Hope Victorious

I believe that this is what true love is: a determined choice to grow with someone, to decide in advance that you will forgive and persevere. Love is willing to grow, change and become TOGETHER, to give yourself fully and receive someone as a precious gift.   Love decides in advance to remain close amid adversity, to hold on and believe that victory is coming.  I wrote this for my husband, it is personal...and yet it is general too. These are the words I hear love speaking whether to a spouse, child, parent or friend.  THIS is the love I pray each person experiences.  I have already decided I’ve made up my mind I love you I want you I will be by your side We will change and grow But this truth will never change: I trust you I celebrate you I am proud to stand by your side You have made mistakes; so have I We have been angry, made bad choices and worked through the messes we’ve caused We have forgiven We have comforted and loved We have been restored I will

Here are four more short little poems, Vignettes, to help draw your heart and spirit out, separate from your thinking mind...May you be encouraged, and liberated into a little more of the goodness and wonder of living in the fullness of hope. Stillness Stillness is when you hear the sound of who you are Underneath all the sounds of you living your life Brave is the choice to remain there for a moment Appreciate all that you have, all that you are All that is to come I Will Be Free Forgiveness is freedom      I will no longer pay      Nor will I stay           In this dark prison of pain I release myself from being tethered to you      Your punishment is not mine to give           I don’t want to suffer the weight of your death anyway I cannot wait      Yours is not my battle any longer I will be free of you      And no longer pay for all that you have taken away This is my time      I give myself what hating you could never give me Freedom      I untangle myself from you      I walk aw

Sometimes faith is bold and unstoppable, defiant even. Like young David marching up to the giant Goliath holding his stones and sling. His faith determined a victory that seemed impossible. Other times faith is subtle, quietly advancing and apprehending the reward. I think we are conditioned to prefer bold acts of faith and tend to diminish the times when our faith results in actions that could easily go unnoticed.  Jesus commended the faith of the woman who secretly pushed through the crowds of people that surrounded Him. She believed that if she just touched the edge of Jesus’ clothes, she would secure the physical healing she desperately needed. Her’s was a faith both quiet and bold. It was bold for her to be in the midst of the crowd, for she was breaking the religious laws of cleanliness. But she was also acting secretly, keeping her faith and its actions to herself. It was Jesus who called her out and without the resulting conversation, her story would likely have gone unknown an

  We often hear verse 31 of Isaiah chapter 40 quoted. It is a refreshing promise indeed. “Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;  They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” We can cling to this promise like a guarantee, something that we wait to experience. I’ve been reflecting on the preceding verses to gain further insight into this new strength that is promised. Verse 30 brings clarity as to who this promise is for; youth who grow weary and tired and the vigorous young men who come to stumble badly. Even though this weakness is experienced, the promise is for those of them who choose to wait for the Lord. They do not find a reserve within themselves. No! They wait for the Lord and gain a NEW strength!  This strength allows them to soar above to run and not get tired, to walk and not become weary. Even though prior to waiting they were weary, tired, and stumbling badly. This is a big contrast!  Looki

  Fear Beneath the fear I listen and hear the questions of my heart         My vulnerability lies exposed Hiding within the questions, I discover what I value most This is the true treasure        To know the things that matter most to me         A nugget of solid gold I can choose to speak it out        And work back up through the vulnerability and questions,         past the fears and find a solution to the stress OR I can choose fear again I can cover my discovery with insecurity and fear        defend it with stress and anger I choose to risk for freedom I will speak         Longing -                   Longing is when you say goodbye            even as you want to hold tighter and never let go                Longing is watching a part of your heart go beyond you                          and feel the sorrow mix with anticipation and gratitude                Freedom is when you celebrate                     Though your heart is longing   ALIVE   Alive is greater than breathing,