HAND IN HAND

Tags

covenant love, marriage, relationships

HAND IN HAND

Children walk in enthusiasm through a great field

Expanse of wildflowers in explosive bloom

Yellows and blues and reds

Even orange and purple and scarlet,

Trees here and there budded out, sway melodically in the gentle wind,

Two excited adult children in their own special garden

For a moment, for eternity

Loved carried as fragrance in this peaceful wind

The aroma of eternal beauty rises tenderly

Assurance, comfort together

Fresh encouragement together

With the thrill, the challenge, the adventures ahead;

Much goodness along with daily troubles promised

Growth and endurance, hope throughout,

Personal character truly matured.

A narrow path of prayer is laid out,

Paths drawn certainly together from above

Footsteps intermingled, sovereignly ordered

One righteous path together established.

In one, his hand stronger, more decisive, protective

In one, her hand softer, more agile, more sensitive

One body out of two miraculously joined in delight,

The shared desire to always love first

To honor the Author of Life first,

Living Bread and wine, purest food and drink

What sustains the will, their new heavenly food.

ENCOURAGEMENT 10

THE  NAME

A cloud of dust far below the stars, swirls about

Irritates the eyes

Disturbs the senses

Ties little knots in the mind

Aggravates the emotions of your soul

Twisted thoughts that swirl with repeated confusion,

Negative things, borderline destructive things

Memories of the past

Relationships and circumstances

Goodness taken hold of, goodness lost

Foolishness pursued, stumbled over often.

But now, the Name,

The Name above all dwells within

Greatness beyond this Earthly realm

What the world does not understand

Nor does it ever want to,

As well as those enslaved by the world,

What those who belong to the world will never desire to embrace;

The Name is spoken within the spirit

Where an Eternal Light now glows

A divine Gift from above;

The pure Light brightens the soul

Even radiates from the body

As heavenly Spirit Wind chases away every demon

Darkness of the “fallen one” flees the only True Light,

It always does, it always will.

The human spirit celebrates new birth

The mind and soul become cleansed of lies

Free of guilt and all fears

All thoughts taken captive as written in the Book,

The Holy Presence becomes Peace within

Rises from the place of eternal rest

Forever before the King’s Throne,

The Father’s Gift of freedom

The rescue wrapped in beauty about the Word spoken

Emmanuel our Present from our Creator

“The Word made flesh”-

Messiah Yeshua.

ENCOURAGEMENT 9

Tags

angels, art work, clouds, God of Compassion, Lord of Hosts, Sedona

ANGEL  CLOUD

One day, while at work

I stood and watched in amazement

As slowly, high up in the sky

Slowly drifting to the North

The white brightness of the day trumpeting radiance,

In a surprise display of majesty

A large cloud in the classic shape of a Christmas angel

As seen on countless holiday cards-

The long robe, the wings, and even a halo effect,

The image was simply drifting along the peaceful Sedona heights,

Nearly above the iconic tourist Chapel;

I stared, then wondered who else was seeing

Who might also take a few moments to notice and truly look

To lift their eyes away from the common tourist things

The many dramatic towering red rocks and rugged desert landscape.

Surely the presence of God can always be sensed

If revealed, if awakened in ones watchful and alert

Open hearts to the power of the Lord of heaven and earth

Who works in and through a human life,

Though mostly unnoticed, mostly invisible

Mostly ignored by others,

So many caught up in empty gestures

Social media in an anxious gasp at reality

A photographic stretch towards purpose

And meaning in self;

Yet so fickle, so illusive

To feed an ego

Even at another’s expense;

As the world turns

The clouds always drift by

While the Lord of Hosts, King of all angels

Reaches out in compassion

To any and all who would take His hand.

I looked with wonder and thankfulness

After trying to get others to notice,

Then watched the cloud break apart

And the moment fade away.

ENCOURAGEMENT 8

SONG LYRICS- MOUNTAIN

Prayers going up the mountain

Praise coming down

Prayers going up the mountain

Praise coming down.

   (Repeat seven times with a stronger voice, faster beat, lower notes, methodically done)

Chorus:

I/we worship You

I/we worship You, Lord

I/we worship You

I/we worship You, our Lord.

   (higher notes, female voice, slower flow, more melodic)

*The main and the chorus echo, play off each other, build momentum..

ENCOURAGEMENT 7

Tags

King of Israel, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven, salvation from the Jews, Savior

THIS WORLD

Assurance as a small bird flies into a storm

With fearless abandon, confidence wrapped about

In a constant warm embrace

Finally learning how to let go of the old

And to take hold of the new;

The secret war rages on

For the mind, for the very soul.

Oh, the fierce grip of the world and its ways

Its controlling hold on the body and soul,

The mind in a cruel hand of deception

Manipulated thoughts in cause and effect,

Logic and intellect, impulse and base desires;

The struggle for the next breath of clean air

Thirst for good water for the body

Grown dry for a pure drink,

The search for healthy food in the face of hunger

Needs and emotions in a constant hunt.

With eyes never satisfied

Restless desires wash back and forth within

Beauty of youth paraded as a commodity, then fades away;

Peace in the heart as an illusion at best

Always lies just beyond the fingertips

While imaginations dance about.

Yet, the moment still cries out to be gratified, satisfied somehow

But an emptiness only returns;

The tough grip of the Earth

Pulls the heart down

Only numbs the pain of frustrations

Teases with one fear after another

Turns within as a wobbling wheel,

Death of the body always lurking

Hidden, veiled at a distance,

But springs up in an unexpected moment

A shock of the ancient reality

Coldest chill to life’s hidden meanings,

Unknown mysteries that can fulfill the illusive purpose for being.

A few cry out for secret treasure

Even search eagerly for the pearl of true lasting beauty;

Selfishness growls and strains to hold back,

Sadly the heart within can give up.

To hold tightly on to this world, a deepest deception

Fear driven, pride driven, self-possessed,

True freedom almost forever lost;

Then the Father, our Creator

Draws us near

And reveals a better Way,

The only Way that works, that truly lasts.

ENCOURAAGEMENT 6

Tags

comfort, compassion, emptiness, loneliness

RETURN TO ME

A child wanders along a school playground

He seeks friends

Wants to laugh and play

He wants to have fun like others

Yet, he wanders alone

As if lost

Yearning from deep within

Longing for something,

For someone

Then, he stumbles once more,

And gets up again

Continues to search

Though he’s not sure for what;

Tears have long ago dried up

Given up, then tried again and again,

Suddenly one day a little bird hops along the ground nearby

With a hurt wing

He picks up the sparrow and puts it carefully away

Safely in a small tree on a hidden branch.

Then a tear returns, runs down his face

And he remembers some words he once heard,

A stranger talked loudly by a store downtown

About “rising up again”

And someone who died a long time ago

Someone special and something about a “Cross” somewhere,

A good man who came back to life

Who is alive even today

To help us, to love us

A friend forever

Who cares when no one else does;

Some grownups laughed as they walked by,

But he listened and remembered.

So, he sat down in a corner of the school playground

As some other kids ran around in groups,

He began to talk out loud up to the sky

And even cry for this Lord

To somehow be alive to him, too

A real friend forever;

Then, it happened

Like an angel, but more

Who took him in His arms

Held him close as He spoke

“Forever my son

Yes, forever and forever.”

Even more tender words followed that have never left him

As he grew up and later became an old man.

ENCOURAGEMENT 5

Tags

aroma and fragrance, Body of Christ, Bride of Yeshua, Holy Spirit, human needs, incense, Messiah, prayer, salvation

OUR PRAYERS

Eyes look towards Heaven

The heart yearns, the soul longs

As prayers lift from the Earth

Soar from the mouths of God’s children,

In cries for mercy, deliverance and help

For meaningful lasting blessings

The needs of all humanity

Those near and those far away

For the ones Holy Spirit impressed upon the tender heart;

Arms and hands are lifted, held out in praise and worship

Humbly on knees, even some with crushed spirits.

All these prayers are carried on Holy Winds

Move throughout the Heavenly Kingdom

Resound with purest sacred echoes

Often becomes songs with eloquent melodies

As a chorus repeated by angels,

Mixed with exquisite incense, they rise near the Holy Throne;

Our Lord of Creation hears every prayer

As we daily work out our salvations

With steadfast faithfulness, in reverent fear.

Obedient footsteps walk out each unique human path

Compelled by Messiah’s love within,

We each carry our burdens of love

As the strength of peace surrounds

And finally floods he Earth;

Countless angels surge forth

Warriors with sharp swords of power in hands.

Our Yeshua so very near

Each precious footstep of obedience brings us closer

Nearer to Him in praise and thanksgiving

Nearer to one another, brothers and sisters joined in Truth

The Bride, the Family of God, the Church

All children of the Father

Who delights in every one who simply whispers a heart prayer

The beautiful scent and aroma they carry

Most delightful, most exhilarating

As the children draw near

To His Holy Presence.

ENCOURAGEMENT4

Tags

confidence, covenant love, friends, friendship, relationships, rest and trust

A FRIEND

Valued more than material things

Precious within and without

In a steadfast walk together of honor and integrity

More precious than diamonds and gold

Greater than silver and inset jewels

Or any other worldly wealth,

True friendship rises high above all things

Just as the sun moves faithfully across the sky

With assuring warmth and comfort

And then sets in hope filled orderly precision;

Soothing while confidence fully embraces another day

And continues throughout another restful night the same;

Days into weeks and months

All these as seeds grown into fruitful years,

A human life that comes and goes as a force

A factor of maturing strength.

In life another colorful veil lifted to reveal goodness

Spirit things in “a friend closer than a brother”

Rich friendship like a breath of life to a man or a woman

Abundance in a deepening relationship

Even joined as one to another in covenant treasure.

Yes, a friend as one who always stands nearby

In a storm

In the summer sun

Whether at the ocean beach or climbing a rough mountain,

When the walk is easy and when it is not,

Wise eyes see beyond the horizon, glimpse the future

Look through the outward form into the heart

See eternal purpose

True meaning in friendship,

As a Living Word of commitment that carries

With faithfulness beyond the grave

And into the highest heavens!

ENCOURAGEMENT 3

Tags

circumstances, goodness, hidden strengths, honest pleasure, personal beauty

PLEASANT SOUNDS

Pleasant sounds in the air

As a reminder

Even carried on a soothing breeze

As simple beauty stirs an honest pleasure,

What can truly satisfy a moment or two adrift

Floating along in timelessness

In an empty place where you just scratch your head

And wonder out loud-

“Where was I going; what was I doing?”

Then an innocent call from a tree branch above

High up the nearby Sycamore,

As a bird calls out suddenly with melodic sounds,

Fully catches the ears

Firmly holds  quiet the thoughts

And like a needed deep breath

Calmness settles within;

Eyes brighten

Maybe a slight smile opens up

And you are touched.

You are not alone in this conflicted, confusing world

Like a small child that wanders off

Or an adult stumbling along;

But there is much goodness all about

Like the song of a new, small friend

Or the smiles of an elderly lady at the food store

And a fellow human being in line at the Post Office.

All hold still a personal beauty

Hidden strengths just like you,

Open as well for another taste of goodness;

To watch always for little things that happen

Footsteps as sparkles in the grass

Sparkles in the common settings

Sparkles in the night sky

Sparkles of life that confirm the heart’s tug that renews-

It is good to be here

It is good to be alive

Now and in this very place, this very circumstance

All to appreciate our own uniqueness !

In God’s sight; in God’s plan

Happiness blends into thankfulness

For the people close, those far away

All with a voice

Able to sing as well, a new song with a simple melody.

ENCOURAGEMENT 2

Tags

anointed ones, Body of Christ, Bride of Messiah, Church, fellowship in The Spirit

COME TOGETHER

In love joined

The Bride being made ready,

The only light that shines in this dark world

Together in peaceful expectations

The comforting presence of one another

The true Church in the essence of the fragrance of life,

Each one drawn into the Holy Arms

Hearts caught up, carried in Heaven’s pure winds

Rich with the aroma of Christ,

Brought before the Father by His Son,

Spiritual Truth birthing spiritual wonders;

In Divine revelation

What human effort in imagination could not embrace,

Greatness high above, now shown to all!

The Body of Messiah who walked this Earth

Followers scattered throughout

Nations, tribes and languages, even Arabic,

Anointed, shine as the stars above

On a brilliant night

While we stand in awe and simply look

Our eyes drink in the impossible

Ten thousand dots of light

In an ocean of trillions;

As our father Abraham looked, and believed

For himself, his family and all Israel,

For the scattered tribes today

For all those gathered together the same

Made to stand as one in the Spirit

To feed upon the strength of their Lord,

Our Savior and Redeemer

Our Lord and Shepherd

Our High priest and King!