Blow wind of God and rustle the dry leaves of vexation that have overlaid and stifled my soul Ripple the tranquil surface whip into waves the hopes and reachings of my spirit too long at rest beneath the slick of resignation and stir the depths with the cool freshness of Your presence breathing in Your life and fullness. "And suddenly a sound . . . like the rush of a mighty wind . . . filled all the house where they were." -Acts 2:2. |
Do you see-- all you who drive by-- this stark November city washed in lemon mist aslant in fingering shafts of light ordering shaping winter's grey and sullen clouds around a flat and muted sun and do you reflect that only through cloud can the eye gaze full on the source of light? "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." -Matthew 5:4.(KJV) |
Remote that early stable bare and starkly cold straw-softened in the fetid, steamy presence of beasts and Mary received it as all that was left trusting God's care knowing His glory was His that He would reveal it her part surrender to His indwelling life. How near these present mangers artfully contrived glowing softly ordered and clean havens for our own tormented spirits rest for our weary eyes-- God's light being strangely withheld-- so fond we are of creating heaven with our own hands and then are we left with our own heaven till disillusioned and thirsting still in reluctant obedience we seek His in all that is humble and lowly heartfelt, unadorned in the total giving of self naught withholding regarding neither comfort nor safety. |
There is something magic in the early light of dawn to discover fresh bestowed on this crisis-wearied earth all serene, untouched and virgin a blanketing of snow crowning every trace of our busy, fretful lives and bequeathing to the land a breathless hush of awe, a glimpse of new beginnings like the wonder of new birth and the miracle of Christmas. "For unto you is born this day . . . a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." -Luke 2:11. |
Relentless marching
slabs of rock
define the valley's tortuous
course
thrusting shoulders
rough and bare
through winter's delicate
embroidery
careless of the glaciered clefts
and even time itself
till suddenly
in fanfare mute
these towering walls
flung wide
display
one far-distant
bridal peak
ethereal
in the roseate dawn
intimation of glory
"Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus . . ."
swells singing
in the wondering heart
yet distantly
enthralled
till faint within
a memory stirs:
"Blessed is
the One who comes . . . "
raised from death's
crude agony
to welcome in
revering gazers
planting deep within
the glory indescribable
of everlasting light.
"I have come to the world
as its light."
-John 12:46
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We are one with Peter at cock's crow knowing all to well failure's crushing pain inhaling comfort from the Master's outstretched forgiveness scarce pausing to dwell on that uncomely face, bruised, dripping spit awaiting faith's confession and hearing only 'I never knew the man!' from its closest friend After all he's God-- not like Peter one of us-- until in the throbbing depth of our own betrayal we gaze awestruck: the pain he knew knows daily in our denials eclipsing the pinprick of failure. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned." -Hebrews 4:15. |
Dipping tossing climbing step by step to distant heights plunging then with sickening speed tortuously twisting searching still the upward draft till higher, farther yearning taut against the straining cord, it pierces hands that gave it flight till cramped and bloodless fingers reluctantly unfold release their prize and set it free to probe exalted realms as love that knows no bounds relinquishes its treasure and, though the aching heart be stabbed, it says I love be free. "Though the mountains leave their place . . . My love shall never leave you." -Isaiah 54:10. |
Delicate tendrils dare to plant in barren nooks their fragile roots thrusting toward the warming sun mid random, jagged mounds of rock, their deeply tinted tiny blooms, frail testament to life and faith. As love that yearns to reach full bloom in rocky, unreceptive ground crying, "O Jerusalem! How often I would fold you to me!" painfully accepting death "even death upon a cross!" and trusting a redemptive God. "Your attitude must be that of Christ." -Philippians 2:5. |
Pale green spears probe the early spring air tendrils cleaving even the hardest ground promising new beginnings in abandoned corners where we looked for nothing cared for nothing provided nothing yet, even so, does some old bulb long since forgotten ere the dead of winter deep in the soil shed its covering pushing upward unseen till cracks appear and the emerging green shines luminous as dawning truth bearing all the promise of full bloom and all we can do is marvel. |
Like a wavering flame love's quickening spark leaps to its own joining the spirit of all those who dwell in the fullness of Christ forging the bond that will neither praise nor condemn only affirm ascending sweetly from tempered hearts submissive to God in patient attendance knowing the intrigue of selfish ends falls short of His glory deadens the impulse. "Thus will you be able to grasp fully . . . the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge." -Ephesians 3:18,19. |
Clay, molded by early working of the potter's hand set aside for hardening pleases not, in time, its Creator gazing on its rudimentary shape He perceives a nobler form some greater beauty and the homely vessel comfortably resigned to its lowly state is smashed watered well till clay again in the potter's hand and gentle firmness raises up the amorphous clod imparting grace and form sets it once more in its familiar place changed and aching from the relentless wheel possessed of new life by the potter's hand. "Behold as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel." -Jeremiah 18:6(KIV) |
Lord, it is hard to remain in Your love to see a task that needs to be done and love those who aren't doing it to see an efficient method and love those who don't fit in to understand there may be another way that allows full use of everyone's talents to understand a straight line may not be the shortest distance to accept perhaps the end result will take time and love and understanding and patience to give to others no matter what their talents a sense of self-worth to be deeply concerned about the other's point of view to love even more than the task God and my brother to walk in Your light. "The man who continues in the light is the one who loves his brother; there is nothing in him to cause a fall." I John 2:10 |
One foot cautiously edges
in front of the other
learning to walk
by faith
no lofty mystical flight
but a conscious
deliberate giving
of every day's moment
all that concerns me
into His hands
eyes on the Lord
and careful of words
especially praise
that I long to hear
mind restrained
from premature readings
early conclusions
abiding in Him
knowing Him true.
"We walk by faith,
not by sight."
II Corinthians 5:7
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Frail threads of insight
scarce held by groping hands
in the mountainous struggle
to grasp the truth
of your Word in us
pull the climbers upward
slipping, stumbling
through lessons of refuge
and strength
toughening faith and hope
to those selfless moments
when out of our quest
bursts forth your Truth
in all its brilliance
Bathed in its light
an understanding is born
a deeper knowledge of God
in Christ.
"Then a cloud appeared,
casting its shadow over them,
and out of the cloud came a voice:
'This is my Son, my Beloved;
listen to him.'"
-Mark 9:7(NEB)
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Impending agony instinctively recoils the heart clutching treaures protectively poignantly, desperately pleading to be lifted over led around spared God's unyielding mercy that fends each nail each stroke each black abyss to plumb the depths of creative suffering change and mold fulfill potential longing always to bring to freedom the one beloved. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water I will be with you." -Isaiah 43:1,2. © Copyright 2001 Olivia Lee |
We are held captive by that which separates us-- culture life-style preferences habits and customs other commitments our fears and frailties Yet the Lord has shown us the joys of Zion-- communion at-oneness peace and love and he can bring us back to Zion where we will indeed be "like men dreaming" "our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with rejoicing". We "sow in tears"-- daring to risk all in reaching out to one another daring to be hurt to be rejected But God has promised as we "go forth weeping" "carrying the seed of love to be sown" we will "come back rejoicing" carrying the full fruit-- our "sheaves". "He will multiply the seed you sow and increase your generous yield." II Corinthians 9:10. |
Eyes at last that met my eyes with care unflinching, penetrating deep within my troubled heart telling me 'twas safe to speak to drind the solace of a listening ear an understanding heart to drink and drink with grateful pleasure assurance of a God who hurts and cares and seeks and heals till burden-weary, aching shoulders feel release and hope is born. With wounds unbound and open now to healing light and growth and truth awareness grows of others' pain awaking pity deep within till, gently stirred, the longing grows to be a vessel pouring out the grace so freely given. © Copyright: Olivia Lee, 1997. |
Your covenant with us, Lord was one of life and peace infinitely tender and precious seeking to penetrate tumultuous passions old habits and our stubborn wills that in it we might find eternal fulfillment its beauty and truth an inner light and blessing to your people Enfold us, Lord in your mercy forgive our doubts heal our blindness and redeem our faltering steps "In my covenant I promised them live and well-being . . . so that they might respect me. . . They lived in harmony with me . . . and also helped many others." -Malachi 2:5,6. |
Only a waiting-room encounter: I, securely comfortable in my whiteness casually clad in colourful non-descript attire he, youthful handsome and decisively black immaculately clad in white enquired of me the meaning of "poignant" saying, "I'm reading about South Africa and I don't like to read past a word I don't understand." "When he comes, however, being the Spirit of truth he will guide you into all truth." -John 16:13. |
Fearful is the heart of losing its treasures tasting only delicately of joy where it cannot possess or measure Lord, it was not our will that you leave us that we must now believe without seeing and so does the heart test its control ere drinking too deeply dreading the pain of freedom loving to touch familiar walls until it has suffered its greatest loss daring to know Your presence in its deepest wells freed from its own will to join Your shout of freedom. "God has gone up with a merry noise." -Psalm 47:5(KJV) |
Rivetting scenes of mass destruction, horror and suffering beyond description assault bewildered, groping minds. Evil--deliberate, scheming determined, vicious beyond our innocent comprehension. And we ask: Where is our God? Is He powerless against such venom? Let us see Him intervene, save the parents of little children rescue infants. Abort these plots! More insistent still our anger As we question: Where is God? In our churches looms a cross shadowing earth's abominations through the centuries-- from all sides-- all the evil man can do. God is grieving, seared with pain, knows our anguish, and our failings loves us still And reassures us: He is risen! See, He's here. Filling hearts with His compassion throbbing in the hero's veins nerving near-exhausted arms shedding blood for all the wounded, calling us to know Him better. Be His solace, His healing presence. Speak His peace and His forgiveness. Servants to a God of love. "And know that I am with you always, even to the end of the world." -Matthew 28:20. |
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