Branches

shadows dance
in the distance
like wind-blown trees

Beauty

There comes a moment in every life where breathing ceases and thinking halts – overcome by beauty, majesty, and joy – I pray
your life contains many of these.

Assistance

Christianity isn’t for the weak-willed who can’t get by on their own without something to lean on. Christianity is for those who are smart enough to realize they won’t get very far on their own and are humble enough to admit a need for assistance.

Is Your Love

Softer than a whisper, You call my name to me
Brighter than a glimmer, shining on the blue sea
Warmer than the sunlight, cooler than the moon glow
Older than all of time, newer than a virgin snow
Is Your love, is Your love, is Your love for me

More welcoming than winter’s bliss to see
Your face smiling at me
Much sweeter than a summer’s kiss embracing for eternity
Is Your love, is Your love, is Your love for me

Smoother than the stillness, You consume my last breath
Bigger than the emptiness, absolutely endless
Higher than my song will rise, truer than I’ll ever show
Clearer than expansive skies, greater than I’ll ever know
Is Your love, is Your love, is Your love for me

Envy's Deception

Red and green the flowers bloom
Envying the silver moon
Dimly the moon glows at night
Envying the sun’s bright light
Violently the sun’s flares burst
Envying the peaceful earth
Locked on its axis the earth spins
Envying the free oceans
The oceans foam with every breeze
Envying the stable trees
High above the old trees tower
Envying the simple flower
So heed this cycle’s proclamation
Envy averts appreciation

Blessings

In this world full of compromise
Blessings are often in disguise
They come hidden in the day-to-day
Where mundane chores get in the way
They wear masks of broken dreams
Where disbelief leaves them unseen

Truly, hope and joy abound
And yet they can only be found
When I choose to love somebody else
Instead of thinking of myself

So the next time you wonder
Where your blessing might be
Take a good look around at all those you see
And remember as you gaze into their eyes
There goes another blessing in disguise

I Laugh

I laugh as my heart sighs
I laugh as my soul cries
I sigh as my heart breaks
I cry as my soul aches
I laugh to hide the pain
I laugh but all in vain
I hide my silent tears
I cry, yet no one hears
I laugh, but as I do
You laugh while crying, too

Notebooks

Endless notebooks filled with meaningless words
Lost in isolation – deserted and abandoned
Neglect eating away at them like cancer on the page
No hope of resurrection
No chance for being useful and productive
Nothing to look forward to – but the dust
Collecting on the shelf

Poetic Presents

I would not trade for my sanity
This precious gift bestowed on me
To write the poem in verse and rhyme
To kiss the curse of counting time
Emotions flow through what I pen
A story told without an end
Glean what you must, say what you will
My hand continues writing still

Related

I see your world through my eyes
I hear your decisions through my understanding
I feel your pain with my emotions
I know your desires with my demanding
I try to be great with my forethought
I try to relate but I cannot
I am bound by my own limitations
I am found in the realm of sensations

The Ego

Let go of the ego, it’s holding you back
It only knows loneliness, heartache and lack
“Never Enough” is its battle cry
Let go of the ego; the ego must die

Let go of the ego, it’s trying to kill you
It beckons disaster and attracts dirt like glue
“You’re nothing without me” is its loathsome lie
Let go of the ego; the ego must die

Let go of the ego, it’s not the real you
It holds conditions based on what you do
“I’m how you earn love” is its final try
Let go of the ego; the ego must die

Vanity

I use you
To gain acceptance and approval
I abuse you
To see myself as gaining power
I refuse you
The privilege of doing the same

Volley

Sand scorches bare feet
Sun beats down on tanned bodies
Once in position
Game begins
Initial stroke
Returned
Body sacrifice
Retrieval successful
Sand sticks to sweaty skin
No distraction
Up for spike
Received
Situation reversed
Lean muscles tighten
Sudden movement
Swift and smooth
Preparation
Impact
Irretrievable
Score

- dedicated to Forrest Haack

Flying

You hold me up. You lift me high
You set me straight and teach me to fly
You make me soar on eagle’s wings
Look at me now, I’m flying
All of the struggles and all of the storms
Are the very things that make me strong
Every heartache and every hurt
Make me rely evermore on Your word
So I raise my hands, and You lift my face
You breathe on me, and I’m taken away
You make me soar on eagle’s wings
Look at me now, I’m flying

Descending

The spring rain falls
Like drops of heaven licking my skin
The warm wind calls
Like music flowing from within
The lovers swoon
Like the tides sweeping the shore
The flowers bloom
Like paint spilled on the floor
The branches sway
Like a ballet dance
I’m blown away
By the romance

PS-5

To You I pray
I cry for help
Lord, please save me
From myself

Expectation
For my request
In Your house, Lord
To be Your guest

Spread protection
By Your mercy
Make straight Your way
Before me

Believe

All holy scriptures, regardless of religion, boil down to one simple point: that we believe. What we believe determines what we think about, how we act, how we react, and how we perceive the world around us. Belief is at the root of all thoughts and behaviors. Everything we do or avoid doing is because we believe the action will give us pleasure or cause us pain. Everything we think or feel is based on what we believe to be true at any given moment. If I believe a friend is ignoring me or rejecting me, I will feel hurt. If I believe I am right about a certain point, then I will think the opposing view is wrong. Anything we do, think or feel can get traced back to what we believe.

Watch

God loves me, and He is on my side. I may not get everything I want, but I have everything I need. My situation may be bleak, but I know He watches over me all the time. I can keep a positive attitude through the most difficult circumstances when I keep my focus on praising God and thanking Him for giving me life.