Where Hope and Peace Collide

Oftentimes, I feel an internal battle is taking place between hope and peace. Knowing both are attributes God extends, I know the two are not contradictory but complementary. Then, upon seeing their interdependence in Romans 15:13, their connection…and their tension…became clearer.

Where Hope and Peace Collide

Hope without peace turns to anguish,
As dreams collapse to the floor;
Waiting in anticipation,
Can leave one with wanting far more.

Peace without hope becomes fruitless,
As dreams are all boxed-up and stored;
Reluctant to sow for tomorrow,
The new grains of hope go unpoured.

Hope without peace is expectant,
It hastens to think something’s due;
It holds out its hand for wages,
And fails to see service is due.

Peace without hope is complacent,
It lacks any motion or drive;
In stillness it grows apathetic,
And soon is unable to thrive.

Hope without peace turns to hunger,
Like waves crashing upon the shore;
With crestings of desperation,
It drowns out all peace with its roar.

Peace without hope becomes hopeless,
Thus failing to uphold itself;
For peace is not meant to discourage,
Nor place hopefulness on a shelf.

Thus peace stands by leaning on hope,
And hope is erected by peace;
If either should try to be master,
Support for the other would cease.

In truth these two do not struggle,
Nor challenge each other through strife;
Rather they’re strengthened through tension,
A bind that grants peace and hope life.

So pull on hope’s reins without fretting,
Clasp firmly the bridle of peace;
Fulfillment is found in their tension,
and hopelessness finds its release.

Not Yet – An Easter Poem

 

Somber, silent, sacredly,

She ventured to the tomb;

Fearful, fragile, fretfully,

Her mind replayed the doom.

 

Beaten, stricken, spat upon,

How could this be her LORD?

Hands that once had made her whole,

Now bound by one small cord?

Continue reading “Not Yet – An Easter Poem”

Nevertheless

This poem is the result of a challenge, which led to an inspiration.  A dear friend asked if I would pen a poem using this word as it was a favorite of hers.  I told her I would try, but in all honesty, I didn’t foresee the emergence of a poem from such a word.  But, as with the word whatever, God showed me the wealth within this word and then…oh my goodness…how could I not write about its worth?  I hope this poem reveals the power and humility wrapped up in such a seemingly simple word…not unlike the way power and humility were once wrapped up in The seemingly simple Word.

Nevertheless

 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me–nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”  – Luke 22:42

 

“Nevertheless,” His words rang out,

To Father from the Son;

“Nevertheless, not what I will,

But what You will be done.”

 

“Nevertheless, I’ll drink this cup,

It’s what I came to do.

Though it will be a bitter drink,

My sup will man rescue.”

  Continue reading “Nevertheless”

Whatever

This poem grew out of my “Word of the Year” for 2016.  To state the obvious, my word for that year was ‘Whatever’.  As I revisited it, I realized it can be God’s “Word of the Year” too.  In fact, I really cannot say whatever to God apart from Him first having said whatever to me!  I hope this poem conveys that sentiment…and reshapes your thoughts toward the word ‘Whatever’.

Whatever

One day a man passed by a church,

And heard the choir’s endeavor;

It turned his head, but not his heart,

He shrugged and said, “Whatever.”   

One day a man went to a church,

Where once he’d said, “I’ll never!”

The pews were hard, but denser still,

The mind that thought, “Whatever.”

One day a church walked by a man,

In search of ‘whosoevers’;

They shared God’s love in word and deed,

And told of His ‘whatevers’.

“Whatever you ask, you will receive,

Though My will pulls the lever;

Whatever you do, as unto Me,

My hand will bless forever.”

“Wherever you go, I’ll be with you,

I’ll not forsake you…ever.

Whenever you fall, I’ll pick you up,

My love you cannot sever.”

The man now listened with his heart,

But softly asked, “Whatever?”

“Whatever I’ve done…I still may come?”

God smiled and said, “Whatever!”

One day a man became the church,

His motto was, ‘Whatever’;

“Whatever You ask, that I will do,

Your name proclaim forever.”

“Whatever I think, it will be true,

And noble and just and pure;

Whatever I speak, I’ll but confess,

Your grace and mercy are sure.”

“Whatever I ask, I’ll ask in faith,

And say, ‘Thy will be done.’

Whatever I face, I’ll face with You,

From trials I will not run.”

One day the Church became its people,

Its walls were felled forever;

And all who gave it shape and form,

Were known to say, “Whatever.”

Scriptural Whatevers:

John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

John 14:13 – “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Matthew 21:22 – “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

I John 5:14-15 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything, according to His will, He hears us.  And, if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

I Corinthians 10:31 – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Colossians 3:23 – “And whatever you do,  do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”

Grace’s Cocoon

Grace’s Cocoon

 

There once was a very hungry caterpillar,

Who nibbled and chewed as it crept;

Eating leaf after leaf,

It could find no relief,

But ate everything right and then left.

There once was a very chubby caterpillar,

So big it had grown over time;

That it soon settled down,

Spun itself a soft gown,

And, all dressed, it awaited its prime.

There once was a very cozy caterpillar,

Tucked safely within its cocoon;

Under layers it’d spun,

Till its purpose was done,

Knowing change would be evident soon.

There once was a very beautiful butterfly,

Who emerged from a silken bed;

Once wrapped up and held tight,

It then took off in flight,

As it stretched its wings over its head.

There once was a very hungry child of God,

Who nibbled and chewed on His word;

Eating Proverbs and Psalms,

She would feast without qualms,

As each morsel her emptiness cured.

There once was a very well-fed child of God,

Whose wisdom had grown with each bite;

Now content to slow down,

Draped in grace as a gown,

She awaited God’s promise of flight.

There once was a very cozy child of God,

Tucked safely within arms of grace;

Held secure by God’s love,

Mercy wrapped like a glove,

And transformed her within Love’s embrace.

There now is a very beautiful child of God,

Whose wings take her off to great heights;

Over doubts, over fears,

Through the storms, through the tears,

In her wings of God’s grace, she delights!