The Pattern of Sound Words

Eastern sky's warmth is felt

as I wait,

listening for sweet sound...

sound words that direct and soothe,

as Your plan and purpose is unfolded in them.

I wait,

knowing there will be a sound heard

that brings wisdom,

that sound mind might be restored

and the fray silenced.

My eyes are fixed like flint,

my ears pricked,

my taste,

my touch,

my smell

alerted,

that Your voice is not lost

to my understanding.

May it come this day, as You deem to my heart.

Hold fast to the pattern of sound words...
2 Tim. 1:13 NKJV

Silent Message

I was awakened by sharp winds,
dusting the earth white,
much like a snow globe,
blowing North, South, East and West.
They swirled relentless through the day.

I listen to stillness
now that night has fallen.
White dusting has blown away,
leaving only cold
and a clear, starlit sky
proclaiming silent message.


The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
and night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out
through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them, He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven
and its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psm. 19:1-6

Lingering

My grandad didn't love this One-So-Blue,
so precious to my heart.
He said he chased away
the songbirds,
but his beauty makes me
want to see him linger.
So,
kind husband fashioned a platform feeder
that is very much to Jay's liking.
He has it mostly to himself,
only sometimes sharing it with
Cardinal, and occassionally Titmouse.
The songbirds prefer
the cylindrical feeders,
and now, everyone
is happy,
especially me,
now that Jay
can feed and linger.

Lingering... a lesson also to be learned from Anna, in this hour when busyness and distraction would rule and reign.

Acts 2:37

Morning Light

Morning breaks

and soft Light speaks

of things to be written,

that they might be

pondered in my heart.

The Word speaks of wonder

and imagery

that unfolds slowly,

and reminds this heart

of Your majesty and mystery.

Your ways are high,

but ever good.

I long to know and understand more,

and so I search

Your Words,

that I might better know

The Living Word.

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

Jn. 1:1

Seed

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.
Gen. 8:22

For you have been born again,
not of perishable seed,
but of imperishable,
through the living
and enduring
word of God.
1 Pet. 1:23

This is the meaning
of the parable:
The seed is
the word
of God.
Lk. 8:11

Thoughts

A lone bird
sits on shepherd's hook
above those feeding below.
A watchman of sorts,
one who watches and waits,
not in a hurry to eat
or for position,
rather one content at his post.
He is Junco,
one we call Snow Bird.
His presence speaks
of what's to come...
purifying and cleansing
snow.
I listen to the quiet the snow brings,
letting my thoughts settle on
Shepherd's hook, and Watchman, and Purification.
I smile at what brought those thoughts to mind.
Thank you, Junco.
Thank You, Abba-Father.

Words

I always hesitate to put words to paper, but I know they
have been an integral part of the place I find myself to be
on this life-path. I know they hold opportunity for something
to be seen, then forged, in walking a new and different way.
So, I write them, hoping the old will flow out and permanently
stay on the paper, not in my heart. I pray that the opportunity
for something new can be seen in those words, as I remember
the words of the song of grace, "I was blind, but now I see."
I lift them up as a prayer, even as the notes of the stanza flow
into my heart, and it's words flow out. The remembrance of
words and their "work" is stirred, "And then God said..."
He spoke a word, and it was so. The Living Word came to
walk among us, and the gift of opportunity for even our words
to be different was given. I cast my words down on
paper, that Light might be held in the new ones that can now form
in my heart, as I remember Yours. Like an arrow, may
they hit the mark.


The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light, their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

Psm. 119:130 Amp.

Looking Though the Cross

Echoes of the Cross appear before me

in this time to ponder all that is given

in this window

of time.

My heart soars,

realizing the parallels

of our time and His time.

This window,

His window,

given, made visible

as though looking through the Cross,

that we might choose

to prepare.

His Bride, awake!

It is the season.

This Will Be a Sign Unto You

Then the angel of the Lord said to them,
"Do not be afraid, for I bring you tidings
of great joy, which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day
in the city of David
a Savior
who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign unto you,
you will find a Babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes
lying in a manger.
Lk. 2: 1o-12

Bridal Promise

Promises bind,
spoken words, good and true
that elevate hearts.
Tender words that whisper hope of
lovingkindness,
mercy,
righteousness,
justice,
and faithfulness.
Beyond these, what matters?
I am my Beloved's
and He is mine.

I will betroth you to Me forever. I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will know the Lord.
Hos. 2: 19, 20

Bittersweet

Bittersweet, cut from the vine.

Red-orange color faded and luster lost,

dried, shriveled,

no longer useful,

void of life.

Something that was vibrant

in color and form

now sad to see.

Beauty absent

from that which was once stately,

even graceful in appearance.

Lifeline cut.

Life cut off.

Let bittersweet lessons remain in my heart. May I never forget.


I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, He is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask for what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples.
Jn. 15:5-8

Break-up

 

April in Alaska,

so different than Paris.

Rotted snow,

long winter’s cover

lays black and wet,

loosing form,

revealing much.

Littered sidewalks and pathways

strewn with what was once

Treasure,

long lost to sight and remembrance,

hidden for a time,

now uncovered,

misshapen,

grotesque in shaped and scent.

Break-up reveals

that which was discarded.

Refuse.  What is to be done with it?

 

“No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you;  but you were thrown out in the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born.  And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to your blood, ‘Live!’.  I made you thrive like a plant in the field;  and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful.  Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.  When I passed you by again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love;  so I spread my wing over you and covered your nakedness.  Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered a covenant with you;  and you became mine, says the Lord God.  Then I washed you in water;  yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil.  I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin, clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck.  And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown upon your head.  Thus your were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen silk and embroidered cloth.  You ate pastry of fine flour, honey and oil.  You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty.  Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through my splendor, which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord God.”

Ezk. 15:6-14

As in a Mirror

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror,
then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part,
then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.
1 Cor. 13:12

Peace Surrounds

This morning the fog is thick
and a gentle rain is falling.
Stillness blankets
the mountains,
and peace surrounds.
I am thankful for days
that move slowly,
like the fog,
without the bustle
that often surrounds
this time of year.
It is like a sweet exchange
and my heart is
smiling.

Strengthened

Trees frame
and fences deliniate space,
but Light defines.
This Light is soft
drawing my eye,
an invitation
to linger and ponder the
Beauty
of manifold colors
expressed.
Light defines
and
Beauty speaks
softly
to my heart this day,
and I am strengthened.
I bow my kness.

Eph. 3: 14-21

Messenger

Holy and Angelic One,
a precious reminder of Your
messengers,
sent out
with words of direction and reassurance.
Thank You, Abba Father,
for Your
encouragements
of hope and
compassion
and
peace.

Psm. 91:11-16

Shift

Conditions shift

and winds began to blow gentle,

saturating fallen leaves with

new rain.

Their brittle sound is silenced by

Water,

now less apt to break under pressure,

soft, supple.

May I be found in the shift

as a leaf this day,

soft and supple,

not brittle,

saturated by

new rain.

Moving Toward the Throne of Mercy and Grace

Brilliance and Glory,

seen as though from forward movement.

Sweet remembrance of

One

described, not in form,

but in likeness to jeweled Light,

breath-taking Light,

radiant, burning.

A voice like that of a trumpet

beckoning,

"Come up here, and I will show you

things which must take place after this."

Rev. 4:1b

There is a door that is open. May we have ears to hear. May we heed the call.

Reminders

A shoot
still young and tender,
growing out of dry ground.
There is no
majesty or strength
yet formed.

This is what natural eyes see,
but there is so much more.

A reminder of One
Who had no form
or comliness.

A reminder of branches,
each one a part,
with hearts
in every shape and stage.
Some are newly formed,
some more mature,
some even torn.
Precious few are fully formed,
though all are bathed in
Morning Light.

A reminder
of how our Father sees,
not as man sees us,
rather
He looks upon the heart.

Even a reminder
that we can learn to love Him
with all our heart,
just as He loves us with all of His,
as we grow in Morning Light.

Is. 11:10,11; 53; Jn. 15:5; 1 Sam. 16:7; Deut. 6:5; Jn. 3:16; Mk. 12:30

Even on Familiar Ground

Sure footing
can sometimes be
difficult,
even on familiar ground,
when storm clouds gather
or winds of change
began to blow.
But just as One-So-Small,
we have One
Who's eye is on us,
as surely as it is on this sparrow.

Lk.12:7- Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

On Forest's Floor

Years spent low,
not in humility, rather sloth,
as seen in moss and lichen
only inches from the worms.
Shallow roots seen
above the soil
meant for nurture,
still content to lay
on the surface of forest's floor,
rather than gone deep.
Sun's call upward,
evidenced in the ability to bend,
finally strectches even Old Growth,
and green canopy
reaches out on every side,
affording shade and cover
for seedlings still below
on forest's floor.


Is this how Old Growth formed? Maybe not, but is it not a picture of sloth and lack of growth that would keep lives low and unseen? The Son is beckoning, that we might come higher. May Old Growth's picture help His unction to be seen, even heard in this hour, that growth and ascension might be our result. And may little ones to follow grow under the cover and nurture our branches can provide, even to seedlings yet to spring up.

Matt.13:32

You Come as Light

You come as Light
that defines
our form,
our place,
our heart.
Slowly
we begin to see,
to know.
We see anew
because
You have given
Your Light
to our eyes,
definition and understanding
made known
by Your Gift.
Who we are
holds new joy,
revealed
by Your resplendent Light.

Psm.19:8; 76:4

Prayer

Thank You that You come as a Mighty Wind
and a Gentle Breeze.
Thank You that You come as Water and Light.
Thank you that You come as a Consuming Fire
and a Flickering Flame.
Thank You that You come as the Sound of a Trumpet
and as a Sweet Melody.
Thank You that You hear my heart's cry
and that You ever-abide there.

One Who Saves

Some things creep in on cat's feet, unawares.
When finally discovered, surprise comes
stealing breath.

Air thins, lungs struggle
from darkness breathed in
and voice cannot utter sound.

I lost my breath today
and my soul cried.

One who prowls like roaring lion
searched out my unlocked door.
I never heard the latch.

He brought cohort,
Bitterness by name,
who hid, unseen, lurking.

I lost my vision today
and my eyes blurred.

Cunning moves and calculated hits
find homes in wounds
that form deep roots.

Sound now heard
deep within my heart,
but it is not my own.

I lost my smile today
and my heart festers.

One who searches hearts
is peering through the lattice,
knocking, waiting.

Shulammite memories penetrate sound,
pushing hesitation and bitterness aside
and I run to lift the latch.

He saved my heart today,
and held it within His.

Not Small, But A Part

Can you see him...One-So-Very-Tiny, who
knows a world on petal's edge that we
so rarely view? It is a world that requires
stopping, taking time to stoop and see
what is there, so often passed by.
In the pause wonder unfolds,
and there is a reminder of all that
has been intricately fashioned by
Father's hand that certainly delights,
but also that holds purpose within
His grander scheme. May we see
ourselves as One-So-Very-Tiny,
not as small, but as part of a grand
plan, each having a role and a part.

Watching

baqash- to seek, to diligently look for, to search earnestly
until the object of the search is located.

One-So-Very-Small
looks and listens and waits.
I admire his stillness,
it is a posture I aspire to.
I hold his pose in my heart
on days when busyness
and have-tos abound.
On those days I long to fly
and find a perch
to look and listen and wait,
that stillness might break forth into
song.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
Psm. 28:7

Feed My Sheep

Today I saw the face of Jesus
in the loving eyes of concern on your face.
I heard His voice when you spoke reassurance
and peace to my heart.
I felt His touch in the arms of your embrace.
I felt His presence when you prayed.
This day you have fed His sheep,
and my heart is ever-grateful.

Full Nest, Full Cup

All present and accounted for
nested and safe,
each similar
but so very different,
melded together in likeness
but unique,
in color and beauty and texture.
These tiny eggs, symbolic of
family...
close,
touching,
connected.
My cup runneth over.

Days of Stillness

Days of stillness

lead to listening,

watching,

waiting.

Eyes drawn

upward,

as mighty oaks of righteousness

are moved by Mighty Wind,

enshrouded

in moist and heavy

Light.

Enthralled by

movement,

slow and diliberate,

gaze is held tight.

Majestic height

and strength,

moved effortlessly,

slowly,

side to side.

How regal,

how yeilded.

Example and inspiration

beheld,

and grateful heart

looks higher.

Recent Storms

Thunder felt,

earlier heard only in the distance,

now rumbling closer,

within and without.

Much is stirring,

leaves and heart,

so I wait,

and whisper a prayer.

Only then

does remembrance come

sweetly,

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nah. 1:3b

Fragrance

Fragrance draws my senses unto Your Song:

SS 2:1 I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.

In this valley

only One has smelled as sweet.

Yours is an aroma that

is heavy with fragrance,

but light and easy.

I smile at the parallel.

My head seeks to slip into Your yoke,

that I may forever enjoy

Your fragrance.

It is where I know joy.

Reflecting

Sometimes nature displays precious invitation.

It beckons me near,

that I might see

what has not before been visible to my eye.

As I reflect on the color and beauty

of moisture's nurture

on flower's fragile petal

and leaves green,

I see Light,

emitted and sent out.

May I be found, Abba-Father, even as those

droplets on color's softness,

reflecting,

that Your Light might be

emitted and sent out.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Heb. 4:16

One-So-Blue

Summer's heat has lessened times of labor intensive gardening,

so I could have easily missed seeing my little friend, had his magnificent

blue not alerted my eye from the window. One-So-Blue could also be known as

One-So-Precious-to-My-Heart, and I wait every year for glimpses of his return.

He generally doesn't stay with us long, but for those few days I attune my

scatter-vision, anxious to gaze upon his beauty. Sometimes his brightness is

accentuated by Goldfinch's closeness, who's yellow is as yellow as

Indigo Bunting's blue is blue. How God must have delighted in His design

when He thought of you! Please come often! The feeders are

filled with your favorite seeds!

Destined

Tiny grains

impossible to count,

precious few

destined

for oyster's shell.

Substance within forms

pearl's iridescence and beauty,

irresistible to our eye,

even as we are to

His.

How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them! If I should count them,

they would be more in number than the sand...

Psm. 139:17,18a

Luna

My heart flutters, even as Luna's wings,

in excitement and expectancy for what

is about to happen...flight. Her body is pulsing

and ready, and while I would love to have her

linger, I know she must be set free.

Her fashioned home of twigs and branches

will no longer suffice. She must be loosed

for all that awaits her.

And so she leaves, confidently flying off into the

darkness, even as the rain falls gently.

A tear of joy and a little sadness also falls gently.

Is that not the way a loved one's

ascension feels?

A time for soaring has come,

and those on the ground

look with awe,

as fluttering becomes fluid flight.

Good night, sweet Luna.

Fly!

Today I remember words that hung in Mama's kitchen,

"There are only two things we can give our children,

one is roots, the other is wings."

Wings were granted

this week

to Friend,

to Ones-So-Blue,

and soon to Lunas, still cacooned.

My happy-sad heart smiles and cries. "Fly!,

Precious Ones.

Godspeed".

Gifted

There are things that are precious to my heart that only One
knows. Suddenly they appear before me, unrequested,
unexpected, and I am deeply touched. Many are not
of great value monetarily, and are insignificant to most.
I gathered a sampler that might be seen and remembered
through the lens of my camera...a most unusual orchid, a frame, the
picture it holds, and a mosaic lampshade affording beautifully soft
light. Each make me giddy when I see them.

Today I want to arrange a new grouping,

but theses are gifts I dare not disturb, though they are

no less precious to my heart. Bluebirds have settled

in the nest box, just beyond my kitchen window, that

I might enjoy them every morning.

And three caterpillars, I think soon to be Luna moths, are tucked into

a fashioned home of leaves and branches, as I wait for their

emergence. Treasures and delights, unrequested and unexpected,

that only One knows will so bless my heart.

Thank You, Abba.

Radiant One

Radiant One...

even as the lilies of the field,

none is arrayed in such finery.

Your soft purity is

gently unfolded to reveal

Light.

My heart is made glad

as I linger,

drinking in

the essence

of glory

made manifest

to these eyes.

There is none like You.

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

Song of Songs 2:12

Old Growth

On forest floor

roots can be seen

on old growth,

grown green

with soft cover

under cool canopy.

These roots speak

of age,

times endured,

storms, prunings,

and times of dryness.

Old growth standing,

still,

tall,

erect,

and regal

on root's feet.

Old growth

speaks

of strength.

Old roots

run deep,

and that has made all the difference.

Summer's Breezes

Summer's breezes

gently blow

and

color and Light

fall soft.

I am reminded

to walk slowly,

and ponder

things that can so quickly

be carried away.

Joy

Surprises come on days when hearts need

to remember joy. This day my surprise

was blue, and my heart suddenly was not.

One-So-Small,

beautiful to behold,

came to call

and my heart sang.

Will you stay

and

abide awhile,

that I might

long gaze upon your Beauty?

Your's is a blue

my heart loves.

Joy has come

this morning.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him, and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy.

1 Pet. 1:8

Doorpost

Moving out of a place of darkness toward the Light,

I feel a damp coolness slowly began to warm.

I see color where none has been.

This pathway finds my soul expectant,

even joyful,

at the prospect of moving forward.

My eyes don't look back

to the place my feet have been.

Step by step,

pressing onward,

I walk,

knowing how good the Sun will feel

as I cross the threshold.

I move slowly and with reverence,

remembering the doorpost.

Frogs and Butterflies

Not-So-Little-One was having a hard day when I discovered
him, frog-paddling in the lower pond in our butterfly garden.
He had clearly been struggling there for a long time, and looked
exhausted. I found a log, and lowered it carefully into the pond,
trying not to stress him more.

I waited,

knowing there are some
things in nature that are better left to play out. I remember reading
that a monarch we watched emerge from a crysallis last year

must wait

to fly.
The wings, strengthened by the struggle to emerge,
would not have developed enough for flight, had I intervened,
peeling the crysallis back prematurely.
And when it was time to fly,

he waited.

The morning dew must be completely dried from his wings,
that he might soar.
So this day

I waited,

to see what would happen.

And Not-So-Little-One waited,

for what seemed like an arduously long time.
And finally, later that afternoon, while busying myself with gardening
chores, I smiled as I realized that he had found the log. Then,

he waited some more,

resting.
I could have sworn he winked at me, in thanks.

I learn much from my garden
and the wildlife it invites. I have learned patience is a virtue, even
in the things our heart's good intention wants to hurry.
Knowing the importance of

waiting

has shown me much in my yard, and in my heart.
As I practice

waiting on God,

He unfolds understanding, and a step
can be made visable, where it was not seen before.

Waiting

is something frogs and butterflies have to teach us.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

Lam. 3:25

Longing

There is a longing in my heart
to be tucked away
under the shadow of Your wing,
resting in a place of heartfelt peace.
I envision a place where the coolness is felt,
and the softness is tangible.
Will You be found by me there, this day?
Will You hear my heart,
and speak to me of Yours?

Set me as a seal upon Your heart,
As a seal upon your arm...
Song of Solomon 8:6a

Likeness

Likeness

beheld in nature,

two

mirrored

in color and stucture,

each containing radiant Light.

Beauty

inspires,

and breath is drawn

at first sight.

Can there be

a more beautiful joining?

Only if there were Three...

or more.