in the bleak mid-winter

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? —
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, —
Yet what I can I give Him, —
Give my heart. 
- Christina Georgina Rossetti

To my WordPress family: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May this season of light and joy be filled with peace for you and yours. May your new year be seasoned with adventure, love and contentment.

light and storm

The current state of affairs in our wee little town. Happy Christmas everyone!

little frozen stars

snowflakes
like little frozen stars
are dancing around
my backyard
barren branches shiver
beneath winter’s breath
there is a kind of death
that erases memories
of fireflies
and summer rain
but is’t okay
there are frozen stars
dancing around
my backyard
this winter day

cold and wind
sweep the messy fall away
cold stardust blankets the ground
and delicately paints the trees
and help me see
that all this loss
of green and flower
is the rhythm of you and me
for there is power
in resting
waiting
dying
to even beautiful things
that may shackle our souls
and find new life
beneath the barren
new love
beneath the bitterness
new warmth
beneath the cold

let’s dance
like little frozen stars
in my backyard
and remember
that what seems random
when we feel abandoned
when our hearts are unable to fathom
the singing of the birds
we wait
in the in between
and come to the Word
He speaks into our stillness
He speaks into our silence
while little frozen stars
dance in my backyard

november rose

november rose
i wonder if you know
that there is snow
that the cold and chill
and wind will still
your crimson petals
will fall and tumble
your proud will
will be humbled

i wonder if you know
that the season
will bring death
but in the midst
of dark cold air
and icy nights
there
right there
new life

and so we all must wait
through the winters of our days
we all must breathe the cold air
surrender what we fear
and let the clear icy skies
revive
restore
and make us alive
and help us remember
that there is more
that needs to die
surrender
in order
to be alive
once more
alive

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

what i saw at jones beach part 2

Another set of images from a long walk on a windy day at Jones Beach.

what i saw at jones beach

Grateful to be back in New York spending time with my elderly parents. Equally grateful to take long walks at Jones Beach. I love the winter shore.

just be

o eternal
Light of the world
i need Your peace
it's so stormy
in my soul
and there's trouble
in the world
let me find peace
in You

o eternal
Light of the world
come fill my mind
with gentle whispers
from your Word
all the truth
i think i know
i surrender
i need to see
and i want to rest
just rest
in You

o eternal
Light of the world
thank You
for the
quiet morning river song
thank You
for dancing colors
and of course
thank You
for a little tugboat
help me to
swim upstream today
in Your love
in Your peace
i'm still trying to do
when all You desire
is for me
to be
just
be
in
You

a brrrrrreautiful morning….

…hope you have a beautiful day! Thanks for stopping by!

and can it be

and can it be
you came for me
a withered soul
so tired so cold

and can it be
surrendered glory
for this heart of pride
all the shame inside

o withered soul
lift up your voice
o withered soul
cry out rejoice
your light has come
your peace is near
Immanuel is here

and can it be
once blind i see
forgiven free
You died for me

and can it be
new life is mine
and for all time
not just a while
i'll sing and shine
i am your child

this withered soul
now your son
your own
and can
it
be