Guiding Light……..

For my Auntie, Uncle and cousins and their families…….praying for you all unceasingly and may God sustain you through the coming days, weeks and months……xo

Guiding Light…..

Lift up your eyes, lift them high

Look up to the hills and past the heavy mountainous sigh

A light, a light shining there, way above

God’s unmistakable perfect tender love

He will light your path and guide your way

He will carry you when words are too hard to say

He will comfort you when tears freely flow

Taking you from the unfathomable depths below

And placing you in the presence of His holy throne

Where He will hear your inaudible groan

Your lips may not move but He does know

And so He inexhaustibly does show

The tender love He has for you

Promising to sustain you through

This time of uncertainty, heartache and pain

When tears flow like the falling rain

Murmuring lips and glistening eyes

Heavy hearts and sorrowful sighs

He knows it all, beyond and more

For you are His child He does adore

He will hold you and care for you with such perfect love

That nothing will happen without His direction from above

Not even one hair will fall from your head

He will care for you just as He has said

His ways you may not understand at all or ever

Yet you are in His tender loving Hands forever

Hold on to the promises and the words He has spoken

For it is His covenant that cannot be broken

He is your magnificent perfect loving God who came as a perfect man

He is your great High priest that felt the immense pain of Gods plan

He is your powerful Saviour that sympathises from His overflowing heart

For He suffered immeasurably so you may never be apart

“He is your light, your refuge and your salvation

He is your strength in all your tribulation

His goodness He will show to you each day

With His guiding light to show you His way

Take courage for His steadfast love is sure

Wait for the Lord; His mercy shall endure……”

psalm 27 & psalm 121

Resist…..

This is a poem I put together for the Women’s League Magazine. The magazine topic for this latest edition was Reformation. I was asked to write a poem in reference to this. Considering the magazine’s readership is women I hoped to write about Huguenot women.  This poem is based on the life of Marie Durand, a prisoner of conscience, she spent 38 years, from the age of fifteen, in the Tower of Constance, a jail which held women. To be released the women had to recant their faith. For Marie Durand this was not an option and so she spent her years reading, praying, singing and administering love to her fellow prisoners. She also spent a lot of time writing appeals to those in authority at that time. An inspirational story worthy of recognition…..

RESIST

 

River flowing crimson red

Bodies were slain and blood was shed

The torment, the pain, the wicked plans

By the demonically inspired hands of man

Evil reigned through torture and hate

All those that loved God; eradicate

Recant their faith in God our Lord

To escape the wicked ones bloody sword

Not an option, not a thought

The price was too high, she cannot be bought

Her love for God instilled by Him

Was carried heavenward in every psalm and hymn

Her mother was taken from her life

At 15 years old she became a wife

Her father sort her protection this way

Yet he and her husband arrested the same day

Her brother, the Pastor, remained in hiding still

So she too, was taken against her will

A prisoner of conscience she became

All for resisting and protecting Gods name

She was brought to the tower, dark and grey

The Tower of Constance where many other women lay

Desperately clinging to the faintest of hope

Yet many had slid down that slippery slope

The pain, the loneliness, the grief and tears

Shed for the unforgiving endless years

How much more could they endure

Before that key unlocked the heavy prison door

Humid and hot, damp and cold

The season’s came and went, untold

Yet the day she arrived the sun did shine

Her warmth and love gloriously divine

A ray of sunshine she did bring

Through all the hymns she did sing

She nursed the sick and prayed with the dying

She prayed for them daily and comforted the sighing

She wrote letters to officials and the truth she fought

The privilege of fresh air she brought

The most coveted possession she did acquire

Was a Psalter book that filled their hearts desire

Family members would visit the outside of the tower and call out

Hoping to hear their loved ones shout

That they were alive, they were still there

But mostly they came to share

Their love for God through songs of praise

The voices of the imprisoned, ablaze

Singing loud and clear

All that they held dear

Angelic voices ascending

Faithfully with a will unbending

Of their love for God and that He will endure

Their life in His hands was perfectly secure

They lived in the most trying time

When loving God was the unforgivable crime

No sign of change, this unbearable existence

Endless suffering and enduring resistance

All the reasons to give up and die

Yet she fought on as another year went by

She fought for the crown rights of Christ our Lord

Praying for a life outside restored

Thirty-eight years she continued on

Lifting spirits with psalm and song

Until one day a visit was made

By the Governor who she had managed to persuade

Through her letter writing and correspondence sought

He was visibly distraught

At what he saw

The key never again locked that door

Freedom came at a price for Marie Durand

No family, loved ones or home or land

Yet God provided for her as He had all along

For another eleven years amongst His earthly throng

He then called her to His heavenly home

Where she is singing His praises around His glorious throne

His own He protected in amazing ways

Their resolve in such adversity, to Him be the praise

In the Tower of Constance in the concrete floor

An engraving does implore

One word does read and insist….

Resist

A stark reminder for us today

That the Christian liberties of worship and to pray,

To love our God and read His Word

Many endured pain and atrocities unheard

For this freedom we live in may we never forget

That God holds His own through every threat

He bought us through the blood of His Son

His work is done

Perfect, divine and glorious is His ways

Through all the imperfection of our earthly days

Tender Hands…..

With Mothers Day just been this past weekend it caused me to think about grandmothers and how much influence they have in the lives of their grandchildren. I was blessed with two grandmothers. One I had the privilege of sharing 35 beautiful years. The other, sadly, I never knew as she passed away a couple of months before I was born, yet I still feel I know her through the stories relatives have shared. One thing that both grandmothers had in common was the love they shared with their family. This poem is an actual recount of the last day I spent with my grandmother on this earth. I visited her with Mason, my son, who was 5 months old. This precious time I spent with her and him together was God-given. The tender smiles they exchanged between the two of them is something I treasure. We knew her earthly body was fading away, she entered into eternal glory the following day.

For all the grandmothers out there, treasure your grandchildren, your tender hands are always needed….

Tender Hands….

~*~*~*~

She lay peacefully between the crisp white sheets,

Eyes closed, her hands resting beside her cheeks.

Soft grey curls lay gently on her pillow,

A breeze whispers, the cream lacy curtains lightly billow.

Her Bible rests on the nightstand, tattered and torn,

Photographs on the walls are beautifully worn.

Fragrance of flowers, from her garden, fill the air,

In the corner, sits her favourite chair,

The wool in her knitting basket, overflows,

Just like her love, she so easily shows…..

I quietly reach out, touching her fingers,

Oh, how thick the air is, as my childhood lingers.

Her hands, warm and soft to touch.

These hands that have loved so much,

Will forever be holding her husband’s down the aisle,

And caressing the cheek, for a newborns first smile.

The numerous tears she helped wipe away,

Many more times they were folded to pray.

Lovingly kneading the sweetest dough,

Patiently teaching her grandchildren, how to sew.

Turning the pages of her Bible, each day,

Trusting all, that God has to say.

Learning from Him and His tender Hands,

She showed us clearly, He always understands…..

Slowly, she opens her eyes and smiles,

Despite all her bodily earthly trials.

What a delight, what a blessing,

Her tender hand reaches out and starts caressing

The hand of a baby; a great-grandson,

Her work on this earth is not yet done.

These precious tender hands that are reaching out,

Is what true love is all about,

Worn and wrinkled,

Soiled and crinkled,

Beautifully weathered by God above,

For He showered her with His grace…..His love

The Gift….

In a few days it will be Good Friday and we will remember the suffering and death on the cross of Gods beloved Son, Jesus Christ. How often in this life we can get caught up in the guilt of sin and how it can bring us down, doubt sets in and we find it hard to believe God will forgive us. Although we live in this state of sinfulness we are forgiven. Our sins from our past and our sins in the future were paid for on that cross all those years ago and so we can get up each morning with joy in our hearts despite our sins and weakness’. What a precious gift God has given us…..

The Gift….

~~~

Wearily I look out across the sea,

Strands of hair whipping about uncontrollably,

Yet matching so well with the thoughts racing through my head,

Hidden too easily, this feeling of dread.

The salt stings my wind-swept cheeks,

Guilty, guilty, the dark quiet voice slowly speaks.

Dried up tears mixed with thick salty air,

Crashing waves reaching out with words; unfair…

Sadness slowly infiltrates to the corners of my soul,

My eyes are opened to my selfish thought control.

I can hear the whispering sounds from the wind,

I am condemned for I have sinned…..

Once again…..

A blackened stain

Once more….

I have added to the score

Guilt weighs heavily on my heart,

That dark voice attempting to rip my soul apart.

My skin is cold and I shiver,

My lips  begin to quiver,

I wrap myself around my grief,

My eyes searching the horizon for that blessed relief,

That blessed Gift; that gift of grace,

The Gift that removes all sinful stains and leaves no trace,

That Gift that no other can give,

The only Gift that can perfectly forgive.

The sun’s heavenly glorious colours set,

It is, I know, that Christ has paid my debt,

His precious blood was shed,

So that this accusing scarlet thread,

That weaves through my life,

Of all this sinfulness and strife,

Is made pure, white as snow,

For there is now, no debt I owe.

Such pain and suffering He did withstand,

I hear the waves gently hit the sand,

God sent the gift of His Son,

Through Him all the forgiving work was done,

His life was not taken, He laid it down,

This sacrificial act of great renown.

The wind blows softly across my face,

I look up slowly to the dark divine starry place,

And I see….

Very clearly….

On this beautiful, raw, heart wrenching, imperfect side of heaven

Through Christ’s death, I am forgiven……

Playing in the Mire…..

After an extended time away from my blog I am happy to back………rejuvenated and renewed. God’s blessing for 2012…….only He can fill your hearts desire.

Playing in the Mire…

~~~

The world just goes on by,

Faster and faster with a groaning sigh.

Round and round people go,

Reaping what they deliberately sow.

More, more and more still.

Enough, is never enough to get one’s fill.

Another this or another that,

Anything to stop from feeling so flat…..

~~~

“I will be happy if that new job comes along,

Or those new clothes will help me feel like I belong.

Surely that new house will fix my heart’s desire,

Or invest and invest some more, the earlier I can retire.

Another holiday promises to  fix,

The heart of unhappiness and this sadness mix.

I know that car is just what I really need,

Because surely then I will succeed,

At being happier than ever before,

Then I won’t need anything anymore.

I’ll have it all just right,

And everything will be alright….”

~~~

How often these words are spoken,

In this world that is broken.

How often do we hear,

That unhappiness will disappear,

When all this is achieved and more,

Just have what your heart does yearn for and adore.

Listen attentively to that inward call,

Apparently the world has an answer to this all,

The heartache of loneliness

And unrelenting unhappiness…..

And yet the cries of the hearts desire

Is unfulfilled by the cycle of playing in the mire…….

Bandages and Kisses….

Bandages and Kisses……

***

Watching from a distance, you are unaware

All I need, is for you to know, that I care

I so wish that I could return

To the innocent years of tender concern

To when you were young

And your hurts could be fixed by me, your Mum

With bandages and kisses

Pinky promises and fairy wishes

~

Your eyes are sad as you turn to me

Smiling halfheartedly

You come to me and I hug you tight

You sob with all your might

I know I cannot fix this for you

Oh how I wish we could go back through

The time of bandages and kisses 

Pinky promises and fairy wishes

~

Our eyes meet, words unspoken

Your tender heart is torn and broken

I gently wipe away the tears from your face

We need Gods loving grace

It will be alright

I say with eyes so bright

Wondering about the days

When the mending was in simple ways

Of bandages and kisses

Pinky promises and fairy wishes

~

You look at me knowing what is true

Mum cannot fix this for you

She has the bandages and the kisses

And will make pinky promises and sort out fairy wishes

But these cannot fix a broken heart

That others have torn apart

These cannot fix hurt feelings

That others trod on with thoughtless dealings

They are unable to heal

This pain that is so real

~

Hold on to the truth, my dear one, and have the courage to show

All you have learnt and undoubtedly know

That complete healing is intricately through

What is entirely perfect and true…..

That only Gods grace can completely bind up the pain

Which He covers and He balms with the kisses of His name

It is His promise of hope for what tomorrow brings

That will carry us through the skies, soaring on the Eagles wings……

Emily Grace….

For John and Nellie and Family. May God comfort you during this time of sadness. His mercies are new each day again….. 

“Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!”

Thomas O. Chisolm & William M. Runyan

 

 

EMILY GRACE…

~*~*~*~*~

Her life so precious, tender and sweet

Yet fulfilled by God, He did complete

According to His divine and glorious plan

She is the perfect gift from His loving Hand

Her life so precious, beyond what we know

God’s kindness and goodness He does bestow

She is His favour, a blessing from God above

Now bundled in His eternal heavenly love

Emily Grace, a dear treasured little child

God held her here on this earth for just a little while

And gave her a Dad and Mum who loved her so

Knowing that one day they were to let her go

Her brothers and sisters longed to win her heart

Yet knowing that it was God who directed her path

God knew her before the world began

He numbered her days according to His plan

She is His child, His promises are true

The covenant with Abraham and Isaac, are for her life too

His perfection amongst this vale of tears

His guidance through all the earthly fears

He held onto her life with such gentle loving care

Through her precious life He did declare

That she is His child, His chosen one

Saved and redeemed by God’s only Son

An heir, crowned with His lustrous fame

She is His, by His Holy name

Her life given to her is perfect now

In Him and through Him we do avow

A precious treasure, dear Emily Grace

Is now with her beloved Maker face to face….

~*~*~*~*~*~