Category: Around Town

dew in november

I was walking past our kitchen glass siding doors this morning when this caught my eye. Any guesses as to what I photographed? Thanks for stopping by.

still as the tree

all the color will soon fall
and the barren trees will sing
cold and wind snow and ice
will paint the boughs with chilled beauty
as leaves are tossed
and lost are the
dried and cracked memories
of hues and tones
that proudly shouted
i am here

let's welcome winter
when it enters our souls
sometimes what we think is gold
needs to fade
be swept away
in the wind of the Spirit
may we bend and break
let proud color and hues
fall in surrender

self must fade
and give way to the dark
long
nights
He will hold us tight
through the cold
and the questions
and the monochrome feelings

we must stand
still as the tree
and wait for life
to start again
in His time
His way
His truth
His life
will spring
for we wait
and in the waiting
He is present
we wait
He is comfort
He is love
we wait
in
His
love

a prayer

dear Lord
when i am restless
let the tranquility
of your Spirit
the comfort of your word
the light of your love
be my peace
and still my stirring
when i am anxious
let the power
of your grace
the assurance of your sovereignty
the goodness of your will
warm the frozen fear
i feel inside
release the heart shackles
and settle my thoughts
in the river of your presence
when i am triggered
angry
let your mercy
help me remember
how much is broken in me
let your justice
be the end of my longing
let my heart be open
to you and this world
send me
as your loving healing presence
as i receive your love
and your healing
when i am lost
bring me home
when i am so sad
that light seems a memory
and hope a forgotten song
reorient my mind
reset my spirit
help me see
that the suffering is but a moment
that all i long for
awaits in your house
no more tears
no need of light
or sun
no darkness

thank you
my dear Lord
thank you

just be

you are not the lies
that tattle and rattle inside
a beauty will rise
when you tell those lies
to slip away and die
in the Light
of your Maker
oh the song of your life
is greater
than those failures
want you to believe

because we’re all
a crazy remix
and mash up
of brilliant stars
and tattered rags
of bumps and dents
that’s who we are
so don’t do anything
just stand
in the Light
of your Maker
oh the song of your life
is greater
than shame
and blame
want you to believe

breathe
just be
and breathe
and see
the Light
inside you

breathe
just be
and breathe
and see
the Light
inside you

you are more
than all
you do
just breathe
your identity
is more than all
you do

you are here
a masterpiece
just breathe
and be at peace
and receive
His love
His light
receive

the sad sad shadows

so i think that we should sing
about the sad sad shadows
why do i keep remembering
their darkened glance
it seems that they want to dance
into the story
and at any moment
the sad sad shadows
fall on me

so about those sad sad shadows
inside those weathered picture frames
a broken promise here
something undone there
framed fractures and failures
each one calls my name
and the struggle starts again
with one word
oh the shadow
of shame
falls on me

so listen sad sad shadows
i remembered today
that you don’t have to stay
you’re not the whole story
Light and Glory
can rewrite your songs
mend all the wrongs
and scatter the darkness
not just for a moment
but for eternity
all these parts of me
will be
restored
once more

oh sad sad shadow
the final say
will not be yours
the Light will end the night
and all the sad sad shadows
will go away
and there will be
only
Light

letting go

at this ripe young age
can it be three score
as i turn each page
i know less not more
and the more of less i know
it seems
it’s about letting go

i let go of the boy
i used to be
though he still
seems to want his own way
so still letting go
of my selfish ways
that boy won’t go away
that’s okay
i’m learning
letting go

i let go of just me
“i do” means now “we”
can it be two score
and there is so much more
of letting go
that i need to know
for “we”

letting go of
seeking me in her
letting go
of smashing mirrors
with my pride
letting go
of thinking
it’s better to hide
letting go
of staying inside
my head
letting go
of keeping my heart
to myself
i guess
the long slow road
of letting go of self

letting go
of expectations
of
well
everything
and
everyone
letting go
of just taking
letting go
of just faking
that we’re all okay

i pray i practice well
all the lettings go’s
that wait for me
‘cause someday soon
the last let go
will come into my room
and i want peace
and i want to know
that all those other letting go’s
will help me see
what waits for me
is an eternal embrace
it really is amazing grace
He never has
and never will
let go
of me

spidey-webby things

Tried to take some images of what I will call “spider nets.” The are flat, and I see them on the grass and bushes. Just amazing! Thanks for dropping in!

so welcome to your new day

so welcome to your new day
time to tell your story
time to give yourself away
let go of the worry
and why so much hurry
time to slow down
what story will you tell
this day

so welcome to your new day
don’t compare and don’t stare
at all the insta-images
that sometimes just won’t dare
to be real and to say

i’m who i am
occasionally stumbling
always broken
anxiety has stolen some joy
but i’m who i am
loved by God
an image bearer
of my Creator
i am here
on this new day

so see the Light
who makes wrongs right
and mends our hurting souls
He lifts our heads
shows us the way
each time we go astray
He forgives
welcome to your new day
let go of that worry
don’t hurry
past the Light
on this new day

it’s a journey after all

i'm so glad
the Light found me
just as i am
i began to be free
identity restored
i'm not trying to earn anymore
i'm so glad
the Light found me

and now a love
has touched my soul
all of my past
all that’s yet to unfold
slowly being restored
i was blind
but now i see
oh, i’m so glad
the light found me

i still stumble
and fall
it’s a journey
after all
so be patient with me
i’ve got miles to go
i’m not what i will be
it’s a struggle you see
but this Light found me
so i trust and i wait
it’s the mess i call faith
but i’m so glad
the Light found me

backyard blues

I’ve got the backyard blues, and I am so happy!