My Prayer for Faith...

Wrap Your arms around her and hold her, Lord – tightly. With a fierce love embrace her. Let her body’s weakness be forgotten in Your strength. As Your love enfolds her, let the warmth of Your light permeate every cell of her being and all disease be erased.  As You Spirit surrounds her, let all fear fade away and may Peace's essence flood Faith’s soul.  I know, now and forever, You will never let her go. ~ Amen
___________________________________
Even though this was written on my blog, I hadn't plan on "publishing" it for others to see because it was a personal prayer for a friend from the past who is fighting a raging battling against cancer. At the time, the computer was the only thing I had to "write" with and I had to get my feelings out - not my feelings, the prayer I felt I had to pray RIGHT THEN! So, I used my blog space to write it down and make it more concrete (do all writer's feel that need to put it down on paper?). The more I thought about it, the more I decided, "Yes, I am going to "publish" it, so that I can ask for others to pray as well. . .


That said - MY GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD WHO STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES EVEN TODAY!!!
If you believe this too, please join me in praying for a miracle for my friend, Faith Williams and may Heaven's door be knocked upon until God answers. 


Thank you one and all!

Peek a Boo . . . aka Spinning

Peek a Boo

Peek a boo.
I see you;
every now and then
girl I once had been.

Twirling ‘round.
Whirling ‘round.
Arms out blurring.
Imagination stirring
Auburn hair swirling

The laughter doesn’t stop.
From dizziness I drop
as the sky spins 'round.

Peek a boo.
Where are you?
Woman I yearn to be;
Whom I have yet to see.

Troubles twirling.
Worries whirling.
Busyness blurring.
Time stealing
moments kneeling.

The turmoil doesn’t stop
‘til from fatigue I drop
as the world spins ‘round.
___________________________________________________________

“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop . . . playthings . . . tools.”  

I have heard this quote many ways through the years and though I understand the concept and somewhat agree, I am not sure I agree entirely. For one thing, if we don't have idle time, we don't have time to play and be creative and I MISS RECESS!! But, seriously, I think the devil loves it when our lives are spinning into a blur, blending into one busy task after another, until our days become distorted into a chaotic mess.  

If our lives are so busy that we fall into the bed exhausted every evening, no prayer whispered from our weary lips, I think the devil dances in glee. When The Word has even a smidgen of dust, or worse the binding lays unbroken, I imagine the Lord’s face etched with sorrow. The minute our days are so full that we don’t have time to say, “Good morning, God!” when we no longer have time to offer a hand to the needy, a waterproof shoulder to the hurting or even a word of praise to a friend or stranger (just to see a smile light up their face) then WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN!!!

I hate to admit it, but if my scenario is true then I have been making the devil very happy these past few months! When my life is so hectic that I can no longer pick up a pen to write a poem of praise (or a cry for deliverance) then I am sure Satan is thrilled; and that is exactly what I have done.

As I write this, I am sitting wrapped in a blanket, shivering from fever and feeling miserable.  As is typical of me, I tend to go, go, go until my body makes me slow down with illness. I should know better by now. But, I have a tendency to get so wrapped up in everything that is going on and everything that needs doing, for myself and others, that I forget to take care of the most important matter of all – myself and my relationship with God.  As old as I am, I still haven’t learned the lesson that I already know. Are you in the same place with me? Let’s try harder to be aware of when life is flying too fast for our own good and ask the Lord to teach us how to slow down and simply celebrate each day.
_________________________________________________________________
To the One who calms my storms,
My creative moments have been stolen by my chaotic life. I’m trying to steal them back again; because I am empty without them. . . I am empty without them, because my creative moments are centered around You and come from You. Without You, I am nothing, and empty vessel waiting to be filled. Help me, Lord, to stop (or at least slow) my spinning out of control days and to concentrate on what matters most. Thank You for Your steadying hand in my life. ~ Amen
_________________________________________________________________

The Merry Mockingbird

The Merry Mockingbird

A merry mockingbird prances
as if she can’t contain her glee;
dancing among the bare branches
of a pecan tree aged grey as she.

The soloist sings loud and strong;
chirping her ever-changing tune;
coaxing the sun awake with song
then softly serenading the moon.

The herald of the break of day
is with elated hymns inviting
the groggy morning to push away
the night’s dark and downy covering.

I watch the sun raise his sleepy head
and with his light the world awakens.
Earth’s horizon that was sun’s bed
the silvery moon now has taken.

The delighted diva has wakened dawn
and sang to stars, "Sleep tight!"
She flutters her feathers, bobs a bow,
then majestically takes flight.
                                                                     Susan Tarrant - March 2012
_______________________________________________________________
Slowly, ever so slowly, the poem finally emerges.  Like a timid animal craving human touch (or like a bird craving the seed I set out), afraid, but ever growing bolder.

I have a mockingbird that visits us every morning. She sits atop the highest branches of one of the oldest, tallest pecan trees we have. Every morning, she sings away my sleepy cobwebs with the most bright and cheerful songs. I started this poem for her and then couldn't get past the first verse. Sometimes writing can be so frustrating!!! I wish my poems came as easy as the songs she sings.
_______________________________________________________________

Creator of all creatures, I thank you with all my heart for the song birds that bring such joy. I cannot imagine a world without them. You make such wonderful, beautiful, magical things! ~ Amen

Psalm 22:14 "I am poured out like water. . ."

Empty

My strength is poured out
like water on wasteland;
evaporating in the searing
heat of hopelessness.
Only a few droplets remain
around the rim of my sanity.

My spirit is deflated;
a pathetic, week-old balloon
barely bobbing in the breeze.
Discouraged, defeated,
clinging to the scarlet ribbon
clutched firmly in the hands of Christ.
_____________________________________________________________
Not all of life is positive. And so, neither can my writing always be. Right now, I am empty, drained of all emotion and energy. I am worn out from being sick, for going on three weeks now, as well as worn out due to a few other pressures in my life that I will only share with God. At this time, I am just too tired to paint on the "smiley face" that tells world the white lie of, "I'm fine today!" 

And you know what? That's okay.

Christians have a lot to be optimistic about but no matter how positive a person, no matter how upbeat and outgoing you may be, life can wear you down. We cannot always be Pollyanna's with never negative outlooks. Drama, demands on the job, financial binds, at home headaches, sickness, self-inflicted stress, simply the unbelievable craziness in our world today. . . it all comes into play. One thing by itself you may be able to handle; maybe even two or possibly three things. But, the burden of everything added together can weigh you down to the dusty levels of discouragement. Down, maybe even defeated in a particular battle, but not lost to the dark side forever.

The good news is that God understands our weariness. He does not condemn us for it. He knows life is sometimes just too much for us to bear. He sends out an invitation to everyone that is the same today as it has always been, "Come unto me . . ." Those who answer His invitation find He is there to provide rest, healing, strength, love, acceptance and amazing peace.

Twila Paris has a song that I love called, The Warrior is a Child. I think the lyrics of that song describe the way I feel today perfectly:
"They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and cry for just awhile,
Cause deep inside this armor, the warrior is a child."
_____________________________________________________
Father, I would gladly run to accept your invitation, but I am weak emotionally and physically. As a weary child throws up their hands and wails, "Carry me!" so I cry out to You, my heavenly Father. I am sick. I am discouraged. I am broken, but not beyond repair. My outstretched arms reach up to You. Carry me, Lord, until Your strength fills me once again. Then and only then, can I can put back on Your armor and return to the battles of life. In Jesus name I pray. ~ Amen

Be Still My Soul

Hush

ssshhh
slow down
be still
be quiet
and KNOW
that I
AM
GOD

silent
eyes closed
wind's breath
sighs PEACE
my NAME
embrace
MY
COMFORT

you
struggle
you
strive
with the
HOWS
and the
WHYS

like a
bird
you thrash
your wings
against
a SELF-
MADE
cage

breathe in
exhale
surrender
and sense
LOVE’S warmth
MY PRESCENCE
ALWAYS
here

marvel
as oil
in water
so storms
scatter
with the
WORD
JESUS

Hush
be still
and KNOW!
________________________________________________________________
The last couple of months have been chaotic and not just because of the holidays. Sometimes life just swirls beyond our control. Because of this, I have been doing more praying than writing poetry lately; searching for guidance and the help I need to make changes in myself and in my household. That is not to say that I haven't been writing at all. It seems that one of the most intimate forms of prayer for me is in writing. Don't believe me? Have you read the prayer-filled Psalms? I have learned through the years that at times reaching for a notebook and pen draws me as close, if not closer, to the Lord than kneeling on bended knee (I can write longer than I can kneel sometimes.) But to write, one must slow down and slowing down is not one of my strong suits. Neither is being still or quiet, but it seems that is what God is leading me to do right now.

I just wish I was better at submitting control and trusting completely. I fail miserably at surrendering. Part of me fights within screaming, "You got yourself into this mess! It is your job to get yourself out!" Only thing is, sometimes our "solutions" to get us out of situations, send us spiraling even further into the depths of disaster instead of solving anything. It is only after we have beaten our heads against one brick wall after another that - with head pounding like a bass drum - we finally are ready to submit control over to God. Why do we do that? Why must we batter our wings against our self-made cages of false control until they are bloody and nearly broken before we look to the Father; who has been wanting to help us all along? He has simply been waiting on us to ask and then. . . hand the problem over to HIM. Not just part of the problem. Not just put it down for a moment and pick it back up again. But, for us to TRUST Him enough, to BELIEVE in Him enough, for our FAITH to be strong enough to KNOW that HE is capable of handling and WILL handle every minor detail BETTER than we can!

Just as it takes more strength to love than to hate; it takes more strength to let go than to hold tight! BE STILL! Let go of the problems in life today and trust God to handle them. Only He knows the best way to deal with the issue anyway. :-)

Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Psalm 46:10
"Be still and know that I am God."

______________________________________

Lord, I am beyond tired. I am exhausted. I am tired of fighting: with myself, with others, with finances, with past mistakes I can't take back. . . . tired of so many things, Father. I believe You want to - and can - help me with every situation that plagues me! Forgive my unbelief. Increase my faith and allow me to rest in You! Thank you for every blessing! ~ Amen

Fall Frenzy

Fall Frenzy
Like children squealing with delight,
the wind shrieks by my window;
playing games with Fall leaves in flight
who scurry and scream, “You're too slow!”
at the glee-filled gust that’s been picked –
“Tag! You’re It!”

Their howls of laughter echo low
so, I think their frenzy’s fading.
Jacket donned, out the door I go
to discover they’ve been waiting,
plotting to ambush me and plea –
“Come play!”

The wind’s whispers are persuading
this stress-worn woman to unwind
and release the inner child waiting
deep inside where she’s been confined.
Pulling, tugging, begging me please –
“Join the fun!”

Gold, orange and crimson intertwined,
blurring, as the wind spins them ‘round.
Autumn kaleidoscope designed
as the laughing leaves leave the ground;
like kids on a swing set crying-
“Higher! Higher!”

I watch them rising, heaven bound,
the wind still tugging at my sleeve.
Closing my eyes, inner child found,
I spread my arms wide and believe
with leaves and wind I run, taunting –
“Can’t catch me!”
__________________________________________________________
The other day, outside my window, I could hear the joyful screams of children playing outside in this beautiful, cooler weather . . . or so I thought. The sound was distant and I believed their playful noise was just carrying on the wind. But, the closer I listened, the more I realized the voices on the wind, WAS the wind!!! The sounds reminded me of childhood days, running, screaming, laughing and playing with friends. I was shocked and thrilled at the same time.
And that is how this poem came to be! :-)
________________________________________________
Painter of the autumn leaves, Thank You for the changing of seasons, the cooler weather and the bright Fall foliage splashed across clear, blue skies. Thank you for the playful wind whose silly antics make me smile. I love the childhood memories that came flooding in due to the wind's human voice calling out to me. I needed those happy memories! But then, You knew that. Thank You, Lord, for meeting even my smallest need. ~ Amen

Sorrow's Solace

Sorrow's Solace
Sorrow holds tight my hand,
not as a loathsome enemy,
but as a steadfast friend
who knows and understands
the despair of death’s valley.

Sorrow shows me the way.
She’s been here times before.
As she guides, she prays
for the end of my dark-filled days;
that my anguish may be no more.

My soul resonates with regrets
to which grief would gladly bind me.
Yet, Sorrow says my so-called debts
are more than met - they’re offset -
by the love linking my loved one and me.

Sorrow sings me songs
of heartache and of hope.
She tells me to God I belong,
surrender the suffering to be strong,
and allow Christ to help me cope.
_____________________________________________________________
 I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. . .

I once thought of this shadow as being the seeker of my own death and, as in the 23rd psalm, I drew comfort from knowing whenever that day may be, God would walk beside me. Now, I understand the darkness of this valley can also be caused by the death of a loved one eclipsing our hearts, our minds and our spirits. . .

I am Sorrow.
______________________________________________________________
Father in heaven, It hurts to see the ones I love hurting and not be able to comfort them. All I can do is love them, pray for them and be there for them to lean upon. But You, Lord, You can send them true peace and comfort. I lift them up to You. Please, wrap my hurting loved ones in Your arms and ease their grief. ~ Amen