Incomparable

You quiet my noisy mind with whispers of hope and peace. You promise a future – eternity with You. Your words are not empty. They are sure and proven, over and again. All power is in Your Word. Time and space are Yours. There is neither power nor thing not under Your command. The seas thunder and roll passionately, yet honor Your periphery. The sun remains in its place, burning fiercely and constantly… a reminder of Your faithful love. Nothing compares to Your love, my Lord. Nothing compares to Thee.

Haiku: Promise

Creativity
You breathe on my life, Father
Your inspiration

Your divine favor
Your heart yields adoration
my life’s in Your hands

You hear my prayers
I feel Your Holy Spirit
brooding over me

Safe in Your solace
I am sheltered from life’s storms
Precious Beloved

You quiet my mind
with whispers of hope and peace
forever with You

Haiku: Silent Rain

I know you’re here now
though silent, my heart hears yours
together, they speak

so intimately
quiet whispers uttering
words for just we two

raindrops on windows
gentle rhythm on the ground
I hear you, my love

May I Have This Dance?

Today was especially challenging. I woke up lonely. Had it not been for the kids needing breakfast, perhaps I would have spent the day in bed. Not because I was tired, but because my heart was too heavy to get up. How does this happen? I have it all, so it would seem from the outside looking in. I’ve been tremendously blessed… indeed, but I’ve made tremendous misjudgements. As a result, the proverbial bar is raised to a very high standard. As such, sometimes life is a little lonely. It’s okay. Exclusive selection is a process and such a process often takes time.

Time. Precious time.

I peeled myself off the sheets and set about my course for the day, eventually arriving at a yard sale down the street on my way to the Farmer’s Market. There were odds and ends all across the property, large and small for treasure hunters abounding the neighborhood. As I approached the gate to enter the property, my eyes fell upon some framed art displayed along the iron fence. I stopped in stunned amazement. There propped amongst the framed pieces was a print of The Singing Butler by Jack Vettriano — my very favorite piece of modern art in all the world. The original painting is a back view of an elegant lady in a stunningly beautiful long, red dress and contrasting bare feet as she is waltzed on a sandy beach by an equally elegant gentleman dressed in tux and tails. They are being serenaded under cover of an open umbrella by a singing butler. Hence, the title of the piece, I would imagine.

Sight of it literally stopped me in my tracks. I stood there, gaping. This print served as a vivid reminder that I am in Daddy God’s arms. This is His dance. The serenade is that of His choosing. Its timing. Its tempo. Its duration. He has given His angels charge over me. He will not allow my foot to slip. The ocean waves can only come as far as He allows. Being the gentleman that He is, He asked me if He could have this dance. I accepted. I follow His lead.

I am quite confident that the artist did not have my metaphoric ideal in mind when his brush graced the canvas, ultimately gifting us with his beautiful masterpiece. However, art  being subjective and all, I adore the piece, holding precious the imagery it inspires in my heart every time I see it.

I bought the print.

One day, in Daddy God’s perfect timing, He is going to allow me to finally waltz with that beautiful man whom He has purposed for my life. Only He knows for sure when and if that will be. God is perfect, you know, and He will not be rushed. I trust that He knows what’s best for me. I know I am precious in His sight. He is so loving to remind me, in ways that only He can, that I am never alone.

I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.

Indelible Traces

Indelible traces of your presence fill the treasury of my heart. Musical. Artistic. Mystical. Poetic. Literary. Liturgical. Historical. Geographical. Biological. Chemical. Curious. Intrigue. Comedy. Tragedy. Ridiculous. Serious. Insane. Sincerity. Humane. Every auspicious wonder somehow expresses your indelible fingerprints all over my life. 

Expression. A thing I can’t quite grasp when it comes to describing the traces you’ve left on my life, my heart and my mind. A thousand expressions. Ten thousand different nuances. Each one new. One impression deep in my soul. Never once did I dream that you would touch me this way.

I’m not even sure of when you arrived. Far before I was aware you were here. You’ve known me forever. From the beginning, it seems.

Indelible traces reveal evidence of where you’ve been along my path and what you’ve seen. You know. You’ve seen with your very own eyes. Your eyes… so knowing.

Indelible traces lead me to places I never known, before you.

Choose Happiness

When a ladybug lands on you, make a wish, make a wish! Then, before blowing it off your skin, say:

“Ladybug, Ladybug….”

The whole concept and morbidity of the rhyme always made me sad for the poor, helpless ladybug. Why would she want to fly to her home if it were on fire? By the time she’d get there, what horror and devastation would she see? And, Dear God, what of her children? In the face of her horrible misfortune how could I dare to breathe a wish for myself?

I’d watch the poor creature crawling around on my skin, hoping that all was truly good and right in her ladybug world.

Ladybugs look happy.

Are polka dots not the epitome of all things happy and carefree?

Take in a deep breath of fresh air. In with the good… out with the bad.

I don’t want to just look happy — like a ladybug. I want to be happy.

I choose happiness.

Possibilities

The familiar klink of stainless steel being lifted off its hook —  the beginnings of a favorite kitchen symphony. Will it be dinner? Will it be tea? Will it be for colored eggs or sterility?

Tap water fills the pot, clear and deep. Silver pot placed carefully on the stove for the umpteen thousandth time. Pot sets quietly as the flame burns beneath its base.

What is it for? Possibilities are endless. Boiling water… it can be the beginning of just about anything.

Cook has done her part. Flames of fire take over in this familiar routine. Slowly and steadily its cadance begins, clicking and popping in response to the flame.

Tiny air bubbles form inside the pot — silent effervescence – growing in number.
Bubbles rise one by one to the water’s surface. Delicate vapor ascends and falls beneath the task light spot. The crescendo builds to a rapid boil. Rolling thunder!

Boiling water… endless possibilities.

Secrets

My home was hiding a secret
buried deep within its heart
from outside all seemed perfect
fires crackled in the hearth

I made my home a haven
in a special sort of way
smells coming from inside
invited guests to come and stay

All the woodwork oiled and polished
linens fresh, crisp and clean
all the silver always sparkled
and the crystal always gleamed

But in my home
those were the only flames
that sparked

Apart from candles ever burning
and fresh flowers everywhere
despite aromas wafting
despite laughter in the air

My home was a sanctuary
to everyone but me
My home was hiding a secret
I’d have died had it been seen

All the facts were clear
there for everyone to see
in all my favorite
music
movies
books and
magazines

It was screaming from the artwork
hanging on the walls
depicting my heartfelt longing
beckoning to hear my call

I was alone
so desperately lonely

I cried myself to sleep at night
tears cried silently during showers
I busied myself with tasks and chores
to fill my every hour
to escape the bitter loneliness
the cold and lonely years
and years
and years
Finally
I prayed honestly
despite my deepest fears

Do You hear me, God?
Do You see this?
Do You feel this gaping void?

He stretched forth His hands to me
then and there I knew
He heard
He saw
He felt

Everything

He asked me simple questions
Though I insisted I had failed
Even through my ignorance
His perfect love prevailed

How can something be destroyed
that never was
How can something die
that never lived
How can something leave
that had never arrived
How can you mourn for something
you never had

Give yourself to Me
Truly
Surrender yourself to Me
Trust Me
This battle is not yours
 
My home was hiding a secret
in the depths of its heart

That secret was
Jesus was not Lord of the Manor
He was not King on His rightful throne
He was not the Master of my home

All that is past tense

Jesus is my Lord of Lords
King of my domain
He reigns in the castle of my heart
I’ve taken my Beloved’s Name

Jesus is indeed
Head of my home

He holds the keys
to my heart
to love
security
happiness
fulfillment
peace
rest
tranquility
creativity and
prosperity

I am no longer lonely
He fulfills my every need

I am no longer alone
There are no secrets
in my life
nor in my home

 

Green Velvet Moss

crystal water gently flows
smoothly over aged river rocks
clear cool mountain springs
sweat streams from summer heat
down, down, down
steep craggy peaks
to azure pools of blue
 
spring passes now
to summer days
far too switfly for pause

feel green velvet moss
so rich
plush cushion
beneath our feet
warm sun kisses on
our cheeks
brows
and shoulders bare
bronzing skin
warming souls
resting easily

dusk draws near

listen closely
as evening sighs
sun sinking
slowly beneath
day’s finishline
ribbon broken
race complete
moonbeams tug
the ocean tide

tall grass pillow
beneath our head
gaze upon the starlight canopy
we watch
ancient nightlights
as they
are born
die
fall
align
reveal secrets
to sage observers
who connect the dots
and in our minds
crude sketches draw
unclear
they come to life in dreams
and live or die by dawn

His Song Shall Be With Me

Late in the night, I could not find comfort. I tossed and turned, rest was no where to be found. Speak to me, Father. I need your words tonight.

He said,  

Psalm 42:8

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.   “What is your song?” I asked. And, I slept pondering that question.

When I awoke and sought His face again, asking the same question, He breathed… 

Song of Solomon 3

 1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
 2I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
 3The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
 4It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
 5I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
 6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
 7Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
 8They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
 9King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
 10He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.  11Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Paved with love… Father, my Beloved, whose love is like Your love?

John 13:1

 1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

I love you, my precious Jesus. Your love is endless.  Your song shall be with me all the days of my life.