The valley is over...oh, what fruit!
The desert was bearable--with His strength.
And now, once more,
How high again the mountain?
It does not matter, though.
There be an Escort to that place,
all landscape He to know.
And I know what awaits there:
fruits from labor's climb!
Rest and restoration,
reward and even rhyme.
Just how high is your mountain?
Who escorts you there?
Is it Jesus? Of each step
He fully is aware!
Ask Him to accompany,
to lead you and to guide,
then, unto the mountain, say
"I will not be denied!"
Don't let mere landscape prevent you from moving forward. See and know the Presence of God with You and move on!
6789
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Retreat
Day is done. So oft have I thought about the end of it. Not that it has been a 'bad' day, but I have longed so to be in His Presence!
Ahhh, at last...
Out beneath the stars,
nothing to distract;
prayers more since?
Verses more exact?
Here to realize the level
of dependency
on the only One to know
the verses that will be!
Here to know embrace...
here to savor grace...
here to see His face
far beyond mere 'trace.'
Out beneath the stars,
distraction not at all!
Pure obedience
unto the greatest Call!
Can it be 'obedience'
with so great a reward?
Oh, what precious canopy
with Jesus Christ, my Lord!
GO THERE! Find that necessary escape containing only Jesus and You! Spend time there! It is absolutely necessary!
6786
Ahhh, at last...
Out beneath the stars,
nothing to distract;
prayers more since?
Verses more exact?
Here to realize the level
of dependency
on the only One to know
the verses that will be!
Here to know embrace...
here to savor grace...
here to see His face
far beyond mere 'trace.'
Out beneath the stars,
distraction not at all!
Pure obedience
unto the greatest Call!
Can it be 'obedience'
with so great a reward?
Oh, what precious canopy
with Jesus Christ, my Lord!
GO THERE! Find that necessary escape containing only Jesus and You! Spend time there! It is absolutely necessary!
6786
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Consideration?
Consider my affliction, Lord,
be merciful, I pray;
I am trusting in You only,
oh, the crimson Way!
Consider my affliction, Lord,
but later, I hear birds.
Their song, their conversation,
far more lovely than my words!
Consider my affliction, Lord,
Wait! Look across the fields!
I so love Your creation, Lord,
and everything it yields!
Consider my affliction, Lord...
but You already do,
or You would not provide escape
in all the ways You do!
"Lord, I know that You are aware of all that I am going through. You love me too much to make the rough road permanent, and You are too merciful to allow me to focus only on the problem.
Amen."
be merciful, I pray;
I am trusting in You only,
oh, the crimson Way!
Consider my affliction, Lord,
but later, I hear birds.
Their song, their conversation,
far more lovely than my words!
Consider my affliction, Lord,
Wait! Look across the fields!
I so love Your creation, Lord,
and everything it yields!
Consider my affliction, Lord...
but You already do,
or You would not provide escape
in all the ways You do!
"Lord, I know that You are aware of all that I am going through. You love me too much to make the rough road permanent, and You are too merciful to allow me to focus only on the problem.
Amen."
Monday, July 6, 2009
Lists
I thank God that my list of praise reports is longer than my list of prayer requests.
How often is that true with everyday conversation? How often do we speak of how bad things are going in town...in the country...in other people, instead of pointing out the good in them?
Am I alone in this?
(Did I just do that very thing? Did I defeat the purpose of my own message?)
Look at the Lord's Prayer. The Lord starts out by exalting the Holiness of Our Father, the the wonder of His Kingdom, THEN requests are made. After requests, right back into glorifying God! Two-thirds of His prayer is praise! I want to be like that!
How about you?
In HIS Service with a heart filled with praise,
Jim
How often is that true with everyday conversation? How often do we speak of how bad things are going in town...in the country...in other people, instead of pointing out the good in them?
Am I alone in this?
(Did I just do that very thing? Did I defeat the purpose of my own message?)
Look at the Lord's Prayer. The Lord starts out by exalting the Holiness of Our Father, the the wonder of His Kingdom, THEN requests are made. After requests, right back into glorifying God! Two-thirds of His prayer is praise! I want to be like that!
How about you?
In HIS Service with a heart filled with praise,
Jim
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Statue
One late afternoon, as I studied a photo of the Statue of Liberty, I was so moved emotionally that I allowed my pen to speak for me...
Monolith of masonry,
sentinel on crimson canvas solely;
some would see a god of concrete
whence a nation cries out "holy, holy!"
But a symbol of a nation
under God, for which said 'idol' stands?
But say, is it an 'idol,' that erected
by the long dead's weary hands'?
More violent, the shades of dusk--
like that which yonder tower represents;
spilt so very long ago,
yet so alive, the journal of events!
Written on the hearts of men,
punctuated by the pillars yon'
to silence even quill and tongue
that cling to all they can before they're gone.
"Monolith of masonry
in a skyline storied and revered,
stand in serenity and strength
in sight of One alone to be so feared!"
Can you see it with the writer? Look with the eyes of the spirit upon New York harbor and thank God Most High for the Independence that we yet are blessed with!
4512
Monolith of masonry,
sentinel on crimson canvas solely;
some would see a god of concrete
whence a nation cries out "holy, holy!"
But a symbol of a nation
under God, for which said 'idol' stands?
But say, is it an 'idol,' that erected
by the long dead's weary hands'?
More violent, the shades of dusk--
like that which yonder tower represents;
spilt so very long ago,
yet so alive, the journal of events!
Written on the hearts of men,
punctuated by the pillars yon'
to silence even quill and tongue
that cling to all they can before they're gone.
"Monolith of masonry
in a skyline storied and revered,
stand in serenity and strength
in sight of One alone to be so feared!"
Can you see it with the writer? Look with the eyes of the spirit upon New York harbor and thank God Most High for the Independence that we yet are blessed with!
4512
Monday, June 29, 2009
Growing up
When does it get easier?
Why is my whole life affected by one single tear?
She is so successful where she is. I am unsuccessful leaving her there.
I am having trouble seeing her into young adulthood and not the youth group.
Will I ever see her as the successful career woman she has become and not my little girl?
Did my parents have these feelings? How did they mask them so well? Which one of us needs to grow up?
Why is my whole life affected by one single tear?
She is so successful where she is. I am unsuccessful leaving her there.
I am having trouble seeing her into young adulthood and not the youth group.
Will I ever see her as the successful career woman she has become and not my little girl?
Did my parents have these feelings? How did they mask them so well? Which one of us needs to grow up?
Look With More!
Oh, there is a place that is so beautiful that we cannot see it with our eyes. Often, I wonder if it is because it is just hidden from sight, or is it too beautiful for earthly sight to behold?
Where vision is unknown
glory sets the tone;
sight is yet availed
in ways that are unfailed!
Life is present there
so absolutely rare!
To them that often go,
a sight familiar, though.
Are you of that number?
Let SIGHT not encumber!
See with more than eyes—
what glory realize!
6781
Where vision is unknown
glory sets the tone;
sight is yet availed
in ways that are unfailed!
Life is present there
so absolutely rare!
To them that often go,
a sight familiar, though.
Are you of that number?
Let SIGHT not encumber!
See with more than eyes—
what glory realize!
6781
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