2021

Jun11

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

Prayer for this Day

Jun7

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

Holy Water

May6

Photo by Transformation Films on Pexels.com

Sprinkle me with the purest water
Until the dust evaporates
Until my soul believes it participates
So I feel better for a while.

But, afterwards the sin remains
More vivid are my scarlet stains.

Submerge me in water pure and fresh
Until I am surface soaked
Until it seems my soul is cleansed
So I feel better for a longer while.

But, in all too short a time
My sin stains lay claim as mine.

Plunge me under the running water
Until the agitation washes deeper
Until my soul appears to be a keeper
So I feel sure for a even longer while.

But, as times passes by and on
My heart knows it is a con.

Wash me in Your Holy Water
Until Your blood from Calvary flows
Until the water runs high and low
So I can convince myself an even longer while.

But, this time do not let me intervene
For Believer's Baptism is not routine.

Saturate me thoroughly in Your Holy Water
Until no part of me is remotely still dry
Until my soul knows it responded to Your cry
So this is real Believer's Baptism, those real smiles.

No buts, no ifs or pretenses this time
Steel like assurance as a Savior You are mine.

Flood my entire being in Your Holy Spirit
Until every wrong I have ever done
Until every unrighteousness is gone
So I continue as a new creation in You.

But this time I really understand
Faith proceeds instead of routines hand.

---dfav
5/6/2021

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

Craving

Apr28

The moon is high above the trees,
The stars look down to witness me,
The air I breath deeply in and out,
My soul,
My heart, 
My voice give shout,
I crave You Lord
Deep, deep
Within

Like food for the physically hungry,
Like the eye seeks symmetry,
Like parched earth starves for moisture,
My soul,
My heart,
My voice without censure,
I crave You Lord,
Deep, deep
Within.

As a carpenter seeks for wood to build,
As an artist seeks the fine to guild,
As a bird flies high to sing its song,
My soul,
My heart,
My voice sighs long,
I crave You Lord,
Deep, deep
Within.

As a baby longs for mother's touch,
As wanderers search for more and much,
As You Yourself seek the worshipper,
My soul,
My heart,
My voice cry sure,
I crave You Lord,
Deep, deep
Within.

While addicts exist for their obsession,
While misers count each possession,
While greedy seek for those to control,
My soul,
My heart,
My voice extols,
I crave You Lord,
Deep, deep
Within.

Fill me Jesus 'til I am overflowing,
Fill me Jesus 'til my soul is swimming,
Fill me Jesus 'til You splash onto another,
My soul,
My heart,
My voice joins others,
I crave You Lord,
Deep, deep
Within.

---dfav
04/28/2021

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

Surviving COVID-19

Jan15

So sorry God, it's been a little while,
Since I was lucid enough to talk on these COVID-19 miles
Quite some time with energy to search for Your smile.

Best intentions mean nothing when,
Circumstances get you all turned around,
Even though you know grace has You found.

This scary illness, it eats at me.
Devouring me inside then out,
"This is not how I want to go home" I shout.

When food tasted like paste and salt,
Ears plugged up with painful fluid,
Eye sight faded in one eye, I wasn't lucid,

Not once did You leave me alone,
You did not abandon me or just let me be,
You Yourself sent Your angels to guard me.

Yet, You were always there beside me,
Reminding me whose child I am again,
No walking away from all You began.

Thank You Lord, for getting us through COVID,
Thank You for pulling me off the edge,
Thank You for Your protective hedge.

-dfav
1/5/2021

Prayer for Forgiveness – Cottage by the Sea (2021 #1)

Jan13

Forgive me Lord,
For these thoughts are disobedient,
They are not in line with Your word
Not in sync with who You are.
They dance in my head
Fueled by basic human desires
By all I don't have and think I need,
Because I've been
Longing for that which is not mine,
Craving things, circumstances not mine.

Free me Lord,
For these thoughts are bonds of evil,
Links of a chain bred in disobedence
Forged with guilt and callousness.
Thick, heavy, steel links,
Welded together in willful thoughts,
Because reality is hard to face,
Pride is hard to swallow.
Longing for pictures evil painted in my head,  
Craving tastes, circumstances rottening in my head.  

Wash me Lord,
In the rivers of Your grace,
Flowing from the fount of 
Your everlasting redemption.
Shine Your light to bleach shame away,
Remind me of Your truth
I see the ugliness of my heart in Your word
Because I chose disobedience.
Longing to live in Your love as Your daughter, 
Craving home, circumstances mine as Your daughter.

--dfav
1/3/2021

Fill up my Hollow, Lord

Nov24

O Lord, I'm feeling hollow,
As if someone or something,
Has drained me of everything,
Emptied, dry, no get up and go.

Yes, Lord, I'm feeling hollow,
I track it to confusion,
Maybe lies and plots infusion,
Entangled, enmeshed, wrestling.

Why, Lord in my hollow,
Is there thick silence creaking,
Though also so, so deafening,
I will stay here until You bid me go.

Fill my hollowness, Lord, my hollow,
Quench the dry and raise me up,
Until I'm running over beyond the cusp,
I'll be here Lord, until You're ready.

There's movement Lord, in this hollow,
Your Spirit has arrived at last,
Soon this hollowness will be in the past,
Fill me up Lord, fill me up.

----dfav
11/22/2020

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

fvbf

Christian poetry & essays about one woman's faith walk.

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