This is going to be frustrating
but I share this to help you cope.
Throughout life, it may need restating,
but I don’t want you to lose your hope.
People are going to misunderstand you,
And no matter how hard you try to explain,
With some, you won’t get through.
You’ll leave dejected at the end of the day,
But don’t let this fact defeat you.
Don’t let it keep you from trying again.
You can cry to a friend,
but don’t quit when you don’t win
the affections of
the approval of…
Don’t let the argument become
that restless downward spin.
Remember why you took that job,
Why you love your mom,
That one friend you almost gave up on.
People will surprise you
And sometimes it will be pleasant.
The darkness will subside
And all be luminescent.
In the meantime, rewind
And don’t hit replay in your mind
Forgive yourself, forgive the crimes,
The slights and words unkind.
Let them wash in the flood
The flowing crimson love
Of One who alone did everything right
And lay your disappointments to rest at night.
How I Look At You
You love when I’m hurting
How I look at You
When my soul is yearning
How I look at You
And I am delighted by Your Presence
Fulfilled in Your Presence
Even when the pain is still present
I will look at You
And when I do
Your smile down on me
Your heart bursts to hear me sing
The fullness of my every feeling
And You delight in and You love me
And I delight in and I love You
My King
I am amazed by You
My gaze is for You
And You dance around me
A whirlwind around me
Together in the Throne Room
My Bride Groom, My King
Hope
Sure of what you hope for
Certain of what you do not see.
I’ve tried to muster up faith for
years without hoping.
Without risking
disappointment.
Reaching, whisp’ring
Healing ointment.
And hope for what?
What could hold the weight?
Longings glut
and eternally satiate?
In Christ alone
my pain abates.
My desire, my shalom,
Joy anticipates.
2014
A poem on the year 2014.
Homeless; not hopeless.
It’s under control
Unemployed; not destroyed.
You cannot take my soul
A penny for my thoughts
A penny never sought.
Endless words. “You ought”
Think back on all I learned
The lessons that I spurned
No. Not ready to be taught
Let me think of something else
Something other than myself
Or him. Definitely not him.
The good memories are the worst
They carry away my hope in a hearse
So sweet. He swept me off my feet
And my brain took a vacation.
But I remained to romanticize the pain.
Thank God it is over
and I left to gather clover
With children who keep getting older.
Babies of my sisters and brother.
And without knowing anything else,
they taught me the joy of innocence
in the little moments they would forget
But I would hold forever.
Not Only
I watched a movie tonight, hoping to boost my spirits. My roommate’s dog joined me, lying oddly on her back staring up at my face, paws toward the sky. It turned out to be a very sad movie. Death, disease, broken promises.
Unfortunately, it seems like that’s the way life goes. I see news article one after another concerning awful things happening around the world. How can we keep our heads up?
I looked down at this oddly lying dog as she tries to lick my face. Barely dodging her tongue, I asked her, as if she could respond, “Why is life so sad?” And she just looked up at me with her big brown eyes, as clueless as ever. I felt an answer in my spirit.
But it’s not only sad.
I know this may sound elementary, but it’s so hard to grasp. Sometimes in the darkness, we forget that light exists. It seems like it will be dark forever. For those who cannot see the light at the proverbial end of the tunnel, I have no answers, but knowing that the darkness will end is some comfort to me. It takes faith when we cannot see it, but it will end.
Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Hold Up My Hands 