Subdued

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Head strong, heart weak,

Not brave or meek.

The truth was lost –

My hope the cost.

Afraid to die,

I can not lie.

There is no gain –

To live is pain.

In darkness dwell,

For shame’s my cell.

My world is rot –

This is my lot.

No faith at all,

I’ve hit the wall.

A mountain looms,

And speaks of doom.

Too much to take,

Too much at stake.

Too much to bear,

I need fresh air.

I’m all alone,

My heart’s a stone.

An empty shell,

A dried up well.

I’ve reached the end,

The final bend.

I’ve lost it all;

To You I crawl.

You pick me up,

And fill my cup.

My soul subdued,

I’ve been renewed.

Verse Of The Week:

 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right^[a] spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

What I’m Reading:

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle.

Speak Up Sweet Child

Devi and Arul, two street children. Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Speak up sweet child,

So soft and mild.

You must not let,

Yourself forget.

You have a voice;

You have a choice.

When times are hard,

Be on your guard.

You can stand strong –

You know what’s wrong.

Chase what is true,

For faith’s the glue.

Speak up sweet child,

With dreams so wild.

You must not let,

Yourself forget.

You have a voice;

You have a choice.

So cling to love,

With eyes above.

Live life in full,

And feed your soul.

Spread joy and peace –

Pray without cease.

Speak up sweet child,

When you are riled.

You must not let,

Yourself forget.

You have a voice;

You have a choice.

Verse Of The Week:

 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – 3 John 1:4

What I’m Reading:

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle.

Rescue

Rescue Helicopter over Deception Bay-9= (Photo credit: Sheba_Also)

I keep it all inside;

I smile and try to hide –

Attempting to conceal,

The way I truly feel.

I thought that I was strong,

But was I ever wrong!

I put on quite an act;

Some say I’ve lost all tact.

My goal is to deceive,

But you just won’t believe.

You see beyond my face;

You see I can’t keep pace.

I know this to be true;

It colors all you do.

You came to my rescue –

For that may God bless you.

Verse Of The Week:

 ⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. – Proverbs 27:6

What I’m Reading:

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle.

Her Only Choice

child abuse (Photo credit: Southworth Sailor)

She’s worn this shameful brand from birth;

She’s marked to live without self-worth.

Her very innocence ill-used,

As she’s mistreated and abused.

The bruises bloom upon her arm –

Her body’s way to raise alarm.

A darkened circle forms her eye,

And forces her to tell a lie.

She’s doomed to walk the streets alone;

She’s broken nearly every bone.

She’s all but lost her confidence,

In sweet and gentle providence.

She feels she’s just a big mistake –

Her very grip on life’s at stake.

In silent, bitter, lonely hours,

The Devil known as Pain devours.

He slowly eats her life away;

He never lets her have her say.

She’s not deserving of this fate,

And yet she still must bear its weight.

She’s just a shadow passing by,

With none to hold her while she cries.

Her hope is fading, oh, so fast;

She prays she’ll disappear at last.

She’s lost and cares not to be found;

In chilling darkness she is bound.

She’s haunted by the thought of steel –

The lines of blood help her to feel.

Within her hand she clings to pills,

For now allowing pain its will.

For who will miss her when she’s gone?

Their lives will just continue on.

What twist of fate has brought her here?

What beckons her to death so near?

She’s learned at last not to hold dear,

As she’s all but consumed by fear.

Exactly what her future holds,

For now remains as yet untold.

She still may have a second chance;

She still has time for one last dance.

For try and try as he does might,

The Devil still has quite a fight.

There’s something that does hold her back,

From just succumbing to attack.

This must not be her only choice –

Will someone offer her their voice?

Her bitter fate is not yet sealed,

If she to love could learn to yield.

Is there a way to find the clout,

For her to silence all this doubt?

The battle lives another day –

With thoughts of her kneel down to pray.

No matter where you choose to turn,

With open eyes of her you’ll learn.

Will you give her the time of day,

Or will you up and walk away?

The streets are filled with all the lost –

Let’s bring them home at any cost.

Verse Of The Week:

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

What I’m Reading:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Infiltrate

Man walking on the water – silent conversation (Photo credit: Heidi & Matt)

I’m feeling so sick and so tired,

Of living this life uninspired.

I’ve been a victim of my past;

I’ve walked in shadows Pain has cast.

I dwell on all my darkest fears;

I’ve wasted, oh, so many years.

If I am only what I’ve been,

I might as well lay down my pen.

Without a hope to be redeemed,

I’m simply blowing off some steam.

Oh, what a tangled web I weave;

So much regret, so much to grieve.

These memories are no friends of mine;

They keep me from a life divine.

I spend my time before the glass,

And feed these thoughts both dark and crass.

I lack the faith to leave the boat;

I can not trust that I will float.

I know my doubt will pull me down,

And yet I’m told I will not drown.

I fight to stay above the swell;

An ounce of faith would serve me well.

I face my God in unbelief;

He offers me, in turn, relief.

Here’s my heart on a silver plate,

I beg of You, please infiltrate.

No sooner have I said the words,

The Shepherd adds me to His herd.

“My child, you have no need of fear,

I’ve come to wipe away these tears.”

Verse Of The Week:

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:28-31

What I’m Reading:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Turbulent Soul

driven mad (Photo credit: Rega Photography)

It’s easy to believe the lie,

But not to give the truth a try.

I must convince myself I’m fine;

I claim I’ve yet to cross the line.

The shame is less if I stay blind –

It’s not like I can press rewind.

I’m fading right in front of you;

I melt away like morning dew.

What will it take for you to see,

That there is something wrong with me?

A silent cry for help unheard –

My hope of late has been obscured.

To give into this mind disease –

The price that’s paid for hate appeased.

These lonely nights without sound sleep,

Remind me of the pain I keep.

Am I my Maker’s masterpiece?

These doubts of mine will never cease.

I’m overlooked – a big mistake –

I’m nothing more than my heart-break.

I force a smile for image sake;

It is a mask to hide the ache.

The mirror is my deadly foe;

I can’t obtain the status quo.

The person staring back at me,

Is someone I no longer see.

My vision’s tainted by my fear;

It blurs with every salty tear.

I have become just what I hate.

I wonder though, is it too late?

Is there a way to change my view?

Is there a way to be made new?

Can I be more that my mistakes?

Is there a way to still this ache?

I once was told that God loves me –

I’m still not sure if I agree…

And yet I know there must be more.

Just what on earth am I here for?

I’ve reached the end – I’ve hit the wall –

There’s not much further I can fall.

And so today, I’ll take a chance –

A step of faith – my final stance.

I lay my life down at Your feet;

Renew my hope in You, complete.

Verse Of The Week:

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. - Lamentations 3:21-22

What I’m Reading:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Cost of Freedom

In God We Trust (Photo credit: kevin dooley)

A daddy’s warm and tender love,

Now sent in whispers from above.

A mother’s touch and sweet embrace,

Was torn away and not replaced.

An elder’s wisdom, lost for good,

Was buried where his headstone stood.

A husband’s kiss is felt no more,

The burden of the flag he bore.

A wife’s respect and inner light,

Could not withstand the bitter fight.

A brother’s zeal and thirst for life,

Forever quenched amid the strife.

A sister’s courage paid the price –

Her hope was born of sacrifice.

A family’s home was torn apart,

The pieces added to Death’s cart.

Remember freedom is not free,

For blood was shed for you and me.

The Son of God nailed to a tree;

A wooden cross and spikes of three.

Remember freedom is not free,

His blood was shed because of me.

Verse Of The Week:

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32

What I’m Reading:

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr.