First in Line!!

KODAK Digital Still Camera

I guess everybody wants to be first in line for almost everything, even plants I guess. These are the first of the plants that are just starting to show some of the fall colors of yellow and red. For those of you unable to get out in the beautiful sunshine today, I took some more photos. This time I got a natural bog or wetlands in the city I live in. It is behind a Discovery Center or science center for children. It has a natural spring that comes out of a cave. The water is covered in plant life especially algae so thick in spots the water looks like green pea soup. I can’t believe I was actually able to get a dragonfly sitting still long enough to get its picture along with Mr. Turtle who is always obliging. It’s so nice they have this for the children of the city I live in.

KODAK Digital Still Camera

We live in a smaller town that has done an excellent job of preserving its downtown courthouse square. The building was used during the civil war by soldiers who would climb to the top of it and use it as a lookout post. I hope everyone has a blessed day and Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!!! I’m always so grateful after all the cancer treatments to be able to get out and enjoy His world!

The Last Hurrah!!

KODAK Digital Still Camera

Well, it’s the last hurrah of what felt like a very short summer. I can’t believe it’s already September. As I have said before we have the most beautiful greenway system in our city as it runs right at the edge of a river. I like to try and take photographs, and the greenway gives me a chance to catch some of nature. The butterflies are here I guess moving from north to south for the winter, and although it was hard, I did manage to catch a few sitting still for two or three short seconds.

A few wildflowers are still out, but some of the tree leaves are starting to turn yellow for fall. It makes me think of pumpkins and bonfires. We had some friends that every year for Halloween would invite us over for roasting hotdogs and marshmellows over an open fire. Fun, fun, fun!! Only problem is I will miss my pink mandevillas and white blooms on the crepe myrtle bush. Oh well, they’ll be back next summer. Praise God for the beauty of His world that He made for us!! I hope you have a peaceful and blessed day.

Spit Out Into Hell

impoverished-child-on-streets

Screenshot from Dante's Inferno video game — Screenshot from Dante’s Inferno video game

I came into the world as an orphan from birth with nothing, no mother, no father, no love. I was traumatized and abused both. They said I was a highly sensitive child so maybe it impacted me more than someone else. I remember only fear and terror. I was suicidal a few times, but God stays close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18. Here is a poem I wrote about my experiences. Hope you enjoy. Praise God!!!

Spit Out Into Hell

Alone, wet, cold
Shivering into the wall,
I try to fade, pushing
Into the emptiness inside,
This, an unending terror.

I crouch, attempting to avoid
The inevitable. Knowing it
Will come. Survive, survive,
Gritting the teeth
Hanging on, hoping
reprieve will come
Someday.

Despair, hopelessness
dragging. So worthless,
I deserve only
this joyless existence?

Looking up I scream
someone explain this
Why?

Until a light breaks in,
A gentle presence
Fear brought no longer
a feather-soft presence
ever over my head
hidden, between us only
a thin veil of sky.

Feelings stir
Leaving Hope.
Do Not Give Up.
I AM here.

A Wind lifts
Releasing, removing pain.
Strong, a glowing light
Shines down into
my interior.

A living God, a living
Son.
Wonder of wonders
He wants Me!
Joy begins, grows
Becomes stronger
Passion and Praise flow.
New Life Is Created.

So if I can endure
So can You.
His life can exist
Inside of you.

Remember, loving He spread out
His arms
On a wooden beam.
Death juxtaposed on top of
LIFE!

Strange but I believe
Eternally True.
an answer to the
WHY.
HE can use anything, pain
sorrow
To bring you closer to
joy.
and in the darkness give you
Himself.

Of Nazareth

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People like to argue over what they perceive to be inaccuracies in the Bible. For example, how no one could seem to find the location of Nazareth. In recent years, however, because of archeological discoveries, the location of Nazareth has been found. I wrote this poem thinking of this small, ancient village. Hope you enjoy it and have a blessed day. Praise God!!

Of Nazareth

Small, dirty
Slumbering at the foot
Of another, greater
larger, yet you persist
unrivaled in your beauty.

Overlooked, unpursued
By a world entranced
By power, lust, its greed
You slept waiting,
Dozing in your dust.

Until chosen by a power
Not understood by man
Wearing your unseen crown
You nurtured heaven’s
Purpose for all life.

He walked your streets
Breathed in your light-filled air
With every glance, smile
Literally dropped onto, littered your streets
With His glory.

What a King!! To leave
a throne of blazing glory,
enraptured within, carrying,
bringing the breath of heaven
To fill your ancient streets.

But it was just this
the tenderest, gentlest
Grandest deed ever performed,
This to become
Of Nazareth
That touched our human hearts.

A Prayer

Dear God, Creator, of all the Universe and Beyond

I give you all the praise and honor. Thank you for being who you are, for the beauty of your face and the beauty of your great heart. Thank you for the gift of your one and only Son and your Holy Spirit. Praise you God for who you are!

I pray your blessing and protection on all of your churches world-wide, your family, and the people trying to lead them closer to you. I pray we could all be more of what you want us to be so that it is not I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me. I pray especially for the church of my country, America, that we would be less caught up in the culture and more caught up in You, Holy Lord.

I pray for your whole world that every soul on it could come to know you as their Lord and Savior and come to know how much you love them. May we as your church show them your love! I pray this in the name of your most beautiful, gracious Son,

Amen.

Half a Sigh

sigh2

It never ceases to amaze me how old I am. I feel like I shouldn’t be any older than thirty something, but unfortunately, the calendar tells me I’m 68 going on 69 this spring. It goes by way too fast. People used to tell me that, and I didn’t believe them, however, now I do!! Don’t take your life for granted. Put it in God’s hands. Let Him love, protect and direct you. Have a blessed day. Praise God!!

Half a Sigh

A blip, a beep
On your eternal timeline
God,
All I am
Wrapped up
In half a sigh.

Some go quickly,
Some of us must be
More patient
To wait
For your eternal glory
Held together by hope.

Let go of this world freely,
not a permanent home
where life glows but for a
Moment
Held within the sighs of
promise and Your glory.

Chains

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Sometimes we might not understand the chains of Christ, but that doesn’t mean we can’t trust that He is doing what is best for us. Praise God!!

Chains

In a dark cell
Alone,
Knees bent to the dirt
I speak your name,
Your chains embrace
My body.

Velvet, caressing at the start
Then biting, burning
Stinging
But the joy that comes
With each sting,
The presence of your
Face!

Cold steel against
Soft, warm flesh
Painful yet enveloping
In ecstasy
As they tear, shred into
My heart
Then raise me from the
Dead!!

Death comes as it
Must
You destroy only to
Raise to perfection
In glory,
Newness from the ashes
Of life once gone astray.

Don’t take life for granted but ew! I swallowed three bugs!

bikeride

Today I got to ride my bike for the second time. I really enjoy the ride along the river bank. It was a warm, pretty day, and I got to say hello to quite a few people walking and biking on the greenway here in our town. It means so much to me to be able to do this simple thing after the five years of cancer treatments. I get to go back to my local church and can drink coffee again!! The cancer chemotherapy was so strong I could not enjoy my favorite drink at all. That first cup in the morning is always the best.

So don’t take the little things in life for granted. When all of a sudden you can’t do them anymore you miss them; a walk through a park, your favorite food or just a bike ride in the park. However, today, it was a little buggy outside so I accidentally inhaled three bugs on the ride. I guess there’s always a little cloud in every silver lining. Oh, well.

I hope God blesses your day. Just keep on riding!