Not ever in vain

Sometimes you will do things
and no one will understand,
except only One

Sometimes you will feel things
and no one will understand,
except One

Sometimes
only your conviction will carry you
through,
And walking alone
will be your strength
though to many it appear as weakness

People fear anothers' sorrow too much
It reveals to them
their own fears,
To some
it mirrors their frozen pain
that they dare not face

But without heartache
you can't grow
or really love
or learn

or come to fully understand
what you need to

nor can you know
how close God is
when he carries you
and the heap of pain that you feel you are
as your strength wavers and your thoughts falter

though you falter...

you learn that the sorrow
you so feared
is a faithful teacher and friend

and your real sighing and tears
are not ever in vain

Crazy times

the creation groans
waiting for the sons of God to be revealed
sons who feel
and see
and care
sons and daughters of light and life
coming forth in crazy times
through deception
and murder they will pass
through

birthed by pure blood
they will be purified
and creation aches
and groans
waiting,
oh, when?

and together they will rise
crowned in love
sword in hand, double edged
lovely and wise
oh,
oh,
when...

they will rise

Through the Spirit...

"...Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." Romans 8:5

I want to live more and more with my mind set on what the Spirit desires. He is the Counselor, the Comforter, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth. I can turn my mind toward him and receive the strength and encouragement I need, anytime. Pretty great. He accepts me, my mess, brokenness. He silences the accuser and showers me with hope.

"I'm out..."

Happy New Year. I wish you peace, hope, faith, truth, perseverance and most of all love,
because of Jesus Christ, who shall make all things new when he returns... Let us keep our hope firm- "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phillipians 3:20) and, "For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:5)

Off to the Grand Canyon!

woo-hoo, yes!...we need a getaway. I am a traveling soul and it's been a while... Wanted to leave y'all with a post by Holley Gerth that really encouraged me. You can check out her very thoughtful words at http://blog.dayspring.com. Merry belated Christmas and a Spirit-filled New Year to you! If you love Jesus, the Word made flesh, you shine...

You shine... by Holley Gerth (To view in her blog, click here)

The darkness still hovers over the dawn. I step on a plane that will carry my from here to there.
Carry me to my family, to my Grandpa Hollie in Texas who's celebrating 90 years of good living this week. I peer from the window.
The lights below me twinkle, twinkle.
And I think of you.
How can I not think of you?
You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14
Some lights are alone...
I pray you're sustained, comforted, that you sense the nearness of One Who Loves You, even in the darkness.
Others are clustered in groups...
I pray you're strengthened, unified, that together you shine brighter and bolder.
Everywhere, sprinkled across the dark, are beams and bulbs, flickers and flashes. YOU. Beautiful, glorious, filled with the light of the One who made you.
And I just wanted to say...
Keep shining.
From your perspective, it may not seem like much.
But from above?
Oh, yes, you SHINE.
Beautifully, radiantly, more than you know, more than you see...
And trust me, the world is better and brighter for it.

A very encouraging post to share...

 "When the Wolves howl from a Sheep's mouth" by  Mary DeMuth

Nothing is quite as confusing as spiritual abuse but yet somehow Jesus always preserves and delivers his little sheep- his forever.

Thankful for the body

Since we moved to Tucson we've had trials on top of trials on top of trials, sometimes to the point of desperation. They are too many to tell... but right alongside we made friends, new friends who have been loving us tangibly- and that has been our rescue. They've had faith, gifts and encouragement for us when we had little left, or when we forgot what we had and who we are. We are learning together that we simply are one body and that the only thing that can keep us together is our friendship and love, in and because of Christ. And this love is not exclusive nor can it be divided. The friendship and love is the sinew that keeps us together, nothing else will work. We are to receive one another and bear with each other.  One verse and passage that spoke to us is- Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification (Rom. 15:1-2).  Is this not love? Who could be strong all the time without any help. We need each other. It's not so complicated really.... Christ's message was simple but it would take faith in him to understand, and then he would do the rest.
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you"
(John 15:7)