Afraid

Afraid

Our hearts are gripped with fear.
We make choices while being grasped.
Often times, we make choices not to make choices.
Satan lures, pressures, confuses, and tells us we’re weak.

What are we afraid of?
Maybe it’s a grade that counts more than we truly want to express.
Maybe it’s how we will be perceived. I really dislike that word.
Maybe it’s fear of rejection.
Sometimes our safe little bubble of no rejection is worse than the actual facing of the rejection and learning from it.

What are we afraid of?
Is our past so full of disappointments that we can’t see hope?
Are we afraid that our life will be changed drastically?
Would that be so bad?

Our hearts are gripped with fear.
Our humanness is sucking God’s amazing plan right out of us.
Yielding control to the God of control shouldn’t be so hard.
God, please help us not to be afraid, but to trust in you.



“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

Embraced in Prayer

On October 20, 2006, I was broken, hurt, and waiting for God to reveal why I was in the situation I was in. I wrote this poem as I was waiting for a church service to start. I was attending a Calvary church's midweek service, and as they always do right before a service, the elders gather in a circle, huddle up, and pray. They don't do this in front of everyone (which is good), they do it off in a side room that isn't obvious to all. Well, once I saw them do this the first time, I always watched and appreciated. That night, I don't remember what was taught from the Word, but I will always remember how God reminded me that I too have a group of friends that would huddle up and pray with me if I called on them. God has truly blessed me with wonderful friends and family. I can look back to October 20, 2006 and cry tears of joy for all that God as seen me through, brought me to, and what he will continue to do in my life.

Embraced in Prayer

Embraced in prayer

the Lord is near

Embraced in prayer

who cares if they stare

Embraced in prayer

a faith so sure and strong

Embraced in prayer

I am right where I belong

Embraced in prayer

the power of God flows through their hands

Embraced in prayer

the love of God is sometimes hard to understand

Embraced in prayer

Father, please touch our thoughts, words, and deeds

Embraced in prayer

Father, it's you we seek, love, and need

The Music is Calling

Sing out loud friends, family members, and even perfect strangers! Let's sing the Music so loud and beautifully, that all will stop and listen and desire to hear more about the Music.

The Music is Calling

The Music is calling.
It fills my heart with wonder.
It fills my heart with joy.
It fills my heart with praise.

The Music is calling.
At times it is so loud it is deafening.
At times, it’s so soft, only in perfect silence can it be heard.
At times, worldly desires make the Music unrecognizable.

The Music is calling.
Can you hear it?
Am I the only one that can hear it?
It’s a beautiful sound that I want everyone to hear.

The Music is calling.
The birds sing it.
The lions roar it.
Babies giggle and coo the melody.
All creation sings along.

The Music is calling.
It is always in perfect tune.
The harmony brings tears to hearer’s ears.
No instrument is needed.

The Music is calling.
Look and listen or you might miss it.
The Music is always there.
It’s a choice to listen or not.

Trust

This poem is similar to the one I posted yesterday. I wrote this one the same night. Between dealing with my own emotional, faith frenzy self that night, I had also talked to two friends that day who were struggling with God's timing, actions, and their struggle to remain faithful to Him. I'm ready for the blanket of self doubt, God doubt, etc. to FLY OFF. I pray that my friends are feeling the same way. You too! God bless you!

Trust

The fog comes in like a blanket.
A blanket that is unable to be lifted.
Lifting, grabbing with all my might.
Only to be covered again.

I’m covered.
It’s hard to breathe.
I can’t see any light.
I’m suffocating like a pillow being pushed on my head.

I stretch one last time.
With what strength is left in me, I reach out.
The air is right outside this cell of a blanket.
I know the light is out there also, calling me to try once more.

As I reach and expel my last breath, I grasp the edge.
I lift a small bit and see a glimpse of freedom.
The light is so bright.
I’ve been in the darkness so long; my eyes don’t want to adjust.

I blink.
I open my eyes again.
I see the light.
The light beckons me.

I breathe a deep breath.
Expecting to find my lungs depleted of any air possible.
Instead, I’m surprised by the long breath I’m able to take.
I’m breathing, breathing, breathing, and feeling like I can’t get enough.

I see the light.
I breathe new air.
I gain the strength to make one final attempt.
I pull the blanket back with strength not of my own.

The blanket flies off.
I slowly arise to meet the blue skies and fresh air.
I’m tempted to hide back under the blanket.
I’m scared of what this new world holds for me.

I take steps, still weak in my own strength.
A hand reaches out to me and tells me to trust.
I reach, I hold, I trust, I walk.
The world is fresh, new, and I’m not alone.

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You're not alone also! Reach, hold, trust, and walk with God. He know us so well and has such an awesome plan for our lives. I know it's hard to believe that some days, but HE DOES.

Grab the Hand!

I wrote this on a day that I was feeling especially drawn to the world and all it seemingly has to offer. I see so many others (family, friends, strangers) also being drawn in to the world. Satan is crafty and knows just how to draw us. Good news though! God has defeated Satan and is drawing us also. His hand is sure, strong, and one that won't let us go. If you're struggling with being "in the world, but not of the world," read the last line of this poem (if you can call it that). We can run with freedom! Grab God's strong hand and don't let go!

Grab the Hand

The world is calling.
It won’t stop.
It’s all around me.
When I’m awake, and when I’m asleep, it calls.

The pressures to live in the world come from within and without.
Look this way.
Talk this way.
Walk this way.

I’m walking on the skinny curb of life in this world.
I try to balance.
The world rains down and the curb becomes slippery.
I fall off.

I look and see blood.
The pain sears through my body.
I stop and breathe.
I need to get up.

As the rain pounds my body I can only see the ground that seems to suck me in.
I try to climb back on the curb.
A car comes by and splashes me with dirt and grime.
I want to give up and slide down the drain.

I hear footsteps.
The rain is subsiding.
I look up between wet strands of hair.
I see a hand reach out to me.

Is the hand one I can trust?
Will this hand push me back down only to be stepped on again?
I’ve experienced “helping hands” before.
My faith in “helping hands” is weak.

This hand that reaches out to me will not go away.
The persistence catches my attention once more.
I see that this hand is clean, strong, and has been where I’ve been.
I decide to trust one last time.

I reach out and grab the hand.
Immediately the world disappears.
I can stand without pain.
The curb is strong, wide, and I run with freedom.

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Pic was taken at Q2008 at NNU. FUEL was also part of this event. Dave Curtiss (and others) presented a prayer journey for us. Individually we walked around and prayed. It was amazing! I also took pics during the prayer journey.