DROPLETS

When life is held in a teardrop
every memory drenched in sobs,
how the heart swims in sorrow’s salient sea,
as the flood gate ducts bursts
and the mind is immersed in a tempest’s deluge.

Its waters irrigate the mental furrows,
spring comes in poignant petals,
all bearing a memories bloom,
you cry because the morn brought a harbinger
of dire portent in death knell gloom,
suddenly the farm in your soul
is torn by a twister’s crisis
all your dreams and futures
coming in holocaust images,
what you reaped in the past
left as dried and crumbled leaves,
no longer offering the scents of their joys,
aching to the bone
sensing that they will all die soon
because there is a doomsday looming on the doorstep.

But the spirit refuses to let
those precious grains of joy
be thrashed only as chaff,
for if the sunrise shall truly bring demise,
I will face it with all my bouquets in recollections
trusting in sweet assurance,
the Lord will not allow what I have sown
to end as merely wilted fragments
lost to time’s zephyr winds.

Inside they will be kept in a storehouse
ever warming no matter the pending change,
faith pouring out from the Holy Spirit’s pitcher
keeps them fresh and able to sustain.

DEAF

You can have perfect ears and still not hear the most important sounds. Those are the ones that come from the Lord.

It is really amazing how some can read the same scripture and not come away with hearing God’s song of truth.

They are so busy writing what they think is the notes the just can’t listen to what is honestly being played. And thus is the music unappreciated.

When it comes to heaven’s serenade it is clear and easy to appreciate. But you have to accept God is a better musician that we are.

Oh there are those who have studied song writing. They see themselves as experts. And can tell you so many details.

But they are often doing it by their own talent and not by the power of the Holy Spirit. So it might impress, just not be accurate.

So the challenge is truly to be willing to know what the Lord’s music is suppose to mean. Not what we want it to mean.

Sort of like this person I know. Oh the individual has read the bible, but sees this life as the place you get to have your heaven.

So this person ignores the verses that speak of trials over faith. Those get so forgotten to hear only about the chance to get blessed.

Oh that is the sad nature of some. To only want from God what is appealing to them. It is like praying when all you want is the Lord to do what you want.

Then the question is can the person accept the Lord’s will in such situations? Now that can be hard.

Because His will sees the greater meaning to things. And all the facts we can always see or understand.

So it means being prepared to claim His promises when praying. But do it for the right reasons.

Which includes accepting His answer even when it isn’t the one we prefer. A lot don’t do that.

They will believe and pray if it means they get things their way. But will never be happy any other manner.
That is the challenge of obedience.

STERILIZED

There is something to be said for when there is a purity to life. Only problem is when it is artificial.

I had an encounter today with this person I hadn’t seen for ages. He is in the category of the name and claim it types.

Positivism is his god. And to he has this mind set that if you just have good thoughts what you want will be okay.

Which he treats at faith. Well it is nice fairy tale, but not sure it is all that biblical. It is nice when life can be cleansed that way, just isn’t the truth.

Problem is that you can not based your life on such expectations and think it will always stay so sterile of problems. Wish it could.

Because no matter how much you think good thoughts some trials will come. Oh you might feel better, but that is not going to last.

After all everyone if they live long enough is going to have health problems. And there will be other trials too.

So we can either look at life and appreciate the Lord is truly in charge. Now that does mean He knows all and has the sovereignty over creation.

This doesn’t mean He keeps us from making mistakes. Nor will it even mean life will become void of problems.

This might be the doctrine some espouse. They will always see life as something we control.

So forthem you can be whatever you want. You can have your heaven on earth. And life will be perfect.

However it doesn’t mean it will be that way in real life. Because no matter how much we love to think it can be heaven it never will be.

How often we end up with the problem of this being an issue of what we chose to make our gold in life. To define it as our reason for being.

There are too many that will make prosperity their excuse for all the do. It is driven by greed.

But they never admit it. Nope they will just keep preaching you can have it all. And when it doesn’t work they will sterilize the truth.

Until it is whitewashed.

DIVINE CASCADES

Upon the stones of souls,
God’s Holy Spirit flows,
endless and eternal,
immersed in the waters of His love
washing over the heart,
faith gushing as an Oasis,
it gives life to believer’s blossoms
as a garden to express a Savior’s face,
seeing in the splendor
the beauty of His salvation,
what peace comes
unto those who are born again
rising as flowers of witness.

Gently waving in the breeze
from His breath of mercy,
grace is the cascading sound
covering in serenity.

A precious baptism for any mortal rock
that lasts throughout eternity.
Eyes cleansed by His redemption,
will always see His divine fount
be the source that nourishes all creation,
joy becomes the pool
drank from every day,
Heaven’s refreshment, so completely filling.

TETHERED

What binds you in life? What is the thing that ties you to some part of the day and runs your existence?

Now the big issue is whether these things control us. They can if we put all our passion and love in this world.

Amazing how often this is really more apart of our life than we admit. It will always be more obvious when we are face a loss.

That is when what we really value becomes obvious. It will be the kind of thing that is expressed in our words.

Whatever we regret losing will be the first thing to come out of our mouths. Now some things would make more sense.

Families for example will always be part that matters. And so to miss them would be natural.

Providing you really do miss them. And with some relationships that doesn’t happen, which is so sad.

But even though they are important how are we at doing what the Lord wants? That might be hard to embrace if it means such loss.

It can be so complicated. None of us enjoys loss. And that is the part that matters. But in the heart we have to search for what is important in terms of the Lord.

Nothing can be a tether that separates us from the Lord. It might be hard, but it is true and tough to accept.

I’m not saying we have to enjoy it. But sometimes I do think the Lord really wants to test our desires.

Right now I am in the process of a challenge. I have a personal crisis that really is one with possible disastrous options

Now that for me has let me look at life differently. And I have found I am not sad over it. Just have a calm from the Lord.

Which I am grateful over. Yet at the same time it is amazing to watch others responses. They all seem more stressed than me.

So I really feel they need more prayer. Now for the most part I do move on though. And celebrate the Lord’s grace.
Which is one tether I never want to stop having.

MEANDERING

Hard to keep the mind from doing this. Those times when life gets dull and routine. Just natural to want to escape.

Only problem is that we can’t most of the time. Not if we work and have the usual demands on our time.

And so we try to find solutions that will make the hours slip away with some joy. Those distractions that make us all happy.

Now some would think this is a waste of time. Others would try to say you can control your thoughts.

And should your mind dabble in those areas that are considered lustful then it is even worse. Well in their view.

One can’t escape the truth of the scriptures. For they do speak of how if a sinful desire is in your heart then you are guilty of it as sin.

Course that is the illusion that some will always cling to in order to preserve some illusion of goodness. Which is a myth.

And the core of such illusion is how the person decides it helps with salvation. As if we can really be righteous.

Which never is the truth. Just can’t get some to accept it. So they will go ahead with their fantasies of being good.

It won’t in any way help. But they will sure find new ways to lie about it. Oh the games that come from such silliness.

And it will be the kind of thing that will end up with them only perpetuating such myths to no help. It is sad.

Now for myself my creative brain meanders all over the place. And does so all the time. Plus to a whole lot of areas it shouldn’t.

But that is the thing where I trust to the Lord’s grace. I gave up ages ago trying to worry over all my crazy thoughts.

In that unrestrained climate my mind even meanders to spiritual things. And those are freer when I don’t limit my thinking.

So it is a two-edge sword. For that I am grateful when some good comes with the bad. Really does give some peace.

Which is a joy in itself.

MUSINGS

The little detours we take from reality that we often treat as frivolous. We just write it off as a form of day dreaming.

But the imagination is one voice from the Lord. He is by nature very creative. So why wouldn’t He touch us at times that way?

Some would call that an excuse. They would suggest is just a way to escape reality. Which it can be.

But so sad is when we restrict ourselves. We limit how we view the Lord and will not expand our thinking beyond a certain point.

I am reminded of the dreamers in scripture. The ones that could also interpret dreams such as Joseph and Daniel.

No one accuse them of wasting time doing such things. And it does point to how often the Lord really does use that means.

Why? Well for one it is personal. No witnesses around just our minds and to tell us what we need to know.

That is my view admittedly. However, I think it does happen. And the thing is we can truly learn in the process.

How many ways the Lord gives us His word is so much more diverse than we often appreciate. And that is important to remember.

For His spirit is capable of communicating with us on so many levels. If we truly are willing to listen.

But sadly so often we restrict ourselves. Oh we will read His word. Listen to sermons or bible teaching.

But so regrettable when we deny the variety that the Lord intends. Because that is the case when we want to control things.

However, the wise person is willing to look beyond one’s own needs. To not limit one’s thoughts to our desires.

So if we move beyond that barrier. We can discover so much more the Lord has to offer. And that would be such a joy.

Only for those willing to do so much more. And that is hard to accomplish with some. They will just remain indifferent.

To their own spiritual poverty.

Just As I Am

Just as I am
saved by the blood of the Lamb.
No deeds I can ever do
will make drench me in Grace’s dew.

For it is God’s word that literally means
unmerited favor that we can never earn,
showering us with mercy’s unconditional streams
with a peace that cools what guilt makes burn.

It flows as a divine gift of the Lord’s love,
which we accept by faith in Him and not works,
descending to cover us like the wings of a dove,
uncaring all our short fallings, wrongs and quirks.

Lips who depend upon their own strength for salvation
always spin their tales to justify the evil inside,
but the one who has no need for such rationalization
knows God takes us as we are and will always abide.

How oft the legalists fail to learn this simple form of hope
squandering their lives hiding their deeds in the cross’s shade,
ever using the Law to hang shame as a hangman’s rope
constantly waving “thou shalt not” to keep people afraid.

Oh the sweet harmony that avails the wounded soul
who flies upon the Holy Spirit’s breath without need for any hesitation,
sailing serenely with salvation in Christ making one whole
joyous free the rule keepers need to offer excuse’s recitation.

MUSTERED

It is amazing what we can summon from within should the need arise. We can truly be so surprise all that is inside of us in a good way.

It never is that surprising to the Lord. But then He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Now the challenge is to be willing to accept the times He wants to expand our limitations. That can be hard to accept.

There are so many issues that control it. How we see ourselves the level of our confidence, just so many things that impact us.

But the Holy Spirit can always help to empower us beyond our limitations. And that is the joy of trusting Him.

It is the one thing that has helped me on many occasions. For even when I am doubting my abilities I don’t question His power to use me as He wills.

So put all their strength in the areas of positivism. To me that is an issue of selling yourself on how something will work.

I don’t need that in my life. I have seen what the Lord can do regardless of my abilities. So even if I doubt myself, I can still trust Him for a victory.

Too many tie faith to optimism. They think you have to have one in order to accomplish the other.

But the fact is to trust Him doesn’t mean I have to see myself as the source of that power. Just be a willing vessel.

For myself that has always translated into a certain willingness to not see myself as the source of boasting. To see it has the Lord’s glory.

I really am content when something works and it is obvious the Lord did it and not me. Really very happy with that reality.

Some just can’t handle that. They will always regard it as something where they need some credit.

As if their story is what counts. True a witness can be a source of inspiration. But really is the inspiration one that sees the Lord?

That is a hard question to answer at times. And for some next to impossible. For that we can be sad.

At least to the person who isn’t thinking of the purpose being to honor the Lord.

AVAILABLE

There is a true benefit when we are able to surrender from our me first approach and accept it isn’t reality. To yield to something more important.

But that isn’t easy for some. They will not be willing to set down and let that be the governing priority.

True is faith is often easier to talk about than do. It can be so amazing to see people who can praise and worship till a problem comes.

Oh they are so loving and spiritual when life is calm. But when it gets hard they will be the first to cry whoa is me.

It is only natural to feel down when trials come. To feel sorry for yourself and bitter for the inequity.

But the true challenge is to not quit trusting. To be willing to go to where the Lord leads even if it isn’t a park.

Some will not be willing to do this. They are not good and enduring when things get difficult.

The problem is that God doesn’t guarantee us a perfect life. Then comes the illusion that some how good ness deserves a reward.

Only problem is that the biblical record shows how often those who trusted Him were often forced to live such hard lives. Filled with suffering.

Oh that is the part that will never be popular. Only it does happen. Faith is not a guarantee of no problems.

Wish it was true. I really do wish that you could look forward to a life without any pain or suffering.

But it never is the truth. We can spend all the time we want thinking of it in other terms, but it doesn’t help.

Now the truth may never catch on, but sooner or later we will face its reality. And that will be what we must endure.

Only some will never do that. They will not agree to accept faith if it means any hardship. And that will always be there downfall.

Meanwhile we can either embrace the way God allows life to pass through our experiences or reject it. But we will live it.

Hope it works we need to praise and things are hard.

THE SKY ALWAYS

Though clouds should shroud the day,
hope resides in the light that never dims,
that sees the rainbows in any storms,
never stops watching
for the wings inside,
which can fly regardless of the weather.

For wherever there is an umbrella of faith
the sky always
will be seen as clear,
because the soul
is sheltered in God’s tent,
His divine canopy
covers with mercy,
so even in a thunderstorm of tears
He is there,
regardless of the lightning crisis,
the Lord does not forsake.

And in the darkness
when we are alone
does His sun ever shine,
with our eyes viewing
all the peace and promise
stretching as and endless sheet
across the heart,
tranquility’s wind breath by Heaven,
to quiet the tempest within.

Being able to rest in the tornadoes
ever seeing beyond the anxiety,
serene is His touch
we can hold onto
when all else fades as vanity.

URGENT

Why it is that life so often makes things urgent that we would see as unimportant? All the things you decide are critical can change in a heartbeat.

And so many times it is what we never thought would ever happen. Boy is that embarrassing.

Nothing can make you feel dumber than to discover what you thought was a priority really didn’t matter.

Course in life the one thing that will always disrupt the flow of choice is when a crisis is life threatening. Then you suddenly see things different.

First thing that goes is plans. So many are made under the assumption you have lots of time.

But naturally none of us is guaranteed any number of heart beats. We just have now no matter what we believe.

Still it will bring such a flood of questions. Always among them is why am I being punished?

That is how we feel at times when faced with such emergency. Just filled with anger and resentment.

Then we will see someone who is say a devout criminal that never suffers and be even more angry. It will make us so upset.

Sooner or later we do come to the point of asking if we are believers about why God has forsaken us. Oh we might not say it that way, but will think it.

Right now I’m in one of those crisis. And have no idea how it will turn out. I do know that I have an odd sense of peace about it.

Not saying I see it coming out okay. Just that God has been mercifully to me about it. And for that I am grateful.

Sure I don’t understand it. And I know it wasn’t because I did something wrong. It is just a test that comes.

And I respect that God doesn’t guarantee us that He will prevent us from knowing any heartache or pain.

What we can do is to trust Him. To know that the Lord has His reasons and they will make sense in due season.

There can be peace in such knowledge if we accept it.

WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS

Sounds can be so amazing at time. They can touch and inspire give such sense of joy and peace.

How they have the power to truly affect in such tremendous ways. And yet we can’t see them.

Oh we hear them, but without the aid of some light enhancer they can’t be seen. Sometimes I wish that was possible.

But I think that it is one of those witnesses to how there are so many things in life that we can’t detect with our eyes, yet have reality. Only we limit ourselves to our senses.

I know how we often have no trouble accepting something as true if it is experienced by some sense. Or if we are told by someone about an experience we accept as real.

Of course the problem is that we know there are aspects to both sight and sound the lie outside of our senses. This is something that science can confirm.

The question is what all lies outside of our senses? There are so many thing that dwell outside of that reality.

Now the question is can we allow ourselves the freedom of expanding our thinking on the issue of what could possibly exist? Some will never do that.

If it doesn’t exists within the realm they can test by their sense. They won’t even consider anything else.

And then there are the ones who go the opposite way. They see all kinds of things nobody else sees.

I always found it interesting how many of such people claim to have been visited by Michael the Archangel. At least from the descriptions in scriptures an encounter with any angel can be very overwhelming.

And to be honest one has to wonder why the most powerful angel mentioned in scripture would not be a bit busy with fighting Satan and all the other minions to just drop by for coffee at some ordinary person’s house. Not to be unkind or say it doesn’t happen, but it just seems some have to drop his name to impress.

Which if it gives them a more important sense of self worth or importance that is find. Just not something I personally have a need to claim.

Such is the nature of life and how people deal with the unseen. And I don’t imagine it will ever change.

Just end up with the usual antics that often are logical or sane.

Heaven's Cradle

There’s never a lack of room
in Heaven’s cradle
to rock and sway the sweetest fragile soul,
with nursery rhymes full of love
for a tender life that God called home.

Each thought that comes from hearts
about that missing angel,
are an incense stored in a divine chalice,
along with every tear shed.

When the night comes
while one sleeps
the Lord allows that sweet spirit
a chance to bring an ethereal kiss upon the cheek,
just His way of making sure we know
our day will come
when we shall in His eternal city
look forward to a blessed reunion,
having a chance to give a hug
and stroll hand in hand with that cherub being
forever able to share
what time didn’t allow in this life.

May the Lord touch with His mercy,
draped you in peace,
keep you in His arms of serenity,
ever able to cherish the vision
of the day when you again
can embrace the one you hold so dear.

WRITTEN

Isn’t it amazing how much having things in print affects our thinking. Doesn’t even seem to matter if it is true.

Just having that book or other item in print seems to serve as an aid and support for someone. And regardless of the truth, somebody will believe it.

Some have often excused their lack of willingness to believe the scriptures because there are so many interpretations. Which there are.

But the thing is that the scriptures were meant to be a source of inspiration. To let us see the Lord.

And then you look and read not trying to find reasons to not believe, but sources to give you help and comfort. The difference lies with faith’s eyes.

One can make a battle ground over facts. They can make the issue over details. Always looking for the ones that allow them to ignore.

This never results in anything good. It only ends in doubts. For the person who doesn’t want to accept sometimes it is easier.

The problem is the person who only wants one interpretation. They will lock themselves into a box.

It will never give freedom. It will only become a trap. And the more the person seals the mind away the more they stop seeing any light.

Now for those who read for knowledge and guidance it is different. You look for answers not places to hide.

Which is the path that brings real hope. And the one that real offers freedom in away that the Lord intends.

But remembering that can be hard. Some will always be obsessed with a different point off view.

They may be off in a biblical twilight zone, but that is the nature of how the mind works at times. Sad, but truth.

I think there are times when we don’t really seek the Lord’s wisdom in that regard. Our personal prejudices get in the way.

So we don’t always hear His voice whisper what we need to know. In part it is personalized.

Pity we don’t hear it while so busy preach to ourselves.

ONCE UPON AN ALWAYS

I used this as a lead in to my one novel. It was for me the image of stagnation. That is the view and feel I had for it.

Right now I’m going through a valley. One that could be very serious. And I am not allowing myself to be sad over it.

This is one of those valleys that just happens. Not something that was result of my choice as some are.

In fact it is one of those situations where I even were I had taken precautions to avoid the valley and it still came. But this is when faith is required.

The ability to let things be in the Lord’s hands. Which includes accepting His will regardless of the consequence.

Now the challenge is to keep that view even if it means that things don’t improve. I know easy it is to see it as unfair.

But we can never see all the facts in this life. We are not capable of learning every truth either.

So we end up with the debate in our head. Did we do anything to deserve what happen? Was it a punishment?

And it is so easy to become bitter over such things. But that never is an expression of faith.

It merely takes us to the level of not seeing what the Lord intended. Which is to get us sidetrack from what is really important.

But that is the part we have to learn to face in some many ways without our mind controlling the reaction. Letting the trust prevail through it all.

So this can lose the luster when the storms come. That can really drain us of our enthusiasm.

And that is a struggle. To pretend otherwise is not to be honest. So it is okay to have feelings.

Even to have some degree of unhappiness. But the important thing is to not give up on trusting the Lord.

That is the part that truly is critical. Sometimes we find that what we think we have lost and couldn’t live without wasn’t that important.

But then at times it is a lesson hard to accept.

ADHERING

Well what can you really say on the subject of adhering? Not what most would say I’m sure.

The problem is an issue of perception. The people who decide they are the perfect servants of the Lord.

Oh how they love to make sure everyone knows too. Just so happy to enjoy being the center of attention.

There are plenty of them. And you can be sure they know every word of scripture they have obeyed.

But then they will not be able to quote the verses they haven’t kept. Those just sort of get forgotten.

Rather a silly standard, but so common. And that is the normal part. Too many who make the Bible work for them.

Now when you have the chance this can be such a wonderful option. This might not be truth, but they do boast.

But this will always be what some regard as profit. It doesn’t have to be about glory or fortune.

Such is how life unfolds. A spiritual case of one-up-manship. Let us parade around in our robes and impress.

Yes this will always be the way of the self. Sad when it comes in life that claims to be so righteous.

It may even be draped in some kind of appearance. One that looks pious. But underneath it is ordinary.

Always so sad when truth is lost to the traditions. Oh they feel good and sound great, but do not adhere to the truth

Just get lost in the process of pretense. So much joy in all the charade. And that is the part, which never blesses.

Alas the pitfalls of a lack of truth. When there is no honesty in the mask. Looks great, but is hollow.

And when it is all sad and done then you enjoy the process of watching our deception and denial are a god for some. Being happy if you avoid it.

Grateful to learn the true meaning of adherence.

AWAKENING

Closing my eyes in this moment of stillness, I saw...

with the orbs of the heart
and soul’s piercing gaze,
how stubborn pride
had been my mind’s viewfinder

INDENTITY

Hard to keep the face clear at times when stuck in the shadows. And when you also make sure you did create an artificial image it can be worse.

But some can’t survive without it. I mean they are so messed up in their self image they can’t function right.

So they continually massage this mask they wear and call it truth. Which it never is. Oh they will always have some excuse.

And it may be totally silly, but they will keep up that façade regardless of what happens. And that is the sad part.

Now when this comes in the world of spiritual matters it is always worse. Because people will claim God inspired the behavior.

It might be stupid and illogical, but they will always cling to the same view regardless of how well it works. And no matter who bad things get.

Now a person can be a true believer and even have the Holy Spirit in your life and still cling to wrong images. The Lord will not prevent that problem.

What happens is that as the scriptures declare, ‘the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet.’ Meaning we still have freedom of choice.

And some forget this at times. They will do what they can to avoid the obvious and never get to the root of the truth.

We are all imperfect. No matter our calling we will all have our bias. It will always color our understanding.

And if we allow it to take time to blind us to the things we need to do in our lives then that will happen. And the Lord will let us have our delusions.

This is more about spiritual growth than salvation. But that lack of light will keep us in some kind of dark.

And it will prevent us from truly coming to terms with changes that might make us improve. So we resist.

And it will be the place where we will stay. Even if it is for our entire life. Yep that is the part that is sad.

Now that will never change. Some will die deprive of what should bless. And never even know it.
Until that time in the Lord’s presence when we see truth completely.

ANSWERS

While some might think God would use angels to deliver all His answers, the truth is they can come from many sources. And some times He will provide them through people.

Just we don’t always accept those answers. So easy to over look them. I know I’ve done it plenty of times.

And naturally it can be the kind of thing that if it involves a danger to avoid it can sure be a source of regret. Yet it is how we learn or fail to learn.

I am grateful that the Lord understands our weaknesses in such things. And will be long suffering and forgiving.

For if He was a punitive as some of us none would most likely survive long in life. We would die rather early no doubt.

And I am grateful that despite our shortcomings it doesn’t prevent us from salvation. That is the joy of the biblical record.

Nobody listed ever lived a perfect life. All of them made mistakes from the wisest to the ordinary.

And yet God tarry with them just the same. Because He doesn’t choose us because we are perfect.

Which remains the enduring joy and hope for all of us. And that is the part that will always be important.

Yeah, that is the one, which will always be the source that we can hold onto with a degree of peace. And that is what matters.

It will let us face eternity without a need to justify our excuses. To me that will always be the part I will cherish.

And it keeps me from pretending my sins aren’t sins. Seen so many who do that. And I can tell you that is such a source of peace.

I’ve seen so many who come to that point of reflection in life that you have to look back and see your life as other than it is. For that you will never find honesty.

So much better to embrace grace. To take the time to be sure you don’t see yourself as other than a sinner.

And then to be sure that you look to God and grace for the future, whatever it brings. That is the part that counts.

And for that we can be grateful.

QUESTIONS

I was dialoging with this friend the other day who has the same problem I heard others voice before. The problem was with the idea that you should be able to answer all questions about life and God.

Naturally this is a person who has many honest questions about things such has having her husband die so young. The kinds that always ends up with dealing with the unfairness of life.

Which really is a fair question. I wish there were easy answers. History is way to full of situations where bad things happen to good people.

The mind just naturally gravitates to the idea that there should be rewards for good behavior and punishment for bad deeds. Only it doesn’t always happen that way.

We just naturally want to think that God would intervene to make things more equitable. To make life have more sense.

So we all have those questions. They dig at our thinking and upset us. They never seem to find solutions.

I can’t say I enjoy that aspect of life. I really am no more thrilled with the voids in understanding.

I just appreciate that this is a fact that we all have in common. And the choice is in how we deal with it.

This is the part of faith that can be very challenging. And if faced with a crisis even more so for some.

There are so many incidents of people who seemed so good outwardly and then had something terrible happen to them. And you end up angry over it.

Now if you happen to be the one who ends up in the situation of crisis you can be the first to arguer you didn’t deserve it. And you may even be right.

But it doesn’t alter the truth. And this is the fact as the scriptures declare that “blessed men got through valleys of weeping.”

Now the problem is some teach that blessings and prosperity in this life. That this is the thing they teach.

And they don’t care if it ends up not true. But they never worry if victims suffer. In the end sadness prevails.

And what is the truth remains blurred. Which is that by faith we wait upon the Lord for eternity to share the answers.

MATCHED

Heart tumbling, ever falling from love’s sky,
wondering will the wings be renewed,
to soar so blissfully upon the currents of caress.
Then a face comes into your life
and all heaven shines its light into your spirit,
you know that second of encounter possesses completely
that this is the soul matched to yours,
forever felt in each shuddering touch,
this dream, this pounding reality, becomes a constant melody,
it’s music sings so deep inside until you hear it all day long.

The world becomes a portal to moments of intense joy
where you share them with that person
who completes you in every way.

If paradise be found where poet’s sleep,
now it comes within those night embraces,
two lives sealed together as if they had known always been one,
swept away from tears to ecstasy clouds,
dancing instead of mourning lost passions,
unspoken in the longing gaze
is the intense happiness of finally bonding with your true mate.

FAIR

This has been a strange week for me. Found out some news that could end up being a big crisis.

Only have to wait for time to show the truth. Not the first time I have been there. Lots of such moments in life.

And I know that there is no way it will stop being that way. Part of us will always find it hard to understand why life is unfair.

But then it is they way life unfolds at times. Evil goes unpunished and good is left to suffer.

On a human level it truly makes us so mad. Just doesn’t make any sense. And we can pray for help and understanding.

But it doesn’t take away the anger if they do keep happening. And it will never bring us peace in many ways either.

Some will naturally want to blame God. Or somebody else. And it will never result in a good feeling.

For me, well I guess I accept that the only place justice happens is in eternity. For there the Lord will exact what is right.

And He is a God of mercy so I know what He will do is fair. I can’t say I like the idea of those who harmed me in life ending up not punished and forgiven.

Yet I know that if the Lord didn’t give them forgiveness I wouldn’t entitled to it either. And such is the equity we all must accept.

So to that degree I live in the joy of knowing I am forgiven. And to celebrate that blessing.

Which also means being able to enjoy knowing there will come a time when it all makes sense. And I will savor that too.

So part of faith demands such trust. Maybe not the kind that we can expect to make life seem logical.

But will give us a certain peace. And that is the aspect we all will enjoy. At least for the person of faith.

That is the key that always gives us grace and peace. A chance to know God in His wisdom always blesses.

And it up to us to accept this truth.

WORKS

Now the debate on this subject by Christians never will end. Always going to have the ones who will make this the most important part of faith.

And you can be sure it will not ever be settle during any generation. People have penned all kinds of opinions and always will.

One does have to asked at times how we really make sense of all. We are all in a position to trust.

And our efforts by themselves will not save us. But can we really express our faith if we do nothing?

Seems like some try. And they do manage to not be concerned over it. But I think when the Holy Spirit is present it will affect one.

And that will mean somehow and someway the power will flow through our lives. Maybe not all the time, but sometimes.

And the problem is to be sure we don’t take the time to make it some kind of law. That is when it can be terrible.

Sort of faith on demand. Which really never works. It just leads to guilt. And lots of it in the wrong way.

Plus too many make their idea of works the rule. It isn’t based on what the Holy Spirit would inspire.

Becomes a case of show. To have something to boast about. Then it becomes related and driven by self.

And that never gets the results that serves the Lord’s purposes. Yep, that will always be so sad.

To see so many who get so motivate to serve the Lord, but for gain. I remember when I was studying in bible college.

They made such a big deal about resources. How much you had was more important than doing it for the right reasons.

So you got to say you were blessed. But no much else. Oh the person always talked about all God has done.

But it was based on personal gain and nothing else. It is a sad comment on the truth of the human ego.

But that is way of man’s heart.

VACUUMS

I fell into a black hole,
silent, utterly sucking of my light,
so far from home, but in my bedroom,
a hollowed morgue of insipid dementia,
bleeding the last of my heart
across the bedspread
where love fled ages ago.

Marrow buried under sob soaked sheets,
shrouded in the doomsday plight over my soul,
lifeless, torn to shreds from this vacuumed flight
into this macabre chasm of suffocating sorrow,
maddening mayhem from the menace of loneliness.

In the swirling angst
spinning a tornado of melancholy within my soul,
completely abandoned, passion’s leper,
curse of body to live without another caress,
slipping every day farther down the chute
upon the ash heap of my ruination.

When nothing was left of my spirit,
dried up pruned trapped in an endless void,
there was unfamiliar kiss upon my thoughts,
opening a trap door in my head
unto a world I didn’t know existed.

Finding in that pitch black gulf
not the dire quintessence of despair,
but the missing pieces of my being
those images that spoke to me in dreams
took possession in that night,
until I became whole for the very first time.

Able to build a ladder with their help,
sometimes in the worse vacancy
comes an unexpected filling.

DOING

There is that popular scripture about being a doer of the word. Only people don’t agree on what that means.

Normally it will be anything they do. And they will be sure they tell everyone about it. So it will get attention.

Pride always rises to the event. So the person begins to see themselves as so called of God they can’t do anything wrong.

And then no matter if they are doing right in their mind it is right. They will always see it as perfect.

Slowly the person loses grip on truth. At least God’s truth. It becomes so much other than truth.

Seems like the one thing that ends is love. It gets replaced by the issue of their will and need to prove their calling.

That is the part that never changes. The endless tales to justify what is done. All the prayer to say it is fine.

And in the end somebody gets wounded. Oh it will not be admitted. That wounded will be forgotten.

They will be pushed out the door and treated as lepers. Really not that loving at all. But at the moment it sounds right.

How the mind works to make everything seem just find. Give it a spiritual twist and it becomes a holy crusade.

Later it turns into this inquisition. And then it all becomes a witch trial. Hate becomes so correct.

I truly do not think God is the origin of such actions. And then in the end nothing good comes out of it.

There is nothing except silence. And living with scars. Wondering why it happened. Voice looks for answers.

But so often you end with questions. And then in the end you are left to have faith as the only anchor.

Quietly doing what you can to survive. And then to be sure you don’t forget God wasn’t to blame.

It was just another sad detour.

FORWARNED

Now there are those times when you gut just warns you against a given choice. It can be really annoying when it turns out right.

Then if you ignore it you tend to get upset. Really have a reason to sit down and question your thinking completely.

I wish I could say that we learned from such experiences. That would be great. But for some reason we don’t.

The good news I think is that the Lord normally gives us more than one form of warning. And is longsuffering when we don’t get it.

And for that we can be grateful. Which I hope we are. Just too bad when we don’t learn in the process.

This can be a problem. Pride can surely interfere. And it can really result in a whole lot of annoyance.

Plus those times when we get downright angry because we don’t get our way. Yes that can be so aggravating.

But the reality is that we can have such mixed signals when it comes to warnings. One has to filter out fear from warnings.

This is not always easy. We can truly miss the truth in the process and then be left without the anchor needed.

For we can be human and make mistakes. And then have to let this be the issue that comes to our thoughts.

How hard this can be. So very challenging and difficult. So we have to learn to let the Lord lead.

It is a nice saying, but really is a challenge. And then when we do it right it does bless. Because we learn.

That is part of the joy. When those warnings help to become refined in a good way. So we will not react to them incorrectly.

To move ahead requires more than ourselves. And that is where have the choice. Wander that path the right way and it brings joy.

Avoid it and we will have problems. And keep having them till the warnings make sense. Such is life.

When it evolves around faith.

TIME'S GAMBLE

Some people enjoy risk. They are very comfortable with the idea of taking gambles and not worrying about consequences.

And they will always be so confident about the outcome. They can call it faith. If you talk to them normally they don’t have any details.

A lot of times they can be so convincing. And when it works out they are the hero. If not it normally gets forgotten.

And then when you asked them about what happen they will say a lot of things, but never that they were wrong. This is the sadness.

When we mess ourselves up by such behavior this causes us problems. If it involves others even worse.

There is a balance between faith and common sense. Faith is in part believing nothing is impossible with God.

But at the same time He gave us a brain. And expects us to us it. And to listen when His spirit speaks.

Because that is the part that requires us to use more than your pride. To look and not be afraid to admit to making mistakes.

That is never and easy thing to admit. It can be downright impossible for some. And it will always cause problems.

Now the joy is when we listen to the Lord. Don’t let ourselves give into fear. For that will only lead to doubts.

Somewhere we need balance. We need to find the corridor of sanity between reason and stupidity

And to let the spirit find the real light. Not some candle of our own mind. One that we light by our own desires.

And that is when we always find that path truly guiding by the Lord then we stop making the road fit our needs. We look for His path.

Some times it is a challenge. A type of inner choice that will always involve tough options.

Such is the journey we have to follow. The times we move and don’t always see the end. For He does guide.

And it is goes to the heart when we let it.

CLOUD PSALM

When time’s tempest twirls
thread my soul in angst,
my heart impaled
by inclement incidents,
then I lift my praise
unto the Lord’s lofty layers.

His love’s sun
bathing my darkness,
enveloped
in the Holy Spirit wind
floating on God’s grace cloud,
basking in the mesmerizing glow
of its joy.

LITTLE

The Lord is such a master of making little do miracles. I don’t think I ever appreciate how He can do so much with so little as when I worked for minimum wage.

I’m not saying that I suggest that is the best option for a way to learn. I do enjoy the memory though.

It did teach me a lot. And for that I will always be grateful. For I do so enjoy how that is such a blessing some never see.

I doubt you will find to many who will preach this kind of provision. This is the type of blessing that just gets ignored so much.

Some want to inspire a motive to give to get. They want you to trust God to get rich and will call it faith.

Oh they will provide tons of verses to make name it and claim it sound okay. They will always do their best to justify such things.

But in the end some will end up victims. The stories of victims are so tragic. Most are always the poor.

The ones with least to spend or give. Then they will always end up the ones that are forgotten.

Now the problem is that nobody mentions such losses. They are wounded who never get treated.

Who are mentioned are the ones who do prosper. That rare incident where it works gets so much attention.

Truth gets lost in the process. God is not seen as sovereign. He becomes an investment banker.

And then when things fall apart they just blame the poor person saying they have not faith. It is cruel to say the least.

Does it really help to suffer from such lies? I can’t say. I do feel said for so many who give up over such things.

And then never return. They will be the walking wounded. And they will always end up being the names on head of the liars.

Those will always be so much of a burden on their souls forever. Such are the perils of lies.
They can last forever.

CRAZED

That wonderful place you come to between sanity and rage. Yeah that is never a good place to visit.

But it is hard at times to avoid. I mean like just brings you to these screaming rooms and that is never an option.

Life has such a unpredictable quality to it. And you can tell that it will not end with the options you want.

So you end up getting frustrated and on the edge of control. Some lose it there others often succeed in not making it seem that way.

I’ve never been any good at pretending to stay calm when the world is upside down. Oh I can pretend.

Have noticed plenty that do it. And then manage to make it look convincing. I won’t say it is true.

I was dealing with this person recently who I had shared the concept of grace. And the thing was this was not a believer.

So the aspect of grace and faith from a biblical point of view eluded them. Sadly this individual couldn’t accept the truth.

Eventually just moved on. Only problem the move was to the world of legalism. Not the best choice.

I could help feeling sad over that choice. I like to think of it as do it yourself salvation. It might look good, but it isn’t God’s truth.

And it is so amazing how such people can quote the bible so well. Oh they love their ability to be an expert.

Only problem is that it isn’t God’s truth. It is making the law one’s God. And driven by pride.

You can feel so proud because you feel in control. Course you really aren’t. But you like to think so.

It means to live in a delusion and to think it is God’s path. To act as if you are so prefect and able to brag over your idea of faith.

Only problem is that it isn’t approved of the Lord. Just feels good. In the end God doesn’t honor such pride.

But unfortunately that often isn’t discovered until it is too late.