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From the Cottage-by-the-Sea #5, 06/01/2021

O Abba!

Gratitude floods this heart!

The door closes behind me as I sink to the floor,

If not for You upholding me every step,

Practically carrying me through the door,

Regardless of the storm, the war raging beyond these walls,

You’ve seen me home Your love rolls forevermore.

Trying to understand the hurt, the pain,

To listen when people try to explain,

The words are like physical artillery

Their power and cunning cannot be contained.

The hatred roaring like the buildings burning,

The violence of man’s heart unrestrained.

I want to hear, I want Your will not mine,

But, in the deafening overpowering rage,

Abba I find it hard to hear the softest voice,

We are all to blame for this situation on this page.

Can we ever unite again as people who believe in You?

What we’re reaping is our rightly due wage.

Peace, peace be still, You said

As the waves threatened to overturn the boat,

Be still and know that I am God

In every niche and corner no matter how remote,

May the first stones thump softly to the ground,

May we give them our coats and cloaks.

Patch me up Dear Abba Father,

Send me not to share more anger and hate,

Instead Your never-ending love and hope.

You have me here for a time it’s not mere fate,

Nothing with You is accidental or confused,

Your ways hold no surprising rate.

Christ gave His life’s blood for our sins,

It was not a question of if but when,

From Adam right until now and beyond,

Man has covered fear and guilt with buzzing din,

Justifications to make wrong seem right,

From beginning until the very end.

—-dfav

05/01/2021

What Message is Getting Through

Photo by Eva Elijas on Pexels.com




There is deafening noise all around,
You cannot escape it wherever you are bound.
A violent roar angry, loud and explosive,
So loud, oh so loud, it turns into a weapon so corrosive.
Noise so big, so loud, so hot and molten,
Your message is lost to all, dispelled, no longer golden.

There is violence in the streets below.
People breaking in, as people once friends turn to foes.
Glass shatters, bricks explode, fire flames and licks,
The guilty or innocent such destruction has no pick.
Businesses, homes, people damaged or wiped away,
Taken out by waves of fury again today.

There are tidal waves of age old lies,
How many deaths will be enough to die?
Leaders so corrupted they cannot smell their stench,
Plans roll out to which they've plied their wrench.
This has nothing to do with "we the people",
Much to do with the torn down steeple.

No longer can I hear the message,
No longer can I read the passage,
No longer can I find reason for sanity,
No longer do I see any recognization of dignity.
The locusts have passed again and again,
I cannot hear through their violent, wicked din.

There is one promise to which I cling,
One taste of tomorrow despite todays sting.
Jesus came and died, He the only perfect One,
He rose from death His victory won.
He is returning, He is coming back,
In Him alone resides all the understanding we lack.

Until then though I struggle to hear your voice,
Do you think there is another sane choice?
This paints a picture of evil reigning,
Of the worst of all humanity demanding,
Their way or no way, life or death,
It seems your intent to steal away our last breath.

There is deafening racket all around,
No escape no matter where you're bound.
A violent roar, angry, loud and explosive,
So loud, oh so loud, it turns into a weapon so corrosive.
Noise so BIG, so LOUD, SO hot, SO molten,
Your message is lost to all, dispelled, no longer golden.

----dfav
4/20/2021

Prayer for this Day

Pixels

Abba Father,
My friends, this worlds humanity,
All who suffer are hurting deeply,
Physically, emotionally, spiritually we’re ill,
Some know addiction, fear, hate and anger still.
There’s COVID-19 and much uncertainty,
Vaccines, economic turmoil, freedom threatened,
O such physical, heart, soul felt sicknesses,
Heal us please Lord, if it is Your will.

Lord, people are
Trying to hold to You in all circumstances,
As basic kindness fades and evil appears to have control,
Throughout this world all lives abruptly change,
Lights are hidden beneath bushels flicker and wane.
Evil appears triumph, fighting for control of us all.
We have wasted opportunity in our history,
Now we are facing the consequences
Is it to late, will You save us Mighty God?
We know Your mercy is in range.

—-dfav
5/28/21

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

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

Art & photo by dfav.
O Father!  I am here!
You are too let there be no mistake.
My heart leaps with acknowledgment,
My soul drinks in Your peace,
Though outside the pounding storm does not cease.

O Father!  I am here!
Should I rush outside into this gale?
My heartbeat quickens with the waves,
My soul gasps at this darkness mid-day,
Though I see the Son is waiting to show the way.

O Father!  I am here!
This storm is greater than any hurricane.
My heart cannot deny the danger,
My soul remembers You provide for the sparrow,
Though it seems there may be no morrow.

O Father!  I am here!
It is time to pray and praise only You.
My heart longs for Your continual presence,
My soul knows any rescue for anyone is in You,
Though the winds shrill with evil in what they do.

O Father!  I am here!
This wall of darkness slammed down is even worse.
My heart sees in it those fallen and confused,
My soul sends me outside to scream, "Come home",
Though they turn from us wanting to be alone.

O Father!  I am here!
Will You not send me though destruction flies?
My heart cries for what will never be again,
My soul clings to You to withstand the probability,
Though this country is called to accountability.

O Father!  I am here!
Light returns as the storm recedes.
My heart rejoices that our cottage still stands,
My soul mourns for all that is now gone,
Though it is as if the USA never stood alone.

O Father!  I am here!
We search for all the other survivors.
My heart weeps for those freshly wounded,
My soul for those completely wiped away,
Though still proof exists You are here this day.

O Father!  I am here!
Is this vision for now or a future time?
My heart stirs as I look at You,
My soul trusting in Your true direction,
Though others balk let me follow Your instruction.

----dfav
5/5/2021

Watching

Photo by Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels.com
All my life I've heard
That Jesus is coming back.
Could be any moment.
Could be any time.
I've waited,
I've watched.

As rumors flew through history
Muddling people's minds.
Is it ever happening?
Is it in our lifetime?
We've waited,
We've watched.

Currently more signs come true
Awareness is on high alert.
Is it today?
Is it tomorrow?
We're waiting,
We're watching.

Seems like evil is winning
Casting God and His people out.
Will they succeed?
Will they not?
We're still waiting
We're still standing.

Should the worse happen,
Lord, don't let me wimp out.
May my lips praise,
May I follow to the end.
I'm waiting,
I'm watching.
I'm ready.

----dfav
4/17/2021

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

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