God Offers Us His Warm Embrace

God, who fills the universe,who made it all, the stars and space,did choose to put mankind on earthand focus on this tiny place.The perfect world he made for uswas broken by our parents’ sin,and nothing we try is enoughto heal it, make it whole again. Our God, whose heart is endless love,could never leave hisContinue reading “God Offers Us His Warm Embrace”

Choose the Light of Life!

He made a world from love of life and beauty, work and rest. For rest he made the night. For work, the day, and governing them both he made the light: a sun to silt the day with gold, sa moon to silver through the lovely dark.His hands plunged deep intomoist earth, newly made andContinue reading “Choose the Light of Life!”

Gentle in the Storm

In the middle of this whirlwind may gentleness become the strong, long root that fixes me to what is true, that calls to othersto come to youto find that inner confidence,that deep ironic peace,that stands against the gale.Only you, living in me, can takemy frail impotency andempower it to healwhen all aroundinjustice rules and wipesContinue reading “Gentle in the Storm”

I Am Yours

Because you love me, forgave me,                chose me and then sent me,                want to use me, I bring the only offering I can:                my self, my soul, my life. You set aside the Levites for yourself,                a wave offering to you,                committed to serve, a living sacrifice for ongoing worship.Continue reading “I Am Yours”

Wait and See

Wait, he said. When it is the right time we will see with our eyes what he has planned, wonders in answer to prayer. Ask, he said. Always be faithful in prayer,aching hearts pleading for mercy,allowing him to do his good work.Amazed, we will yet see his wisdom.Intercede, he said.Invite him to intervenein the heartsContinue reading “Wait and See”

Like a Weaned Child

Your heartbeat spins the galaxies and pats my back to calm me. You are so good, and true, and I am loved by you. Compassion is the constantinstantoutflow of your heartin perfect syncwith wisdom,beyond myopic sight.I’m nesting here,the shufflinghush ofangel wings subduing other sound.This quietwithout answersis the peace that heals my wound.And yet your WordhangsContinue reading “Like a Weaned Child”

You Are My Shade

You are my shade when the sun beats down with tropic heat, when its beams creep in like crafty spies, when it hides its face but penetrates. You are my shade. You are my shadewhen the enemy blasts with full attack,when he sneaks in wearing a new costume,when he comes behind me to whisper lies.YouContinue reading “You Are My Shade”

Punctuating the Separations

I greet distance once again, geographic separation that clips my best strong heart connections, separates close friends, my loved ones. The threads of tendernesstrail tears over continentsand disappear intothe salt of seas.“Goodbye!” is the wordthat stabs me, punctuation tothe phrases of my lifeeven while it sends my love after a heart.Delight moves throughshared sequences(some catapultedContinue reading “Punctuating the Separations”

To Do What He Requires

To live out justice means to hate what is evil embrace what is good act on it with wisdom take note of what’s broken speak like a prophet intervene to right wrongs when the Spirit leads the way freeing slaves of greed-mastersor of dirty justice systemsor of cultural traditionsthat demean and disrespectthe dignities of peopleContinue reading “To Do What He Requires”

On a Thread

It’s a quick walk on a fine thread, this gift of life, this privilege of breath and beating heart and strength to step ahead. So many disappear, flash out of sight, thread cut off before its final length unwinds. We shout “No!,” and cry, and move along, subdued, with more awareness of the dangers, rightContinue reading “On a Thread”