide, love strong, and remember...

Him.

Friday, January 7, 2011

it's there i'm home

The sun rises fierce in the sky, another day--
Another vapor of time to choose...

In whom or what will this heart trust?

photo credit - flickr photo by mark wooten

All is vanity, he declares;
Time flies past unaware of my stepped-on toes.

People stare off, wondering and questioning,
Testing reality.

Yet life is only found in One.
Healing only flows from Him.

Truth only exists by His word. His word.
Not mine--unless I speak forth the revealed.

By grace He reaches down to the fibers of our will.
In mercy He loves and lavishes and awakens.

His, I'm called. And there I'm home.

Monday, September 6, 2010

love defined

Love sets aside self
And gets down on two knees,
With the cloth dripping warm to the floor.

Love holds not a grudge,
Nor insists on revenge--
On the betrayer's feet, water pours.

Love carries the burden--
Splintery, weighty--
Without its demanding, "Bless me."

Love lays the will down,
Arms stretched open wide,
While crimson flows rich--atoning.

Love blesses the cursed,
Says yes to the need,
Transforms a cold heart in despair.

Love keeps not a list
of those shouting out scorn.
It forgives. It endures. It repairs.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

beach inspiring.

bikers peddling.

castles crumbling.

feet strolling.

bodies sunning.

pelicans diving.

breeze crawling.

babies squealing.

youngins' digging.

delusional running.

sweat dripping.

waves churning.

skin burning.

seagulls begging.

clouds watching.

frisbees soaring.

inebriated dancing.

sand being.

hair frizzing.

I'm pondering,

God reigning

over it all.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

emotions bow down

A heaviness that lingers as a backdrop,
Sits down as if invited.

Emotions swim around, needing direction.
Needing to be invaded.

I cause my eyes to turn up towards the Hope.
I will my soul to believe. To rest. To sing.

My tongue declares Truth, pushing falsity out of my mouth--
Driving momentary drab off the page.

And He meets me.

"Let those who love Your name be joyful in You."
In You. In You.

Faithful. Reigning. Above. Detailed. Intimate. Righteous. Holy.
Delight. Redeemer. Sustainer.

Daddy.

A song breathes fresh love.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

words to Him

Today I am glad for words.

Words describe a savory dish causing our mouths to water. Words paint a sunset with pinks and oranges indescribable bringing unexpected tears. Words defend the fatherless stirring love for the weak. Words express our position and impress upon our world. Words change minds and comfort the broken and lift the weary. Words bless, move, bind, and transform. And make us laugh.

Words hold power.

May our words build and not tear down. May they encourage and not destroy. May they color and not melt. May they fill the painful gap rather than add to the despair. May they bless the Lord at all times. And when they don't, may they praise Him for His mercy undeserved.

My words to Him this day...

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I want to want You more
than any superficial thrill;
More than dreams that bury deep
and promise yet to fill.

I want to want You more
than any longing in this space;
More than things my eyes can see
which time can quick erase.

I want to want you more
than any one my hands can hold.
More than ew's and ah's from
judges giving out the gold.

For You alone break chains that aim
to tangle in my feet.
You alone pour grace and love and
power, then repeat.

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Today I join Emily at Chatting at the Sky for "Tuesdays Unwrapped." Click the link below to see what others are pausing to remember.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

You are Seen

Back in January I wrote a blog entry entitled "More than a Burger." The last phrase was a prayer for guidance, "Lord lead me. Show me how I can hand a word of hope out my window." So I wanted to give you a follow-up.

The Lord impressed upon me to contact the Local Ministries pastor at our church. I wanted to know if our church already had something in place that families could tangibly give to those we saw on the streets--no need to reinvent the wheel, right?! Well, he said they did not and asked if I would want to get the ball rolling.

So the Lord led me to write this:

You are Seen

As cars fly by, seemingly unaffected by your circumstance, there is a God who knows you perfectly. He formed you. He loves you. And He created you to know Him.

You are seen.

As men and women avoid eye contact, unknowingly treating you as though you were not a treasure, there is a God who values you immeasurably. He knows your fears. He understands your ways. And He desires your gaze.

You are seen.

As children point and others snicker, forgetting that the hands of the Almighty knit you together, there is a God ready and willing to transform your heart. He will meet you exactly where you are as you lift your hands in surrender to Him.

You are seen.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that he is,
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6

I then found an amazingly powerful image on istock photo that portrayed a homeless man sleeping on a bench. After presenting it to our local ministries they took the idea and had the poem and picture printed onto postcards. The result was beautiful.

Now someone else has stepped up (thank you, Lord), also moved to help in this outreach, and a plan is being made to present this to the church along with ideas of how to reach out to those in need--those right outside our car window.

I am not naive. I do not think this postcard will end homelessness in our city. But as the pastor encouraged, "It is tangible." It is something we can give to maybe spread a word of hope to those possibly living under the weight of hopelessness. Our God is able to restore.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Veil Lifted

Darkness veils like a heavy blanket on a frigid night.
Thinking we see, though blind and desperate for reality.
Bound and numb--hands feeling around for life, for truth, for freedom.
The weight unbearable, questionable, and frantic.

Until He grabs the edge. He lifts the tattered covering. And Light creeps in.
Our eyes squint and our heart sinks--foreign, uncertain, unknown in the dark.
He calls our name, we gasp and wait...
Until His hand envelopes our own--like a Father to His child.

We stand where we once wallowed. Slowly our feet begin to follow His own,
into this glorious, marvelous, encompassing Light.
We breathe deep--new life. We jump unhindered and dance with joy.
We see, we love, we are overwhelmed, we bow--and then proclaim.

You alone are God. You alone give life. You alone are worthy. I am awed.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Set Free

This whole big thing, it's not all about
My 401K or the quickest route,
The newest line from Calvin Klein,
Or whether my name causes others to pine.

No amount of money in all my accounts,
No man--this heart has too many founts--
No car, or desk, or laptop, or phone,
No nothing created can lead our feet home,

Only the hands that lifted the clay
and molded and shaped, 'til that fateful day
When new life He breathed into this fragile soul--
His strength, His love, His ways were made known.

In Him alone my depths drop the reigns.
He lavishes His child with immeasurable gains.
"Abundance I give," He whispers--wise, firm--
"Follow Me. Trust Me. Believe what you've learned."

This whole big thing, life-in-color is found,
Alone in the One who in grace freed the bound.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Delighting

With book tight in arms, he wrestles to climb
The heights of the rocking chair.
He settles in--his tiny toes frolic--
And I cannot help but stare.

The pages wide, with words memorized,
He pretends to be like me.
Inflection, correction, and some misdirection,
The last phrase--then he watches to see

Me sitting below, observing his ways--
My adoring cannot be contained.
To watch my young son, imitating my ways,
How could there be an ounce of disdain.

I imagine my God, looking down from above,
In similar, unobscured manner.
Pleased when He sees, His child--one like me--
Somewhat clumsily following His banner.

Holy-completely, Righteously reigning,
Yet I pray I never forget--
He dances and sings, above one just like me--
His love fully paying my debt.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Until He Comes

Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson, appropriate in light of yesterday's post entitled "Just Ask."

Keep Thou me ever hungry, Lord,
Until I famish for Thy Word, --
Thy Word, which is my meat, my bread,
Thy Word, which feeds whenever read.

Keep Thou me ever thirsty, Lord,
Stay not Thy hand till Thou hast poured
Thy living water in my cup
Which I am humbly holding up.

Keep me dissatisfied, dear Lord;
Use Thou Thy Spirit's shining sword
To pierce my foolish self esteem
And rouse me from my empty dream.

Keep me awake, that I may hear
Thy bugles calling, loud and clear.
Stir Thou my sluggish soul to fight
For Thee beneath Thy banner bright.

Yea, this my prayer, --that I may be
Hungry and thirsty, Lord, for Thee,
Dissatisfied with self, awake!
And this I ask for Jesus' sake.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Sparrow's Song

The Sparrow's Song is one of rest
With notes of peace and love.
For in the hands of God on high
Her wings the ground won't touch.

His plan for her, will come to pass
Despite the world's rough glare.
She flies in freedom and sings in strength--
Under her Maker's care.

I sing this song--the sparrow's song--
For it is my delight.
To trust the sovereign heart of God--
My moments in His sight.

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Inspired from Jesus' words in Matthew 10:29-31

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

One Posture

There are some things I read
That don't fit in my box.
It's neatly tied, with God inside--
I've even tried a lock.

But He is not a pawn
To move about my game;
He will not fit, He cannot sit
Amidst my tight constraint.

God Almighty, Holy, True
His ways are not my own.
One posture sure, one faithful cure,
My face upon the floor.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Kitchen Table

My kitchen table had no idea
The destiny to come
While it was on production lines--
Our family had begun.

We brought it home when number two
Would soon be making way;
With little thought of all the loving
Marks that would invade.

My kitchen table sits a quiet
Unimposing stance
Life moving at the speed of light--
An often awkward dance.

If only we could hear the tales
Of markers, forks, and glue--
They've left their unique signature,
With various depths and hues.

The memories we have made around
This soothing piece of wood
Have now become such priceless traits
Of early parenthood.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Clinched

Concealing a matter is the glory of God,
Like a blanket of fresh snow on the ground.
And as a man does the same--covering the shame--
The reward of pure peace will resound.

My "rights" stand up tall--making sure they are seen--
Desperate to declare their own song.
But the One that I follow laid down all His claims
And was nailed to a tree for my wrong.

Once again I clinch tight that hammer and nails--
A familiar grip all the day.
Crucifying my rights and denying my own--
To Your name be glory and praise.

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Inspired from my time in Proverbs this morning, specifically 19:11 and 25:2

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Kept the Faith

Do I love His appearing--
That great and awesome day--
When every foe and every fear
Eternally put away?

Do I love His appearing
The day each mouth declares
His glory, honor, faithfulness--
Each heart lay fully bare?

Do I love His appearing--
When all knees will hit the ground,
Completely overtaken
As His precious name resounds?

Do I love His appearing--
Crowns of righteousness He will give
To all who fought the fight of faith,
In His presence daily lived?

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Inspired from my time in 2 Timonthy this morning, specifically 4:1-8.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Distant Fire

A cloud of distance, unknowingly uninvited, seemed to linger in the air;
Where was the fire? Why was my mind distracted and unaware?

A brief moment I took to take a look at things that do not fill,
And the effects stood strong, like they belonged, in a heart desiring the still

Of God alone--firm, faithful, secure--He remembers we are but clay.
Bless the Lord, o my soul, bless the Lord, He is good, bless the Lord, all within me this day.

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If you ever feel a distance from the Lord, then as the psalmist instructs, bless the Lord, all that is within you, bless His holy name! Remember His benefits. Preach truth to your spirit. Set your eyes on the One who gives life to the full. His mercy abounds. (See Psalm 103)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Feast

Who is this ONE--the Bread of life--
Who calms my fear and ends the strife?
In Him alone I find my fill;
No other bread--my hunger stills.

A passing taste won't nearly do
To linger long at every hue.
His piercing touch; His setting free--
"I once was blind but now I see."