Sweet Conversation

I say "Good Morning" to the Lord
and wait for His reply...
thinking how elaborate and deep
His response will be...

"Good Morning, Lynne"
is what I hear...followed by,
"I love you"...

He is not what I expect sometimes,
and infinitely more...
as practical as dew and sun;
He knows my frame and considers the finite
capacity of my understanding.

Mercy He shows to one who does need it;
awaiting instruction and yearning for fellowship
with the One who speaks to my deepest parts
from the vantage point of eternity...

Sweet conversation from deep unto deep;
flowing through time and yet up-to-the-minute...
details attended to with soft nudging pokes;
and vision renewed in the light of His glory.

Morning Song

Looking up towards heaven,
this is the day that the Lord has made...
yet the new day with all of its' promise
retains vestiges of what clings and stings from yesterday...

"My mercies are new every morning" I can hear my Lord say;
yet the fog of emotion pulls me back to the land of regret and anxiety.
I try to cast my care on Him,
but the fishing pole at my side seems to hold onto whatever I attempt to cast.
I feel the care speed back to the depths of my soul...

"My grace is sufficient" adds the Spirit with patience;
knowing my frame is a package of dust and spirit
"fearfully and wonderfully made" as my Lord tells it...
and I choose to believe Him over whatever other source attempts to convince...

Lord, this is the day that You have made.
Help me to rejoice and be glad in the work of Your hands...
for I know that I know that your love endures forever;
awaiting my confessions of failures and fears...

Take my hand today, Lord, as every day...
and hold on tightly as I step out in faith;
knowing that Your grace is sufficient for my needs...
and that You are everything I need to survive.

Watching My Feet...

Watching my feet
as they walk ahead...
the sight of the ground below them
doesn't point the way anywhere.

The sound of my shoes hitting the pavement
reverberates up to the bones of my spine;
reminding me of the congealed dirt that I walk around in...

Watching my feet
as they walk ahead...
I realize that I can't see what is ahead of me;
making it easy for me to bump into a wall
...or someone else who is also watching their feet!

I feel a nudge to look up and I see
that watching my feet has hindered my steps;
as well as those walking around me;
circling each other in confusion;
bumping into each other as amusement park bumper cars...

Beyond the immediate scene of almost comical heights,
I can see the Lord waiting with outstretched hands...
inviting all who will respond to seek
the path of light.

While You Were Waiting...

While I was waiting for my life to start
the days and the years
came and went.

While I was waiting for something better,
the blessings I had were
laid out before me as a grand buffet.

While I was waiting for my big day to come,
the wind and the wheat blew;
friends called me over,
and the anticipation built up to a
high-flying peak.

While I was waiting for my child to come,
the sights of young mothers filled me
with joy overflowing...
and I dreamed of hearing my child's heart beat...

While I was waiting...
life carried on and presented itself
in glory and anguish;
flowing in grace
and calling me to fellowship with the Father...

While I was waiting...
He gave me life that I was waiting for.

"While you were waiting" I could hear Him say...
"I was preparing the paths ahead; adjusting and
moulding you to take the next step. While you were waiting
I was there beside you...waiting for you to acknowledge Me.
What joy to my heart it was when you looked for Me, child...
knowing My hand was in all that you saw..."

Layers

One
by
one
the layers
peel off...
exposing to
daylight
their spots of decay;
ripping off
tender shoots of seeds
planted in once fertile soil..
...layer after layer..
darkness
and
light
coexisting much too comfortably;
neither strong enough
to take the lead as the layers continue
falling...
until the core reveals newness of life
replanted by the Maker's hand.

Strength to Strength

From strength to strength
and glory to glory,
The Lord leads us on
towards the prize
and the pastures.
Each step taken
on faith in spite of feeling
propels each wanderer
on the way...
to the life
...to the next step...

From strength to strength
and glory to glory,
the Lord leads us on
to discover His heart;
the longing He has in His heart
for our hand...
...to have fellowship
with Him
and the joy of the brethren...
gloriously sharing our lives
in His heart.

The Stone in His Hand

A feeling of power
rested in the palm of his hand;
holding the smooth stone
led him to feel superior
to the object of his derision...

She was an object;
delegated to the realm of damaged goods
and devalued in his estimation
with trial by jury neglected
...out of a misguided sense of justice.

"Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord"
the Bible did say, didn't it?
The memories of sunday school entered into
the forefront of his thoughts...

Still, he was justified in throwing the stone.
She had sinned; really messed up this time.
Her example would prevent her from doing it again,
and send a message to those even contemplating
wandering into the degradation of human flesh.

His girth made throwing difficult;
and then there was that nasty habit of blasphemy...
His temper made him hard to live with;
leading his family to tread on delicate ground
...just to breathe easily...

The warmth of the Savior's love
made it through one of the cracks in his armor;
melting the ice and length of chain that
held him captive to sin in his own right...

Down he fell and let the stone tumble to the dry earth.
His eyes looked up to heaven in entreaty;
speaking the volumes his heart was unable to verbalize...
and flinching in acknowledgement of his own falls from grace.