Hope Victorious

  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.

  I praise you – faithful God of loving-kindness Your voice is my life source I run to you I wait for you You are with me – and yet you run to me I am sustained by you Rescued by you – and called forward by you Your words remind me of who I am – and who you are Love and Promise connects me to you Trust and Faith anchors me firmly in you I find my peace in you A harbor in midst of the surrounding storm I find strength in you My anchor in fierce wind I find hope in you The first glimpse of sunlight morning after morning You are faithful over all of time Yet the wonder of your faithfulness today Colors my skies with beauty, warmth and promise   I wait for you I run to you Your voice is my life source I praise you – faithful God of loving-kindness  

  God didn’t only make the promises in the Bible He is promising still Those promises recorded in the book   -   They are for today Alive and active As true today and for the future As the day they were penned on parchment Still -   He is promising His faithfulness extends through all of time At the same time There is no beginning or end to His faithfulness In promise keeping In promise making Like a rainbow that covers all of time He speak the Life and Hope of PROMISE Over all of time Promise Maker Promise Keeper God of Promise Whisper to me the promises for today Paint my skies with the colors of your love and delight Set me free into hope And I will soar the heights of PROMISES to come   I think that most often, when we speak of God being a “Keeper of His promises” we are thinking of past promises. Testimonies come to mind of how God has rescued us, healed us, comforted us and led us – Just as He promised in His w...

  Surprises   I like a good surprise Flowers, money in the mail, time with a good friend      The thrill of being caught      Unaware   -   Unsuspecting I feel excited, loved, remembered           My heart races – a happy sound and feeling   A bad surprise is unwelcome Bad news, sickness, surgery, loss      The horror of being caught      Unaware   -   Unsuspecting I feel afraid, angry, overwhelmed           My heart pounds foreboding, warning and doom   I am tempted to hide – to run I want to turn back and find myself in yesterday           Before the bad news came   I want to be surprised by beauty and kindness   –   by love and generosity Pain and jealousy   –   injury and betrayal, these are surprises that hurt and sting   I am trying to remember Even a bad surp...

  There is purpose in pain Scars can be beautiful too Fire has not stopped you but rather advanced you and revealed strength, purpose and the true nature of who you are. Your stately trunk stands proudly, your core hollowed, charred, marked with scars of fire. You survived the flames, bear the scars and yet you thrive! Your branches drawing through your perseverance all the nourishment they need from the earth. We are stronger together Belonging is key My arms extended would fit easily within your core – And yet you do not boast of yourself. You speak of unity of strength found in joining together. You remind me to draw strength from those planted near me. To intertwine my roots, stand close and face the storms together – to be nourished by the trust of community   Never give up Stretch and reach for new heights I see your new shoots, tiny trunks growing from the fallen giant trunk. A new start at life – determined to live, reaching for your own piece of sunlight in the clutt...

Return to me O return to hope once more You’re not so far away - But any distance at all hurts you Return again to hope Be set ablaze with the knowledge of my love for you A deep feeling of my pleasure with you - Resting In ME That tender place where hope is born My power whispers “possibility” to your questions and fears You choose rest in me - And your mind becomes quiet   We listen for your “yes” Together we wait for your choice, - Say yes to me again. For it is that trust, your yes to me   - That breaths life on what is possible And Hope ignites within you Together we dance this dance Your hurts and fears pull on you - I see it, I know Still I am waiting for you Your yes is louder than your thoughts - But still you have to choose to say it I’ve got enough for you Your mind knows - Your heart remembers Still it is not easy - I see that, I know Your yes is not cheap to me - It is everything! And so I wait for you Together we wait...