Archive | April 2017

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #14, 4/28/17

Apr28

The very air is stale,
As if no fresh air has blown for weeks.
The memory of abundance is pale
Amongst the weight of needs.

It’s not that I’ve forgotten,
What walking close to You is like,
The sweetest mountain tops have been
Lasting monuments in my heartscape.

Only the assurance of Your presence
Feels further away each single day.
I refuse to put up some pretense,
When truth is I’m really hurting.

I will not forsake the journey,
I will not neglect to feel You out,
Though You may hide from me,
I will continue to repent and seek.

Draw me closer to You, Sweet Master,
Make clean my muddied heart,
Hear my prayer, reunite us faster,
Work Your way in me again today.
         -dfav 4/27/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #13, 4/26/17

Apr26

Following You, Father God, shouldn’t be so hard.
I love You and I want to please You.
I want You to respect me.
I want You to be able to depend on me.
I want to make You proud to have me as Your daughter.

Sadly, living seems to catch my heart off-guard.
Bad news arrives on the worst day.
Temptations confront me at my weakest moment.
Something major breaks in opportunely.
Chance alters everything including the plan.

Suddenly what felt like firm ground seconds ago,
Turns into quick sand in an instant.
Shakes beneath my feet.
Drains of all life giving nutrients.
Opens up and swallows me whole.

All I know for sure is I know what I know.
You’re the Alpha and Omega, now and then.
You sent Jesus to die for my sins.
You rose Him from the grave after three days.
You, and You alone are truly victorious.

Please let this be a start.

Amen
           —dfav 4/25/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #12, 4/25/17

Apr25

Lord,
You’re the Lord God Almighty,
Master of this universe.
Sustainer of all life and more,
I come to You at prayer’s door
Seeking Your counsel as before.

We know today the news will come,
If cancer is back and what it’s won.
If surgery took all of the diseased bone,
Or if more treatment is needed alone.
On this today our attention is honed.

But let us not forget the blessings,
Those woven in and out of today.
The sun that rose in the Eastern sky,
The kisses of loved ones saying goodbye,
And the goodness spread beneath Your eyes.

Be our strength as we face the day,
Enrich our walk with You throughout,
Speak to us through Your word
Be our ears so we know we’ve heard,
Keep our hearts though the news seem absurd.

Nothing will happen You don’t already know,
News to us doesn’t mean new to You.
Answers to needs You have prepared.
Comforts for worries are within Your care,
Resources You’ve gotten ready to share.

Quiet now, God, may we sit?
Saturate my soul with Your Spirit.
Flow into every nook of my heart,
Flood every cranny, fill every part,
Make this day Your work of art.
                dfav 4/25/17

—Donna

Counting on Tomorrow

Apr21


Tomorrow I’ll spend time with God,
Read more of His Word,
Take time to pray.
Tomorrow I’ll sing out a song,
Worship God in His glory,
Stop to hear what He has to say.
Tomorrow I’ll count every blessing,
Remember each name,
I’ll do just that just another day.
Tomorrow I’ll decide what God would do,
Does He say yes or no?
Are blessings coming this way?
Tomorrow will be the day I return,
God will be waiting,
It’ll be a fine and grand day.
But that tomorrow I counted on?
The clock stopped ticking,
Tomorrow went away.
          —dfav 4/20/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #11, 4/17/17

Apr17

This is a sanctuary,
A place of solitude and prayer.
A place I can carry myself too
Where You ease my frets and cares.
It is these things You know
Because You are here and there
Here within me and about me,
A sanctuary.
          dfav 4/17/17

—Donna

God is Surely Stronger

Apr10

You’re hurting and you’re tired.
You’re seeking answers.
You’re asking God above,
The one you’ve always tried to trust,
But this battle?
It’s really just too much.

His relief hasn’t yet arrived.
His answers unspoken.
Isn’t God in Your heart?
Doesn’t He understand your need,
Why doesn’t He act?
Why aren’t His angels set to intercede?

I’ve no idea how to help you.
I’ve questions of my own.
God is greater than we know.
We have to hang on a little longer,
His answers are on​ the way,
The pain is great but God is surely stronger.
           dfav 4/9/17

—Donna