To all the men who have been towing the line

 To all who are weary 

To all the men who have been towing the line

the Lord says..."Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".

To those men who have been prodding and  pulling like the ox yoked by itself, the season has come to stop towing that line. The numbing and busyness is no longer the escape it once was. The burden has you at a stand still, frozen in step.

I hear the Lord inviting you  to "take my yoke upon you and learn from me," That this is a season to look back and see what you have been pulling, to see the cart full of dead and useless things. The Lord is inviting you to unburden yourself with him, looking at what needs to be let go of and allowing him to carry the burdens. For so many years you have towed the line trying to carry the load for your families and others but now is the time to learn For" His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” Jesus is calling to you to come and follow him, to trust your weary soul to him. Abba daddy wants to hold all that you have silently been holding onto or inside you, the pain, the misunderstanding, the heaviness, all of it. 

 The work you are being invited into is just this "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Verdant Poultice

                                                                   

In the quiet and stillness music swirling around

There my healing found

Gratitude for the simple things

My soul learning a new song to sing

Vivid scene; earthly plants gathered in heavenly bouquet

Verdant poultice upon my heart, hand overlaid

Shackles and anxious bondage breaking

No Giving or taking

Just receiving in this moment, this day

Truth and regeneration through green pathway

The Latin root word ver means “truth” or “true.”

Verde= green in Spanish

Verdad = Truth

Verdant =Lush , green full of growth

 Green symbolizes the breaking of shackles, freedom from bondage. It is the color of fertility. In the Christian context, it represents bountifulness, hope and the victory of life over death. It is one of the colors associated with Christmas, and the long season of the Trinity in summer.

 

The language of flowers and the cycle of shame.

Shames highway...hiding, withdrawal and isolation

leading to where  pride is found. 

Self righteousness declaring it's own way, winding into judgment's gate where bitterness and accusation await. 

Tiring out, arriving at the threshold of surrender and sorrow, hearts weighed down.

 Passing back into shame town. Dead ended road, looping around and around...

Until grace and mercy flowing, washing, placing a new crown 

.Opening the entrance to paths rich in humility, where peace and love abounds.

Empire verses Shalom

Empire seeping, creeping, defining skewing vision,

                                                        All about Control and acquisition.

Story writer ever wooing and pursuing,

 undoing brokenness

leading us through the wilderness.

Still, Domination spilling into all creation,

 laying a false foundation in all the nations.

To get , to build, to hold onto our aspirations.

Repenting, lamenting and  truly representing.

 A new narrative given, To be turned upside down, 

worldly views no longer contending.

Kingdom come for his glory,

Reorient to the true story, widows, orphans, oppressed and poor

Read the words written before...

Mankind's greatest failure?

The lack of Amor.

Trusting the author, he is our freedom fighter.

When we like his son dismantle selfishness, 

empire to be undone.

Thirsty and hungry crying out

How now will we give account?

                                                       

 

tigers in a cage

 

Tigers in a cage

Wild creatures tamed into submission

Fierceness in remission

Taught to fear

And act like Rover

The circus act done and over

Restless heart stirring

Rage beneath burning

Tigers in a cage

Either pouncing on all that comes near 

or crouching low in pain

Cages broken open long ago

The true master to retrain

To release into holy wild

The brave bold child

Coming out of our cages

A power filled, beautiful story

Fierceness in all its glory

  

healing relationships be like

Quilled armor ensues

A life time of wounds

Soft underbelly protected

The fortress defended

This job of staying close

Feeling like Prickles and pokes

Two porcupines engaged

Tiptoing around in a cage

For Healing and growth

Try a new approach

Daily on the journey

Offering grace and mercy

Bestowing Ribbons and flowers

Not to tear down but empower

Binary Quandary

 Binary Quandary

Broken in two's as if it were a pair of shoes

This notion of either/or

Its just our way of keeping score

The notion of good and evil, shouldn't and should

Shalom so misunderstood

The lenses of duality

Casting  judgement and morality 

lesser and greater the measure . 

Polarity seeping into all cracks and crevices

our rights, our preferences. 

Celestial lens see's broken and in need of repair

  not better or worse or something to despair

Just in need of eternal love and care

Loop poetry Prompt "Fragile"

 

Loop poetry Prompt "Fragile"

Deep with in fragile sapling,

easily blown and fractured by any wind.

and yet deeper still roots from a mighty oak anchor,

a strength built over time in intimacy.

Decaying and dead branches, brittle and breaking

but still I can withstand the shaking.

Fragile parts give way to new life.

the stragglers

The ones that straggle behind, those tree's  that have not yet shed the old. So fascinating to see them nestled in between the naked  tree's. The mighty tall tree's so easily displaying their branches , bare  for all to see, knowing that soon the budding of the new will come. This winter I am seeing a fresh these ones who cling to the old, how sweetly their  leaves rustle in the wind or dance a fluttering dance, long after the beauty of fall. Spring is approaching and I wonder when , when will they finally let go so the new will come. But then am brought to task to just enjoy them as they are and not hurry the process. To gain appreciation not only for what will come but for what is. Beauty is to be found in the present even while anticipating what the next season will bring.

 

The Privilege of prayer

 

 

The Privilege of prayer

 

 

Between porch and altar

Gates open

there my lover meet

place of rest and peace

abundant love encircles

surrender and release

my desire found

sharing depths of pain

given joy instead of shame

presenting all needs

communing, exchanging

travailing, lamenting

blessing and healing

the privilege of prayer

Loop Poetry prompt... NOW

 Loop Poetry prompt... "NOW"

To Be present 

Or retreat?

The sounds of the day,

to embrace or delete?

"Now" a gift promised,

Tomorrow not guaranteed.

To squander and waste  

or step where he leads?

"Now" to be enjoyed and delighted in, 

each moment to be greeted.

 Holding on to or reaching for Time,

Futile leaving one  defeated.

"Now" is the time to be lived in fullness,

to be still and know.

 Mission completed.

step out take 2

 

The poem below was written in 2016 and recently I was reminded of it, and led to go back and reread it. Many of us  have sheltered in place or been forced to forge out into the unknown of Covid this year or perhaps have  become overwhelmed by the political climate to the point of loosing all hope in humanity.  And perhaps like myself
you may feel battered and bruised or isolated and unsure. The words step out, step out are stirring in my heart. There has been a physical space to be in self confinement but I wonder how many have also felt the deep pit of isolation and restriction. A spiritual and soul tethering, leaving us holding our breath more often than not. I feel the Holy spirit say to me step out, step out from the familiar and stop looking for normal. It's time to climb up and out from the swampy, murky waters of our world and walk in a new way.  To move in freedom of heart and spirit, to love better and not fear. We each have a call  or to quote some one I heard, we each have an "assignment" to fulfill. A purpose in life and no matter how small or big it is it is time to come out and move in courage. step out of confusion and chaos, step away from distractions and divisiveness. And whether they are baby steps or giant leaps the goal is to be brave and bold and continue the journey . 

The hand cuffs are unlocked

The jail cells door is unblocked

Step out people, step out.

The stone has been rolled away

No need to linger or to stay

Step out church, step out.

In your self-confinement, freedom withering

 His light only dimly flickering

Step out believers, step out.

Come out like Lazarus did

Step out and begin to really live

With the very breath of life

No longer captives,

Throw off the enemies tactics,

Step out in loving assurance.

The debts been paid,

No longer burdened to live like slaves.

Step out with your God given Keys,

Step out and set the others free.

Jesus no longer on the cross,

Our liberty He did not count the cost.

Step out so the blood shed is not wasted,

In Freedom help others to taste it.

Our Lights to shine bright,

Bringing the hope of God into the night.

Step out...