It Is Still Christmas

It is still Christmas

The Twelve Days

From Birth of Christ

'Til Dawn of Light

Keep candles burning

Hearts aflame

With ardent love

Eternal light

To pierce the night

Star followed, staid

Unwavering, follow

Believe the sight

of Earth redeemed

Again, He comes

Again, he comes

My Name Is Martha

My name is Martha.

My sister is Mary.

We both love the Lord.

She sits at His feet;

The do-nothing

Won't help me

As guests arrive.

A table needs spreading!

"Lord!"  I call.

"Lord!"  He answers,

"Mary knows

What's best."

I'm convicted.

I'm convinced.

I'm saved.

Luke 10:38-42

Many Years More

   

So ready for bed

Not ready for sleep

I find myself praying

That You, my soul keeps

As facing decisions

Keeps me uncertain

As how to bring hope

And raise looming curtain

On what would be final.

Yet, prayers, encored, plea

For many years more,

For many years, please?

Oh, that I could adore

For many years more!

I Am

I Am the same

Today, tomorrow,

I Am the joy

In the midst of sorrow.

I Am the way,

The truth, the life;

Comfort in

Your pain and strife.

Not forgotten,

Not mistaken,

You, my child,

Are not forsaken.

Soul awaken

To my plea

That by my side

You'll always be.

Lullabye

I cradle you

In the crook of one arm

Behold your face

Eyes peacefully closed.  Hands

Reaching for stars

And tears imagined, fought,

Fall, comfort

Given in the here, now.

In peace, you sleep.

God, your soul safe, will keep.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

Twelve Weeks

Twelve weeks

Not possible

Nor probable

Twelve weeks

Year's quarter

Time measured

Death's date

Grieving

Nine months

Rejoicing

Coming soon

Rejoicing

One departs

One arrives

Born to live

Born to die

Soul alive

Soul alive

A Prayer for Today

Loose cannon

Gunning for victory

Leaves in wake

Abominable history

For seekers

Of His truth.

Loose, Lord,

Your Word, divine.

Make it theirs

Make it mine.

Memorial Day

It is Memorial Day

And I have dutifully purchased

Set of flags for my father's

Gravestone.  A memorial

My mother has yet to see

In person, for it hurts.

A blow from a bully.  A bullet

Taken for a friend.

The march.  The endless march.

And they fall.  Endless.

The faithful, brave.  It hurts.

She dares not believe he's gone,

Cannot stand before the witness

Of a world crumbling about her.

A world once all about her.

The march has ended.

The flag stands.

And she, my mother, cannot go there,

But stays at home

Baking Amish squares.

Dessert of comfort

For those in need;

Her own heart discomforted.

I Gaze Upon the Promise

I gaze upon the promise.

Do hearts, true, perceive?

Unsure if valiant words,

Their brave joust reveals

To unsuspecting souls

The measure of His time

Defying passing moments.

Alone, but never lonely,

My words spin and weave

Winsome web alluring.

I gaze upon the promise.

Does my heart, true, perceive?

Humble

Foolish I look and foolish I stand

As my words, earnest, fumble.

The right thing?  Lord, I pray

Your honest Word keeps me humble;

Sets me true on arrow's way,

To mend the aching hearts that stray

Upon a path I once thought clear.

Not sure, I am, pointing the way

For those, in heart, I hold so dear.

Yet, they are here, calling, calling,

But with You, I don't fear falling.

Reassured that You are near,

I will continue, even here,

And trust, though my heart breaks.

Your love will grant me all it takes

To play the fool and make the fumble;

All it takes to make me humble.

Footprint

Walking with the two in cool of evening

Eve and Adam naked, hearts at one

With yours.  Father, Friend, Creator, who

Declared Creation 'good' when it was done.

Walk among us, heaven's feet on earth.

Bring your kingdom though we fall and fail.

Leave within our hearts the only footprint

Worthy.  May, through us, Your love prevail.

Love Divine

Upon whose coattails have I ridden

And who has ridden on mine;

Because by grace we dream same dreams

Inspired by love divine?

I Thirst

The well has run dry

The earth is parched

And I thirst.  I thirst

For meaning

Take away

Take away

You take away

I forget how to pray

And I don't know

If I want to remember how

Because the pain

Gone from one

Resides now in the other

Pain I cannot shoulder

Burden crushing

Loss immeasurable

I weep

You wept

I grieve

You grieved

The well has run dry

The earth is parched

I thirst, Lord, I thirst

I Will Choose the Light

Night, when thoughts pervade

The soul; nightmares, dreams,

Woven tapestry

Hangs on threadbare hooks.

As each image greets

New day in darkness.

I will choose the light.

My Father

Since Dad passed

I call Mom daily

Her constant worries

Fears foisted

Upon my heart

Accepted when I was young

Making me afraid

Today I fear not

Not now

Not any more

No longer

Than a moment 

When I know

In both light and shadow

God is with me

With her

I try to convey the truth

 God is my Father

My Dad and my father

Her husband and eternal love

Is embraced and welcomed by Him

Believe, Mom.

Believe . . . 

To Snow or Not Snow

To snow or not to snow

Forecast in the balance

Computer models blamed

As why we're left to chance

Of winter's blindside

Yet seasoned, we prepare

For Snowmageddon new

Defenses armed with care

That we survive demise

Of southland by surprise

Reflections When Beginning a New Chapter

The words manifest

On page pristine

Inspired, gathered,

A meaning gleaned.

Burning bush reveals

The spoken Word,

The Word eternal

Speaking here.  Word

Without beginning,

End.  Searing souls.

God's great love and grace

The seas will part.

Prayer

When tired defines me,

I choose to pray.

When sadness surrounds me,

I choose to pray.

In hardship, hurting, cruel,

I choose to pray.

Beloved child of God,

Choose, please, to pray.

Resting

Resting here

Resting there,

God, in rest

You find me.

Where and when,

I embrace

Saving grace.

Overwhelmed;

Tidal wave,

Tsunami.

Faith renewed.

Faith revealed.

God, in rest, 

You find me.

I'm not lost;

Embracing rest,

I am blessed.

It is Time

It is time, past time

To set Christmas by;

Season breathes its last,

And a New Year's nigh.

Why not let bold lights

Bright, resilient,

Carry on?  Glow?

Rejoice in brilliance?

Peace and light, sweet kiss

Of God's love, our bliss.

It is time.  Past time . . .

The Rocks

The rocks

The stones

Rugged

Ragged

Challenge

The will

The heart

The mind

The soul

Life flows

Despite

Hindrance

The will

Of heart

Of mind

And soul

Rugged

Ragged

Persists