Snow Day

 No one can mistake that voice—

His word thundering so wondrously,

    his mighty acts staggering our understanding.

He orders the snow, ‘Blanket the earth!’

    and the rain, ‘Soak the whole countryside!’

No one can escape the weather—it’s there.

    And no one can escape from God.

Job 37:5-6 The Message

 

Shouting out praise with Deidra and the Sunday chorus

 

Letters To Me edited by Don Schmidt

My life is much different
than it could have been
should have been
if God in His mercy had not intervened

Hindsight is a gift
the present cannot hold
we can not know
what we will know

We watch
aware
that pain will explode
roads will twist
feet will slip
aching to redirect
from our wiser positioning in time
desiring what is not
possible

Letters To Me Conversations With A Younger Self edited by Don Schmidt, is a remarkable new volume, where nineteen writers reach back in time with letters to their themselves.

Their words will make you laugh, cry and recognize yourself between the lines, current, former and future versions.  These are more than simple stories but reflections of lives fully lived.  You will not be disappointed if you choose to go along for the ride. I suspect you may even find a pen in your hand, writing a letter of your own.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book to review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

The in-betweens

Snow has left the world outside my window clean, fresh and silent.

The flakes fall so fast and fierce it is hard to see.

As I opened my journal, 

the Lord reminded me to trust His lead

not my own vision.

When you feel you are going in circles, trust that I Am leading you.

Even those places you return to again and again are seen in a different way each time 

for I have changed you in the "in-betweens".

I have a plan and a purpose for all things.

Why should you think this would not include all parts of your life?

Circles, lines, uphill or down --

Listen, follow My lead.

Seeking the secret place with Cheryl

 

and the silence of stillness with Sandy

 

Be that light

I know I'm not alone in my desire to walk in the perfect will of God.
We ask.  We pray.  We beg at times.
"Lord, what would you like from me?"

This morning  as I opened my journal He answered in simple words that He has used before:

Just as the night can not hold back the morning
darkness can not hold back the light

Where light is 
darkness splinters, cracks and shatters

I call you to be that light

Remembering and reminding others 
that no matter how deep or long the night

morning always comes

 

Loving how His hand moves with Jennifer

 

Taken by beauty

I am taken

by beauty

choosing awareness

in each moment

awe

and so 

breathless

 

Biting into something sweet with with L. L. Barkat

 

Pour out

I sat in the quiet of the morning before sunrise, surrendering my day, yet uncertain about how much of my self remains in control.

I opened my journal to record what He would share:

Trust that I Am leading you.

Remain open and aware of all I place in front of you.  

What appears to be an obstacle may be your greatest opportunity.

Poverty shows up with many faces.  

Be sensitive to the poor in spirit for their needs are great.

Pour out grace.

Pour out patience.

Pour out love.

I did.  I do.   I always will.

Abiding with Cheryl

Seeking quiet with Sandy

 

Knocking...

 

Poetry has been knocking on my doors for most of my fifty-six years.

There were times that I locked tight the latches

but I am throwing myself wide open

allowing words to have their way

I am searching too