The pastel palette painting spreads before my eager eye—
Overwhelming majesty of softly splendid sky.
Somehow the Master Painter once again has won my heart.
All I can do is marvel at God’s gift of Master Art.
Category: Poetry
*This is not what I consider good poetry (not really), but it’s what was on my heart.
I want to finish well, O Lord;
I want to finish well.
Help me complete what I’ve begun.
Help me to stay the course and never stray.
I need to know Your grace, my God;
I need to know Your grace.
For only by your grace can I keep on.
Everything I give to You, Your mercy keeps.
Help me to keep my word, Lord God;
Help me to keep my word.
I want to fix my eyes on Your Son.
I want to deny myself and my desire to stray.
I want to win the prize, my Lord;
I want to win the prize.
The race you call me to is worth the run—
The crown of life You give to cast at Your feet.
Awake again… again…
I find I’m drawn to Your light.
Like moth to flame, I seek consumption
In the fire of Your presence, Holy God.
Burn brighter…
Burn hotter…
Till I am ash before You.
Although at times I find it hard,
I choose to trust without regard
For any circumstance or voice
That comes to try and sway my choice.
For You are God, and no one here
Can change that You catch every tear.
For You encompass me with peace
Whenever there are stormy seas.
Conform me to Your image, Lord.
Come sunder me with living sword.
‘Tween soul and spirit cut right through—
Joints, marrow, thoughts, and intents, too.
Through trials, You refine my life—
With fire and flood, through stress and strife.
Still, I find shelter in Your wings.
Within Your shadow, my heart sings.
You give me strength when I have none
To focus on Your risen Son.
I long, dear Lord, to see Your face,
So thanks for your amazing grace.
Rise up in us, O God.
Well up with the voice of thunder,
The roar of the Lion of Judah,
To trumpet your righteousness over this place.
Let your holy presence flash like lightning,
Bringing revelation and conviction
Till we bow in humility,
Till we acknowledge your mercy!
For, Lord God, it is only
Because you stayed your hand
That we can breathe.
The blood of the Lamb
Has covered us, bringing healing,
Filling in all the broken places in our lives
With the sufficiency of your grace.
O Lord God, rise up in us
That we may be your voice to this generation,
Shouting your grace and mercy,
Your power and glory to the earth!
I saw a giant, pure white eagle (and I mean GIANT — I was seeing the angel of the North… as in North / South / East / West) leap up off the ground to take flight. When he did, everything under his claws was torn up. He flapped his wings mightily in order to gain altitude and had to work at it for some time before he was able to soar on the heights.
- The surface he had been resting on was very messy.
- The air turbulence created by his wings also disturbed the environment around him.
- He had to work very hard to gain height.
The Holy Spirit said to me that I was to note these things because whenever God is doing something new, there will be messiness, turbulence and hard work before we are able to soar on the wind of His Spirit. It takes A LOT OF EFFORT to get off the ground!!!
Like the waves rolling into the sand,
Your Spirit is powerful, inexorable.
You resonate within us—
Unstoppable, bringing change.
Even when we resist,
Your grace never gives up on us—
Saturating our hearts with love…
Till the rough places are made smooth,
The mountains are brought low,
And our hearts bow in humble gratitude
For all the transformations You’ve wrought.
Let the susurration of Your waves
Spread peace across the valleys in us
Where we have tried to hide our secret rebellions.
Bury them in the depths of Your love and power,
So we can release every part,
Every place to Your Lordship.
susurration — noun 1. a soft murmur; whisper.
When wonder at the world becomes insipid,
When watches of the night become too long,
When days drag on until it all seems vapid,
When noises overwhelm your every song,
It’s time to press beyond your inclinations,
To make your feelings cave beneath your will,
To stand upon the Rock of your salvation,
To hold firm, finding rest in being still.
Ignore the weight that seems to press around you.
His Spirit holds you safe from every harm.
Instead let quiet grace and peace surround you.
Come nestle in the safety of His arms.
Refuse to let this fleeting world dictate
The way you feel and how you choose to live,
For heaven’s true realities await
All those who can accept what Father gives.
By His own hand He brings us through the fire.
No flood can overwhelm us in His grace.
His unseen realms are far beyond desire,
But open to all those who seek His face.
Believe that all His promises are faithful,
That every word He gave to us is true.
Don’t listen to the clamor of the hateful,
His everlasting love has made us new.
By Holy Spirit’s power there is a door,
Through which a child of God can pass with ease.
Your inner, spirit eyes can see much more,
If you will just submit to Spirit’s lead.
Come find the joyous universe within.
Fly far beyond all boundaries of thought.
If you will trust when everything seems dim,
The Father will reveal what He has wrought.
Holy Spirit,
Today the warm, gray clouds wrapped around us
As we stared out the car window.
I thought how really present I felt in the moment,
Realized you hovered there quietly with me,
Smiled to myself for the sheer pleasure of you.
The grayness of the warm, moist, late spring day
Felt like a blanket enclosing us,
Tightly wrapping me right up with you
Till I felt the joy of being,
The delight of togetherness, oneness.
You filled me up with fullness of your holy presence—
All the greatness of your majesty
Compressed into the silent, unified
Enjoyment of your created refreshment.
The rain sprinkled down on us in spurts and spates, and
It was just so lovely!!!
Observers might have thought me alone,
Might have thought the day dreary,
But no, not today…
Today I was filled with wonder at your work.
Today I was replete with you, Lord.
Sometimes, my Lord, I wonder why
You chose to come, to live and die…
Because we are so full of sin,
With hearts of wickedness within.
Yet it’s so clear you loved us still
Despite our weak and foolish will,
So in due time you saved us all.
You offered us your loving call.
By one man’s sin, death reigned supreme,
But by your blood, you make us clean–
Free gift by your one righteous choice
To those who heed the Spirit’s voice.
Great God of love, of life, of light,
Remember me this dark, dark night.
I need to know your grace once more.
Bring peace again within my core.
Let loving-kindness reign in me;
Let truth and love bring liberty.
Sweep through my heart with your sweet grace,
Till I can only see your face.
Your goodness is your glory, Lord,
According to your spoken word,
So, hide me in the rocky cleft.
And in your mercy, be my breath.
Please, manifest yourself this hour
That all may see and know your power.
Make clear your gift to all mankind–
One only you could have designed.
Ro. 5:6,18-19; Ex. 33:18-23