A ton of bricks



Loading handmade bricks



Building a family house at Bbira, Watoto Childcare Ministries, Kampala, Uganda

Breathing in heat,
hours sweating
reflected bright.
Catch, pass, repeat
fingers cramp, stiffen
or go numb
arms ache
as if they have
carried the world.
Laughter and grunts
blend, harmonious song.
Sudden struck 
"We are really here"
following the will and
call of God.
All of us
receive the blow
two thousand pounds
of sun baked clay
as red dust
coats each heart.


submitted for the next Random Acts of Poetry at High Calling Blogs
where we are reviving dead metaphors.

A gift from Father for Mother's Day

The years after
rebellious teens
in my growing up
my eyes opened
to see a woman
who might just be
"cool" after all.
She had always been
my mother
but somehow
in the blink of an eye
she became my friend
or perhaps
I became
a friend to her.
We chose to spend
our Saturdays
doing anything
or nothing
just taking in the day
as women
enjoying the presence
one of the other.

When I chose to walk with Jesus
she did not understand
or follow
and I grieve
the inability to share
that great love
that sustains me.

Mother's Day approaches
and as a gift
from my Father
in a dream this morning
I saw my mother at my side
in a church
to worship the King of Kings
as if He was reminding me
there is yet time, only believe
for is anything impossible with Me?

Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”  He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”  Luke 18:26-27 NLT


Jamming with Bonnie as she asks how we experience God in Mother's Day

Uncertain season

Nothing is certain
on the edge
of change
strong winds blow
in swirling frenzy
unable to choose
a fixed direction.

In such chaos
safety seems an illusion
yet there is stillness
in the centre
where the One
to Whom nothing
is uncertain
extends His hand.

I grab hold
breathless
with expectation
surrendered
to His lead.

Fearless.

Visit Emily's to read more words by the broken, imperfect but redeemed

Come to One Stop Poetry to read more Wednesday One Shots

A peculiar reality

This week in our journey through Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, Jason and Sarah lead us to Book II – Chapter 2 The Invasion

Early this morning, I sat in my usual chair and spent time journaling with the Lord before I read this weeks portion. I am stunned once again that Jesus knew what I would be delving into and spoke about an upside down world. I share the words of C. S. Lewis first:

Reality, in fact is usually something you could not have guessed. That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion you could not have guessed. If it offered us just the kind of universe we had always expected, I should feel we were making it up. But, in fact, it is not the sort of thing anyone would have made up. It has just that queer twist about it that real things have.

And here are the words the Lord gave to me, inviting me to walk with Him and see from His perspective that things are not always as they appear:

Take My hand. When you walk with Me you can go where I go. We can step up on the clouds, higher, where you can see what I see.

From here – see the poverty of those who think themselves rich and the wealth of those who have nothing but find joy in Me.

From here – see what people think they do in secret – both the evil and the good.

From here – all the masks people hide behind become transparent and hearts shine through – those filled with light and ones blocked by darkness,

Up here nothing is concealed. Always there are cries of pain and need, shouts of joy, sobs of anguish, gasps of revelation.

Will you take My hand? Will you walk with Me? Up here, where what you think you know is often turned upside-down, inside-out?

Up here you will find My heart that never stops beating for you, for all of you.

Will you come?

Stop by Sarah's Living Between the Lines to join the discussion.

What do you do for fun??

People in my family all seemed to enjoy playing games of one sort or another.  My mother gathered weekly with other women to play mahjong, my father and his father played pinochle, my grandmother played a card game called Kaluki with her girlfriends. 

I know I loved the board game Chutes and Ladders when I was very young, mostly because I imagined what it would feel like if the chutes (slides) were real.  I loved spending the night at my great aunt Ruthie's place because she would teach me double solitaire, stopping only for snacks or ice cream, playing until late into the night.

My oldest brother had a group of friends who used our apartment as a hangout - playing endless games of Hearts.  Soon the whole family caught the habit.

Games were an easy and free way to pass the time.

In the years of my growing up and growing away I thought that games were boring and mundane, somehow beneath me.  I had no time for them as I chased after wilder and more dangerous activities.  As I jumped into all that the world had to offer, alcohol, drugs and promiscuity, I thought I was finally having big fun.

I remember a conversation with the man that God chose to soften my heart and lead me into the safety of Christ's arms. I knew nothing at all about Christian life and  I asked him with great sarcasm:  "What do you people do for fun, play board games?"  I just could not imagine how I could continue to enjoy life if I gave up my reckless pursuits. Yet give them up I did, surrendering them to Jesus along with my heart. 

With the sense of humour and irony that only the Lord could possess, I have come full circle.  My husband and I spend many wonderful evenings with friends, with hours lost in Settlers of Catan or the Farming Game.  I have become what I was most afraid of and in so doing, I have never found more joy.

Join us at Peter Pollock's as we talk about games.

The Take Action Bible NKJV

I am holding in my hands the power of God's Word to motivate His people to listen to His voice and act on what they hear. The subtitle for The Take Action Bible is Together we can change the world. Richard Stearns of World Vision says:

From Genesis to Revelation the Bible shows an active God calling ordinary people to action. Our world is still in need of people who are willing to do something to make a difference.

This New King James version is familiar in translation, it is a common 2 column layout with footnotes and the words of our Lord Jesus Christ printed in red. What sets this volume apart is the inserted pages scattered throughout that tell 15 stories of people who chose to take action; to go, to serve, to give, to heal and to teach. After each story there are suggested scripture readings and a question to ponder and motivate you. There is also a list of 52 ideas for taking action, one for each week of the year.

This is not just another Bible, but a call directly from the heart of God. I challenge you to read it and allow Him to move you to action.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Still birds

Yesterday was indeed a day of rest as we were not only snowed in our yard, but the road report showed all of our highways officially closed untill late afternoon.


Sparrow

The intense downfall of snow not only confused people, but birds as well.

Flicker

The sun is shining bright today, the temperatures rising quickly.  It should not take long for things to melt.

Today we are off to town, to shop and to vote.  Please keep Canada in your prayers as we trust God for righteousness to rule and reign in our nation.

Stop by L.L. Barkat's Seedlings in Stone for more views around Monday