Shepherd's Night - Christmas Eve

as the weakening light

gave way to night

the stars began to shine;

heavenly host would appear

brilliant and holy

to the humble and the lowly

revealing a sign

that salvation is near;

a moment - afraid

gives way to "in a manger laid"

no greater joy, no other Love Divine

the son of God is here!

Bethlehem Stable - Christmas

rest now, oh child of love,

it's time to sleep;

all the gifts

you've yet to give

will wait till morn'

in peace 

may you lay

as you become

of mortal ways

yet set aside;

this night abide,

with God and man

reside

the only hope 

of all mankind. 

So often alone and lost

reaching out and no one there

Dear Heavenly Father

that you for teaching me

the power of prayer. 

Not seeing yet believing

a power beyond my grasp 

this is what you give to me,

my present prayer

Your gift from the past.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12 

eventide - fall

it's the sound of creatures

who've through the day been fed

happily singing their evening song

before retiring to bed;

it's the languid motions

that portray many hours awake

along with yellowing

liquid light together the dusk does make;

so less, the acts of dissension,

that contentment

tends to reign

ambition seems to seek its sleep

and all is well again. 

prayer for the persecuted- consolation prayer - fall

when God looks on those who suffer

may someone who serves Him be blest-

those who have lived in humility

and kept their faith throughout their test;

in desperate need of something good

they rest their eyes on Who they should

so the breezes of comfort in their spirit, consoled,

with all the goodness He possesses

and shares with believing souls;

the greatest rewards are yet to come

the day of dawning into the welcoming

of the Father and the Son.

what shall I take into my heart? - summer

what shall I take 

into my heart?

the deepest of places

shielded

set apart

fear is set around 

deflecting

so many wounding darts;

stay so soft

and unaware

of all the evil

desiring to reside just there

stay safely hidden

let no one see

so I may one day leave

 this earth

with life's true treasures

pure, and taken with me

Who returns life - summer

Oh Lord

I stand away

too awestruck

and amazed

to even be near

the power

in a person

that You are here

Who returns life

that has left

is something only You can save

surely every heartbeat

is in Your hand -

I can only stand away.

I am but one drip 

in the droplets of the sea

being part of what He's chosen

for each of us to be.

He alone creates mosaics

of tiny parts miraculously

forming a great panoramic

of who He is,

for all to see. 

take your pulse - summer

take our pulse

feel the life beneath

each one different

every one unique

God is in there

or we wouldn't be alive

with the blood that flows

He can thrive -

let us then 

find our identity

take your pulse today 

He'll supply what you need

messengers - summer

perhaps you came

maybe you sat

perhaps your words

were enough so that

a hurting heart

knew a little less pain

for even a moment

and overcame

the mortal, this flesh,

to the world beyond

where angels minister

and worldly cares gone

I pray this for you

and may ministry come

from mercies messengers

one by one

there's a craggy coast - summer

I was imagining a western coast of Europe in this one -

there's a craggy coast

on the other side of the sea

where peaceful sunsets

meet rising rocks

and splashing water upon the lea

as every day the sun unfurls

to wind its way

upon this part of the world

where the sounds of surf

God put into place

are never taken

from its embrace

whether tinted red

or hues of blue

it comes round same

it comes round true

tainted not by mans desires

so truth may be seen

in the sunsets fires

a plea - summer

tell me what will take me away

to that slice of heaven

beyond today

light as a dove

and soft as a feather

raise my eyes

be lifted up

to praise the God in heaven

who knows my thoughts 

and prayers from afar

just a slice of heaven please

to here 

from where you are?

sinking into summer - summer

I'm sinking into summer

like a cozy stuffed chair,

all warm and barefoot

surrounded by the soothing air.

Nothing here so pressing

that I have to jump and run,

so lazily I'm lounging

moving slowly as the sun.

Living in the outdoors

whose arms are open wide,

there's a different pace

in the place of grace

less confined than when inside.

Sinking into summer

like a warm cozy chair,

storing up for winter -

like a hibernating bear!

Mothers Day - candle in the window

that one thing 

she used to do

the candle in the window -

welcoming peace

was in view,

oh mother

from far away

I know your love

your candle calls to me today

with never a disappointment

of what is waiting there

only the light and love

that a mother can share

so that one thing

you used to do,

remembering the candle in the window,

peace is in view

dandelions of youth - spring

dandelions of youth

exert more truth

than all the planted flowers

that adults arrange;

to see children laughing

while picking these that are unbidden,

whose same flowers

be ridden

from landscapes to make way

for more purposeful heads

that incite the less gleeful

and just looked at instead;

so I choose the dandelion

and children set free

and hope to be happy in life

simply.

Eternity Reclaimed - spring

How far back can we remember???

There’s a cry for the children,

those that are here

and those that are now,

who we once were –

we can reach them somehow;

knowing we’ve all come

from our youth

learning good things and bad

the lies and the truth

the sweet days of innocence

sunshine and breeze

warmth while out playing

a feeling at ease

yet how deeply we felt

when evil had its way

but we’ve lived to come through it

to another day.

The Lord’s reaching out

He heals and He saves

it’s all there in Him

come what may.

Bless us Lord

in the darkest of night

sit with us and bring us

to the Glory of Your Light,

Your message received

that was proclaimed

Hallelujah for

the healing –

praise He

who overcame!

For eternity’s calling

we’re but in a time frame

our past, present, future

through Him

reclaimed!

empty grave - Easter morning

we can never go farther

than the empty grave

even with modern

or enlightened ways

His was the triumph

where once He lay

risen to never

see decay.

let's stop here 

and gather to praise

with worship

at the empty grave

Easter Poem Hold Me Fast - spring

help me to hang unto Christ,

He who hung upon the cross,

who gave up ever treasure of heaven

to be with us in our loss;

selfishness and society

would try to pry me

loose from Thee

but only Your enveloping arms

will hold me fast

and safe from harm

when life seems tenuous - spring

the sun has been out brightly

we see the goodness of God

oh keep us all in faithfulness

especially now

when times call for such tenderness

and none seems to be found -

who will bring us what we need

when we ourselves scarcely know

except that life seems tenuous

and it is to You we go...

becoming wise - spring

I can still walk

but it's getting harder to climb

being long on this planet

takes its toll over time;

maybe dimming eyes

and softening ears

means a lessening awareness

and perhaps a lesser fear

for we know we've made it thus far

and this not of our own

so from now on there's less struggle

and more trust to take us home

the promise of watching - spring

Just outside the window

there was a little knoll,

where in my senior year of college

I watched the spring grass grow.

While I sat, the wind raced free

fluttering the green grass so expressively,

anticipating every promise

of what life had to hold -

sharing music's joy with children

like flowers to unfold.

I am not God who plants life's seeds

but went out to nourish, provide and weed,

and in the end I could sometimes see

them flourish ever so naturally.

With every spring I cannot wait

until the sun and rain will send

the warm wind blowing wistfully

over the land again;

and think of the students,

that in the end,

fulfilled the ambitions ideals portend

and honor the feelings

I once did hold

with the promise of watching

the spring grass grow. 

mercies are rising - winter

the birds are back

but the snow's still intact

I open my window

to hear them sing

but the air of winter

is not of spring

so frozen still

but somehow they know

that mercies are rising

though the earth is cold. 

fragrance of faith - winter

how many beautiful,

lovely things

under the snow doth lie

waiting for the sun to sing

its gentle lullaby

to soothe the land

and bring forth dreams

of sounds unheard

and seed unseen

for we know they are there

and patiently wait

while trusting God

for our fragrance of faith

path to heaven - winter

my path to heaven began –

light through a window

my eyes are raised

my heart is drawn

there is more than me –

there has to be…

answers stream

comfort beams

for all the children

belong to God

He has come to redeem.

Jesus called the children to him and said,

 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Luke 18:16

circumstance comes to dance - winter

You've given me voice

how can I not rejoice?

Circumstance

comes to dance

through the pen

so praise

may rise again

from either thought 

or situation

Your desire

be my dictation. 

Amen

where I've stood - winter

where I've stood

and where I stand

footprints left upon the sand

where with the tide be swept away

and never known a later day

but where I land is solid ground

the light of Jesus all around

and in the end no feet

can leave

no greater mark

than the Eternal

to Whom I cleave

sweep over me sweet Jesus - winter

begin sweet Jesus

to sweep over me

like the changing of the seasons

like the waves upon the sea

move through my emotions

You will bring

the newness of Your saving grace

the freshness of a spring

come to us 

though we be still

and carry us

into Your will

taken away

with loving care

swept up in Your Spirit

my deliverance

there 

We'll never be out of His care - winter

In the season of changes

we may feel neither here nor there,

looking for meaning as life rearranges

in ways that we hadn't prepared.

This is when faith is a constant companion

and the Lord keeps our souls aware

that He's always leading us by the hand

and we'll never be out of His care.