In the present...
there is no fear.
there is no sorrow.
there is no regret.
there is no loss.
There
is
no
lack.
For in the present...
is where
GOD IS.

Whirlwind of gossip.
Around and around it goes.
Wreaking chaos and havoc,
as the lies explode and grow.
Causing hurt.
Inflicting pain.
Ruining the course of one's entire life.
The untamed tongue.
Is a hellish fire.
Be careful what you speak.
Or your life could become a shipwreck.
To tame one's tongue is very wise.
Use it to bless and to heal.
Not to slander and criticize.
Use it to forgive and to love.
Fill it not with cursing and bitterness.
Be careful.
Oh so careful.
What you speak.
For the consequences can bring wounds very deep.
Be careful.
Oh so careful.
What you speak.

When will I just stop running away from Love?
Running away from Him.
And just climb into His lap,
and be held in His arms.
When?
When I am broken.

What more could He have done?
Than to give up His only Son.
To display the depths of His Love
to mother, daughter, father, son.
His Love.
For everyone.
His Love for those who do not seek Him.
His Love for those who wickedly,
deliberately turn against Him.
Time and time again.
For all of us, like sheep, do go astray.
From our Good Shepherd.
And we go our own way.
Yet...
still He loves us.
Still, He pursues us.
Still, He refuses to be without us.
So He displayed His Love,
His Passion,
in the Highest form.
With the Greatest Sacrifice.
The world has ever known.
With the Sacrifice that grieved
His own heart.
To buy us back,
from Satan
and the Kingdom of the Dark.

What more could He have done?
Than to give up His only Son.
What more could He have done
to show how great is His Love for us,
each and every one?

What more could He have done?
Than to give up His only Son?
What more could He have done?
What more could He have done.
To LOVE us.

Face to face now with reality,
I see that all you were was a fantasy.
And that you and I were never meant to be.
The reality has hit me hard,
and I wonder now if you ever cared.
I got so caught up in the fantasy,
of you and me.
And my imagination's folly.
That I did not see clearly.
For did I ever really know you?
And did you really love me enough to know me?
All you were was a fantasy.
A figment of my imagination.
All we were was a fantasy.
But the story's over now.
The end.

His Truth.
His Light.
His Life-Giving Word.
Enters in.
Healing all my broken places.
Mending.
Every scar.
Keeping me.
From falling
apart.

Spring's new leaves of brightest green,
shimmer like emeralds in the breeze.
The sky is a brilliant blue,
the backdrop for green trees
Sprouting new.
In the distance I hear a woodpecker
knock, knock, knock.
Upon the wood of the tree top.
From the old birdhouse,
baby birds fledge,
ready to leave home
their wings they spread.
The scent of freshly mown grass
and many blossoms
is in the air.
How I love to sit on my porch
and behold Spring's wonders.
Oh, such a gift is the glory of nature!

How harsh is the Winter!
How bitter the cold!
Icing up roads.
Biting fingers and toes.
So cold.
Bitter is the cold.
Is there any sign of relief?
Is there any retreat?
Oh, how I long for the summer heat!
Bitter is the cold.

Driving down the Winter road,
with eyes fixed forward.
I behold...
Warmth and wonder in the skies!
A bright orange glow
shines down upon the snow.
Its brightness fills the sky.
So very full.
And this bitterly cold day,
is suddenly
transformed.
By the warmth and wonder
of brilliant orange light!
Oh, what a glorious, glorious sight!
Is the Winter sky.
So softly bright.

(edited)

The lesser gifts.
I hold.
Loosely in my hand.
For they could fly away.
At any moment.

The Greatest Gift of all.
I cling to.
Never letting go.
For He is the One.
Who keeps my soul.
And to Him alone.
My life.
I owe.

Quiet summer night.
Sitting beneath the moon so bright.
Grey-blue clouds slowly dance.
Over the lesser light.
Trees in silhouette black.
No wind in sight.

Quiet beauty.
Quiet heart.
Quiet summer night.

Quiet Presence.
Of God.

Quiet Love.

Quiet.
Awe.

Sweet voices of children
echo through the sanctuary.
Tiny hands shake silver bells,
as the room is full of parents' smiles.
Children singing songs of Christmas cheer.
"Away in a manger."
Is heard loud and clear.
Children's voices,
like the voices of angels.
Float up to God above.
As He smiles down upon them.
For each child He dearly loves.
Sweet voices.
Angel voices.
Of little children.
Echo through the sanctuary.
At Christmastime.
What a gift it is.
To all who hear them.
Angel Voices.

Lord, You have set me free.

Not to live for myself.

But to be a slave for You.

And in this...

there is

true

freedom.

A blanket of cold white.
Covers the landscape.
As nature begins.
Her Winter sleep.
Beautiful white.
Snow.
White.
Clothing everything in sight.
Yet the sun still shines warm.
With light upon white.
Snow lit up.
Brilliant bright.
God above chose to create snow.
The colour white.
For He is good.
And washes my sin away.
Snowy white.
God above who is wrapped in Light.
Created light.
That we might not stumble in darkness.
For He created all things right.

A blanket of cold white.
Covers the landscape.
Beautiful white.
Snow.
White.
Light upon white.
Proclaiming the goodness of God.
Who does all things right.
Who does all things with Love.
Like Light.
Upon.
White.

The wolf prowls.
After the frightened, vulnerable sheep.
She is alone.
And can be so weak.
He knows where her weaknesses lie.
So he stalks her.
Tempts her.
Lures her.
Towards a path of darkness and danger.
Craftily...
he tricks her.
He lures her.
Further and further away from the Good Shepherd.
He promises her rewards.
"Come with me. Go this way.  Meet this handsome stranger.
You won't be lonely anymore.  You will find love."
He traps her.
He takes advantage of her.
He knows she is easy prey.
But this he fails to see:
The Good Shepherd has never stopped loving her.
He will never fail to keep His eyes ever upon her.
He waits.
Silently He waits.
For her to choose...
the way that is right.
He knows how to rescue her from her own foolish ways.
He knows she is easy prey.

A New Year is dawning.
A blank page is unwritten on.
A new song is yet to be sung.
It is time to move forward.
It is time to make straight paths for my feet,
with my eyes fixed on the Light.
It is time to run the race set before me,
and forget what lies behind.
It is time to shake off the chains that bind.

A New Year is dawning.
A blank page is unwritten on.
A new song is yet to be sung.
It is time to receive forgiveness for the past.
It is time to forgive,
and let go of the loss.
It is time to trust.
It is time to rest.
Time for joy.
Time to move into my purpose.
Time to be strong and courageous.

A New Year is dawning.
A blank page is unwritten on.
A new song is yet to be sung.
A new season of my life with God.
Has begun.

(edited)

The dove perches.
She rests.
In the care of her Creator.
She has no cares.
She has no fears.
She just rests.
In peaceful trust.
In trusting rest.

Lord, help me to be like the dove.
O Holy Spirit Dove,
Put my mind at peace.
Put my heart at rest.
Just like.
The dove.

Carry me, Holy Spirit Wind.
I know not which way to take now.
Where to begin.
Again.

Carry me, Holy Spirit Wind.
Leaving what I've lost behind,
I am ready to be carried into Your will.
Lost souls to mend.
Even as You mend.
Mine.

Carry me, Holy Spirit Wind.
I am Yours forever now.
There is no other way to Life, to peace,
than to let You carry me.
Into the new.
Unknown.
Into the Higher plain.
My Heavenly calling.
Until You come.
To reign.
Please reign in me, O Holy One!

Carry me, Holy Spirit Wind.
******* where You wish.
Kiss me.
With Your Holiness.

Carry me, oh carry me.
Holy Spirit Wind.

Lord Jesus,
let me gaze.
Into Your loving face.
Let me stare.
Into the depths
of Your forgiving eyes.
Full of a greater Love
than I can surmise.
Let me look upon You.
Until...
all I see is You.
With nothing left of me.
Then overtake me
with Your glory and grace.
As I gaze.
Into Your loving face.
And from earthly pain.
Find
release.

Sunrise.
Pink, yellow, orange, and blue.
Lights up the sky.
With brilliant hue.
Glorious! Glorious!
Through her car window.
Then a deer...
So majestic.
With graceful legs and strong antlers.
Leaps across the plain.
By the side of the road.
So majestic.
So beautiful.
So triumphant.
Glorious!  Glorious!

She is reminded of Truth.
Which pours forth from her lips.
"I shall leap like a hart,
upon my high places.
I shall gallop like a deer,
upon every difficult hill.
Upon every difficult trial.
Yes!
I shall leap like the beautiful deer.
He showed me along my way.
With His Spirit within me.
I can claim victory."

Silently cry the birds...

Take your eyes from your screens.
And notice me.
Watch the sky.
See beauty.
Look away from busyness.
Look away from technology.
Which holds you in chains every day.
From noticing beauty.
From seeing God's glory.
In creatures.
In creation.
Take your eyes from your screens.
From your obsession.
And notice me.
Notice beauty.
Look!  There are hundreds of us
flying overhead in the blue summer sky.
Don't you see us?
Will you just stop.
For a moment.
And look up.
To beauty.

Silently cry the birds...
Will we heed their cry,
or pass them by?
Will we wait until it's too late?

Silently cry the birds.

I shake off the chains of the past.
At last.
I look forward.
To what lies ahead.
New life.
New time.
New journey of discovery.
Of ministry.

New discovery.
New Year.
Of finding out more
of who He is.
And why He laid hold of me.

I lay my head against His chest.
Safe in His embrace.
And then take His hand.
As together we walk.
Into the future.
Into.
A New Year.

God is like the wind,
blowing upon me.
And I am a tree.
With branches.
Moving and waving.
Moving and waving.
Seemingly delicate,
but standing strong in the storm.
Pointing to His existence.

My father.
The steadfast one.
Through life's storms.
He has endured much.
He has worked hard...
prayed hard...
shown strength and resilience
through whatever comes.

Steadfast in love.
Steadfast in commitment.
Steadfast in faith.
An example to me of integrity,
honesty, hard work,
and stability.
Steadfast and enduring.
Like an oak tree.

Dad, do you know I've always looked up to you?
My father.
The steadfast one.

Mary....
how did it feel,
when the Spirit of God overshadowed you?
And God within you began to grow?

Joseph...
how was it to know
you must raise the Son of God,
not your own flesh and blood?
Were you afraid to fail,
as so great a task before you stood?

Shepherds...
how did you feel when you saw
Heaven opened in glorious, blinding Light,
with myriads of angels
singing in the night?
Did it fill you with fright?

Wise men...
how was it to travel
through dust storm, heat, and cold,
mile after mile,
following the Star
wherever God would lead?

Donkey...
how did it feel to carry the mother of God
upon your back so broad?
How did it feel to watch Him laid in a manger bed?
So humble.
So small.
So mild.

How did it feel for all of you who witnessed
His humble, yet glorious birth?
Were you filled with awe and wonder?
At the meek beauty of the King of Kings,
born in a stable?
Did you bow before Him in reverence,
and worship Him?
For He who was laid in a manger bed of wood,
will later die for you upon a Cross, so crude.

This Child you look upon
is the Saviour of everyone.
So yes....
Gaze.
Look upon Him.
With awe and wonder.
The Son of God in a manger.
The Son of God.
Your Saviour.

He whispered into my soul today,
on this warm Spring day
in January.
To live in the moment.
To enjoy Him in the now.
And not ask questions of the future,
which I do not yet need to know.
My life ahead is in His hands,
and therefore all will be good.
I do not need to see what lies
beyond the bend of this road.

Listen to the birds, He says to me.
Remember that they do not store
for the future or worry.
Feel My Presence in the warm
Winter breeze.
And in the chickadees hopping
within the trees.
Feel the warmth of My love
in the sun upon your face.
Take a deep breath.
Rest.
Let go.
Release.
Live in the moment.
Enjoy Me in the moment,
He gently whispers to my heart.
Walk in step with Me in the present.
Upon the road called Now.
And let My peace and joy
overflow.
Within you.

He whispered.
Into my soul.

I am sorry I haven't been a more perfect Mom.
A more giving and unselfish one.
But please know that I love you.
Despite my shortcomings.
I may not be all you expect me to be.
And sometimes I don't have a great memory.
But please know that I love you.
And that God is working on me.
I pray someday you'll understand,
that I too, am only human.
I've done the best I could,
with who I am and what my life has been.
Please know that I love you,
and pray God's blessings upon you.
I will never stop being your mother,
even if I don't always get it right.
Please be gracious to me,
my precious, miracle children.
And forgive my weaknesses.
I pray that when you rise up one day,
you will call me blessed. (Prov. 31:28).

(C) Elizabeth T., 2016

Blizzard.
Cold.
The snow blows down.
Softly...but fiercely...
to the ground.
White.
White.
Winter white.
The snow-coloured rabbits
are white-washed from sight.
And Christmas is in my heart tonight.
As I learn the way to life and joy.
Thought gratitude and humility.
As I linger by the manger,
and look upon my Saviour.
Who gave up all.
To save us from the Fall.

Blizzard.
Cold.
The snow blows down.
But in my heart a fire glows.
As I begin to know...
To truly know...
The Light of the world.
Shining down.
Shining bright.
Upon the Winter snow tonight.
Chasing my fears.
Away from sight.
Shining bright.
My heart's delight.
Upon Winter white.

The beauty of nature.
God's perfect creation.
Calls to every weary traveller.
Upon life's broken road.
Every man.
Every woman.
Every child.
Come.
Come.
And rest.
Unburden your heavy load.
Come.
Come.
And rest.

Nature's call.
Is the Call.
Of God.

Lord, light the fire in my heart for You alone.
Let every other desire in me.
Glow under Your control.
Like a tiny flame.
Until the appointed time.
When it is allowed
to burn free.
Again.

From the worries of this world and ungodly fear.
O Lord, deliver me.

From the pursuit of riches and the lust for more.
O Lord, deliver me.

From the fear of man and the desire for recognition.
O Lord, deliver me.

From my own way, my own will, my own comfort.
O Lord, deliver me.

Teach me, O God,
the fear of Thee.
That I might bear fruit.
For eternity.

Swish.
Scrape.
Scratch.
We silently create.
Together...
Yet apart.
We are artists.
We speak the language of the heart.
Brush, paint, canvas.
Paper coated in black clay, wire tools, scratched surface.
We create.
Together...
Yet apart.
We are artists.
Paper, pen, fingers tapping on a laptop.
We are artists.
Who write...
The language of the heart.
And, like children, we play.
We flow with words in the land of imagination.
We flow with lines and colours,
and the palette of our emotions.
We speak the language of the heart.
Together...
Yet apart.
We are artists.

Easily crushed.
Easily broken.
Shattered to pieces.
By the pain of rejection.
Bearing scar upon scar.
Yet still...
it goes on loving.
Still...
it reaches out.
To embrace the broken.
Even at the risk.
Of its own breaking.
Tenderly.
Tenderly it loves.
Easily wounded.
But vast.
In its capacity.
To love.
To break.
To love.
And break.
Again and again.

Lover of my soul,
You fill every longing of my heart.
Eternal Husband,
You are faithful and true.
Shepherd of my heart,
You are safe and You are strong.
Oh, how I love You!
You are my Fountain of Living Waters.
I thirst no more.
Your voice whispers to me,
words of life and healing.
You change me from a cowering fool,
into a hart with hinds' feet.
Able to leap upon my high places.
Of difficulty and trial.
You draw me with cords of love.
You romance my soul.
You bind me to Your heart
with bands unbreakable.
My Shepherd and King,
I desire You more than anything!
I want nothing.
I want no one.
To ever come between us again.
I honour You.
I love You.
I worship You.
You are my Greatest Treasure.
And there is no other.
Worthless idols,
be gone from me!
O Shepherd of my soul,
You have set me free.
I set You before me.
Continually.
And in You I've found.
My identity.
For You speak over me,
that I am no longer called
"Much-Afraid."
My new name now.
Is...
"Grace and Glory."