dumbstruck

 

I am here

merely dumbstruck

for a season, but

holding space

for words return

tease

summer teases, laughing

joyous colour riot

life explodes

then stills

cool winds fall

farmers fret

and I, unaccustomed

to such weather

drape a shawl

around aching bones

believing surely one day

soon, heat will come

budding new

beauty lives in the fading

as edges begin the slow 

curl, hiding brown decay

full glory has passed

but here, waiting

life is budding fresh

as the cycle continues

so too must I trust

the new thing

that will outshine the old

while my frayed edges

crumble in the breeze

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"

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!

John 12:13 Amplified

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

sorrow escapes

dreams that die

leave empty space, openings 

where sorrow escapes

what room to fill

as light invades

and dreams are birthed anew

Sharing the morning

one of many

sharing the morning 

sun and stillness

but interrupting

with his call

new symphonies 

rehearsed at dawn

noon, nightfall

each unique, orchestra

members welcomed

how, without auditions

can there be such eerie unison?

but He already knew

Who formed each feather

and selects each song

not too proud

slick black shine

not too proud 

to beg for stroking

scratching

offers in return

loyalty in affection

a constant returning

for more

my thorn

don’t call me courageous

that title belongs to those 

who make a choice

to move, or take action

brave? not me

there is nothing I have done

but breathe, or gasp

eyes briefly shut

till the worst of it passes 

dauntless? no

I have simply survived

another moment

another day

 so I wouldn’t get a big head, 

I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. 

Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. 

No danger then of walking around high and mighty! 

At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. 

Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 The Message

no digging

I have been distant, yes

somewhere down deep

following the Light

words scattered into 

places hidden

but His voice reminds 

He has called me

as His pen

I must not dig for words

but embrace them

as they come

refreshment in this

the driest of seasons

Who is a woman of God?

Who is a woman of God?

His daughter, Jesus sister, temple

of the Holy Spirit

she is a walking, breathing container

of the mysterious Trinity

worth so much more than jewels

Who is a woman of God?

she works hard, cries harder

and loves with all of her being

she is filled with prayer, power

and praise

she is chosen, called and set apart

she is friend, wife and mother

Who is a woman of God?

she was pulled from the flesh of Adam

carrying the breath of her Creator

she is both fragile and strong

roots growing deep

love growing deeper

she is reliable, dependable

she laughs loud and weeps in silence

Who is a woman of God?

she is ready to serve, sacrifice

carry the burdens of nations

a woman of wisdom

a woman of worship

a creature so valuable

that Jesus shed His blood to save her

Who is a woman of God?

she is behind you, before you

right beside you and inside you

it takes only minutes to meet her

and a lifetime to know her

and all that God has birthed within her

she is you, she is me

she is your daughter, your auntie

your sister, your cousin

Who is a woman of God?

she is the old one who lives down the road

the young one that wanders the streets

the one who gives her last crumb to feed you

while she aches with a hunger she will never confess

she is from the north, south, east or west

Asian, Latin, African

skin of white, olive or black

Who is a woman of God?

she is clothed in rags or splendour

while she awaits her robe of righteousness

pure, spotless, no more wrinkles

she is the apple of His eye,

from before time until eternity

holding on to the mysterious promise

of the One Who claims her as His bride

beloved forever

with Him, she was, she is, and ever will be

blessed to be a blessing

Who is a woman of God?

you, and you, and you

and me.

one voice for One

I stand before you, a sample

of the power

of The Creator

to shape from nothing

what He chooses, for His pleasure

I stand before you

hand painted

sealed, stamped with His name

like you, and you, and you

marked with intricate detail

arms, legs, hearts beating wild

perfect in our imperfections

eyes, ears, voice

His voice, is in you, is in me

but the rhythm, the tempo, the tune

mid-air suspended, was not intended

to sound the same, no

don’t sell yourself

don’t sell Him short

the One Who’s designs

are never duplicated, replicated

or mass produced

no instant replays, reruns or counterfeits 

no simulations, imitations or forgeries

but unique, set apart, only one

for the Only One

From Ashes to Glory

You have journeyed with me

through the span of time

from Ash Wednesday

to Resurrection Sunday

I have compiled the daily psalms

into one volume, now available as 

From Ashes to Glory

come find the holy with me

psalm 47

psalm 47

so this is it, all the prayers

worries, waiting, over

finished, rivers of tears

mingled with praise

bowing low, hands raised

awestruck again

He has risen, just as He said

one act, never seen before

changes everything forever

love unharnessed, profound

takes me deeper, lost

in Jesus, the only way

to be found

psalm 46

psalm 46

the silence of waiting 

is deafening, here

in the in-between

almost afraid to breathe

are You Who You said You Are?

will I stand alone now, forever

the loss of Your presence, fresh

raw, my heart torn wide

the future veiled, I see

only memories, grasping nothing

hope slips fast away

morning will come

the promise of Your glory

but for now, faith trembles

psalm 45

psalm 45

so dark this day

we feel the weight

thousands of years

and each year new

the gift given 

from despair 

and abounding love

an impossible choice 

was set before You

and You selected death

to give us life

so dark this day

where glory dwells

psalm 44

psalm 44

this world is upside-down Lord

deaf to Your Word, blind 

to Your mysterious ways

and I, a stranger here

choose to see with Your eyes

hear with Your ears

feel with Your heart

carrying Your pain

and theirs as I come humbly

into Your loving embrace

psalm 42

psalm 42

all creation exists

by You, for You

and I as well

to honour and adore

to sing with the stars

the wind, the waves

hymns of mysterious joy

choruses of endless praise

psalm 41

psalm 41

You have planted seeds

where it pleased You

and all variety of life springs forth

some for food, many more

for beauty, splendor

to glorify Your name

and we too, first imagined

before time as reflections

of the One the Only

Creator of all