Surviving COVID-19

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

Witness through Me

Jan14

Because of my Father's love
I am - FREE
Freer than any freedom on earth
For others can lock up the church's doors,
Forbid worship,
Abolish gathering in Your name.
But, no one can force me to deny
My faith, for though religion falls
My belief in Jehovah soars.
It can't be taken from my heart
I can always cling to You,
I can still trust in You,
I can continue to believe in You,
Whole or broken of missing limbs
I can still stand for You.
For it is in Jesus Christ I am truly free.
Even when facing physical death,
My loved ones threatened, used,
Tortured, straved, made an outlaw,
My physical body crumbling,
In my heart,
Though tonque silenced,
Though eyes blinded,
Abandoned to slowly die,
Please, dear Lord, witness through me.
In my heart I still trust in You,
I still believe
And in Your time
Usher me into Heaven.

-dfav
11/20/20, 1/12/2021

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

Is this an explanation?

Jan13

Good question and the answer is, it depends.

I’ve been writing poetry since elementary school. It really took off in me when I was a high school freshman and had to create a poetry scrapbook. We were allowed to use our own poems as “filler” so I did. After that it stuck.

The thing about my poetry is it’s from my heart and I often write what isn’t “acceptable” when it comes to publication rules, grammer standards or what people want. Bottom line if you want something that makes you swoon over imagery, perfectly turned phrases and all the things that made e.c. cummings great you won’t find it here. The only thing I think I share in common with “famous” poets is having everything I had written for several years burned as “fantasy and out of God’s will”. (Thanks Dad.)

I do however, write about my “real life” with it’s joys, loves, sorrows, my mistakes and failures, Mama’s soup pot and a lot about my walk with God. The thing about poetry is the reader can read between the lines and imagine I’m talking about everything but what I am. That’s okay. I hope my poems make you think of similar experiences in your life. I hope they point your heart towards God.

You may not get “high brow literature” from my blogs but you will get honesty. Even if you imagine ugly.

Thanks for reading,

Donna

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

O Come

Nov10

Adult coloring book page from *BE STILL and know that I am God coloring book*, Christian Art Publishers, Images used under license from Shutterstock.com, 2015. Colored by dfav. Photo by dfav.

O come, come to that place in your heart,
Where only God and you come to meet,
He calls you to come and rest at His feet,
For His love for you remains steadfast and true,
In the "I Am" you are home and complete.

O come, all you faithful though long the road has been,
Come and choose now to adore your Heavenly King,
He comes with His peace, His love for you sings,
Come before His throne, He'll be with you there,
How the heart within you will peal and ring!

Choose now to bring your brokenness to the Father,
Choose now not to only see what man calls defeat,
Hear instead the Father's love and repeat,
This is not yet the ending but only the beginning, 
Now, right now, is no time to tremble and retreat.

O come, all you faithful, this hour He reminds you,
Be like Mary, pure, faithful and true,
Like Saul, who became Paul and joined His crew,
Or the widow who offered all she had in the offering,
Put your hand to the work and give God His due.

O come, come to that place in your heart,
Where only God and you come to meet,
He calls you to come and rest at His feet,
For His love for you remains steadfast and true,
In the "I Am" you are home and complete.

---dfav
11/08/2020

Scent of Heaven

Nov9

The scent speaks direct to the soul,
Streaming in on a gentle breeze,
Fresh and clean and pure,
Unlocking hearts to free with sweet relief.

Aroma of first ever breathed air,
Sweet, but not exactly floral,
Cleansed, but not with bitter bleach,
Warm, but not so the heart recoils.  

A trace of sea salt and ocean,
Newly grown grass and seed,
A note of beginning and sweet wonders,
Braced by hope and joy now freed.

It sings in lungs with eucalyptus and mint,
Designed, created, by the Good Lord above,
The smell of Heaven, truth and peace,
And the Savior's own true love.

The scent gives fresh life to the soul,
Vivacious, strengthened to the core,
Though still indescribable in human words,
With God Himself inviting, Come!  Adore!

----dfav
11/08/2020

There is Still

Oct22

There is still beauty in the world,
Flowers that bloom in majesty,
Clouds that fly on the breeze,
Colors that dance in autumn glory,
Warm hugs and love that
Carry us to our very knees.

There is still joy in this life,
A child's face with huge grin,
A loved ones touch saying, "I care",
Music that resides in your soul,
Lifts your heart towards God,
Laughter ringing out to share.

There is still God's love here today,
Grace that flows from His forgiveness,
Tears wiped from eyes turned to Him,
In hearts to Him surrendered He reigns,
His mercy rains down in His love,
Where belief in God's love never dims.

There is still happiness on Earth,
Though hard times knock and troubles hang in,
As it seems all have forsaken you,
Hold strong to His Word and promises,
Remember He always answers prayers,
Either yes, no or wait, see what He can do.

There is still God among us everyday,
Weeping in our sorrow, rejoicing in our delight,
Entering hearts that want Him there,
Working to reach even more people,
For He is unwilling that any perish,
He died, He rose and has proven He does care.  

----dfav
10/20/2020

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

Praise in the Pit

Oct5

It’s dark, it’s cold and miserable,

There’s no way out, but many in,

No light, no warmth or hand to hold,

This pit where the bottom never ends.

It’s narrow, it’s wide and walls sharp,

Some fall quickly, other’s quite slow,

No rope, no ladder or human voice,

Worse it seems that no one else knows.

From here, this place and circumstance,

Prayers pouring from my lips,

There’s trust, there’s belief and heart,

I lift up my freezing fingertips.

He’s here, He knows and understands,

Regardless of what is in my sight,

Right here, right now I lift my praise,

Though all around me it is night.

In this pit, this place meant to break,

My heart warmed by His love bit by bit,

He is still God, He is still beside me here,

My soul will praise Him in this pit.

—–dfav

10/5/2020

fvbf

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

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