Sunday, August 31, 2008

Streaks of Yesterday

I ran
skirt flapping in the wind
breathless
but something called me
pulled me away
from my idle day
Why did I come?
I wondered
And then I saw it
on the other side of the barren field
a molten ball
hanging low in the sky
such a beautiful color
glowing peach
with a streak of pink
calmly bidding farewell to the day
and then-
all too soon
it was gone
hidden behind a clump of trees
blue-gray in the twilight
leaving behind only streaks
of pink and purple
across the sky
and playful clouds
darkened by shadows
crickets
chirping
lost in thought
I barely hear them
wondering why I am here
wandering the gravel
watching the birds streak by
busy with their lives as birds
surely there is more awaiting me tonight
than just this fleeting beauty
or maybe
just maybe
this is why I have come
and as this day ends
I can look forward to tomorrow
forgetting the wasted hours
and restless days that haunt me now
for tomorrow
is like a clean sheet of paper
white as snow
waiting to be filled
a second chance
and somehow
everything is alright
forgiven
I can look forward to the sun’s return
bringing me another day
hoping to do better
awaiting new experiences
and fresh accomplishments
free from all but a few
streaks of yesterday.
--Maria Pauline--
August 19, 2008
Thank you, Maria, for allowing me to post your poem! So touching, and so true! May the Lord bless you!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Hello!

Greetings in the Name of the Lord!

I have been absent from the blogosphere for quite a few months now, due to the Lord leading me to step back for a while, and now here I am back -- with a new blog! :)

The Lord has really been impressing upon my heart the principle behind Psalm 37:4 lately, and He reinforced this impression by leading me to Isaiah 42:1, which says: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth..." This verse really struck me as it never did before, and I saw something about the Nature of the Lord which, although I knew it, I had never fully contemplated it: He delights in me! He doesn't just love me (and He certainly doesn't just put up with me)...He delights in me! What a simple, yet profound thought!

Really, it works both ways. He calls us to delight in Him, and He also delights in us. And what does it really mean to delight in Him? I'm not 100% sure yet. I'm still discovering the answer to this question. :) So far I see this: To delight in Him does not mean you are not to take pleasure in anything else. But it does mean that your primary source of love comes from and goes to Jesus. You get your ultimate satisfaction from Him, and you delight in loving Him, serving Him, honoring Him, obeying Him...simply you are filled with joy simply to be able to love Him! It's awesome when you think about it. To be given the privilege to have a literal, more-real-than-real love relationship with the One who created you -- who knows you better than you know yourself -- is incredible. Wouldn't you say??

This concept inspired in me a poem that I wanted to share here on my little bloggy nook...

Thy Soul Delights In Me

Thy soul delights in me:
I, depraved with sin,
Am actually loved by Thee;
With all my faults, my rebellion within:
Still, oh perfect Love, I am loved by Thee.
I am Thy servant, whom Thou upholds;
Thy Love, oh Love!, around me folds;
And though I flouder, though I fail,
I am upheld by a Love to sweet to describe...
Oh Lord, Thy Love is ever upon me;
Though I see it not at times,
It is there -- wastefully abundant;
Thy Love is like an ocean, Lord --
Oh, let me return it to Thee full.
Thy soul delights in me:
I, depraved with sin,
Am actually loved by Thee;
With all my faults, my rebellion within,
Still, oh Perfect Love, I am loved by Thee.
--Dustynne Mathison, June 2008
I'd also love to hear anyone else's thoughts and/or insights as to what it means to delight in the Lord!
Well, 'nighter's for now...God bless, thanks for stopping by, and come again!