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When is Your Moment?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Esther through marriage became a Queen to King Xerxes.
She too was an Israelite, a Jew, like many in the land.
Haman had planned all the Jews alienation.
It had been decided there was no question,
She could lose her life by her intervention,
Or lose her life, by keeping silent,
While others too died by this extermination decree.

Her cousin Mordecai reminded her perhaps this was,
Why she was there, for such a time as this,
God spoke and Esther answered many lives were saved.

The woman caught in adultery,
Was gleefully brought to Jesus to be judged,
In the pious presence of those who plied the Law,
Jesus knew what her accusers claimed they saw,
Telling them that the one among them,
Without sin could throw the first stone,
One by one stones fell unthrown to the ground.

The adulterous woman met Jesus,
She had her moment with Jesus to choose change,
An experience of truth in love meant she was a new creation.

The woman came mid-day to the well,
She met Jesus there at the siesta hour,
He knew before she arrived of her deepest shame,
And she was never again the same,
For in the mirror shared in Holy love with her,
She faced only His and her own truth,
And forgiveness unexpected flowed in.

This woman who avoided the company of society,
Met Jesus and stepped into the light,
She immediately shared her experience and changed.

Judas met Jesus and was trusted,
From Jesus he was never treated different,
Although his underlying nature rose,
Judas put God's best aside to dose.
Although the Lord knew all along,
He was the one to betray Him,
Judas's decision was his own.

This disciple was with Jesus nearly everyday,
Never believing enough to change,
Never able in his moment to open his heart to love.

Mary Magdalene to Jesus's tomb came,
To finish preparing the body of Christ,
Found the stone that covered the tomb,
Stood open to reveal an empty womb,
When she ran she saw Jesus in the garden
Mary's faith was rewarded and unconfused,
Jesus was the victor over death.

She had her faithful witness moment,
And she hurried off to tell,
Jesus gave her the joy to share He was alive.

Each of the apostles were specifically called,
From life as they had known it until then,
They came of their own free wills,
Their hearts to God's service were sealed.
Though they were persecuted, imprisoned, stoned, beheaded,
After Jesus's resurrection these men held to Jesus true,
Eleven who in their moment still chose Jesus.

These ordinary men took a leap of faith,
And carried the Word to the world,
Faithful to the ends of earthly life and beyond.

Saul began becoming Paul,
On the road to Damascus,
He temporarily lost his sight
Jesus spoke to him outright,
He followed Jesus' instructions,
Regained his sight, and in his moment,
He now accepted Jesus as the truth.

In such a dramatic and unusual way,
Saul became Paul as he changed,
Becoming one who he once sought to kill.

What moment are you waiting for?
What call do you still need?
What keeps you hardened within yourself?
What chains does evil have left?
Is this perhaps the moment?
The change you were meant to make?
You and you alone must choose.

What stands between you and Jesus?
If you choose Jesus you will never again be the same.
Were you born for such a time as this?

----dfav
4/10/21, 6/7/21

The Light on the Horizon

The Light is alive,
Eyes scan the horizon
Somewhere it is there,
The gleam of everything
Your heart needs to care..
Again…
In the span of nothingness behind you,
You can feel it more than see
All the hurt, pain, and shame,
To the left, to the right and ahead
Heavy fog moans your name…
Run…
Then as you pose to go,
It breaks the darkened sky
It shoots out like a giant blaze,
Piercing and silencing all but this
As if it's brighter than the suns rays,
"Come home!"
Then your speed increases,
As you run to the hope ahead
'Til you are faster than wind,
The light gets brighter
From the love of your friend…
Continually…
There in the light you see,
Our precious Lord so loved
The Jesus of old Calvery,
His body has left the tomb,
Alive triumphth over ancient rilvery…
Alive…
There's a light on the horizon,
Eyes of faith and hope can see
Though covered by intentional lies,
Lies of the evil one, traps of ego and pride
Liars you believed now wither and die…
Again…
Choose today who you will serve,
God or concoctions man theorized,
Here, now, trust or let your life dive,
Will you trust your heart and soul
You have the chance to live to be alive…
Alive…
There's a light on your horizon,
For eyes to open wide,
Faith will help you to see,
Just one move toward it
Will carry you all the way, just believe…
Jesus is Alive!

-dfav
5/28/21

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #6, 5/24/2021

Art & photo by dfav.
Aiming to go to our prayer cottage,
Our place by the sea
It is hard to reach today
The four a.m. moon faint,
Barely visible reflected in the sea.
The journey feels like forever
I wheel wounded body and soul
Both giving up on me.

I cannot wheel myself further,
No closer to where I want to be,
I call out to You Jesus
Do You see how much I need You?
Will You rescue me?
Even as I think to call out
The thought awakens in my mind,
"Try again to reach me."

In amazement I am here
Outside the Cottage-by-the-Sea,
Wheeling closer, down to the shore
While physical exhaustion drips away
The breeze from the sea fills me.
The tide is high and crashing in,
Sweeping away and sweeping in,
The shoreline by the sea.

The cares of this earthly life
Recede in my heart You've given me.
Your voice speaks in my ears,
Reminding me of what's vital
Of what really needs to be.
My eyes close so I can listen,
Truly hear what You are saying
Here by the Cottage-by-the-Sea.

Hands clasp onto mine.
Pulling me to run beside You free,
I feel Your scars from the nails
O this moment of the sweet-by-and-by
For Jesus' hands have me.
Time slips by as He walks
And I follow without fright
Along the beach by the sea.

He speaks to me in earnest
Waves pouncing at our feet by the sea
I can feel sand between my toes
The toes of both feet as it
Gently occurs to me,
There is only one leg
On this wounded body of mine
Even here by the Cottage-by-the-Sea.

Laughter, joy, amazement erupts
I hear Jesus' laughter next to me
One day, like now, in His presence,
I will walk, rejoice, even dance
Beside Heaven's crystal sea.
Regardless of all of Earth's troubles,
Its miseries and darkness
In this moment I am free
Walking with Jesus
As we laugh by the sea.

---dfav
5/24/21

Running to You

Seems like the world is closing in,

Not sure what or who is wrong this time,

Not sure of who should win,

Or if there’s a winning side at all.

I will be running, running to You.

But, this I am confident is true,

When Jesus splits the eastern sky,

This daughter will be running to You,

I will run to You, I will run to You.

I will be the one running to You.

After years of wondering what I should do,

Every second it takes me to get there,

Is one less to spend with You,

I will be the one running with a smile on my face.

I will be the one running, running to You.

There will be skid marks where I slide,

When I reach the point before Your throne,

Throwing my arms up, my heart open wide,

Holy tears will flow down my cheeks,

I will have been running, running to You.

To worship, adore You and praise You too.

Yes, I will be the one running fast as I can,

How long I have hungered for this time You are due,

I will be running to You despite one leg being gone.

Yes, I will be running, running to You.

—dfav

5/10/2021

Scents

Photo by MOHAMED ABDELSADIG on Pexels.com
There is a scent on the wind,
A different one, unrecognizable,
Wrapped in notes of bitterness,
Hints of fear, anger are palatable.
The heart draws in these scents,
Overtones of hate and despair,
Unclean hands ad hearts,
All swirling on the same breath of air.
Can all these be the smell
Of mankind destroying one another?
Could this be what the end stench details?
A decaying, arid, rotten smother?

Wait, there blows in another wind,
A cleaner, fresher, welcome scent,
This pushes through the bad smell,
Pure, newly washed, gentle hints.
Lungs rejoice at renewed hope,
From where does this originate?
With its notes of forgiveness,
Its source by choice not fate?
Eyes look up to the sunrise
Lungs pausing at the welcome sight
Jesus breathing over us all
Allowed He'll make everything right.

Everyone come and rest a while,
Breath deep of both streams of scent,
Which do you want to give life to you?
Do you require any other hint?
There is a smell on rushing wind,
Choose fresh and clean or stench of decay,
Either will set off change in you,
This is your moment, you have this say.
This earth will one day pass,
Your last breath will be vile or sweet,
These winds bring you a choice,
Which way will they send heart and feet?

---dfav
5/7/2021

Grace Gives Birth to Joy

Art, quote and photo by dfav.
Joy!  Joy is still a peace that all of us can claim we've found,
In unceasing waves of calm to wrap life around.
Joy highlights hope.

Hope!  Hope is still very much alive and well,
Countless occurrences of praises to tell.
Hope gives way to prayer.

Prayer!  Prayer is still flowing heavenward from our lips,
It is possible to just touch Your hem with fingertips.
Prayer breaths love.

Love!  Love is still within most human hearts,
Even of those determined to keep us apart.
Love provides forgiveness.

Forgiveness!  Forgiveness is still what we all seek,
For our deepest wounds and anger make us weak.
Forgiveness flows to grace.

Grace!  Grace is still that which we are in great need,
There are unknown harvests from Your gospel seed.
Grace gives birth to joy.

Joy links hope causing prayer where love reveals forgiveness,
Forgiveness gives way to grace and joy returns selfless.
All joined by God. 

----dfav
4/9/21 

What are You Thinking?

artwork by dfav
What are you thinking?

That situations and circumstances
Are very bad?
Horrible in fact?
So much so it has grown crazy,
As in mad,
Insane in fact?

What are you thinking?

About how we can no longer trust
People at face value,
For fear of what resides inside?
Even those who claim to be of God
And who are only lying
Hard to decipher, decide.

What have we been thinking?

As our young have been hijacked
By ideals incomprehensible
Our love smothered in guilt?
Replacing God's success with societies,
While His is viewed as rotten wood,
Not the stone pillars on which we once built?

Whatever we were thinking?

We were either wrong or weak
Failing to stand up for God
Or the beliefs we should have in Him.
It is time to own our mistakes,
Plea for forgiveness and
Light The Way brightly not on dim.


----dfav 
3/29/2021

There is Still God

There is still God.
Regardless of the situation
Or the crisis at hand.
There is still God.
Though the earth shake
Beneath your feet.
There is still God.
Let man attempt to wipe
Him from everything.
There is still God.
Government may actually
Destroy us altogether.
There is still God.

There is always God
Ready to lead us
Out of our own folly.
There is always God.
Though shaken to our
Deepest inner core.
There is always God,
Even if evil takes your life.
There is always God,
More faithful to His children
Than we are to Him,
There is always God.

----dfav
3/29/2021

Our Daughter, Your Journey

Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com
Our beloved and determined daughter,
Who has turned away
From all that is God,
All that is holy,
All that is truth.
Who willingly offers their soul
As long as it is far from all that is The Way.

Since your birth we have been with you,
Every triumph, every tear
Cheering you on to adulthood,
Everything true,
Everything pleasing to God,
Pointing out pitfalls,
While allowing your to face your fears.

Now you have chosen to go
Down paths we cannot walk with you,
Paths of deliberate sins,
Lakes of deceit,
Canyons of evilness.
We love you always and forever
But, choose evil, we cannot do.

Though you have rejected the core of us,
So you can walk this dangerous road,
The choice is yours to make,
The maps you have drawn,
At least you think you have.
This leg of your journey is yours to travel,
These are your steps, it is your load.

Our beloved, strong-willed daughter
Though physically we cannot follow you,
Still every single day,
Multiple times we will pray
You will make it through,
That the final cost of your choice
Is not the heart and soul of you.

---dfav
3/29/2021

O America!

Ole’ Glory, artwork & photo by dfav.
America?
O America, where are you?
No sight of you from our dwellings where COVID,
Government mandates and fear of one another
Has turned our homes into our tombs.

Liberty Bell?
Where is your peal, your ringing?
No sound from you, no bell rings out, just 
Madness, yelling, screaming, audio chamoflauging
That America's heartbeat has died.

Lady Liberty?
Why is your beacon darkened?
Who swooped in and stole your light,
The melting pot you pointed the way for
Has turned off your purpose, will you be toppled next?

Old Glory?
Do those stars and stripes fly anywhere still?
Flags are burning and stomped on,
Degraded, slashed, fouled with the hatred of so many
O Glory my eyes long for the sight of you.

Mighty Eagle,
Have you been shot from the sky as well?
Who clipped your majestic and powerful wings,
Have your nests and young been shred?
Are those tears in your eyes flowing down too?

Freedom?
Where did you last go down?
Who drove the last nail in your coffin?
Whose hollow bullet stopped your heart,  
When did the bill for your cost come due and go unpaid?

Christians?
Do you still exist, even underground?
Not talking about denominations, or religion,
Not talking about a list of do's and don't but
Those with authetic, life challenged, Bible believing BELIEVERS.

America?
O America, where are you?
Who grieves the loss of a 244 1/2-year-old country?
Who recognizes you even died?
Is there any or enough of you left to give us hope?

God?
O Holy Father, I know where You are.
You are here, You are always here.
For such a time as this You have raised us to exist.  
Father God, guide me, what would You have me do now?

---dfav
1/23,25 & 2/1/2021