I Prayed

By Tawna Wilkinson                               

I prayed.

Heaven opened.

He descended.

I heard Him speak.

He filled and led Me.

Then I returned in His power. Amen.

Love,

Jesus

I Send...I Call

By Tawna Wilkinson

                                                          

Who I send, I enable.

Who I call, I am with.

My Word does not return to Me void.

When I send, I accomplish.

When I call, it is for now.

My Word does not return to Me void.

Where I send, I supply.

Where I call, I am there.

My Word does not return to Me void.

How I send, cannot be figured.

How I call, does not make sense.

My Word does not return to Me void.

Why I send, I love the lost sheep.

Why I call, love must be satisfied.

My Word does not, cannot, 

and will not return to Me void.

And Yet, I Ponder This

 © Nancy Turley  

'Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”   II Corinthians 4:6

“I would have despaired unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13
       


My heart is rent for those who grieve for a lost spouse, for lost health, for a lost dream.
It aches for those who grasp for healing and find no present cure,
Who hunger for relief in spirit or body while the earth still spins,
Who mourn what cannot be recovered.

And yet, I ponder this:
       Those that have lost know more clearly what really matters.
       Those who cry deeply for their loved ones still celebrate their joy in heaven.
       Those in pain yet hold on to the hope of their calling by the heavenly Artist.

I question why some awaken to deep pain in the night,
How shadows steal rest or joy until they see morning light,
How life is taken unfairly by tongs of the unknown or evil.

And yet, I ponder this: 
     Those who know the Artist know He uses dark and light colors to accentuate truth,
     That melded colors of shadow and light blend together for good,
     That there is still hope for the future and meaning in the present.

I consider how the body ages despite the care one might take.
I ruminate on the “what ifs” of having had more time for a more balanced life.
I contemplate how life is bound to the clock marching forward. 

And yet, I ponder this:     
    That the heart and spirit can be renewed while bones lose density and skin wrinkles.
    That time is both chronos and kairos,
    That we can be lost in moments of joy when time does not beat nor the body decay.

I reflect on unanswered questions, unfilled potential and hearts longing to soar, I contemplate how some still hope while others despair.
I ponder the mystery of faith, those who glimpse that which can’t be seen,
Of those who still seek melody in the midst of a dissonant world.

  And I rejoice as I ponder this:     
      That we can rise as eagles when we rest in the brush strokes of the Artist,
      That there is truth in paradox: we grow in the dark and in dying we live.
      And that those who sing to the celestial Artist harmonize to an eternal beat.

Only Jesus

By Esther Belin

O how I do enjoy the mountain high

To restfully ponder in God’s good grace,

God’s wondrous covering, sweet by and by,

How the years fold away, a lost embrace.

No turning back to hold regret, or shame

No longer tangled in a spiraled snare

Only peace when my Savior calls my name!

Like fluffy clouds, a brilliant glow, He cares.

I know God’s love, His perfect plan for me

Yet gnawing disdain feeds my unbelief

Covered and protected, where none can see

The growing painful lies, becoming grief.

To whom I run, to whom upon I call

Only Jesus – carries me when I fall.

When All Is Quiet

By Tiffany Bleger

When all is quiet

Where do you go?

When His voice isn't clear

Where do you run?

Do you charge ahead

Determined in your path?

Do you stand stock still

And wait for the whisper?

Do you turn and run

Back to the familiar?

Do you wander in circles

Moving but going no where?

When all is quiet

Where do you go?

When His voice isn't clear

Where do you run?

Do you lean on your friends 

For an encouraging word?

Maybe listen a little harder

To Sunday's sermon?

Do you beg and plead

And beat your head?

Do you make promises 

You know you won't keep?

When all is quiet

Where do you go?

When His voice isn't clear

Where do you run?

Do you pick up your bible 

And blow off the dust?

Do you listen to music

You think He would love?

Or do you trust and wait

And remember His promises?

Do you know Him well enough

To be still in the quiet?

When all is quiet

Where do you go?

When His voice isn't clear

Where do you run?

The Leaves in the Fall

© Tawna Wilkinson

Have you ever observed the leaves in Fall;

No matter how big, no matter how small?

Each turn their color the Creator says to be,

Bright orange, sunny yellow, vivid red for all to see.

Then another beautiful phenomenon takes place.

With no fight, no struggle, almost with haste;

Turning loose of the trees with abandon they fall;

Never to return, no resistance at all.

They are not fearful, for they know His heart;

The Fall season Love brings is a brand new start.

Turning loose of the trees when

the wind comes they know,

They are free to be winsome, 

free to dance before snow.

                

They circle and laugh, they skip, and they twirl;

Enjoying each moment in the wind as it whirls.

“Our Creator is Love”, they all sing as they dance.

“He guides our way, He leaves nothing to chance.”

Oh won’t you come join them, 

precious child of the King?

His love is unending. Do trust Him and sing.

Sing and dance with abandon, and fear not at all,

Live your life as He guides you, like the leaves in Fall.

Mustard and Mountains

by Kim Beach

 

Faith
Tiny
Mustard Seed
Bigger than me
Mountains loom ahead
What's on the other side?

We must change our perspective
Look at the Majesty
The glory ahead
Beautiful Path
Future bright
Hopeful
Faith

Will You Stay?

By Tawna Wilkinson

Will You Stay? 

When all props are down and no one’s 

around, will you stay?

When you’re stripped bare naked with no 

place to hide, will you stay?
  

When the light of His love shines deep in 

your heart, will you stay?

When the pain is wrenching as He gently

restores, will you stay? 

When a glimmer of His image shines 

under the muck, will you stay? 

Will you stay until He is finished, 

and you emerge?

What Love Had in Mind

By Tawna Wilkinson

                                                   

When the garden has been neglected;

The wonder and beauty let go;

Things meant to flourish begin to die;

Then brambles, suckers and weeds take hold.

This was not the intent of Love.

 It was never what He had in mind.

 His design was for beauty to flourish…replenish; 

For love, light and life to reside.

Remembering the wonder and beauty let go

Brings sadness, discouragement and anger.

Pulling suckers and brambles is sore and tiring,

 But He'll give you strength to stay in there.

Love wants your garden’s beauty restored,

He desires new life again.

The process will be painstaking,

But tender love and care will win.

Restoration is much harder

Than if nothing had been at all.

Things never meant have grown with aggression;

Their roots very deep in the soil.

Your body and mind may grow weary.

There may seem no rest for your soul.

 Every part of your being may even cry out,

 “There’s no ‘re’ in my garden at all!”

                   Ah, but look very closely…no, closer. You’ll see.                      

         Seeds of hope that Love planted; seeds of life He designed;          

They’ve sprung up, never daunted.

It’s what Love had in mind.