tenacious cling

winds are gusting fierce this morning

blowing the nighttime 
clouds of darkness 

across the morning sky

the yard 
mowed yesterday 

before the rain

is covered 
with foliage curling up 
to die in brown, gold
screaming yellow

yet there are leaves

that cling hard 
to branches both tenacious 
and stubborn they tremble 

in the storm

willing themselves to live 
for moments longer

every bit of them focused 
on the fight

how much easier to let go

surrendered 
to the wind

take me, then

I whisper

wherever You will

this is Day 1 of 31 days of surrender

also linking with the poets, hanging out at the pub today

 

shifted glory

leaves are loosing their green

transformed to browns

yellows, a blanket spreading 

wide across the yard

the glories of Summer

ceding to Autumn

and yet

the flowers refuse

to surrender

exploding wild with life

in hues of joyous praise

capturing the light

against the darkening days

 

hot days growing shorter

a large moon is rising as day's light begins to fade

earlier and earlier each day

the pattern speaks of Autumn

but temperatures sizzle 

finally announcing Summer

If I listen, I think I hear the corn plants

singing as their ears grow

they have waited long for this

as have I

so even as sweat drips

and heat prickles my skin

I will rejoice and not complain

soaking in the warmth

knowing the long dark months

are soon to come

 

Work of His hand

 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—

every sort of seed-bearing plant, 

and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. 

These seeds will then produce 

the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” 

And that is what happened. 

The land produced vegetation—

all sorts of seed-bearing plants, 

and trees with seed-bearing fruit. 

Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. 

And God saw that it was good. 

And evening passed and morning came, 

marking the third day.

Genesis 1:11-13 NLT

Joining Deidra and the Sunday choir

 

Scattered leaves

Let's cherish the lingering moments
of Autumn
crisp, vibrant
every colour by His hand
even the scent of decay
holding the promise
of new life

Time flies and other flies...

These are the days when the sun begins to rise late and set early, unfolding colours that God seems to have created new for the occassion.  Summer days were long and lazy and felt like they would last forever.

Yet time flies.

In fact the days and weeks bleed into each other.  The blur leaves me a bit edgy, as if I've missed much, almost as if some sort of madness has crept in.

picture from Dr. Bug site http://www.drbug.ca/insects/cluster_flies.php

What has crept in for sure is a constant stream of cluster flies.  I never knew about them before, never wanted to know and truly wish I never needed to know. As annoying as these little demons are, I'm relieved to learn there are not a sign of an unclean home.  That helps chase away the sense of shame that was beginning to descend.

After vigorous swatting escapades that left me with streaked, slimed windows, we have taken to sucking them off the windows with a vacuum hose.  This is cleaner indeed!

I have been enjoying the warm and sunny days as Summer tries to linger, but perhaps I am ready for the colder temperatures to settle in, bringing an end, at least until Spring, to mosquitos, grasshoppers and these pesky flies.

Five Minute Friday - Growing

Lisa-Jo calls us to writing freedom on Fridays.  She says:

We write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write bold and beautiful and free. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just write or not.

This week's word is growing

So.. with a quick glance at the clock - I begin:

The crispness of Fall fills the air.

I take the best of what our garden has produced to preserve for later use, as what is known as the season for growing comes to an end.

But I have heard a still small voice, the One I recognize, like a sheep knows the Shepherd.

And he tells me to stay awake.

As the earth grow stills and snow falls hard, plants begin a time of dormancy, of storing up energy for a future growth spurt.

I think of winter; slowing down, curling up, seeking warmth and comfort, wrapping up in thick blankets of the love of my man, and my friends and my God.

Do not sleep, He whispers.

This too will be a growing season for you, much will take place unseen. Hearts will be healed, faith will be renewed.

So inhale, breathe in courage, come along with Me.

There is much to be done.

 
 
Come on over to Lisa-Jo's The Gypsy Mama to read more words written freely or share some of your own.

Summer Farewell

Why do I mourn the fading of summer
the bright, the bold, the hard to miss
"in your face" colours?
I need not seek for beauty
it shouts out and finds me
creates a perfect laziness.

Autumn is softer
even its chill
edges lose their focus
more effort is required
I don't see until I look
but glory waits to be found.

So too, in riotous summers of my spirit
over-filled with His goodness
I tend to grow dull, taking Him for granted.
My words of repentence
crackle as the fallen leaves
calling out my mistake
as I more gladly now
bid farewell to Summer's ease
and step into the Autumn toil.

Yes, I will seek You.
With all my heart
with all my soul
with all my strength
and You will Be my all
as Winter comes.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near Isaiah 55:6 NIV

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.  Deuteronomy 6:5 Amplified





Jamming with Bonnie about Autumn's Song

Joining Emily and the broken redeemed

On, In and Around Mondays - November breaks

The morning started with fog lazy to lift as we woke early to take a vehicle in for a repair appointment. The skies cleared to a brilliant blue, no hints of snow as November breaks.

Late afternoon, with the help of a faithful friend and his chainsaw, the work of cleaning up trees too long left wild finally began. Big maples that appear solid and strong are dying from the inside out, nothing within but rot and dust.

And I hear the voice of my Lord, stirring in my spirit:

Never assume that things are as they seem. The strength comes from the heart, not the shell.

I listen. Twigs snap, shatter, crumble. The whine of the chainsaw competes with the cries of the ravens. The air smells old and new all at once.

The sun will soon set on a day's work done.

I'm linking with L. L. Barkat's On, In and Around Monday - stop by and read what the world looks like through other's eyes today.

Waiting for light

The days have grown shorter almost overnight. I went to my chair for my morning appointment with God and noticed that the sky did not yet show even the faintest glimmer of light. Flipping the light switch, I grabbed a fleece throw, my journal and a pen, and settled in to hear what He would say.

Just as you are able to see in the dark by turning on lights - so too do you try to see spiritual things using natural means, like your own understanding. How much better and clearer is My revelation?

It takes patience to wait for the sun. How much harder to wait on Me to shine My light?

I know the uneasiness in your heart, little one. You want to know what I Am asking of you in these days. I need you to watch and wait and keep walking in faith.

The hardest part of that equation for you is the waiting. You hunger to move, repair, right wrongs and move ahead. The idea of doing nothing frustrates you, I know, but there is more happening than you can see.

Can you withold judgement, trusting that I see a bigger picture?

Can you simply pray into the rising of the light?

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth Hosea 6:3 NIV

Change of scene

Tomorrow morning I say goodbye to what is now my home as we begin a road trip back to the place I used to call home.

We will worship across the miles of Manitoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. From one of the prairie provinces to the Prairie State, the Land of Lincoln, Illinois.

I know that God has angels on assignment, to surround us and protect us. We will keep our eyes and ears open to see the changing colours of Autumn, all the natural beauty He has created for us.

Please agree with me in prayer that we will find great joy in the journey. I will share as I am able.

And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The presence of the LORD be with you on your way.” Judges 18:6 NKJV