Wandering through this globe;
Don’t really have a home.
But — still, I do;
I know it’s true —
That heaven’s my real home.
Can’t settle anywhere;
No place without a care.
I must let go;
Yes, I must know
That God is everywhere.
Can’t seem to find my place.
I need a lot more grace.
A vagabond
Must be so strong
And keep on running the race.
[9/9/2015]
[Written during a trip to Europe, during the 2015 refugee crisis]
As I ride down the metro escalator,
Hundreds of faces look up,
Going the other direction.
Each face has a story —
Joys and sorrows
Unknown to me.
What is going on
Behind each face?
As I read the newspaper
Thousands of refugees
Are crossing borders.
Each face has a story —
Joys and sorrows
Unknown to me.
What is going on
Behind each face?
May every face
Find peace
In their own heart.
May every face
Be willing
To give peace to others.
[9/6/2015]
[A composite of my experiences and others’]
People bustling —
Sounds of a crowd.
Little babies
Crying out loud.
All of humanity
Compressed in one space.
A microcosm
Of our human race.
Flights delayed —
Sleep on the floor.
Jet lag had me
Run into a door.
As a matter of fact,
The food turned out great.
People were friendly
Even though late.
Air conditioning —
Incredible blessing.
Otherwise,
There’d be more stressing.
Many languages,
People of the globe.
Many faces,
And languages told.
And over it all
The Lord of the earth
Is watching each one,
And gives each one worth.
[8/21/2015]
Blackberries bursting
On briarly bushes.
The sun beams so bright,
Her eyelids it pushes.
The bees they are buzzing,
The butterflies bright,
The flowers are splashing —
A glorious sight.
Picturesque painting,
The colors of nature.
She laughs and she dances;
The glory-day makes her.
A song she is singing,
Her soul it takes flight.
When sunshine is happy,
She laughs in delight.
I didn’t sign up
For this lousy trip.
First Class was promised –
“Third Class” says my ticket.
Sunny skies predicted;
It’s started to storm.
Lots of companions?
Not at all; I’m forlorn.
Friendly co-travelers?
Instead I get abuse.
A smooth, easy road?
I say, “What’s the use?”
But on the horizon
I now see a sign —
The blue skies are coming,
The happier times.
The road — It’s what you make it;
The load — It can be shared.
The weather? You can take it.
Rain or sun? — Just be prepared.
Companions or foes –
Could it be my choice?
Just listen as you travel
And hear a still, small voice.
Believe in the seed
Though all seems stark and bare,
Though evil seems to take control,
His love will crush despair.
Believe in realms as yet unseen,
Where life is growing, yet unbirthed,
Is reaching toward the light to be,
A seedling breaking through the earth.
Believe, though all around confess
Their doubts and fears, their many tears.
Believe, though barren earth is dry —
Refreshing rains will drought deny.
Believe in the Son,
Though hidden just for now,
He, like the sun, will soon return,
And make all well somehow.
Lord, I need Your song in me
To still the noise around.
And keep my heart in tune with Yours;
Let me be heaven bound.
In daily work, in drudgery
Let spirit sing Your praise,
That I will let Your gifts to me
My heart and mind amaze.
Let not my soul so weary be
That I neglect Your painter’s stroke —
Let all the tasks ordained for me
A masterpiece evoke.
And soon a heavenly chorus will sing —
An orchestra and heavenly choir.
With joy and thanks in perfect tune,
And Spirit’s joyful fire.
I heard your words —
They seemed absurd.
Inside my mind
They twirled and whirled.
What you said’s
Not what I heard.
They festered in
Mind’s darkest place.
No logic there
I could embrace.
They bubbled, troubled
My thoughts and then,
They went in circles —
‘Round again.
Next time I hear
These words that trouble —
That torture, fester,
Twist, and bubble …
I’ll take a moment
And ask myself,
“Why not just put them
On the shelf?”
In the driest dirt, in the poorest soil,
Love keeps fighting an endless war.
Amidst abuse, and toil, and war
The battle rages forevermore.
In countless houses, in countless homes
The struggle goes on, the end unknown.
Will love win out, will fighting cease?
Will kindness, gentleness increase?
Will patience gain a new foothold?
Will holding tongues show that you’re bold?
The real struggle is in your heart –
Will pride and selfishness depart?
Will wanting your own way soon end?
Will you on Jesus’ love depend?
So ask yourself at each new day –
What can I do to end the fray?
When disagreements sure must loom –
Must listen to the other’s tune.
The fight again is in your heart –
It’s not that differences don’t start,
But how we handle different tunes;
Will there be harmony or ruin?
(Memorial Day, 2015)
Are You a Hopeless Case?
Do you feel like you’re a hopeless case? That no matter what you do, you can’t do it right? That no matter what, your circumstances will never improve? THEN REJOICE!
WHAT ?!?!?!
Yes, I said “REJOICE!” Because God delights in rescuing and healing hopeless cases. Some examples:
1) The Israelites were stuck between Pharoah’s army and the Red Sea with nowhere to escape. BUT GOD, through Moses, parted the Red Sea waters, led the Israelites through, and then let the waters return to their place, drowning Pharoah’s soldiers (Exodus 14).
2) Naaman, not even a believer at the time, and stricken with leprosy, followed the advice of a young Jewish servant girl and visited Elisha, who instructed him how to be healed, and he was (2 Kings 5:1-19).
3) When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an enemy army, God sent an army of angels to rescue them. Elisha had to ask God to allow his servant to be able to see the army. (2 Kings 6:15-19)
6) Moses, although murdering someone in anger, eventually became the person who led the Israelites out of Egypt. (Exodus 2:11-15)
7) David, though having committed adultery and indirect murder, repented and was “a man after God’s heart.” (Acts 13:22)
8) A woman who had had five husbands, and living with a sixth man, had a deep encounter with Jesus. (John 4:1-30, 39-42)
9) Mary Magdalene who had had seven demons, was healed by Jesus (Mark 16:9)
So, pray that God will show you how to allow Him to change your heart and be willing to receive Him.
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