Alabaster Offering...

Journey

2007-06-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

JOURNEY

As my soul was treading earthen paths

awaiting streets of gold -

And my anxious heart searched on

for lights of home,

My Lord and I came to a dark

and narrow, winding road -

While I held back,

my Lord walked on alone.

I knew that I should follow Him

and stay close to His side –

for He’d promised to protect me,

‘neath His wings He’d let me hide.

Sweet memories of His goodness

rushed to calm my strain of doubts

But yet, the threat of fear crept in:

“What if there’s no way out?

Your Lord will never find you ,

now that you’re so far behind –

And look! The stormclouds overhead -

They’ll soon be passing by!”

Indeed, the shadows moved in fast,

they left no time for waiting –

Should I go now to follow Him?

Or, would it be too late?

I knew that I should follow Him,

If not, where would I go?

Still, the longer that I tarried there,

the more my heart grew cold…

Just when it seemed my faith was gone,

I fell upon my knees –

I could not pray without my Lord!

Oh, for the strength to leave!

Then, as I wept, my hand fell down

to something at my feet –

My Lord had left a lantern!

Oh, a light that I could see!

I stood up then on stronger legs

and grasped the faith I’d found,

I cast a hopeful gaze toward

the path my Lord went down

My light outstretched, I saw His steps –

rejoicing for His lead,

So, step-by-step I trudged ahead

and longed for when we’d meet

Just when I felt my step was sure,

my gaze went from the light –

I did not see the stone

my foe had placed beneath my sight –

My foot hit hard, my legs gave way,

I fell upon the ground –

In my dismay, the lamp had swayed,

and darkness closed around

I heard the laughter of my foe,

He thought the victory claimed –

But then, my heart began to race –

Did Someone call my name?

Then, ten thousand white-robed angels

burst throughout the stormy night

Led by a valiant Warrior –

demons scattered in their fright

As if a cloud had kissed the Earth,

the Warrior’s horse came down

His Rider then descended

as I bowed before His crown

Then, for the first, I heard the voice

of my Beloved Savior –

“My child, rise with lessons learned

and follow closely, ever –

Until the day you’ll fly with me

where foes can never enter.

Arise in faith, my child,

follow Me into the winter!”

And then, as quickly as He’d come,

my Lord left, pressing onward –

The darkness seemed to hide His form,

my fears grew ever stronger

The demons peeked from hiding,

to distract my soul from praying –

But, as I pondered what to do,

a still, small voice was saying,

“Come, my child, I have provided

sure steps for your feet.

There’s much this way for you to learn,

all lessons I will teach.

In this dark path you’ll surely find

Myself illumined best –

Be confident, and trust in Me,

I’ll guide your every step.”

A peace like I had never known

reclaimed my battered heart

Filled with strength, I rose to take

a step toward the dark

As I stood, my outstretched hand

brushed something at my feet –

My Lord had left a lantern!

Now His steps I’d surely see…!

Tender Obsession

2007-06-18T18:12:00.001-07:00

This is a poem I wrote a while back that tells a little of how the Lord continually blows my mind with His overwhelming love for us!

Tender Obsession

You won my heart with tender whispers

and watercolor pictures,

You pursued me relentlessly -

dropping love notes along my way -

a single daisy for a walk in the woods,

the puppy with a lopsided grin

who passed me on the sidewalk,

the faint rainbow left by an afternoon shower

(I would've missed it, if not for your whisper...)

You knew I'd smile at them

and so You put them there.

And then there were the mornings -

You were awake long before me,

and set out to work in secret,

then tapped my shoulder (You couldn't wait!)

I awoke to a hand-painted sunrise, just for me!

with just a touch of turquoise

(You remembered I like them like that)

Later You called me out to see Your play-doh clouds,

We laughed all day at Your funny shapes

until the sun began to yawn,

Then You let me watch as You tenderly touched

Your first brush-strokes across the sky -

The world transformed

and play-doh clouds swam in pools of amber fire;

the sun made its grand exit

as You dimmed the lights

and tucked me in to sleep.

You whispered sweet dreams to me, then kept close by

'till Your brush was wet again with morning's masterpiece -

And You set out to win my heart once more...

Fragile Dreams

2007-06-18T18:11:00.001-07:00

Fragile Dreams

(Isaiah 54:1-7)

I dream…

Of soft pink blankets with teddy bear tops,

chubby fingers,

animal crackers,

footie pajamas and blocks-

Of wide floor palates with oodles of toys,

Ballet shoes for a girl,

Rubber boots for a boy-

Of long afternoons in a cozy rocking chair,

and knowing that he’d never sleep

without me sitting there-

Of seeing her first baby doll be put down for a nap,

and knowing that she’d learned the trade

from lessons in my lap-

I long to see those teary eyes

and outstretched arms--for me!

When others could not quiet him,

or comfort her to sleep-

But yes, I know this gift would mean

much worry and much testing,

For weepy babes keep Mom awake

without much time for resting-

Still, my heart aches yet to hold

a bundle of my own,

And clutter up with baby stuff

a house we’d make our home-

So Lord, prepare me for the day

this call may be for me,

Remind me always, Lord, they’re Yours;

I’ll let them go to Thee-

I’ll pray one day they’ll meet Your Son

and pledge their hearts to You-

And I hope their future Daddy

now is praying for them, too…

One Consuming Dream

2007-06-18T18:10:00.002-07:00

One Consuming Dream...

Be my passion, Lord of my heart -
be the catch that sets
my heart to beat too fast-
Be the giggle of my little-girl dream,
my Prince Charming...
Be the flame that consumes my will,
light my soul to dim no more,
Be my every desire.
Be the river flowing through,
pushing onward through the murk,
driving, unstoppable -
wash all my doubt.
Be the one consuming dream,
the only sustenance of my heart -
fill me, use me, pour me dry -
only never leave me,
my ever-present Addiction,
my Passion,
my All

More of You...

2007-06-18T18:10:00.001-07:00

Yeah, guess I'm in one of those moods tonight; sometimes I just can't say enough good things about my Lord! He's just so....love-able. Anywayz, here's a poem I wrote a couple of months ago when He was taking me through a pretty tough time. Here goes ...:o)

More of You

Leave me not to assume Your gifts, O Lord,

please teach me of Your sacred purpose -

For fairy-tale wishes and candlelight dreams pale

compared to Your plan.

Lead me on to search the heights and dive the depths

to know every facet of You -

what are Your favorites?

what lights Your smile?

Oh, that I could make You laugh -

to burst with delight - bubble over with pleasure -

Oh, Lord,

I long to light Your smile...

Hold Fast

2007-06-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Satan never sleeps... We can be sure that the archenemy of the King is ever seeking to kill, steal, and destroy all that is precious to Him. As His beloved children, be assured that we're tops on his hit list. The Enemy loves nothing more than to throw off our foothold and send an ambush to wrench us away from all the Father has for us. In those times, I hear the still, small whisper, "Hold fast! You're in My hands!"

Hold Fast

Oh, tender heart,

hold fast to hope

when dreams run deep

and life

strains to contain them.

Hold fast to hope

when longing aches

a heart weary of patience

and tender love is

elusive as the sacred stars.

Hold fast

when flesh demands freedom

and pigtail-wishes

vanish with vapor clouds

as the sky weeps.

Hold fast, My child,

for I hold fast

to you...

"Brethren, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

-1 Peter 4:12-13

Tender Warrior

2007-06-18T18:08:00.002-07:00

Tender Warrior

Holy cloud Warrior,

You ride the winds

and shatter the skies

with brilliant splendor.

Oh, ride this way,

let me adore You!

You who painted the heavens

yet stoop to hold the fallen sparrow-

Captain of angel armies,

magnificent in glory,

-YOU-

call me

Your beloved...

Can it be?

My heart bursts with elation

Oh, Holy Warrior,

please allow one glimpse of You,

one tender look from Your eyes...

Radiant Sky-Captain,

can it be?

Vinedresser

2007-06-18T18:08:00.001-07:00

Vinedresser,

Silently clothed in secret -

You prune my thoughts

and sow dream-seeds of faith.

Hidden in splendor,

Your glorious works

break through dawn's light,

shining green-gold through time.

You need no season,

yet the latter rain will fall...

Vinedresser,

turn Your shears

this way.

Mustard Seed Harvest

2007-06-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

Mustard Seed Harvest

I come to You with empty cup

spirit broken

dreams shattered

zeal quenched -

One meager offering I bring:

a tiny mustard seed

I struggle to keep in hand

What will prevail?

Scattered, empty treasures,

world's ransom,

all escape the depth of You -

Vain, lifeless promises

keep rabid claws

disguised in velvet robes

and weary dreams -

Yet You-

Holy cloud-Warrior -

lasso the stars with cords of hope,

swing me upward to taste the heights...

Oh, meager offering,

tiny mustard seed,

embrace your harvest!

Watercolor Master

2007-06-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

Watercolor Master

You paint color to my dreams,

with the same skilled hand

that brushes life into the midnight sky...

You breathe fire to my

mundane, ordinary, too-small faith

and raise me up

above the walls that bar my soul

to see Your plan unfolding just ahead...

Watercolor Master,

paint me beautiful in Your eyes...

How I long to fill Your heart with joy

as You have mine!

Oh, what may I do to light Your smile?

what gift of love would lift Your heart

so burdened with my inadequacies?

My King, my very life-breath

flows from Your love alone...

Oh, that I may spread Your glory!

Would that I could fill the winds

with the sweet essence of You,

that all would know Your sweetness...

My Lord, my All-in-All,

My own Prince Charming,

I need no other passion -

for You are Heaven to me.

Alabaster Ramblings...

2007-06-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my very first blog, so here goes! I guess my favorite Bible story has to be the story of the alabaster box (Luke 7 if you'd like to read it for yourself...). Here is a woman with an amazing heart! In a few short verses alotted to her, she left a legacy of absolute abandon to the only One who can truly make a girl's dreams come alive. She makes me long to take a peek into this heart of hers...

The Bible tells us that she was "a sinner," traditionally it is thought that she was a prostitute. It makes me wonder, at what point in her life did she have to resort to such a way of life? Surely she once had little girl dreams of meeting her "Prince Charming" one day, having a family, and getting to pick out her very own set of china...where did it go wrong? Somewhere in her life she had learned a thing or two about the gut-wrenching feeling of shattered dreams...probably she had given up hope of ever meeting that prince from her little girl fairy tales.

I wonder how it must have been for her growing up. As was customary for a Jewish family at that time, at some point her parents had presented her with a beautiful box of alabaster filled with the most lavish perfume they could afford, to be used for her dowry one day. I can just picture her as a young girl, holding the box and touching the delicate carvings on the sides, dreaming of the day her perfect love would ask for her hand in marriage. In acceptance she would present the box to him, along with her heart, as a promise of her love and devotion to him alone. I can imagine that as years passed by and life began to lose the luster of her fairy-tale dreams, her beautiful alabaster box on a shelf somewhere served as little more than a painful reminder of the sinking void in her soul-weary heart.

But, even before she knew, the most perfect Prince this world will ever know was seeking to win her heart and fill every torn and tattered place inside. We don't know how she met Him or when she knew He was the only One worthy of such reckless abandon, but we get to see a beautiful snapshot of her healing and the awakening of her own true love as she shatters the constraints of her deepest dreams and pours out her entire soul at the feet of the only One who could make her dreams come true. In that perfume mingled the aroma of her little girl longings, her innocence lost, and the hope of one day being found beautiful in the eyes of one who loved her. Perhaps she knelt at Christ's feet a dirty, undesirable tramp (as far as those watching would suppose), but at the touch of her Prince's hand, she stood up a breathtaking, flawless Princess...and found all her dreams encompassed in the touch of her True Love. Now that's better than a fairy tale!!

Anyhow, here's a poem I wrote some time back as I was reflecting on this story...

Alabaster Offering

Blow my mind again, my Lord,

break through the box I've tried to contain You,

Smash my fragile, too-weak faith

and replace it with Yours.

Fill my heart with the ache

of a holy emptying,

and satisfy me with Yourself -

Lord, set my heart to beat too fast,

as a nervous bride awaits her beloved...

Come, my Prince,

blow my mind again...