Hope Victorious

  Home   Secure and Confident In who I am           No pretense           No need to strive, worry or be on guard Accepted   -   Approved of Loved Celebrated   Imagine being so sure of how you will be received That you are free           Completely Unashamed           Unafraid and Unintimidated           Encouraged           Guaranteed Praise This is freedom “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere”*   I knock and you answer I cry out and You hear me Open arms greet me   I am here At Home With You, my God       *Psalm 84:10             I Run to You   I am running to your protection You define my safety I trust You I take risks and I am stretched Within Your protection, I can grow   I run to your power...

  Were I a Tree   Were I a tree I would be A Willow tree      Soft and swaying      Thin and hanging      Atop my sturdy core Come a walk beneath my branches Feel the breeze through all my leaves   Were I a tree I would be A mighty Oak      Heavy Imposing      Aged and Wise      Leathery lobes on gnarled branches      Twisting - spreading Climb along sturdy limbs Lay beneath dense canopy Protected   Were I a tree I would be A towering Redwood      Higher than eyes can see      Roots reaching far and twisting      Needles and cones      Small but resilient      Bark protects, resists -  survives None more determined than me Stand in wonder Feel drops rain down   Autumn Tree Turning Leaves Painted Trees Golde...

  Recently I’ve been reflecting on light and the power of light to dispel darkness. I’ve been thinking of the power of natural light in the midst of darkness, but also of spiritual light. I’ve felt the radical impact of hope and truth being released into places where fear and hopelessness have created an oppressive darkness. The light of truth shines brightly and the atmosphere shifts. Spiritual light is as powerful, if not more so, than natural light. I think we often think of light in contrast to darkness. A light, however small, is powerful to eliminate darkness. But even in the light of day, you can turn on a light and see the impact of it. God has been speaking to me about the “quality” of light versus the “quantity” of light. Perhaps I have previously defined light by comparison to darkness. But light, as used in the scripture, is powerful. The truth and glory of God is not powerful because it is greater than the darkness of evil. God is not good in comparison to evil. He...

  Listening to God’s voice is like holding a candle in the dark night and walking slowly. Step-by-step, there is only enough light to see where you stand and the next step as you take it. Faith is believing that your foot will not slip, that your step is secure. When I walk in the dark, I want a big light to shine brightly, bringing clarity to the whole journey. I want to see the destination, not just my current step. But listening for God’s voice isn’t like that. He speaks a word for me to hear and asks me to respond. Faith is stepping out and trusting that I will hear Him again, and again. Step-by-step His words are like the light of the candle illuminating the way forward as I hear and move according to His voice. I must believe that He speaks, that I hear Him, and step with resolve. His voice leads me and lights my way. I must listen with faith to hear Him. Hearing, I must then trust His voice and my hearing so that I move. Each step is a risk; that is the nature of faith. I wi...

  Doubt calls me   -   Invites me to consider My unanswered questions   -   And misunderstanding Doubt holds up the prayers that remain unanswered The disappointments and places of loss Doubt is a fire Hungry and devouring There is plenty of fuel I have been disappointed, lost and confused Many of my prayers and questions remain unanswered There is much I don’t understand I have sorrow and anger and millions of questions Doubt speaks its own questions What if things don’t get better? What if it gets worse? Doubt demands an answer Why don’t you understand? What is wrong with you? The questions and demands point at me At my weakness and lack I am torn down and trampled over by the questions of doubt Doubt is the enemy of faith   -    But faith is a fire too The fuel of faith is my testimonies    -     The evidence I have of my God I pile up the truth I have experienced   ...

I've been reading and studying the Psalms recently. I've been so impacted by range of emotion expressed within these writings. My faith is both encouraged and challenged. My view of relationship with God is inspired by reading the expressions of others. Psalm 139 is such a familiar Psalm, although often it is read only in parts. As a whole it is a spectacular view of relating with God, trusting Him and being confident of one's connection with Him.  I am sharing a visual reflection I created on this powerful Psalm.  As you read the words and consider the images I chose, I pray that you too are encouraged, challenged and inspired.