Sanctified



                                      
Sanctified
As head winds buoy the eagle's flight;
the Lord lifts my striving spirit
to unimaginable heights.

Like Fall rain after Summer's heat;
He replenishes my parched soul
with Living Water replete.

Such as the lowly caterpillar
God molds into majestic butterfly;
this simple sinner, He sanctifies.
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We crave the "Fall rain after Summer's heat!"

I am beginning to think the drought we have been experiencing has evaporated more than the pools and riverbeds around us; it has dried up the wells of creative writing within me as well. So, since I was rummaging through my old scribblings the other day, I decided to post something from my past. I ran across this poem I wrote in 2004 and thought the line about my "parched soul" mirrored our parched land.
 
Perhaps with the upcoming cooler weather of Fall, and the refreshing rains I know will eventually bless us, God will also refill my soul with words to paint new poems soon. "Showers of blessings, showers of blessings we need. Mercy drops 'round us be falling, but for the showers we plead." *
“There shall be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:26
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To the One who sanctifies me, the Shaper of my Soul. Please hear my prayer. The land is parched. The plants are wilting, even trees are shriveling, leaves and grass crunch beneath our feet; crushing our weary spirits with each step. In the extreme heat of this summer, our souls wither as well. Bless us soon with showers to refresh the land. Rejuvenate our spirits with the coolness of Living Water so our spirits may never thirst again. Thank you for renewing our arid world - within and without. ~ Amen

* There Shall Be Showers of Blessings, by Daniel W. Whittle, 1883

Better By Now

Better By Now

I thought things would be better by now.
I thought life would be sweeter somehow.
But the years roll by and nothing has changed;
the same old, same old simply rearranged.
I thought things would be better by now.

I thought dreams were supposed to come true,
I know not all, but at least a few.
And although my life hasn’t been all bad,
there have been dreams that I wish I’d had;
dreams I thought were supposed to come true.

I thought I would be more than just this;
thought there would be more to reminisce.
Yet, the woman I longed to be remains
confined within her emotional chains.
I thought I would be more than just this.
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I guess it is obvious from my writing that I have been in a blue mood lately. I know it will pass; but I hate being down when I know I am blessed in so many ways. And yet, sometimes counting our blessings isn’t as easy as it should be. Recently, I read this quote from an Ella Wheeler Wilcox poem and agreed wholeheartedly:

“Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
when life flows along like a song;
but a man of worthwhile is the one who will smile
when everything goes dead wrong.”

There are several issues that have my emotions reeling lately; some of them I have control over, others I don’t (though some would argue that I have control over those as well and just don’t have the heart to do what I should). I will spare you hearing about all of them and just begin at the beginning of my slump.

It all began by cleaning my room and finding some old journals of mine. I think I should just burn the things sometimes! Though there are good times recorded in them as well, it is upsetting to me to go back and read the same struggles, heartaches, things I planned that never happened and the still yet to be answered prayers. Last year, five years, ten years ago and still the same issues unresolved? What gives?

I don’t blame God; though it is tempting at times to scream, “WHY DO YOU WAIT?” I know that I am a part of the problem. I have allowed some of these unfulfilled dreams and problems to persist. Whether it is by lack of self-esteem, co-dependency, lack of a backbone, fear. . . I have failed to walk in faith that God will take care of everything. I have failed to completely trust God to use me the way I long to be used and to solve any trials that come from answering His call. When I have prayed, "What should I do?" I have failed to truly listen. I am a doubting Thomas. . .

I have a darling young friend whose faith right now I envy so much. She and her husband are stepping out, trusting that God will be their safety net, and going down a whole new path in life. Her husband has answered God’s call to preach, in another town, a town that is not next door to all the family and friends they love so much. God said, "Do it or I will get someone else who will." (paraphrased by me) and their response was, "Yes, Sir!" I am so proud of them and thrilled for them. . . and maybe a tinge jealous.

How many times has God asked something of me and I have doubted the message was from Him, doubted my ability, doubted He would take care of the financial issues or other trials that would come from taking that unfamiliar path? Maybe, if I had trusted trusted more, I would be the woman I imagined being by now. Maybe if I begin to trust more today, I still can be. . .
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Heavenly Father, forgive my lack of faith and trust. Forgive me for the times I have asked for Your guidance and then failed to listen long enough to hear Your voice. Help me, Lord, even now, to hear what You are telling me to do. And then, allow me to step out without fear and do it with the peace, reassurance and strength only You can give. Increase my faith and help me become the woman of grace we both want me to be. I seek You, God. Find me!  ~ Amen

She Will Not Break

                                                              Image from Microsoft Word Sample Pictures

She Will Not Break

She is a tree of life
silhouetted against the Son,
shaped by the seasons
and the passing of time;
embracing the forces of
nature that make her
the woman she has become.

Her branches spread broadly
reaching out to life with love.
She shades the weary,
while sheltering the needy.
Though she may wilt beneath
hardships scorching heat,
still, she will not break.

Winds of change have come
as a debonair dancer
whisking her to and fro.
Storms beat harshly upon her.
She bowed her branches low
while fingertip leaves
grasped for Ground.

Her roots are entwined
‘round the Rock of her faith;
holding her firmly in place
no matter season's nature.
With willingness to bend,
submit she may, but she
trusts her fate to Him.

She will not break!
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This is not what I intended to write. I prefer my poetry to rhyme and have some semblance of rhythm. For the last few weeks I have been scribbling, rearranging, contemplating and downright arguing with lines. The only thing I really knew was the title and the line "Her roots are entwined 'round the Rock of her faith". And though this is not at all what I imagined in my mind - I envisioned something more along the lines of Amy Grant's "Can You Reach My Friend" or a letter to God - apparently this is what insisted on being written.

Each poem I attempt to write is begun with, "God, guide me" - even more in cases like this. You see, I have a friend, a very sweet, dear friend who I wanted to honor encourage with a poem. I asked God to help me write something especially for her. This lady has weathered one storm after another. Her life has been whisked one way and then tossed another before she can even stop trembling from the first. She has faced things that surely would have broken me. And yet, she continues on. This woman of worth is an inspiration to me, though she does not see herself as such. For that matter, she would probably laugh out loud at the thought. But, it doesn't keep it from being true.

So my dear friend, for your love of privacy, I will not name your name. But, I hope as you read this poem that God opens your eyes to the realization that I am writing it in praise of you. I share your poem with all the other women out there that face daily battles that bow them low to the ground in prayer. I hope at least one finds encouragement and strength in what I have written. Keep your "roots entwined 'round the Rock" and hang tight! God will see you/us through!
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My Rock in the midst of my storms, We all have bad days, bone-weary weeks and even sometimes a horrendous month. But, Lord what are we to think when those months turn into unbelievable years of hardships? I have suffered through long trials before that I thought would never end. There are still unanswered prayers that were brought before You ages ago that make me ask, "What about them are not within Your will". But, in the case of my sweet friend, Father, the trials never seem to end before another begins. How long, Lord? Is there a lesson that is yet to be learned? If so, open her heart to receive it. I know You hold her in Your embrace. I know she faithfully puts her trust in You. I ask dear Lord, that You bless my friend. Rescue her and bring her days, weeks, months, YEARS of joy once again! In Christ name I pray. ~ Amen