As it fades
Monday, October 7, 2019
Careful
little dreamer,
Or
you’ll give yourself away
Do you
not see? Those thoughts, those choices aren’t worth the price
It’s a
sickening thought
The
journey you desire is shorter than you realize
Perhaps
if you think you stand,
You might
just be drowning
In the
sea of conflict, whose waters lure you in
Making
it impossible for you to escape
The
crest of the ocean which is fiercely awake
Be
watchful little stargazer
Of the
galaxies prone to draw you in
Those
stars weren’t merely thrown into existence
But
crafted by an intelligent designer
With a
detail so fine
It
would be destructive
To
watch it fade away
Purely
because you believed
In an
all pursuing void
Find
peace oh restless soul
In the
beauty of your life
Don’t
let the lowly voices drown out your priceless worth
The
society is plagued with a sinister ambition
To
throw you to the floor, in a canny way of manipulation
Take
heart as you grow old
Lay
yourself a foundation
To set
the precept of your future celebrations
Where
will your story lie?
Will
you have a tale worth telling?
Be
careful, oh child
It’s a
dangerous world out there,
The
air toxic with lies, interlaced with relativity
Fear a
primary factor,
In
tossing you in a trap
So be
sure to watch your steps
As you
go on through time
Its
gifts of hours, minutes and seconds
Only
last for so long
Have
courage, brave heart
Through
all of the agony you may endure
Don’t
let the tempter tempt you
Into
walking through his doors
People
wander away far too quickly for fear of the unknown
But we
were crafted in the hands of a maker,
Who can
only make us better, despite the unknown ground we venture
It’s
hard to grasp the truth at times,
But
don’t fool yourself-
Your
ways are not His ways,
And
your timing is not His timing
Beware
of the trap in dressed up lies,
For
there is only one Truth that we may rely on
Only
in Him is found a love so fierce and perfect
So fix
your eyes on the One Above that you may see the light
There’s
a world out there, living in the dark
Their
vision in a blur-
The
colors aren’t as exuberant as they once were
They
begin to see only in black and white, as the pigment is pulled from their veins
Its
once alluring hue dies out
And
slowly they seep into nothingness
As it
fades
Pursue Your Purpose
Monday, August 19, 2019
There are times when I feel lost. There are times when I feel lonely. There are times when I feel as though I have
lost all of the depth to me, everything that made me, me. It’s difficult to figure out how that is even
possible. How do I just lose everything
that seemingly makes me the person I am meant to be? Maybe it was when I stopped taking the time
to sit, to write, to think through life.
Maybe it was when I went to people with my issues before I even thought
those problems out with myself. Maybe it
was when I stopped taking the time to pray.
To trust Jesus. To talk to Him
and allow Him to take control. Maybe it
happened when I stopped pursuing the very thing that gave me purpose. That made me, me.
So. Purpose.
What is it? What is my purpose
and how do I pursue it? I’ll tell you my
purpose: to walk the path the Lord has set before me. To walk in His truth and His unwavering
love. To love the unlovable, the way He
loved. To serve with a kind and giving
heart the way He served so selflessly and lovingly. To share all of the love and joy He fills me
with daily, to all I know so that they may seek Him too. To die to my flesh over and over and over
again, every single day. To take up my cross and follow in His footsteps. That is my purpose. That is what drives me. That is where I find myself, in the arms of
the Savior who will never change, will never give up on me and will never ever
leave me. When I pursue that, everything
that makes me who I am, all of the depth in me returns, and I am made whole. I am completed.
How do I pursue my
purpose? I pray. I love.
I walk the path the Lord gave me the map to and I follow it. Is it easy to go astray? Absolutely.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to stray from the path and succumb to all of
the lies the world throws our way, rather than to stay confident in His truth and the purpose He has planted in us?
Absolutely. Because going through trials
and temptations and experiencing the struggle and difficulty it takes to stay
true to a God of a world where so many millions and millions of people despise Him is hard. It’s disheartening and after a
while you just want to give up. But
guess what? Jesus won’t give up on
you. He bled and died for you because He
believes in you and by trusting in Him and in His strength and power you will
make it. Let’s not give up on Him. It won’t be easy. But it will be worth
it.
Everything has purpose. Everyone has purpose. Every star that burns in the night sky, every
wave that brushes the seashore, every laugh that floods our ears, every tear
that streaks our face and every human being that has ever existed has a purpose
they could never have dreamed of. I only
hope we never cease to remember. Pursue
your purpose. This is what we must do. Pursue our purpose. Pursue our purpose with a passion and hold
onto the Creator who put that purpose in us.
He will never disappoint.
Pieces of My Spontaneous Self
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
I can listen. I can really listen. I listen to the way the waves roll onto the
shore. The way the insects chirp and the
birds sing, and the way the rain dances on the windowpanes. I listen to the
laughter of the people who’s hearts are pumping with pure unfettered joy and to
the tears that come from the person weeping on their knees as sorrow fills them
to the brim. I listen to people. I
listen to their stories of elation and bliss where joy is the primary factor of
their livelihood. I listen to their
stories of pain and suffering where grief and despair takes its toll. It’s like this raw invitation to take a peek
into their lives and truly get a grasp of who it is they are, to connect with
them and understand them more fully. I
listen in the silence to hear the voice of the Maker whispering in my ear,
urging me to come closer and closer and closer.
I can feel a
plethora of emotions that plunge into the depth of my mind. My mind, which is
always in a whir, overflowing with complicated thoughts and ideas, driving me
with this imperative nature to share with other people, or to fill a piece of
paper with ink and words as profound as I know how. I take a lot of time to think things through
and to examine why so many things take place so that we might find so much joy or why we might find so much pain. I can feel fear, it’s icy breath threatening
to swallow me whole and destroy any ounce of courage or confidence within my
fragile frame. But I can also feel boldness
as it takes root to my core and blossoms through my ribcage, creating no room
for fear to place its sleeted fingers. My
feelings scatter throughout my body, itching to take control. But these feelings, these emotions can’t
direct this vessel. Only one may steer
this ship as I seek the Maker that guides me through a voyage of uncharted
waters.
I can smell
the earth after it rains. I like
storms. They show me that even the sky
has a yearning to cry sometimes. The
aroma of petrichor, so vibrant of life and things yet to be explored, the
flowers bloom revealing a scent of pleasant surprise, may they always remind us
of why the rain was so necessary. An adventure
arises on the currents of the wind as I desire to experience new places,
people, things and ideas. Who can know
what to expect? What might lie ahead?
Only the Master Storyteller knows how this tale will unfold.
I can taste
the bitter sweetness found on the tip of my tongue right after I say “goodbye”
for I know in some hidden language of the heart it translates to “stay.” I miss a lot of memories and sometimes I wish
I could go back in time, not to change things, but to relive a couple of
unforgettable moments that helped shape the person I am today.
I can see
the galaxies in a person’s eyes as they glow with excitement. Just as easily I can see the storm clouds in
their eyes, as the rain runs down their flushed cheeks. If I look carefully, for the first moment our
eyes meet, the truth of their feelings will reveal itself, just for a second,
before it is blinked away. I can see the
stars as they shine in the pitch-blackness of the night- their light never
fearing to outshine the dark. A light so
confident and surreal it isn’t ashamed or frightened to shine when the darkness
threatens to enclose them. Still they
burn bright, through the midst of it all.
I have also seen in black and white, because I chose to block out
color. I told myself there was no use
for color, because to live in a society such as this I must paint a picture of
something dreary, negligent of anything bright.
No light. But that didn’t last
long. Because I could also see in colors
not known to the human eye. Colors of
exuberance, so bright and cheerful it makes me wonder how there could ever be
any form of sorrow in this world. Those
colors. That cheerfulness. They broke through my vision of black and
white. Because a world of no color, no
light could only bring heartache and grief.
I didn’t want that.
I can learn. I am learning. I’ve learned that I still have so much more
to learn. Not just in the big things,
but in the little things too. I’ve
learned the need to think before I speak, to listen with an ear so fond of
taking in the grace of lively laughter and every anguished cry. I’ve learned to be gentle with the part of me
that feels so deeply, and holds on to it for far too long. I’ve learned to trust not in myself, but in
the One who knows me better than I could ever know myself. The One who allows the sky to cry, but also
cover the fields in flowers of every kind, so that we would remember the
necessity of the rain. I’ve learned to
be thankful for moments of my life that I hold so dear. Not to be sad because it is over, but to be
glad it was once mine. I’ve learned to
see in color. Colors so bright it
reveals the beauty of the light and everything I once was missing. Now the light lies open and raw for my skin
to soak in, and my lips to taste the drink of sunshine that is so generous with
its rays.
I believe. I believe in love. Because love is powerful, and it blossoms no
matter the soil. Love is infinitely
valuable. It makes everything brighter,
it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks unbreakable bonds, it has no
limits and it never disappoints. I am
dramatic when I talk about the people I love, the places I love, the memories I
love because I love with an awakening. I
believe in the Creator. I believe in the
Creator like I believe in the light- not because I can see it, but by it I can
see everything else. My Creator, Christ
Jesus, is the light. And He is
love.
I can grow. I can continue to grow in the audacity to
believe in the light no matter the darkness that surrounds me. I can grow in the Creator and His infinite
wisdom and knowledge and trust that He knows what is best for my life. May His light and love run like a wild river
within me, reflecting every piece of my spontaneous self.
The Power of Words
Monday, June 10, 2019
Words
can bring joy and words can bring pain.
Words have so many meanings, so many different powerful meanings. But some
people are careless enough to where they don’t worry how their words will
affect other people. They don’t think
before they speak. And not only do they
not care how it could affect the people around them but as Christians, it seems
we’ve lost interest in representing Christ very well with our words.
Whether
it be cursing, gossiping, making inappropriate jokes, talking behind
someone’s back, lying, or not following through with what we say, our words
have power. And once spoken, they can’t
be taken back. I think it’s safe to say
that every single one of us have been culpable of doing everything I just
listed, at some point in our lives. And
maybe it wasn’t even intentional, but we’ve all done it. And that’s why it is so important to think
before we speak. Ask yourself, would I be representing Christ very well if I
said that?
There
are plenty of verses in the Bible that talk about watching what we say. Take Ephesians 4:29 for example, “Let no
unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for
edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to
those who hear.” The positive is being emphasized over the negative. Being like Christ means we don’t use foul,
dirty language. For some reason, many people in our society think it is “cool”
or liberating, if you will, to use vulgar humor, dirty jokes, or cursing, but there’s
no dignity in that and this kind of talk has no place in the life of a
Christian.
“But I
tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an
accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). Words are so important, that we’re going to
have to give an account of what we say when we stand before the Lord Jesus
Christ on the day of judgment.
Matthew
15:18 states, “but the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the
heart, and those defile the man.” Jesus
reminds us that the words we speak actually come from our heart. When someone becomes a Christian, there is an
expectancy that a change of speech follows because living for Christ makes a
difference in our choice of words. Our
words also depict a lot about our character.
So be mindful of what you say, and how it will shape your
integrity.
What
we speak, reflects what is in our hearts.
Your choice of words says a lot about you. Are your words filled with complaining or
cursing? Or is it characterized by
worship for the Lord and sound wisdom?
This shows what is kept in your heart, and if it is negative, or
displeasing to God, maybe you should reevaluate what you’ve been focusing
on. When we set our hearts on the Lord,
good, helpful speech will easily progress from each of us.
What
if we say something but don’t follow through with it? Really think about the weight of what you are
saying before you speak it. Because
people take words seriously, and if you just go around spitting out words for
the sake of spitting out words then later on, no one will be able to take you
seriously because half of what you say doesn’t line up with what you do. If you say something, make sure you really
mean it. Otherwise it will get you into trouble
later on, and then that is when trust starts to diminish. I know that from experience. Words can make you or break you.
What
you say is what you get. Don’t expect to
get away with saying stupid stuff, and then be treated respectfully and be held
to a high standard. That’s not how it
works. You pick the standard you want
for yourself and live up to it. Speak
with dignity and use words that are filled with kindness and respect. You’ll go far with that.
What Home is to Me
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Here lately, I’ve been thinking about the concept of home. Home is known as a house, or the place you live, or where you grew up. Maybe it’s your country, or state, or something that is tangible. But home can’t always be explained as your street number. Sometimes it’s a face or a voice, or a laugh that is more honest and raw and familiar than any truth you have ever known. We are shown that home is this place you live and grow. But to me, home is all that, and more. Home is the place sweet nostalgic stories were made, where subsequent laughter rings in my ears. Where familiar voices and all of the goofy jokes arise. I love where I’m from, my house, my town, my community; the road on the way to my house, the local library, the familiar shops and restaurants, the different parks, and my church. But I don’t think I ever did more living growing up, than when I had certain people by my side. With those people, I’ll always feel at home. They’ve been there with me through lots of laughter and lots of tears. The thick and thin and everything in between. Home always keeps me sentimental and nostalgic and I love all the memories that come to mind.
~~~
I know this was short, but it was just one of those spontaneous/spur of the moment kind of things. Enjoy. :)
The Truth About Truth
Monday, February 11, 2019
In today’s society, truth is no longer
absolute, but what you make it to be. It
is relative. Some people
believe that there is no such thing as absolute absolutes. But how can they be absolutely
sure? To make such a statement as that is in itself of claim of an absolute truth, and therefore, contradictory. Without truth, how
can we be said to have any rights at all? The truth is staring us right in the
face yet people will deny what they know just to fit in, or to be accepted.
Dishonesty is acceptable in our society today, and in our culture it has become
a common habit. The truth about truth is
that it can’t be avoided, it will always be truth regardless of whether you
want it to be or not.
First off, let's talk about the meaning of truth. Truth may be defined as the way things really are.
Whatever reality is, that is the truth.
But not many people are willing to accept reality,
or the truth. There’s a quote by Winston
Churchill, and he says, “the truth is incontrovertible; Malice may attack it,
ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” The truth cannot be changed, no matter
how hard we try, or how much we wish it could be changed. It’s always going to be there, as
solid as a rock, hitting us in the face whether we like it or not. Truth is truth and it can’t be
avoided. Either something
is right or something is wrong.
In our society, there are people who claim to have their “own”
truth. But there is no such thing as “your
truth” or “my truth.” There is only the truth. It is not possible to live in a world where
your truth and my truth have genuineness.
The problem with their
truth is that it is in conflict, in direct opposition of the truth. There are so many
people who believe that multiple religions can be right. Take
a look at the Muslim faith and the Christian faith. The Muslims believe that Jesus was a great
prophet. But they don’t believe that He was God’s son or God
Himself. But Jesus claimed to be God, if Jesus isn’t who He says He is
then wouldn’t that make Him a false prophet? Those are two so-called truths that
contradict each other and they cannot both be right. They cannot both be truth.
I believe a big reason so many people are
opposed to the absolute truth is because they’re so used to being fed
lies. They’re prone to falsehood. It’s a sad realization of how many people
don’t want to acknowledge or accept the truth if it doesn’t match what they
want to believe. But here’s the catch- “Truth will always be true, even
if no one believes it; and falsehood will always be false, even if everyone believes
it” (Os Guinnes – A Time For Truth). Truth is exactly what it is named, and it
will always be that. Regardless of whether or not it hurts you or sets you
free. It’s the truth.
Now the question is asked, where does truth come from? Let’s look at scripture. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the
way, the truth, and the life…’” Again in John 8, “…’if you continue in My word,
then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and truth will
set you free.’” For some people, this is a hard pill to swallow because for
generations so much of mankind has wanted to earn salvation or find their own
way to God. But, if we conclude that the
Bible is true, we have got to make decisions based on all of it- not just the
parts we like. Christ, as God, is the
personification of truth. He embodies
truth. Truth in the Bible is revealed as
the character of Christ, His teachings and His promises. Anything that does not agree with the Bible
is false. Take the
use of relativism for example. It is the
idea that truth, knowledge or morality only exist in relation to culture and
are not absolute. But that doesn’t line
up with the truth in the Bible.
Truth is a weapon. In Ephesians Paul describes truth as part of
the armor we are to put on as we live simultaneously in the physical and spiritual universe. Having the
belt of truth buckled around our waist helps us to hold everything
together. It gives us a system for
thinking about things and filtering them through biblical understanding. When you do that, it’ll be harder for the
enemy to blindside you.
There will be times when truth requires us to do
things we don’t always want to do. For
example, in the book of Daniel, we see the story about Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego. They were faithful to the
Lord and did everything in their power to serve and bring glory to Him. But they were commanded by the king
Nebuchadnezzar to worship him and his gods.
The three brothers knew the consequences of disobeying the king, to be thrown
into a fiery furnace. But they knew the
truth- that God is the One True King and He is the only one worthy of their
praise. They stood by that truth, and
did not bow down to the king or his idols.
As a result, the king sent them into the fiery furnace as their
punishment. But, for standing up for the
truth, and living to serve only God, the Lord rewarded them and saved them from
the fire. They weren’t afraid to speak
the truth, even if it meant dealing with the horrifying consequences. All that mattered to them in that moment was
the truth. That being said, we won’t
always be rewarded for speaking up for the truth. As a matter of fact, in a world where
acceptance- or tolerance, is the highest ideal, standing up for the truth in
public could more than likely get you slammed. You'll most likely be made fun of
or ridiculed. But as long as you are
speaking the truth in love, then you’re doing the right thing. Truth isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t
make it any less true.
There are instances when Christians
have compromised on the truth. For
instance, our society has determined that homosexuality is perfectly
acceptable. As Christians we don’t need
to go very far into scripture to realize that it is not acceptable in the sight
of the Lord. It doesn’t line up with the
truth in the Bible. But there are
Christians who will compromise on this truth.
By not speaking up against it when it is brought up, and just keeping
hush about it, they don’t cause any trouble, and just go with the flow. But as Christians, we cannot afford to just
go with the flow, if the flow is directing us away from God and His truth.
Knowing the truth is truly a wonderful
thing. But it is not enough. We must act
on the truth. More important than
knowing the truth is to live out the
truth. Walk in truth. Wisdom, knowledge, understanding and truth
are all attributes of Christ and we should strive to seek after it. After Him. Ask yourself, what do I define truth as? Is the truth I claim to be true, really
true? Or am I bending the truth, molding
it into what I want to fit under the description of truth?
Don’t shy away from the truth. It will not change, and you will not be able
to avoid it. Even if it means being
ridiculed or not well liked, in the end, the truth will set you free.
That is the truth about truth.
In a Winter Daze
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
I
stepped outside onto the front porch, seeping in a breath of the crisp cool
air. A fresh coat of powdered snow
covered the ground. I slipped my sock
covered feet into my sister’s old boots and buttoned up my thick wool coat,
ready to take the trek up to town.
I
walked the old dirt road, the brisk wind flushing my cheeks. The sky was beautiful this time of day. A variety of pinks and blues interceding to
create a masterpiece of pastel perfection; the gentle moon its ideal
centerpiece.
I
walked into the town. Three young boys
were having a snowball fight in the middle of the road, and as cars came by
they hurriedly stepped to the side. Then
back at it they went. I walked into the
coffee shop and waved to the man who sat at the same table against the window
every single morning. His gray hair
neatly combed back, his spectacles resting on the edge of his nose, and the
daily newspaper grasped between his two firm hands, worn with age.
I took
a seat at the bar and ordered a cinnamon latte, a specialty this time of year. Outside the frosted window, I spotted little
Tommy walking his hound dog across the street, dodging the other boy’s
snowballs.
January
is a serene month. Its brisk winds and
harsh snows a cruelty to mankind, yet its invigoratingly fresh start makes you
flit with joy. It brings its challenges,
but more so it brings its vigor. Looking
around, bittersweet nostalgia floods my mind. But there’s also the sensational
feeling of what to expect in the future.
What might this year hold?
There’s so much familiarity as I recognize the regular sights that
refresh me daily, as I ease back into my winter daze.
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