Glimpses of the garden

Glimpses of the garden

Decay,

Abandoned souls on street corners,

Trash heaps piled high,

Traffic jams, smog and Crime.

Where is God?

Some find him in the eagle souring high,

Or in the crashing shorelines,

Others in the mountains pristine.

I see God amidst His created beings.

Gaze over the rolling hills,

With Patchwork fields clothed in harvest ripe.

Look upon a well-loved flower garden,

With rainbow colors bursting forth.

Take in the picket fence in the horizon

Against the  sunset amber glowing.

Glance while Trekking on well worn paths
At majestic falls.

Wonder at the church steeple

Ensconced in Ivy reaching.

View the arbor draped with care

With grape vines full  with prize.

Wander over wooden bridges

Across babbling brook sublime.

Admire the simple cabin

Nestled in woods deep.

Man and God in Unity

Before the fall a harmony,

Now only glimpses of eternity.

Elusive joy

Elusive Joy


Moments of laughter captured like a photograph, but soon cataloged into  files and albums.

Relationships that make smiles come forth, easily overshadowed by hurts.

Memorable times of overflowing contentment, giving way to dissatisfaction.

Joy to be gathered daily but the heart deceives, leaving a wake of want in it's pursuits.

This elusive joy can be had, the asking price not much and yet so difficult to hold on to.

Daily to practice the habit of thanks
Daily to list a" 1,000 Gifts",
Daily the task to posture the heart to receive each breath.
Daily to take up the cross and die to self,
Daily to live fully in sync with the spirit.

Inspired by a friends post and Ann Voskamps book 1,000 Gifts

Unheard Voices revisited

Unheard Voices:

Voices hushed in fear;

Swords and guns intimidating,

Ripped away all that is dear.

Words stuffed down deep;

Abusive relationships compressing,

Left with emotions to raw to keep.

Songs stolen midstream;

Ripped away in violence,

Praying the nightmare is only a dream.

Pleas and cries going unheard;

Blinders and greed overtaking,

Used and abused, hope becoming blurred.

Freedom lost in political pollution;

Exchanging for oppression,

Lies lifted up, liberty only an allusion.

Hopelessness and isolation;

All communication blocked,

Blamed and filled with self-recrimination.

Who will give voice to the voiceless?

Voices needing just one someone, to battle, love, provide safety and freedom for.

Voices needing an ear to hear and eyes to see to let loose the songs of the oppressed.

Psalm 146:7-9

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Psalm 68:5

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows--this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Jeremiah 29:12 “Call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you."

Links
http://www.persecution.com/public/getinvolved.aspx?clickfrom=%3d6d61696e5f6d656e75

http://www.preemptivelove.org/problem

http://voicetoday.org/

http://voicesforchildreninc.org/

Rocky waters

So easy this riding the current

 Especially when the waves make you buoyant.

The difficulty arises when floating no longer keeps you afloat.

When wave after wave crashes forth, the slipping of hope.

Understanding how to weather the storm

But painful to watch as others lose their grip and try to abort

Tempted to abandon ship too

To let the drowning drown you.

The captain has an even keel,

Knows the lay of the land

Life preservers in hand,

Ready to toss to those overboard.

Lack of trust says “I can swim ashore”.

Loggerheads with the truth.

The leading light knows how to get to port,

Just grab the line, “the anchor" of your heart.

Convenient Grace

Convenient Grace

How sweet the sound,

Until on proving ground.

Easy to forgive and let loose

Those who we choose.

But be it from our circle within,

And our annoyance and anger turn to sin.

No mercy when from family a small infraction knocks on our hearts.

No grace to give when friends from our favor depart.

Grace given when we see fit,

Mercy poured when we want to offer a sip.

But then when is true grace poured?

When is mercy dispensed and needed more?

In our relationships every day,

With the people who hold sway.

A grace that says you don’t deserve

But neither do I.

An olive branch that will decry,

Jesus loves at all times and so must I.

EL Roi, The God who sees.

Little girl all dressed in satin and bows,

 Twirling, begging for them to see.

Smiling bright, "Look at me, look at me".

Young woman dressed to go out on the town,

Attracting attention, eyes demanding,

Desiring love and understanding.

Grown woman well put together,

Working hard, filling with external pride,

 But really wanting to be known for what is on the inside.

The God who sees,

Discerning Jesus expressed in her. 

Looking at the woman she'll be, 

Uniquely, messy, funny, loved, simply as she.

He looks and knows, values and understands,

                                                             The expression of His son in her is as planned.

                                                              No need to dance or prance before others,

                                                             No need to envy or be jealous of another.

                                                             You are filled with the perfect blend of my 

                                                              love and joy,

                                                             I am the God who sees... El Roi.