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

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

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

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

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

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #21

Jul26

Lord,
It boiled out of me like an erupting volcano,
Massive rivers of red-hot painful memories,
Black-as-midnight acts of discrimination,
Spewing it’s poison from mountain to sea.
Then it was over, at least the worse of it.

The path of the destruction stretched across my heart,
Boring a scorching swatch through my prayer house,
Erasing landmarks beneath it’s horrid weight,
I felt as if it were the elephant on top of me the mouse,
So heavy the load of my anger.

Then I felt instead of heat, the sea breezes coolness blow,
Tasted salt upon the air drawn deep into my lungs,
The firm, solid foundation of the place we’ve built here,
And within my soul the phrase blooms across my tongue,
“Thank You Lord for grace.”

No, things aren’t easy and everything is tough,
But, not once have You failed me even if I let You down,
Even when I erupt in anger and frustration,
You keep smiling at me though I give You reason to frown,
Giving me mercy new every day.

Together we can repair the damage and mend the walls,
For the foundation it was built upon is The Cornerstone,
The solid rock of Jesus Christ and His salvation,
Backed by the Father God upon Heaven’s throne,
And the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Praise God, I do not stand alone.
—dfav 7/26/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #20

Jul17

There’s a storm brewing up off the coast.
A long, nearly black mountain range of clouds
Are planted in the horizon like angry boasts
That spill from the mouth of a bully.

Nothing I can do will prevent it from coming.
It has a path and an energy all its own
So I draw in and closer to You by praying,
Whatever the storm brings You will be there.

Let the winds howl with screeching suction,
Let the sand blast as if alive on it’s own,
Let the waves crest with their destruction,
You are here with me through it all.
—dfav 7/17/17