From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #14, 4/28/17

Apr28

The very air is stale,
As if no fresh air has blown for weeks.
The memory of abundance is pale
Amongst the weight of needs.

It’s not that I’ve forgotten,
What walking close to You is like,
The sweetest mountain tops have been
Lasting monuments in my heartscape.

Only the assurance of Your presence
Feels further away each single day.
I refuse to put up some pretense,
When truth is I’m really hurting.

I will not forsake the journey,
I will not neglect to feel You out,
Though You may hide from me,
I will continue to repent and seek.

Draw me closer to You, Sweet Master,
Make clean my muddied heart,
Hear my prayer, reunite us faster,
Work Your way in me again today.
         -dfav 4/27/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #13, 4/26/17

Apr26

Following You, Father God, shouldn’t be so hard.
I love You and I want to please You.
I want You to respect me.
I want You to be able to depend on me.
I want to make You proud to have me as Your daughter.

Sadly, living seems to catch my heart off-guard.
Bad news arrives on the worst day.
Temptations confront me at my weakest moment.
Something major breaks in opportunely.
Chance alters everything including the plan.

Suddenly what felt like firm ground seconds ago,
Turns into quick sand in an instant.
Shakes beneath my feet.
Drains of all life giving nutrients.
Opens up and swallows me whole.

All I know for sure is I know what I know.
You’re the Alpha and Omega, now and then.
You sent Jesus to die for my sins.
You rose Him from the grave after three days.
You, and You alone are truly victorious.

Please let this be a start.

Amen
           —dfav 4/25/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #12, 4/25/17

Apr25

Lord,
You’re the Lord God Almighty,
Master of this universe.
Sustainer of all life and more,
I come to You at prayer’s door
Seeking Your counsel as before.

We know today the news will come,
If cancer is back and what it’s won.
If surgery took all of the diseased bone,
Or if more treatment is needed alone.
On this today our attention is honed.

But let us not forget the blessings,
Those woven in and out of today.
The sun that rose in the Eastern sky,
The kisses of loved ones saying goodbye,
And the goodness spread beneath Your eyes.

Be our strength as we face the day,
Enrich our walk with You throughout,
Speak to us through Your word
Be our ears so we know we’ve heard,
Keep our hearts though the news seem absurd.

Nothing will happen You don’t already know,
News to us doesn’t mean new to You.
Answers to needs You have prepared.
Comforts for worries are within Your care,
Resources You’ve gotten ready to share.

Quiet now, God, may we sit?
Saturate my soul with Your Spirit.
Flow into every nook of my heart,
Flood every cranny, fill every part,
Make this day Your work of art.
                dfav 4/25/17

—Donna

Counting on Tomorrow

Apr21


Tomorrow I’ll spend time with God,
Read more of His Word,
Take time to pray.
Tomorrow I’ll sing out a song,
Worship God in His glory,
Stop to hear what He has to say.
Tomorrow I’ll count every blessing,
Remember each name,
I’ll do just that just another day.
Tomorrow I’ll decide what God would do,
Does He say yes or no?
Are blessings coming this way?
Tomorrow will be the day I return,
God will be waiting,
It’ll be a fine and grand day.
But that tomorrow I counted on?
The clock stopped ticking,
Tomorrow went away.
          —dfav 4/20/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #11, 4/17/17

Apr17

This is a sanctuary,
A place of solitude and prayer.
A place I can carry myself too
Where You ease my frets and cares.
It is these things You know
Because You are here and there
Here within me and about me,
A sanctuary.
          dfav 4/17/17

—Donna

God is Surely Stronger

Apr10

You’re hurting and you’re tired.
You’re seeking answers.
You’re asking God above,
The one you’ve always tried to trust,
But this battle?
It’s really just too much.

His relief hasn’t yet arrived.
His answers unspoken.
Isn’t God in Your heart?
Doesn’t He understand your need,
Why doesn’t He act?
Why aren’t His angels set to intercede?

I’ve no idea how to help you.
I’ve questions of my own.
God is greater than we know.
We have to hang on a little longer,
His answers are on​ the way,
The pain is great but God is surely stronger.
           dfav 4/9/17

—Donna

Questions in the Storm

Mar29


Temptation came to test me,
Oh, the arguments​ sounded strong.
With promises to end all our suffering,
Much wealth would come along.
Oh, it painted such a picture,
Of peace, health and song.
We could have life’s very best
Huge success for just a song.
The storms of life surrounded us,
We were battling on all sides.
Temptation said “Aren’t you children of The King?
Then where has He gone to hide?”
Then an image flashes in my heart,
Of two gentle and nail-scarred hands.
And how Jesus’ arms carried me,
Across the desolate and stinging sands.
In my ear I hear again His heartbeat,
Echoing steady beneath my ear.
Oh, get behind me Satan!
That’s my Father that I hear!
This storm of life we’re dealing with?
Sure, it’s pounding and it’s strong.
But, the God who redeemed my soul?
Will never lead me to do wrong.
My arm shoots up, hand out held,
Though the storm rages on,
Get behind me, Satan, in Jesus’ name,
God will see you gone.
—dfav 3/26/17

—Donna

God Has It

Mar26


This road block before you?
God has it.
Travel on.
This mountain looming to be climbed?
God has it.
Climb on.
This heartache within you?
God has it.
Love on
This healing you’re in need of?
God has it.
Pray on.
This God you’re trusting still?
He’s the I Am
Trust on.
                3/26/17 dfav

—Donna

Life Master Designed

Mar26

We plan our days,
We fill our hours,
So many things we must do.
Right now, Lord?
I come to worship You.

We plan our plans,
We dream our dreams,
Imagining all these things.
When in reality?
Lord, You make my soul sing.

This life is Yours,
This heart beats for You,
Forget all I’ve proposed.
Count me in?
Yes, to life You’ve designed.
             3/26/17

—Donna

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