Archives

The Ugly Truth of Man

Aug15

Into the darkness of mankind’s souls I peered,
Places dulled and racked with mocking jeers,
Places once I knew to be bustling with life,
Now endless plains twisted by fear and strife.
In silence I condemn and convict as judge,
Passing sentence to settle the grudge.
Where’s the woman I once knew myself to be?
What stripped me of everything I knew as me?
Tumbling over and knocked repeatedly about,
I took my eyes away from the truth with doubt.
Before I could catch myself I began to fall,
Losing my allegiance to God’s holy call.
Could this be the same Daughter of God I knew?
Could ever again the love of God be renewed?
Oh, yes we each posses the ability to turn
Become the fire fighter who starts to set the burn,
There lurks within each and every one of soul
The monsters we have fought to hide and control.
One wrong act willingly indulged and free,
Sets off a chain of evil with consequences still to be.
But into this abyss Christ plunges in,
One Son of God and man come to pay the debt of sin,
The same Savior who willingly died upon the cross,
Whose redemption cloak over me does toss,
And I am swept away by His mercy and grace,
Reminded I shall see Him face-to-face,
Despite how I repeatedly fail Him and His cause,
His promises to me never cease or pause.
Into the mess of mankind’s heart I peer,
From my face He bottles every single tear,
Despite my abilities for evil He has won my heart,
Evil as man representative I may be yet God upholds His part.
—dfav 8/15/17

—Donna

To You I Offer

Jul31

Photo courtesy of Shane Hobson.

Into Your presence I commit my spirit.
Unto Your will I surrender my plans.
To You and You only I offer my heart,
To You the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,
Together as one You cannot be torn apart.

Before You I kneel with true awareness,
You are the Master of the Universe,
The God of Abraham, Jacob and Moses,
A God who has a history loyal to fickle man,
Who has pierced Him with thorns and neglected the roses.

To You I give up my selfish ambition.
It’s to You I release the love in my soul.
To You I turn for eternal salvation,
To You I concede I’m at my core a sinner,
And only in You, through You, can I have redemption.

Take of me whatever it is You can use,
Mold me and shape me by Your standard,
Remake, refashion, recreate the disciple You need,
Purge my heart ’til its whiter than snow,
Reap from my life where You’ve planted the seed.

When this life has passed for me,
Repentance will be far too late,
Hear my soul cry out to Jehovah God today,
As the sun breaks with brilliance across the sky,
It is to You, in You, with You I beg to stay.
            —dfav 7/31/17

—Donna

A Look into the Heart

Jul21

What evil in mankind’s heart does lurk?
What vile thoughts dare not weave in?
Doesn’t everyone imagine wrongdoings check to skirt?
Oh, don’t forget to dance the band must get paid.

Not far beneath the mask worn each day,
Is the truth about who we are at heart,
Woven skillfully behind the words we say,
Man desires that which God names sin.

Though we may think we’re good at heart,
And sometimes nice things we do achieve,
More often than not we play the part,
Our hearts still remain stained within.

The day will come when life’s dance will cease,
An invoice for our actions be presented,
And payment in full will be expected without a please,
Are you prepared to pay the total cost?

Satan hopes to keep us pleasured and blind,
Thinking ourselves good, well-meaning people,
That man is basically, internally kind,
And that will prevail over the course of time.

Heed the warning and see the true situation,
Separate from God our eternity is cast,
To the destination paved with good intentions,
Unless we accept the price He paid.

The Son of God and man died upon a cross,
A heart pure having never sinned,
Who between God and us recognized the loss,
And willingly gave His life to pay the cost.

Though that act is over two thousand years old,
His Spirit still knocks upon our hearts door,
His gift He gave more precious than gold,
Seals our eternal home with God in Heaven.
          –dfav 7-21-17

—Donna

First Stone

Jul19

With aching heart I turned to God,
“How can she treat me so terribly?
With no respect or understanding?
Dismissing my love so carelessly?”
I quickly named Him a top ten list,
Of the examples of her rude behavior.
And followed that by all the things
That left me with a bitter flavor.
When I at last grew silent and waited
For my Father to validate my hurt,
He said softly, “My Dear Child”,
You too have stomped my feelings into the dirt.”
Puffed up with foolish pride I said,
“No, my dear Lord, never have I!”
But I caught hold of countless memories,
That could fill the canvas of the sky.
The times I failed to thank Him,
For His provisions of the day.
Or times I didn’t try to hard at all,
To follow anything He had to say.
By my actions I have denied His place,
As my God, my Savior and Friend.
Truth is, I all too readily forget
To speak to Him for hours upon end.
Aren’t my sins what condemned my soul?
Aren’t they what put Him on the cross?
Wasn’t I the one upon His mind,
When the Son paid my sins cost?
Suddenly my complaints sound small,
My head is clearer and I can forgive,
I will think about my own attitude,
Pray harder for the life God have me live.
Before I can cast a stone at someone,
For a wrong they’ve done to me,
I must first be without sin myself,
My relationship with God where it should be.
          —dfav 7/18/17

—Donna

Sometimes I Must Ask

Jul18

Is God really silent?
Or do I choose not to hear?
Are there selective buzz words
That my ears want to bear?

Is God not communicating?
Or am I closing my eyes,
Am I refusing to read
The words in the skies?

Is God turned away from me?
My presence to ignore?
Or am I just unwilling
To open my heart’s door?

Am I prideful, strong-willed?
Can’t admit I’ve done wrong?
So by saying God is silent
Makes a more acceptable song?

Do I find the truth ugly?
Does me it even offend?
Sadly, yes Lord it’s true,
I am a fair-weather friend.

O Father forgive me!
May my selfish pride fall,
To You I must cling,
Your voice I hear call.

Wipe away all pretending,
May I seek You and find,
You’ve always been ready
To claim my heart, soul and mind.
           —dfav 7/18/17

—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

 —Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #18

Jun21

In God’s silence
I hold my breath.
Waiting…
Praying…
Fearing…
Wondering…
Is He angry?
Will He punish me?
What will He do?

In God’s silence
Other voices overwhelm me.
Taunting…
Shaking…
Driving…
Haunting…
You’re not enough.
You never will be.
He’s taking it all.

In God’s silence
Is He somehow speaking?
Can I hear?
Do I dare?
Does He still care?
Is this rare?
Or does everyone feel
That God waits
To devour them?

In God’s silence
I cower and wait.
           dfav 6/21/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #17

May31

Yesterday Lord, the place was crowded.
People everywhere promising so much,
With expectations and dreams so bright,
It all seemed so possible in the bright light.
This morning Lord, the crowd has thinned.
Some have left afraid of the possible pain,
For the route to success is no longer in sight,
The support they all promised took flight.
It’s you and me in this ongoing struggle,
Yesterday, today and tomorrow I know,
Regardless Lord of what I can see,
You are always right beside me.
Can’t base my walk with You, Lord,
On other people’s interpretations,
May this life with You be between You and I,
Help me live by Your will until the sweet by and by.
        dfav 5/30/17

—Donna

Stuck at Home on Sunday

May30

Sunday morning to the church building I couldn’t go,
It hurts every time though it’s the life I know,
Could give into the sorrow or break out in praise,
Jesus understands the decision and emotions it raises.
Sometimes I read and study His Word for a bit,
Ask Him to speak to me, in my heart sit.
Occasionally I sing, give a concert of one to The One,
Always thanking Him for​ the gift of His Son.
I sure miss going to church and worshipping there,
The strength of fellowship, understanding and care.
But God knows the reasons I’m stuck at home,
There’s no need for me to groan and moan.
He’ll accept my praise and worship anytime, anywhere,
He will be faithful and show me He cares.
          dfav 5/29/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #16

May24

The rain is coming down outside,
While the winds blow to and fro.
Inside this house inside this heart,
My heart struggles with what it knows.
Of God’s​ greatness there’s no debate,
His love for man is well known.
Then though I know those two facts,
What weeds of doubt have grown?
When life is good and safety is felt,
It’s easy to cling to His path.
But harder when the path is troubled
And your soul longs for a cooling bath.
Rain down Your understanding, Lord!
Flood me with Your merciful insight.
Wash away my human inconsistency,
Leave behind only Your pure perfect light.
        dfav 5/24/17

—Donna