2021

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

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

May5

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

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea (#4, 4/1/21)

Apr1

Here ---
My soul has longed to be here.
Surrounded by reminders
Of Your power
Of Your grace
Of Your awesomeness.

Here ---
Where my heart can beat with each swell
As the waves crash on the shore
Against the sand
Against the rock
Against the cottage.

Here ---
Where burdens flow out with the tide
Return battered and bruised
In broken pieces
Broken chains,
Broken strongholds.

Here ---
In the vast openness of the ocean
Where the wind snatches
Every stench away,
Every forgotten truth,
Every failure.

Here ---
Where my heart and soul know
The wonder of Your might
Is ever present
Is always felt
Is always welcoming.

Here ---
In our Cottage-by-the-Sea
Our prayer closet expanded
Though You remain
Steadfast
Proclaimed.

Here.

----dfav
4/1/2021

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, (2021, #3)

Feb1

The Cottage-by-the-Sea, art & photo by dfav.

There's been a storm for weeks now.
Sometimes sitting off shore and churning,
Sometimes bashing at the door howling,
No way to venture out for anything.
Feels safe here, or at least it did.
Yet the howls are now clear voices,
Yet the winds are now vital choices,
Safety is fast becoming an illusion.
An army seems to wait to lay to waste,
Everything in the storms pathway,
Everyone who looks for a new day.
A battle is raging and no one listens.

Your Word is my deepest comfort.
Statements of joy, love and hope,
Statements of calm, peace, a way to cope,
My heart cries out for intervention. 
Your presence, Your Holy Spirit,
Wraps me in Your unfailing arms,
Wraps me close though the storm alarms.
My eyes must stay focused on You.
Your Voice keeps me focused.
You tell me to trust solely in You,
You remind me You will see me through.
You are my unwavering strength.

Outside the storm is raging,
Been stewing, blowing for months on end,
Been hammering, cursing, it is not my friend,
Dear God, will this ever be over?
To the East a different rumbling,
Does the storm not yet understand,
Does the unbelieving again defy Your hand?
Will the clouds part any minute?
There are wonders still approaching,
There are winds He will quiet by speaking.
The world outside is passing.

There's a Homecoming in the Heavens,
A celebration on golden streets,
A celebration, hear the multitudes feet?
Going home, going home at last.
The Eastern clouds are parting,
The storm can no longer block the view,
The Christ is here for us, this journey through.
My body rises upward in the sky.
There's a Homecoming with the Father.
Going home, going home at last.
Going home this weary life has past. 
No more storms, no sin, no tears.

Going home, going home at last.

---dfav
2/1/2021

History Repeats, From the Cottage by the Sea (2021, #2)

Jan19

We are here Lord,
You, I and my failures,
You, I and my sins
Try as I might I can't go a single day
Without reasons for guilt,
Shame,
Sorrow,
Pain,
Products of my stumbling.

We are here Lord,
You and I the consistent prodigal
You and I the weak
You and I the fumbling
Can't go one day without wandering,
Straying,
Coming and going,
Needing to grow up
My history repeats.

We are here Lord,
You, I and second chances,
You, I and grace
You, I and mercy.
You Redeem,
You Love,
You Gather,
You Lead,
For this is You and I.

-dfav
1/8/2021

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea #3, 11/3/2020

Nov3

The Cottage-by-the-Sea, artwork by -dfav

There is silence here, where we sit, quiet peace.
There is peace here, strengthening, healing.
There is healing here, for heart, for soul, for mind.
There is mindfulness here, awareness, understanding.
You are here Heavenly Father, positive and kind.

There is love here, flowing around, reaching souls.
There is a soul here, aware, and so grateful.
There is gratefulness here, for You, for blessings,
There is truth here, and I am so thankful,
You are here Heavenly Father so overwhelming.

There is love here, from me to You, You to me.
There is togetherness here, for all who come.
There is strength here to all who accept it.
There is everything one needs here, for all, not just some.
You are here Heavenly Father, for all who sit.

There is need here, needs still unspoken, alone.
There is isolation here, so we worship here in peace.
There is gratitude here, so I pour it out to You.
There is me here, Lord, in Your presence there is ease.
You are here Heavenly Father, help me love like You.

----dfav
11/03/2020

From the Cottage-by-the-sea #2, 10/20/2020

Oct20

If I could just look at this view all day,
Not seeing the ugly scenes,
The nasty means used to get what people want,
If I could unhear the growling throated howls,
Or the innocent souls crying out to You,
The blood thirsty ones seeking revenge,
Could my soul believe what I say?

Here, in this cottage, just You and me,
I can keep my eyes upon You,
Finally I can lay face down before Your throne,
Seeking Your will and reading Your Word,
Your angels have covered us,
My heart wants and seeks Your peace,
Here with You in our Cottage-by-the-Sea.

The world though lays beyond this lot,
The Earth is where I live each day,
It's been growing darker and darker,
Regardless of how much sunlight shines,
How good our intentions are,
How bright the moon and stars,
How beautiful the fruit inside is rot.

Let me pick up my cross and follow You,
May I see the cost and pay it willingly,
For You paid all our redemption bounties,
And sharing that with others 
Should be my deepest heartfelt pleasure,
Here I've come to draw upon Your strength
I come here to find mercy like morning dew.

Yes, some places on Earth are like this view,
Where winds race fresh and salty,
Sunlight creates the golden paths,
Diamonds on the sea waves twinkle,
The sky is clear and cool the breeze,
The shore is clean with golden sand,
I'm grateful for this as I come to You.

Help me face the truth regardless,
Help me stay true to Your Word and Will,
Keep my feet on Your pathways,
For Jesus only You are the Way, the Truth
And only You are also the Light,
Guide me here by Your Holy Spirit,
Forgive us all for this world's mess.

----dfav
10/19/2020

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea 10/11/2020 – #1

Oct12

Here I am and here are You
Meeting once again in this place
In this Cottage-by-the-Sea I am humbled
I dare not look into Your glory filled face.

My soul draws in Your very presence,
As my lungs breathe in the sea air,
How is it always possible dear Lord,
You always love me and always care?

Today I throw myself at Your feet,
Casting all my weariness and cares upon You,
You speak to my heart and very soul,
Reminding me of Your love and what I am to do.

From deep within me praise by song I offer up
The words lapping on Heaven's very shores,
Here I worship and praise You Lord,
Heaven itself has flung open her doors.

My soul is washed its windows flung wide,
As You accept my worship, prayer and praise,
Here in our place of intervention
I offer You my heart and soul to raise.

From our Cottage-by-the-Sea just You and I,
In the falls nipping sea salty bracing winds,
I freely give all I am to You my Savior,
Freed because I know in You there is no end.

----dfav
10/11/2020

Cottage-by-the-Sea, #10, 3/24/17

Mar24

These bodies You created are frail.
Yet they are also strong.
They fail when we need them most.
Yet keep going when least expected.
They sometimes appear to have hesitated,
Then soar over the worst conditions,
As if never to have even paused.

You’ve allowed mankind to open mysteries,
To learn how, why, when, what of these flesh,
Prolonging life beyond expectation,
Allow us our illusions we can conquer all,
But we’re not immune to the fall,
Death always stalks each of us,
Down the corridors and life’s halls.

Even in what we call a tragedy,
I will stand though weary of standing,
Though the storms are rolling in the harbor,
My anchor is forever attached to You,
It must not matter what Death comes to do,
Who it comes to claim, or scare, to scar,
My faith in You, Lord, must carry me through.
dfav 3/24/17

—Donna

Cottage-by-the-Sea, #9, 3/23/17

Mar23

Abba Father,
You know it is there,
This hunk of indescribable pain.
Questions, some claim
Faith would never give name.
That to do so acknowledges,
Admits to doubt as a foundation.
And that brings more information
To the forefront of the situation.

But, it is there.

Why do You not heal?
If not the physical needs,
Why not the spiritual misdeeds?
The emotional scars gone to the weeds?
Why isn’t faith rewarded here?
When someone clings to You,
Wraps up everything through and through,
Standing firm, standing firm on You?

Why, do You not answer?

Sometimes, I confess,
I hear the question of questions,
“What if” I’m wrong about the situation?
If You turned us out eons ago, in dissatisfaction?
Are we calling on a God unmovable,
One no longer concerned with mankind?
Does a bigger disappointment exist for You to find?
Less of a fumble in the daily grind?

Oh, it is there.

But, it is countered with
Swift flowing thoughts of awareness,
That You weave man into Your heart and press,
Your imprint on our souls with Your address.
Day is coming when no more,
Will I have reason to doubt,
Or farmers have reason to fear drought,
When all of life will bloom and sprout.

Awareness lives.

And even now,
I can point to the ugliness,
And You will guide me with gentleness,
Because You act with tenderness,
Even if You must correct me,
Prune sin from my heart’s garden,
Impress upon me I must ask Your pardon,
You do so with love not by a hand grown harden.

I will trust in You.
dfav 3/22/17