Hope Remains

Words...
Oh, that the expressing of such would still my thoughts
But, no, more likely than not they decide to stir, to provoke, to cause mutiny
Within my mind
In my heart
And thus it begins, no longer able to deny what's coming...
The revolt                        (Let's see who comes out the victor)

Where does peace reside?
Certainly not here, my friend. Certainly not here.
What's this? 
This crackling in the atmosphere, this energy surge that invades
Where tranquility should live
Ruining the definition of 'home' as a haven place for the soul
Now transforming the abode into the battleground of angst

Yes, what is this?
That causes pools to form on the carpets
And fists to pound the walls
What do I hear?
It sounds of longing....for something to fall. 
To shift. 
To change. 
To move.       (Si usted dijera a las montañas, 'Muévase' ellos se moverán! Verdad?)

I have clothed myself with righteousness
I have set my face as flint
And after I have done everything I can to stand
I have stood
And I have watched
And I have waited
And I have stood
And what is this?
This crashing tide still sprays my face with repetitive pounding
Eroding my faith, my hope, my resolve
Yet in its place comes something else 
Something stronger
Yet not of me

A promise
A flicker
A whisper
A song

And what comes now?
The swells may still pound me into the ground
But revelation and vision ride in on the waves
"Wear these new lenses, my daughter,
See the new things
Do you not perceive them?
Hold on, my child
Joy comes
It comes
Morning comes
Though you think midnight is your favorite, and you love the stars
Even more grandeur awaits in the morning
And breakthrough comes like the dawn.

"I already see it
It is already decided. Finished.
Do not fear, second guess or make plan B.
I deliver. There is no maybe.
There is only 'Yes and Amen'
There is only I AM.

"Forget the battle
Sing my song instead
My song called, 'Victory'. The tune is 'Hope'. The chorus is 'Trust'. The harmony 'Grace'. The result 'Strength'."

So He harmonizes my screams to make a beautiful sound
He pounds my feet deeper into the Rock
And His faith mixes with mine so to seem like I have that of a lion
And I can't begin to comprehend why
I only know that which has been said, declared, and promised
Words...

No, they won't be quiet tonight
They will rise up. They will take over.
Truth.
It always wins.

Psalm of the Day: #143

Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, 

for my depression deepens.

Don't turn away from me, 

or I will die.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you.

Rescue me from my enemies, LORD;

I run to you to hide me.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward

on a firm footing.

For the glory of your name, O LORD,

preserve my life.

Because of your faithfulness,

bring me out of this distress.

In your unfailing love,

silence all my enemies

and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

2012 - A Year Full of Possibilities

~ Taken from Catch the Fire USA Website ~

Happy New Year! The start of a new year often brings with it a feeling that I get a fresh start to things. If I have been looking for a time to kick-start good habits, get back on the bus to being healthy, or even begin a new adventure, the start of the year always provides an opportune time to do so. A new year provides a great time to shake of the heavy burdens of years prior and forget the weariness that was dragging me down before. Time to shake off the old coat and step into the new! New! New! New!

In Isaiah it says, "But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland....so my chosen people can be refreshed."

There is such an anticipation in my spirit as to what the Lord has in store for His kids this year. The only way to describe it is there is a deep "joyful excitement." Though I knew God was up to good things in 2012 I just asked God, "What are you looking forward to this year?" Almost immediately, He replied with such deep emotion and love in His voice, "More of my kids are going to know me, find me this year. They are going to feel my love" as if this was the breakthrough He had been waiting for since the fall. His kids are going to come home!! Our family is going to grow this year and that is surely exciting.

A Welcome Home party will surely be in order, I do believe. :)

Tap into Your Creativity

This semester the School of Revival is offering a class on creativity offered by Lise, the amazingly talented artist from Holland who studied in Australia and also went to the school of ministry in Toronto - very international, right. There is so much inside me that would love a creative outlet, I just don't feel like I have the talent or means to let it out. Thought this might be a good opportunity to give it a try. So far we've just done collaged journaling which has been fun but the painting and other mediums are to come which I'm also excited about. Today after church and "family lunch" (the now-preferred term as opposed to "potluck" and the trying-to-be-less-superstitious "pot-blessing" which just sounds wrong) we had a creative workshop where Lise shared and then we got to paint on little canvases whatever we wanted. Fun. Fun.


Definitely more to share in this area as I develop new skills and dive deeper into all the treasures that are lying within me just waiting to be uncovered, dusted off and used. I would love to become better at painting and to see a greater release in song-writing/poems/written and spoken words. Guess I should start doing my homework and practicing! :)


It's a year of release. Forget the hinderances that once kept you down, the false barriers that you've placed around yourself, the insecurities and fears of messing up or looking foolish. Now's the time to let the Real You out and let 'em shine. As the quote goes, "there is only one of you; why waste time trying to be someone else?" The world needs each person's unique flavor to come forth. Each of us bring a revelation of God to the world, so without yours we are lacking something. Forget the criticisms of the past: be you, and shine true. Release yourself to be real, to be free, and even, to be wild!! It's definitely more exciting that way.


Peace.

New Year & New Things

Think it's about time I stopped neglecting my blog. Wow, it's been a while, and there is so much to say. Since the close of last year, which was wonderful by the way, I've been feeling that this year, 2012, is one of unfathomable greatness. My spirit can sense that this year is one of immense blessing, favor, and fun. God has something big up His sleeves this year for me, for His kids, for the church. All I can say is it's going to be awesome and I'm really looking forward to it. So, yes, new year = new things. Look forward to it.


Now I'm not really one for making resolutions but to start off this new year right, I decided that for me it would be a year to be good to myself. How much of our time is spent being negative about ourselves or looking down on ourselves or voicing negative thoughts about ourselves? In such a critical and judgmental society it is so easy to except such thought patterns and then just be perpetually negative. So I've decided that it is about time that I treat myself better....This is a year I want to fully become the person I really want to be and in order to be that person the negativity has got to go. Might as well be nice to yourself if you have to live with yourself all the time, right? Yeah, I think so.


Taking ideas and putting actions to it I moved into a new apartment that is significantly closer to one of my jobs, overlooks a lake, and has a jogging trail right in my backyard. Lets kill several birds with one stone, shall we? Now I can save time, gas, and get healthier all at the same time. :) yay. I would say that is a good start to being good to myself, wouldn't you?


So here is to a year full of good things, tons of excitement, and new things!


Peace.