Could This Little Bird...be Me?

See the little bird in the tree,

Hidden so masterfully.

Nestled, camouflaged delicately

Among the branches intricately.

Could this little bird...be me?

A silent statue on a limb

Shrouded, thus stoically dim.

Perched, yet poetically prim

A faint, fluttering rhythm.

Resolute, what stirs him?

Could this little bird... be me?

Change of posture, a sound slight

Suddenly, the bird takes flight.

A secret signal, soaring to the heights

The horizon lures his keen eyesight.

Flying higher, higher without fright

Sweet liberty, glorious delight

Could this little bird... be me?

Is there a height to high?

Is there a song, a shrieking cry?

A melodious lullaby?

Could I soar, attempt to fly?

Are there dreams beyond my eye?

My heart and soul, softly sigh.

Could this little bird... be me?

Dedicated to my children:  Christopher, Erica, Daphne and Natalie.

More ... but Most of All

I want to cry, but I want to laugh more,

But, most of all I want the heart of Jesus.

I want to engage in battle, but I want the victory more,

But, most of all I want to be a warrior commanded by Jesus.

I want to journey, but I want adventure more,

But, most of all I want to be where Jesus has placed me.

I want understanding, but I want wisdom more,

But, most of all I want to obtain the mind of Jesus Christ.

I want life, but I want to really live more,

But, most of all I want eternity with Jesus Christ.

I want a voice, but I want to be listen more,

But, most of all I want to hear the silent whispers of God.

I want to be fearless, but I want faith more,

But, most of all I want the assurance found only in Jesus Christ.

I want to pursue happiness, but I want joy more,

But, most of all I want to exalt the Savior of my soul.

I want to see, but I want to observe more,

But, most of all I want to gaze into the revealing eyes of Jesus.

I want to climb, but I want to fly more,

But, most of all I want to mount up on wings of eagles and soar.

I want to be free, but I want to unshackle the world more,

But, most of all I want to be a bond servant to My Lord and Master, Jesus. 

I want justice, but I want righteousness more,

But, most of all I want redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.

I want companionship, but I want to be a friend more,

But, most of all I want an intimate relationship with Jesus.  

I want to be me, but I want to surrender all of me more,

But, most of all I want Emanuel, Christ in me and through me.

I want hope, but I want to expect more,

But, most of all I want to wait patiently on the Lord.

I want to dream, but I want to believe more,

But, most of all I want to be found trustworthy by God the Father.

I want to be seen, but I want to be hidden more,

But, most of all, I want to be sheltered under the wings of the Almighty.

I want to move, but I want to “be still and know” more,

But, most of all I want to be found resting at the feet of Jesus.

I want to taste, but I want feel more,

But, most of all I want to see through the eyes of Jesus.

I want to run, but I want to finish the race of life more,

But, most of all I want hear “well done my good and faithful servant.”

I want to tell a story, but I want to be an epic tale more,

But, most of all I want my life to be written by the Author, Jesus Christ.

I want to be here, but I want to be there more,

But, most of all I want to be present in His Presence.

There are countless wants, and seas of endless mores

But, most of all there’s  ...  Jesus.

Winter's Bend

As I sit, deep in thought, I stare out the window.  The sky is cloudy; the ground has patches of snow leftovers from the last winter storm. The grass is stretching, and peeking through the white icy crust.   The peaks of the nearby roofs are covered in a white thick blanket.  As I focus, and begin to keenly look, I see one isolated little snow flake fall, it seems very lonely as it gently floats down.  Then I gaze a little longer, I see yet another tiny flake flurrying in the air.  I realize this is very similar to life at times.  We often feel very lonely and isolated in the world. Sometimes we feel we are one lone flurrying flake. But if we give life a chance we will realize that we are not alone. 

The truth is, we gently fall into our explicit defined places, and we gather and unite, softly dusting our surroundings.  In time, more and more will congregate; soon the land will be completely covered.  Nestled under this layer of glistening goodness, the earth is resting, preparing to give life once again.  Just around the winter’s bend, the sun will shine, the wind will blow. There will be a thaw, a melting.  The earth will be watered.  Winter will end; spring is just around the corner, something special waits for us, at the winter’s bend.

The scripture tells us, that God gives to the earth snow like a blanket of wool; He scatters the hoarfrost [frozen dew] like ashes.  He casts forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word, and melts the ice and snow; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow (Psalm 147: 16-18).

“ I prefer winter and Fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape — the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.”  ~Andrew Wyeth

Untold stories are the souls of mankind that are covered with frost and ice, yet God promises a defrosting.  This thawing will melt away heartache, shame, sin, doubt, despair and brokenness. This thaw will give way to wonderful stories full of epic characters, conquering insurmountable conflicts, etched upon the canvass life.

 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

God sent for His Word, and the Word is God Himself and His Word brings forth life.  Jesus thaws the frozen land, He melts the frigid heart.  He speaks life into death; He chisels away at the cold hardened heart.  He looks at His Father’s creation, and does not see frozen tundra; He does not see a wasteland.  He sees a world worth saving, a people worth dying for.  Jesus was sent into the world to bring salvation.  Jesus came into the world so that we could be delivered from the harshness of the world, that we could be protected from the world’s stinging, bitter frost.  Jesus came to the world, that it would be made safe and sound through Him. He stretched out His life, opened His arms, and He shrouded our sins with His blood and His blood washes us whiter that snow. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Knowing this makes my soul rejoice, my spirit spring to life and sets my mind to rest.

Soon, yes very soon the snow covered land will bring forth fruit, all those seeds that have lain dormant, will spring to life. The fields are filled with winter wheat. The harvest will be plentiful!  The vine will be filled with abundant fruit, flowers will bring forth divine fragrance, and herbs will savor the sullen, taste will be awakened and bud in delight. “O taste and see that the Lord our God is good” (Psalm 34:8).  He has made everything beautiful in its time; He has planted life and purpose within our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3: 11).

Look ahead; see the curve that is before you, it is the winter’s bend.  Before long, you will be able to declare, “Winter is past, spring has sprung!”