hope

Not so fast

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Wait,
when you’re tired and you just want it over.
Wait,
when the words will be harsh.
Wait,
when your mind screams how unfair it is,
and you want a re-counting or re-slicing or
re-whatever.
It’s not about
whether
someone
has it
worse,
better,
or even the same.
This is between
God and you
whether you ever
get the sun or the rain.
Well done good and faithful servant
are the words you’re waiting to hear,
and then you won’t remember the pain.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

Stake your claim

Life’s too short
to save it
for the fourth.
Don’t wait till July
to let your rockets fly.
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Declare independence
from the rut you’re in
and stake your claim,
the time to begin…
is now.
Once in your life
you have to stake your claim
take stock
of the junk
that is holding you down.
God doesn’t doesn’t bring anyone
into this world
without a purpose
so ask Him,
expect an answer,
He won’t let you down.

“Come to Me…”

 

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28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

The rest we obtained through you,

salvation, your life for ours and to

be redeemed,  take on a yoke that’s new

and feels

like it belongs.

And we belong

to You.

 

Follow your heart?

panzies 002You have heard,

“Just be happy and follow your heart.”

and it was doubtless

said with good intention.

A thousand self-help books

more or less

make that mention.

But our hearts must be surrendered daily

if we hope to be happy

and free,

and the choice

to follow Jesus

is the wisest of

elections.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

That’s how you play

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Life’s full of little bumps in the road
but perspective paves the way
and the shocks seem less shocking
as you learn to catch them.

Remember when you were learning to catch
and you learned to meet the ball.
Instead of throwing your hand out there,
you met it in space. In the same way, big challenges,
and the little ones that feel big,
can be met in a fluid motion
and held
or tossed away.

Don’t get me wrong,
the bad hop will occur,
but everyone has to deal with those.
Handling bad hops is just one of those
expected unexpected things.

Hone your dignity and grace,
but don’t over-worry about saving face.
Someone needs to see you be human
and use wisdom to rely on God to finish
the game.

New Energy

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There’s no night so dark
His name can’t illuminate,
no depression so deep
He can’t lift it.
No heart so weary
and grown tired of beating
He can’t recharge
like the sun coming up.

The meaningless
find new meaning.
Those wondering why
find new hope.
Those finding themselves
short of the summit
suddenly spy
a new length of rope.

He’ll breath into you compassion
when maybe you thought
you didn’t care.
He’ll be the force
lifting your wings
with angels into ebullient air.

Ministered to

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Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain
and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and
all their glory; and he said to Him, “All these
things I will give to You, if You fall down and
worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go Satan!
For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord
your God, and serve him only'” Then the devil left
Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister
to Him. Matthew 4:8-11

Lord, I pray that we have the strength, and steadfastness
of faith to honor you as your Son did on that difficult
day. There are many days when we don’t. But sometimes we
rise to the occasion. On those days, we feel your pleasure,
and sometimes, we are ministered to by angels.

Your “Work”

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Do you love what you do?
Do you do what you love?
Do you find inspiration,
motivation,
fulfillment?
Remember that though you need to
“get paid,” your needs go beyond
just paying the rent.

If your sparks don’t fly
from just getting by,
induce some magic
and escape the tragic
by creating in time
and finding your why
and why not.
What the child loved
and the adult
forgot.

More than we can bear

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Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

God you did not promise this life would be easy,
but you promise strength
in the midst of the storm.
No matter how ugly the news we hear,
in a cold world you are there
for life sustaining warmth.

The false comfort and ease of a life
ignoring your truth
can push our craft toward an inevitable cliff,
but if we believe and act upon
the message of salvation
You will make of our detritus and debris
a lighthouse and life saving ship.

Inheritance

Photo by Urban Wall Art & Murals
Image courtesy of Urban Wall Art & Murals

the inheritance of
the joy of the Lord
is of the forever kind
a true joy and gift
not earned by effort
or indeed birthright

freely given
though dearly bought
by the King
above all kings
the One who causes
my countenance to glow
and my heart to sing