Are You Waiting on God?

I am. And there are days when I must exercise discipline in my spirit. My flesh is a big cry baby!


I am still confident of this:
That I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Be still, my flesh,
Take heart, my soul.
Having done all
Stand, and wait on the Lord.

He is faithful, always near.
While my heart yearns,
My eyes are on Him.
He is not slow.

I shut my eyes to the circumstance,
I hold tightly to the Word
Embedded in my thoughts,
Knowing the feeling like drowning
Does not mean I am.

I do not struggle,
Rather stretch out my arms.
Resting in the water
That keeps me afloat.

God is faithful, He is near.

Trusting God

Life is not always easy. Sometimes it's downright hard. I have been reflecting today on things that have happened to me, and my story is no different than any other. I have lost my job, buried a baby, found a friend who committed suicide, had to learn to accept "no" as an answer to prayer... but as I reflected on these things, I also remembered the goodness of God in each circumstance. Not once was I without hope or without comfort. God is good all the time. And I have this simple poem to share.

When the world turns to ashes
And my life seems but dust
In You, Oh Lord,
I place my trust.

God is Faithful

Consider Him who is faithful.

I turn dreams to heavy things,
Demanding, like a child.
I lose sight of vision
Staring at the present reality
As if it were the only one.

I seek the Lord for answers
Already given in the vision world
Of faith and certainty.
Oh faithless heart, distraction of my sight!
My soul grows faint in battle
With my soddened self.

I cry for mercy, relief from such a foe.
Mercy always comes. And such a sweet face.
The Lord smiles.
My soul finds rest in the gleam of His eye.
I stand again to move through one more day,
Just present reality,
And reach the vision set in trust for me.

Then there will be one more.

Patiently Wait

I guard my heart.
But it escapes to fires and fantasies.
It longs to spend the days
Dreaming.

Willful waif, this heart of mine,
Defies maturity at times,
Playful imp on brighter days
Desires to dance the time away.

I lead it gently back to me
Require it to sit quietly
Until the Lord calls out to me
To follow Him on calmer seas.

Faith

A door beyond vision
or
A place beyond touch.
What cannot be known, is.
Transparent substance
That sustains through trials
And leads, like a light,
Down the shadowed corridors
Of an unknown day.

Things beyond knowledge
Are known through the heart:
Planted by a word from God
That grows, perceptive in the Spirit,
Discerning what is
And has not been,
Yet.

copyright penstruck

The Presence of God

Star-struck I am.
By the total goodness of God.
In everything, there is nothing
That does not shine with His brilliance.

No soft beauty that caresses my heart
Fails the touch of God:
He whispers on each warm wind,
Blazes in every rose,
Sparkles in each sun shower.

The kind word
Or compassionate touch
That passes between friends
Is the greeting of God's love.

The wonder is I'm woven into others.
A silken garment,
Embroidered with gold
And embellished God's love.

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Kicked in the Head

Did you ever pray, "God help me"
with..whatever you believe is lacking in your life.
Then:
Someone says a word and you listen
And think.
And realize.

A bat hits your heart as your head feels the blow;
And you understand
That God has helped you stop being…….
A jerk, a baby, a self-pity potter,....
And you become a person who knows that the only thing
Lacking in your life is you.

God Understands

God understands the heart of man.
I don't pretend to understand
Why God loves me, or even cares
Enough to smile on us.
We creep between our days
Our hearts, even kind,
Cannot imagine love so deep
That flows above our faults
And fills us, sprouting wings of hope
Attached upon our backs.
Smiling so innocent into deep crevasses
Healing all our desires
So the wounds of want leave us clean.
I look and seek the face of God
Surmise my life, breathe slowly,
Then shake my head in wonder
And gratitude
Who is God that He loves me?

Flash of Life

Places peaceful pass

flash, fluid freedom
a being, born,
cocooned, and growing:
memories moments
birth beginnings
grow, in seasons.
Hot sun, bright days
memories amassed
and built into a future, passing
to another
momentum, smiles, sadness, decisions,
slow progression of digression
into endings that send
peaceful places of passing
into waiting
for the fluid flash of beginnings.

Easter-Christ is Risen, but where's the bunny

I have never understood how the Easter bunny became the symbol of Easter. On Easter, Christians acknowledge the fact the Jesus rose from the dead. This day, Easter Sunday, is a time of joy, celebrating the newness of life that followed the death and crucifixion of Jesus.

But the bunny? History.com has some information on ancient tales of rabbits and eggs symbolizing new life. So maybe that is the connection. It's easier for me with Santa Claus, who brings gifts. I associate this with the great gift God gave in Jesus' birth.

I dug a little deeper, and found that Easter is defined as a wind from the east. As I searched the Bible, I found that the star the lead the Magi to Jesus was in the east.

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. (Gen 2:8)

Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service (Isaiah 41:2)?

And I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. (Ezekiel 43.2)

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:27)

I found 112 references to "the east" in the New Revised Standard. But I couldn't find the bunny.

Considering God is Tough Times

Consider Him who is faithful.


I turn dreams to heavy things,
Demanding, like a child.
I lose sight of vision
Staring at the present reality
As if it were the only one.

I seek the Lord for answers
Already given in the vision world
Of faith and certainty.

Oh faithless heart, distraction of my sight!
My soul grows faint in battle
With my soddened self.
I cry for mercy, relief from such a foe.

Mercy always comes. And such a sweet face.
The Lord smiles.
My soul finds rest in the gleam of His eye.
I stand again to move through one more day,
Just present reality,
And reach the vision set in trust for me.

Then there will be one more.

copyright Penstruck

God gives us hope in dark times.

Even after being a christian for many years, there are revelation moments, where I realize why or when or how I came to sadness, and sometimes hopelessness. I pray, examining the events, the words, the impressions, and how these chiseled me, bent me, and formed who I am today. I pray for healing and direction. I mourn. In such a dark time, God gave me hope.

"Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new work.
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
And streams in the wasteland." (Isa 43:18-19)

Desert soul, barren rock of dust despair,
Take heart. Begin again.
Fountains of the Lord spring forth,
Watering the land; pure pour of life.
The sand surrenders, and through the furrows,
Deep and etched with grief and battered dreams,
The Lord restores the stream.

Unconditionally, I recede,
Receiving God's love and so I am a field:
As yet, just plowed and planted,
Anticipating the days of thunder,
Sweet rainfalls of the Lord.

Look back no more to Egypt,
Little child upon the path,
The sorrow lies behind you,
Draw a wall now at your back.

Renew your mind and empty all the buckets
Filled with fear.
Throw them now behind you,
Draw the wall and hear:
The future, like white paper,
Smooth and shining, fresh and clean,
Stands before you now, draw the dream.

Trust in Me, child,
Spread your wings,
Glide upon the currents of My love.
Soar high like an eagle, proud against the sky,
Trust in Me, child, spread your wings,
In my freedom, spread your wings.

Best Ways to Show Others You are a Christian

Smile. Did you know that when someone smiles as you, it instantly lifts your spirit and makes you think there is hope.

Be patient. A crowded checkout line is difficult on the checker, too. While you are waiting in line at the drive-thru ATM, get your card out, sign your checks and prepare your deposit. It will keep you busy, and help those behind you others get through the line faster.

Be a good listener. Let people tell their stories, their troubles, and share their joys without interruption. Ask God to help you hear, and respond with a word in due season.

Be patient. You did not get to where you are overnight, and no one else does either.
Don't think you have solved the puzzles of life and have the "right" answers. If you did, you would be with Jesus.

Love always. Love is not the kissy, feeling stuff. It is the sustaining attitude that you will be the pillar in the lives of those you know. You will accept their shortcomings, and treat them like Jesus treats you.

Pray and talk to God. When your boss yells at you, when you are facing a challenge at work or school, when you are stumped on a problem, talk to God. He does care about you.