Relief

For a friend...

Relief

I wish I had a healing balm
To soothe the burning barbs of pain
Which tear your heart and snag your spirit,
For my heart yearns to ease your hurt;

But somehow, though it all seems wrong,
God’s using it to make you strong…

I wish I had a miracle
That I could use to change your world;
But all I have is a heart of love,
And so I choose to pray for you;

Engulfed in peace, God answers prayer—
I know you’re safe in Father’s care…

Jackpot

I wrote this poem/article for the "happy" challenge on FaithWriters. I tried something new; I tried to use a mix of poetry and prose. Let me know what you think!

Jackpot

Too often I’ve treated life like a casino, throwing minutes into slot machines with the vain hope of hitting the jackpot of happiness;

Too often I’ve searched for ecstasy like a prospector seeking gold, fueled by the dream of striking it rich, but finding that in spite of all my efforts I was only chasing down the wind;

Too often I’ve languished in the desert and prayed for rain to fall, when all the time I waited an oasis stood before my unseeing eyes—

For happiness is not a hidden treasure, which we must sell our souls to find; it’s the shadow under every stone, which we must look behind;

It is not the lack of darkness, but the stars that shine throughout the night;

It is not the calming of the storms, but in the midst of turmoil finding peace in Father’s arms;

It is not the prize at the finish line, but the joy of every step we take, as each becomes a revelation of our Father’s love for us…

Wall of Fears

I’ve struggled a lot with natural fears of rejection, because of former wounds. But the Holy Spirit gave me the strength to persevere... And now... I’m free...

Wall of Fears

Each scar of old became a brick,
All formed together in a wall
Which strived to hold me back in fear;
A barrier of former tears—

But Christ called me to live in freedom,
And so He beckoned me to come,
To raze the wall of all my fears,
Forgetting days of former tears—

So I extended wounded wings,
Then pushed my way up towards the sky,
Ignoring pain caused by my fears,
Instead, I’m strengthened by my tears!

The walls below are gone from sight,
Now I taste freedom in the heavens,
Forever gone are all my fears,
Forgotten are my former tears…

Let Me Love

The Holy Spirit has been helping me let go of the fear of rejection over the past couple of months. This poem is a prayer for the ability to continue to grow in this.

Let Me Love

Lord, let me love with pure abandon,
To touch the man who needs my aid
Ignoring scorn from Pharisees
Who shackle me with fear today;

Lord, let me love with fervent heart,
To reach when customs hold me down,
To snap the ropes of past rejection
Which I’ve allowed to keep me bound;

Lord, let me love with childlike faith,
To run to any need I find,
To step with mercy as my guide
Forgetting all I leave behind…

Homecoming

Father called Grandma home this afternoon.

Homecoming

Silence deeper than an untouched lake,
Serenity beyond that of a sleeping baby,
Stillness far exceeding an open field
At the darkest moment of the night…

The tears that shake our hearts
Speak volumes of the legacy
She left as a single candle
Shining in our lives…

Shattered hopes leave gaping holes,
But in the chasm light has dawned—
The vision of a celebration,
A daughter welcomed home;

We cling to hope…

Heartcry

Seeking answers for the deepest cry of the heart: the desire to be loved and accepted for who you are.

Heartcry

I ran to daisies for an answer
But they were smiling just the same,
And couldn’t offer any guidance
To fight the fears which call my name—

So next I sprinted for the sea:
I read my tears within the waves,
And knew that though it cried with me
It had no power which could save—

But then I saw a hand held out,
And suddenly free from all alarm
I found the answer I had sought
Enveloped in my Daddy’s arms.