I have a story to tell. A few years ago my daughter and I were up north in Maine visiting family. I have been a single mom since 1992, my daughter was five. My folks asked us to go with them to visit my sister Brenda, her husband Tom and my two nephews Matthew and Michael. They have a nice Cape Cod house out in the country, away from the town itself. As we were going around many winding roads leading there I spotted a garage sale, what Maine folks live for on a Saturday morning! My dad piped up "I'll go back there with you." As we approached the home there were items on tables in the front of the garage. I immediately spotted a light brown teddy bear with blue paws and around his ears, and the cutest nose I've ever seen. It was love at first sight. I knew I had to have him and I saw his worth, for I loved cuddly teddy bears. I picked him up and drew him to me and felt his hug ability. I knew I wanted him. I asked the girl how much she was asking for him. She said "how about 25 cents"? I thought, what a bargain, although in my heart I knew that bear had a greater value, she just didn't want him anymore. I had felt like that bear before Christ came into my heart. So he was now part of my family. When we got home I washed him in Ivory Snow and found him to be a white bear with blue paws! He had not been washed in awhile I thought to myself. Someone had not been taking care of him. This 25 cent bear has been something I could hug when I was lonely and has graced my bed ever since. When I take naps I lay him on top of me, it comforts me. I love him. He served a most mighty purpose a few months ago. He laid beside my child who was in a coma, in a trauma unit of a hospital, with Jesus pinned to his collar. When I couldn't be there with her, I left my most precious bear beside her, so she wouldn't feel lonely, and I delicately placed some of my perfume on his collar so she would feel my presence. They told me I couldn't stay at the hospital with her, but as the bear had comforted me, I knew it would her too. We are all worth something. If God can take a 25 cent bear and do a mighty work through him, what could he do for you?
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
Friday, June 26, 2009
Heartstrings
Some sing of love that they long for.
Some don't need jail they're in their own prison.
Hug someone today it might be your last chance.
God can set your free if you open your heart.
Turtles live alone and inside a shell, so do some people.
If love flows like a river then why are you stuck on the bank?
You can't see real beauty in a rose if you only look at the thorns.
If love can move mountains what about God's grace?
Why do people make time when someone dies but not while they're still living?
Never feel sorry you loved someone it's why we're here.
If we'd all love one another we could extinguish all the hate in this world.
Why do people run when someone loves them?
You can't love another until you love yourself.
You can't give away what you don't have.
When you cry and pour out your soul God's listening.
Ever wondered why good people die young, there's a place for angels.
Sometimes others can see in us what we can't see in ourselves.
Love can move mountains; there is nothing too hard for God.
If music is good for the soul just think what love could do.
You can say many things in silence.
Some sing of love that they long for.
How sad to love someone that doesn't love themselves.
If my love were a rose garden it would bloom till eternity.
Sometimes love is not enough.
A genuine smile cannot be resisted.
Sometimes some of the deepest feelings lie hidden in the heart and are not spoken.
A rose is pretty to look at but the fragrance lasts only a moment, its memory forever.
How do you say goodbye to someone you love?
Tears are prayers sown from the soul.
Where there is great love, there are many tears.
When you have been hurt in love you close your heart but if you open your heart and let someone in, you may find a good friend and you may find your true love.
If you love someone don't waste precious time tell them, you may never get another chance.
Some people give away what they do not want anymore, true love gives away what is most precious to them.
Love is sacrifice.
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
Some don't need jail they're in their own prison.
Hug someone today it might be your last chance.
God can set your free if you open your heart.
Turtles live alone and inside a shell, so do some people.
If love flows like a river then why are you stuck on the bank?
You can't see real beauty in a rose if you only look at the thorns.
If love can move mountains what about God's grace?
Why do people make time when someone dies but not while they're still living?
Never feel sorry you loved someone it's why we're here.
If we'd all love one another we could extinguish all the hate in this world.
Why do people run when someone loves them?
You can't love another until you love yourself.
You can't give away what you don't have.
When you cry and pour out your soul God's listening.
Ever wondered why good people die young, there's a place for angels.
Sometimes others can see in us what we can't see in ourselves.
Love can move mountains; there is nothing too hard for God.
If music is good for the soul just think what love could do.
You can say many things in silence.
Some sing of love that they long for.
How sad to love someone that doesn't love themselves.
If my love were a rose garden it would bloom till eternity.
Sometimes love is not enough.
A genuine smile cannot be resisted.
Sometimes some of the deepest feelings lie hidden in the heart and are not spoken.
A rose is pretty to look at but the fragrance lasts only a moment, its memory forever.
How do you say goodbye to someone you love?
Tears are prayers sown from the soul.
Where there is great love, there are many tears.
When you have been hurt in love you close your heart but if you open your heart and let someone in, you may find a good friend and you may find your true love.
If you love someone don't waste precious time tell them, you may never get another chance.
Some people give away what they do not want anymore, true love gives away what is most precious to them.
Love is sacrifice.
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
Why?
It’s been almost two years now since you’ve gone,
And sometimes I feel as though I can’t go on
I often wonder why it took me so long,
To realize that I’m not really very strong.
For at times I think of you and cry,
And wonder, why oh why did you have to die?
But to ease the pain that lies deep within my heart,
I thank God for your life he blessed us with, and now we must part.
He gave us his chance to say goodbye,
And for that I am thankful,
But still I ask, why oh why did you have to die,
And oh how it hurts to cry…we miss you Lynn.
(I began writing to deal with the loss of my sister. This is one of my first poems, written in 1984, found in my collection titled Heartstrings, Copyright © 2002 by Library of Congress)
And sometimes I feel as though I can’t go on
I often wonder why it took me so long,
To realize that I’m not really very strong.
For at times I think of you and cry,
And wonder, why oh why did you have to die?
But to ease the pain that lies deep within my heart,
I thank God for your life he blessed us with, and now we must part.
He gave us his chance to say goodbye,
And for that I am thankful,
But still I ask, why oh why did you have to die,
And oh how it hurts to cry…we miss you Lynn.
(I began writing to deal with the loss of my sister. This is one of my first poems, written in 1984, found in my collection titled Heartstrings, Copyright © 2002 by Library of Congress)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Jesus heals a man born blind
A teacher once taught that "In a dark room, the blind man has the advantage. He is in a better position." He was speaking about spiritual blindness. Here is an excerpt from my Bible journal...
John 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
9:4 "As long as it is day (light) we must do the work of him who sent me. Night (darkness) is coming when no one can work.
5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6 Having said this he spit on the ground (used to heal a person's eyes, the ground is spoken of and used often in the Bible, dirt and dust, and the woman caught in adultery, wipe the dust off your feet. Jesus wrote in the dirt. He told the man born blind "go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." (Man was obedient).
11 "The man they call Jesus," he replied made some mud and put it on my eyes, so I went and washed and then I could see." (Man born blind was obedient; he was healed on a Sabbath day).
12 "Where is this man," they asked him. "I don't know," he said.
16 "He is a prophet." (The Jews always seemed to need proof).
21 "Ask him, he is of age, he will speak for himself."
23 "He is of age, ask him." (Were the parents willing to risk their son being put out of the synagogue but not themselves, was this right? Twice they told the Jews to ask their son.
22 "His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews."
24 They're accusing Jesus of being a sinner.
25 The blind man said "I don't know" twice in this passage, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see." (He's rejoicing in his healing). He's not concerned of who did it. Do we sometimes act like the Jews and have to question everything instead of giving glory to God. Maybe it even prevents us from praising him or delays the praising. When this happens it's not expressing our faith in God the way he intended, but doubting. God wants us to be believers. "The work of God is this to believe in the one I have sent." I love the response of the blind man. I feel as though I want to rejoice with him. The Pharisees spent too much time investigating things. Like trying to be God themselves, to me that's idol worshiping.
27 He answered. "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again?" "Do you want to become his disciples, too?" I think the blind man had immediately following his healing decided to follow Jesus.
28 (He was insulted and suffered because he'd decided to follow Jesus),
29 (The Pharisees did not believe in Jesus because they couldn't prove him to be who he said he was. Even the healing of the blind man didn't change their mind. What stubbornness. I'm proud of how the blind man stood up for Jesus to the Pharisees, he was brave. "You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes."
30 The blind man was not afraid of them especially where he said "Now that is remarkable, you don't know where he comes from yet he opened my eyes." (I think he was very good at defending Jesus and brave. He didn't know that Jesus was the "Son of Man" but he chose to believe by faith in him, take him at his word because he knew what he had done for him).
31 "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will."
32 Now look at the testimony he offers to the Pharisees "nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind."
33 "If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (I'm proud of the blind man; he risked being thrown out of the temple and stood up for Jesus. We should speak up for Jesus like he did. They were the ones sinning because they didn't believe, how tragic. How many people today are acting like the Pharisees and have to have everything proven to them before they'll believe by faith? Who were they to judge him? I see several sins here by the Pharisees 1) they didn't believe 2) they were idol worshipping themselves 3) false testimony-they said he was "steeped" in sin at birth. We're all sinners who need a Savior. They acted like they were without sin and set themselves up to be this man's judge, very dangerous. Their lack of unbelieving to me was the greatest sin. The blind man wanted to know more about Jesus when Jesus asked him "do you believe in the Son of Man?" He said to Jesus "tell me so that I may believe." Jesus said, "in fact, he is the one speaking with you. Then the man said "Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him." Beautiful demonstration of how we are to respond to Jesus. I love Jesus.
41 Jesus accused the Pharisees of sin. To him, I believe, "to see" meant, "believe." I think some of us are blind, it means we need to believe in Jesus. Eyes are used figuratively and literally. The blind man was without sin, he could now see. The Pharisees were blind, they couldn't see, had sin.
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
John 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
9:4 "As long as it is day (light) we must do the work of him who sent me. Night (darkness) is coming when no one can work.
5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6 Having said this he spit on the ground (used to heal a person's eyes, the ground is spoken of and used often in the Bible, dirt and dust, and the woman caught in adultery, wipe the dust off your feet. Jesus wrote in the dirt. He told the man born blind "go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." (Man was obedient).
11 "The man they call Jesus," he replied made some mud and put it on my eyes, so I went and washed and then I could see." (Man born blind was obedient; he was healed on a Sabbath day).
12 "Where is this man," they asked him. "I don't know," he said.
16 "He is a prophet." (The Jews always seemed to need proof).
21 "Ask him, he is of age, he will speak for himself."
23 "He is of age, ask him." (Were the parents willing to risk their son being put out of the synagogue but not themselves, was this right? Twice they told the Jews to ask their son.
22 "His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews."
24 They're accusing Jesus of being a sinner.
25 The blind man said "I don't know" twice in this passage, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see." (He's rejoicing in his healing). He's not concerned of who did it. Do we sometimes act like the Jews and have to question everything instead of giving glory to God. Maybe it even prevents us from praising him or delays the praising. When this happens it's not expressing our faith in God the way he intended, but doubting. God wants us to be believers. "The work of God is this to believe in the one I have sent." I love the response of the blind man. I feel as though I want to rejoice with him. The Pharisees spent too much time investigating things. Like trying to be God themselves, to me that's idol worshiping.
27 He answered. "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again?" "Do you want to become his disciples, too?" I think the blind man had immediately following his healing decided to follow Jesus.
28 (He was insulted and suffered because he'd decided to follow Jesus),
29 (The Pharisees did not believe in Jesus because they couldn't prove him to be who he said he was. Even the healing of the blind man didn't change their mind. What stubbornness. I'm proud of how the blind man stood up for Jesus to the Pharisees, he was brave. "You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes."
30 The blind man was not afraid of them especially where he said "Now that is remarkable, you don't know where he comes from yet he opened my eyes." (I think he was very good at defending Jesus and brave. He didn't know that Jesus was the "Son of Man" but he chose to believe by faith in him, take him at his word because he knew what he had done for him).
31 "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will."
32 Now look at the testimony he offers to the Pharisees "nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind."
33 "If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (I'm proud of the blind man; he risked being thrown out of the temple and stood up for Jesus. We should speak up for Jesus like he did. They were the ones sinning because they didn't believe, how tragic. How many people today are acting like the Pharisees and have to have everything proven to them before they'll believe by faith? Who were they to judge him? I see several sins here by the Pharisees 1) they didn't believe 2) they were idol worshipping themselves 3) false testimony-they said he was "steeped" in sin at birth. We're all sinners who need a Savior. They acted like they were without sin and set themselves up to be this man's judge, very dangerous. Their lack of unbelieving to me was the greatest sin. The blind man wanted to know more about Jesus when Jesus asked him "do you believe in the Son of Man?" He said to Jesus "tell me so that I may believe." Jesus said, "in fact, he is the one speaking with you. Then the man said "Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him." Beautiful demonstration of how we are to respond to Jesus. I love Jesus.
41 Jesus accused the Pharisees of sin. To him, I believe, "to see" meant, "believe." I think some of us are blind, it means we need to believe in Jesus. Eyes are used figuratively and literally. The blind man was without sin, he could now see. The Pharisees were blind, they couldn't see, had sin.
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
At the Cross
I sit here at the cross
of the Mission of Nombre de Dios
in St. Augustine, Florida
it is so peaceful
I hear the church bells ring
and the birds sing their last song
before the sun sets
and they go to their nests
I see the reflection of the cross on the water
a boat arrives in the bay with a load of fish
the seagulls sing one after another
The clouds appear in the sky
as angels in white with blue robes
Two men in a motor boat
have been fishing for clams in the bay
he steers it with a long handle in the back
People pass me by
while out walking their dogs
it is the best place in the world
to be sitting on the base of the cross
My heart is filled to overflowing
with the peace of God
at the foot of the cross
Church bells ring again, three times
ding dong, ding dong, ding dong
then five loud single notes follow
dong, dong, dong, dong, dong,
The sun appears out of the clouds
and warms me
I wish that I could stay here forever...
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
of the Mission of Nombre de Dios
in St. Augustine, Florida
it is so peaceful
I hear the church bells ring
and the birds sing their last song
before the sun sets
and they go to their nests
I see the reflection of the cross on the water
a boat arrives in the bay with a load of fish
the seagulls sing one after another
The clouds appear in the sky
as angels in white with blue robes
Two men in a motor boat
have been fishing for clams in the bay
he steers it with a long handle in the back
People pass me by
while out walking their dogs
it is the best place in the world
to be sitting on the base of the cross
My heart is filled to overflowing
with the peace of God
at the foot of the cross
Church bells ring again, three times
ding dong, ding dong, ding dong
then five loud single notes follow
dong, dong, dong, dong, dong,
The sun appears out of the clouds
and warms me
I wish that I could stay here forever...
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Prayer for my Child
How hard it is to say goodnight,
and wonder if you'll sleep too tight,
for if you didn't wake tomorrow,
it would be my greatest sorrow.
I've loved you deeply right from the start,
and if there were a window to my heart,
you'd find all the love you've given me,
your life it means so much to me.
So we'll take each day as it comes,
and say our prayers, when the day is done,
whatever life brings we'll see it through,
as often wishes do come true.
A gift you are from the one above,
you've given my life meaning,
and filled it with love,
So precious God above
who sent you to me,
might I ask that you set her free, for one more day.
Heartstrings, Copyright © 2002 by Library of Congress
and wonder if you'll sleep too tight,
for if you didn't wake tomorrow,
it would be my greatest sorrow.
I've loved you deeply right from the start,
and if there were a window to my heart,
you'd find all the love you've given me,
your life it means so much to me.
So we'll take each day as it comes,
and say our prayers, when the day is done,
whatever life brings we'll see it through,
as often wishes do come true.
A gift you are from the one above,
you've given my life meaning,
and filled it with love,
So precious God above
who sent you to me,
might I ask that you set her free, for one more day.
Heartstrings, Copyright © 2002 by Library of Congress
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Oppression and the Unborn
A sonnet in 8 beats, likened to the rhythm of a heart. On Abortion, from a dead fetus to the doctor who took its life...
I did not stand a chance at life
Because you killed me with a knife
And when I screamed from my mother's womb
You turned away and left the room
Took off your white doctor's jacket
And your gloves smothered in my blood
Then you stepped into the shower
But could not wash away your sin
Had you thought what I might have been
A minister, teacher, your friend
But now, I lay in a cold grave
And my blood you can't wash away...
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Psalm 82:3).
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
I did not stand a chance at life
Because you killed me with a knife
And when I screamed from my mother's womb
You turned away and left the room
Took off your white doctor's jacket
And your gloves smothered in my blood
Then you stepped into the shower
But could not wash away your sin
Had you thought what I might have been
A minister, teacher, your friend
But now, I lay in a cold grave
And my blood you can't wash away...
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Psalm 82:3).
Heartstrings Two, Copyright © 2008 by Library of Congress
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