30 April 2019

not my road

farewells extended
still feel fragile and fleeting
how can a heart shattered
continue to break

eight nights remain
wrapped in African 
velvet darkness, wishing 
for a different end
to this story, knowing
it is not mine to write

He reminded me this morning
journal open, pen in hand

I have never set an easy road before you
will you ask for one now?
Or will you surrender to My plans?
When you pray 
"whatever - for the glory of Your Kingdom"
do you mean it?
When you say "anything"
is it your "anything" or Mine?

Your own ears will hear him.
    Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
    whether to the right or to the left.

28 April 2019

just beyond

April soon will slip away
the rains retreat, to hide in a place
we will not know, umbrellas 
useless now, tightly furled

so too our season in Africa
tumbles towards its end
leaving bumps, scratches
bruises, time alone can heal

yet there, just beyond reach
not quite in focus, waits
an outburst of new
glory unfolding, certain
as life

I show you specified new things from this time forth, 
even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known. 
They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word], 
and not long ago; and before today you have never heard of them, 
lest you should say, Behold, I knew them!


25 April 2019

bold in beauty

no crisis of identity
this flowers stands
singular, unafraid
no surrounding clusters
uncluttered, no need 
for comparison
bold in her beauty
wild, bright, free
proclaiming the glory
of her Creator
would I be as brave?

If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, 
most of them never even seen, 
don’t you think he’ll attend to you, 
take pride in you, do his best for you?

23 April 2019

seeking first

a matter of trust
one day to the next
or moment by moment
as we begin our journey to Canada

in two weeks
we will be in flight
though I have felt mid-air
for months

what to drive
where to sleep
are not yet settled
leaving me tipsy
and grabbing hold
of the only One Who knows

seeking first, last
always

So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom
and the righteousness that proceeds from him. 
Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.

21 April 2019

Alive!

He is alive
and the world
is forever changed
 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said
Matthew 28:6a NIV

repost from 2015

20 April 2019

as we wonder

the day in-between
deep despair
and sparkling glory
has an unexpected weight
this year, a living portrait
of the season we have inhabited

the past behind us
the future not yet reachable
we linger here
in wonder
as we wonder

19 April 2019

never dimmed

Now from the sixth hour (noon) 
there was darkness over all the land 
until the ninth hour (three o’clock).

It is Friday
that Friday
darkness falls
yet there is light
that is never dimmed
that will not be overcome
that will rise from the grave

we are bearers, carriers
containers for that light
the empty place in which He dwells
thin as eggshells on the cusp of cracking
Sunday is coming



17 April 2019

indeed a promise

there is indeed
a promise made
a covenant held
even if our minds
squint to see
God is no less 
God when we can't 
feel Him
as we struggle
to grasp what we
cannot know
but choose over
all, to believe

we watched the rainbow
fade, cameras
trying to capture
fleeting beauty
as the rains returned

15 April 2019

fingers wide

the sorting, sifting
shifting perspective continues
and in the jumble, the crumbled
dreams, the ragged edges
tiny tasty bits, too precious
to discard 
where then, to hold 
these treasures 
found?
what release will be
required next?
my hands willed open
fingers spread wide
in a stubborn "yes"

14 April 2019

Sunday begins

I can only lay myself 
down, nothing left 
but to cry Hosanna
save me
and He comes
and He comes
and He comes
the humble One
the holy One
the only One
hail to our King

so begins a week
of passion, purpose
pain and glory

and He comes
blessed is He

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. 
And as they went, they kept shouting, Hosanna! 
Blessed is He and praise to Him Who comes in the name of the Lord, 
even the King of Israel!

11 April 2019

cracks in thin air

light, lace, life
cracks in thin air
something hushed
but stirring
past mingles with not yet
what was, is, will be
inhale spice melange, savoury
and sweet
here I feel old, connected
to something unknown
shadowed secrets
then touches now
in the breeze



09 April 2019

shout life

vines, shoots, petals bright
new leaves and a million 
shades of green all
twisted, tangled into one
resounding
YES
thundering stronger
than any
no

in the midst of mourning
the passing of my youngest brother-in-law
I will shout praises to my God
and deny the enemy any taste of victory

07 April 2019

Let us never forget


Love triumphs over all!

The Rwandan Genocide was 25 years ago.
Hard to believe time has passed so quickly

Today, April 7 has been set aside by the United Nations as the Day of Remembrance 
of the Victims of the Rwandan Genocide.

Please take a few moments to read this blog post by Compassion.


05 April 2019

woven roads

do I need to follow
a trail, some crumbs
left behind
signposts, reminders
a way back, without
repeating, errors
missteps, sorrows
no
I need footprints
a new road woven
with the ancient paths
by the Master
wiggling my toes
into promises
not yet born

God’s Message yet again: 
“Go stand at the crossroads and look around. 
Ask for directions to the old road, The tried-and-true road. 
Then take it. Discover the right route for your souls. 



04 April 2019

fixed

my mind has wavered, troubled
and this welcome rebuke from my Lord
has settled me

when your eyes are fixed on Me
when your eyes are fixed on Me
peace falls

but where are you looking?
you fix your eyes on what is behind you
you fix your eyes on what waits ahead of you
and your thoughts swirl and sway
and anxiety has its way with you

you can choose, little one
perfect peace
fix your eyes on perfect love
fix your eyes on perfect glory

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace 
whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, 
because he commits himself to You, 
leans on You, and hopes confidently in You