I choose understanding and forgiveness over resentments.
I choose to see myself through your eyes – chosen, loved, redeemed – over shame.
I choose to trust in the path laid out before me over self-will and attempted control.
Month: January 2026
Thought Life
Faint echos of discouragement
Claw at the surface
They want to break through
But I’m relying on You
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Thank You
Thank You for your tenderness
Your gentle wisdom in a whisper
Your direction at every crossroad
Your shelter when our feet are blistered.
Thank You for the rest You give
The hope You provide for tomorrow
The gift of joy in every day moments
The strength of Your embrace through life’s sorrows.
Calculating
I tried to put a number to it
Tried to hold it in my hand
Placed it under a microscope
So I could possibly understand
The measure of Your grace
But it was unmeasureable
The formula to apply grace
But it is undeservable
I tried to imagine eternity
But my mind would only go so far
Tried to see You with my eyes
But felt You in my heart.
Fears
I stare so intently at the things I fear, they become all I see.
I want to step back and widen the focus to all of the good around me.
Rest
Put one foot in front of the other
Until my light appears
Let my Spirit keep you quiet
My presence keep you still
Give Me your burdens
So I can carry you through
Rest your worried mind
Trust in my care for you
Expectations
What am I waiting for?
Someone to prove to me I’m worthy?
Someone to heal all of my problems
And make the world disappear?
Even if I found love
It now seems so trivial
So unnecessary and inconsequential
To what I’m doing here.
Relationships can be a blessing
But also what a load they bear
That is no longer the answer
There’s something more
That needs to happen here.
A change in heart
In perspective and motivation
A change in my view of the world
And a decrease of selfish expectation
Into Thin Air
I’m sorry for the things I spoke
When I should’ve been thinking
But instead I was drinking
I’m sorry for the arrows
I hurled in a hurry
Carelessly aiming
When my sight was too blurry
I’m sorry for apologies
That are needed everywhere
Thank you, oh faithful blog
For letting me clear the air
Tattered Cloak
I’ve worn the heavy cloak of my past like a shield.
I’ve washed it, clung to it, apologized for it
But took so long to remove it to fully heal.
I finally laid it down, my bare skin now revealed.
But not ready to abandon it, I dragged it behind me up every hill.
Until one day I saw the load I carried.
It had lost all purpose and use.
So I set free this ever increasing noose.
The journey became so much lighter.
My strength quickly increased.
The burdens of my cloak now buried
The past with it lay deceased.
Realign
Realign my fractured thinking
Strengthen the muscles of self control
Inject healing to my areas of tension
Widen the gaps that have become narrow
Let movement occur with ease
As I rise from my surrendered knees
To walk upright in confidence
Empowered with all my tools of defense
Prepared to walk with a purpose in mind
To give hope our lives can be redefined.
“13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:13-20
Counselor
My one true Counselor
My all in all
My kind and loving guide
Defender and comforter
Father and Friend
Who never leaves my side
Oh the Valley
Oh the valley
Where all my weaknesses are attacked
My mind so quickly forgets your promises
To instead obsess over worries and lack
Oh the valley
Where surrender counts ten-fold
Where my mustard seed can move a mountain
When I press on in the truths You’ve told
Oh the valley
What a treacherous terrain
Visions of the mountaintop barely remain
But faith, I muster the strength to reclaim.
Don’t Forget the Soap
I have a baking sheet that is used more often than I’d like to admit whether it be for frozen pizzas, mozzarella sticks, chicken bites, or French fries. Usually when I’m done with it, I just scrub away the grime with water and let it dry. Built-up grease (like in a cast iron skillet) is supposed to add more flavor to future meals, right? Ok, maybe not. But, occasionally I realize it’s time to use soap, too. No matter how hard I scrub, the soap cleans the pan in a way water alone cannot.
God works in our hearts and minds with a power I do not possess in the same way soap washes away germs in a way water cannot. No matter how hard I scrub to wash away the struggles within myself, I need God’s power and cleansing to do the job only He can do. So, before you scrub yourself into exhaustion, use a little soap. Trust God for the deep cleansing. Surrender that part of the job to Him. Don’t forget the soap.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Focus
Worrying about the news
Relationship problems
Financial stress
Personal ambitions
Past or potential pain
Only distracts our minds
From where we should place our aim
This world is temporary
And so are all these things
Instead share His heart
His love and presence
Our only truly valuable gain
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25
Patience
I pleaded with You
Told You I was stuck and needed You
But each time, it took years for my rescue
Were You waiting on me?
Were You not listening?
Or were you preparing me, teaching me
My grace is sufficient for thee?
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee…”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9…
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 