Listen to the Silence

Hush. Listen to the silence.
Hear it whisper of deep peace
And early morning stillness

Listen to the mist wrapped moment
When all the world is still
And night is washed in new color

Listen to the voice of heaven
As it slips by you on quick wings
And murmurs of redemption
Of salvation
Of restoration and healing
Of love

Hush. Listen to the silence
And know that it is God
Listening to your heartbeat
And rejoicing

Different Day, Different Clouds. Different Sunrises.

Where Peaceful Waters Flow

New light, sweet dawn, the water’s edge
And hope begins to show
I know that with the passing days
Your healing love will flow
And with it all my pain will pass
While joy and peace will grow.

A Moment of Self Pity

Somewhere between the black and white
There lies a shade of grey
And there, inside the dark and light,
My mind is wont to stray.
Where real world “truths” seem all too trite
And dreams can still hold sway,
Where faded hopes, now sick and slight,
Can hide their rank decay.

Some where between the black and white
There lies a shade of grey
And somewhere in that bleak twilight
My long lost dreams still play.

Living on the Edge of the Storn

Walking on the edge of the storm
Knowing one wrong step leads to harm
Too afraid for a prayer to form
Shivering in fear and alarm

Cold whipping winds drive the harsh wave
To tear at the rain sodden shore
Far too lost to ever be brave
And dreading what else lies in store

But living on the edge of the storm
On the tattered rim of the wind
Inspires the soul to learn to transform
When the tempests finally end

Embraced by Peace

A moment of silence, peace & grace
With the sun's warmth a kiss on my face.
Quiet, the moment, quiet the place
Quiet and sure, His loving embrace.

Shaking off the Winter Moss

Mists still linger in the morning
Whisp’ring of the cool of night,
Sulking as the sun is rising
Bringing warmth and golden light.

Still the moss of winter lingers,
All the world is damp and grey;
Though the summer’s sun will dry it
Spring’s too weak to hold much sway.

Like the mist and mossy winter
My heart still holds joy at bay,
But I can feel the warmth of summer
Working in my heart today.

My heart’s yearning with each dawning
To cast mist and moss away;
Let my heart feel joy returning
Turn your love and warmth my way.

A Prayer and It's Answer

As a misty morning dawns,
The perfect time to heal,
A cleansing rain restores the earth
And I can truly feel
The need to pray for that same gift;
So let me hush and kneel
And ask the Lord to hear my prayer
And grant my heart’s appeal,
Please cleanse me as you cleanse the earth
That my heart, too, may heal.

I woke up early this moring to the sound of an alarm clock buzzer in my head. Only I had not set the clock. I figured God had something He wanted me to see or something He wanted me to do. So I got up, wandered around a bit and then remembered Psalm 46, Be still and know that I am God. So I stood by my bedroom window and was still. Still enough to hear this prayer begin to form and spill out of my heart. So I went and wrote it down.

As I finished writing this prayer, I was looking for pictures to capture it, but how do you photograph the rain? Lots of winter ducks about, so I was taking shots of them when I caught the blur of a large bird flying past my shoulder. A Blue Heron, I thought, a perfect bird to represent the rain. The lens of the camera was set for a longer distance and I couldn't adjust it quickly enough to catch the bird flying by so close to me. When I gave up and looked with my eyes at the bird that had already past me I realized I was looking at a white tail. The large bird off my shoulder was a bald eagle. God had waked me up early to find my prayer for the cleansing of pain from my heart, and He had given me my answer. Isaiah 40: 31, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.

Gulls

A Winter Garden Facing Spring....

Ducks and Diamonds

Glory in the Morning

Glory in the morning, glory in the light
Though my sorrow’s burning I know I’ll be alright
Praises for the Glory, Praises for the Light
Praises for the sorrow and the love that makes it right

The Maze

It’s much too late to lift my voice

And sing a song of praise,

Though, I’ve had many joyful lights

In these past darkened days,

I don’t believe I understand,

For ours are not your ways,

And you see clearly what’s ahead

While I see through a haze

Of pain and fear and sorrow which

Becomes a whirling maze

That I’m not sure I’ll make it through…

And then I meet your gaze

And after all it’s not too late

To lift my voice in praise!

Sunlight and Daffodils

Sunlight and daffodils
Silver and gold
The treasures of morning
Mem’ries to hold

Sweet blessings from heaven
Born of the earth
Harbingers of spring time
Granters of mirth

Praise For the Morning, A Misty Dawn

Birds of the Mist

Let there Be Laughter

Let there be laughter each morning
Let there be joy and delight
Sorrow’s the province of darkness
Leave it behind with the night

Lift up a song to the morning
Lift up your heart to the light
Lift your face to the rising sun
And turn your back on the night

The Day of the Funeral

I just heard some thunder in the distance,

An ominous start to the day.

The wind is whipping around the chimney,

It’s rattling and howling away.

This is the day that I've dreaded so long,

A day that I prayed would not come,

But when it's all over and everyone's gone

I'm confident I will succumb

To all the sorrows and all of the grief

That I've held at bay for so long.

I know someday my world will seem brighter

But today it’s just all so wrong.

The funeral is today. I find it appropriate the sky weeps and winds moan angrily out my window. Even in daylight the inlet is cast in dark colors and sadness weighs it down. Tomorrow will be brighter, but today.... today the whole world weeps in sorrow. Time to say good-bye.

Blood and Praise

I know that I’m a broken soul

I know I can’t be healed

I know that when I face my Lord

All sins will be revealed

The fear and shame cause me to weep

And then I see your face

You look at me through blood and thorns

And I recall my place

Is at your feet and in your light

Relying on your grace

In service to enduring love

And wrapped in your embrace

The pain you suffered in my name

Will never wash away

And yet that blood can heal my soul

And make me whole one day.

Sunlight Through the Clouds

Sunlight, filtered through clouds, is still bright enough to light up its reflection in the dark, cold water. Thus, even when our lives are filled with clouds of dispair and pain, the light of His love can shine on us brightly enough to reflect His face back on the surface of our hearts. It's up to us to decide if we are going to look for the reflection or the clouds.

Lifting Up My voice

Lifting up my voice in praise

I sing a joyful song

For you will not abandon me

Although the way is long

And when I’m weak and faltering

You’re arm is close and strong

So I lift up my voice in praise

And sing a joyful song