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

Don’t

Jun2

Don’t make me out to be more than I am.
One woman doing the best she can.
Then when I fail, when I fall,
You can move on without​ stumbling yourself.

Don’t come to see me to sit and gawk.
I am not an historical monument.
There’s feelings connected to my heart,
Sometimes they aren’t of sunny disposition.

Don’t tell me you know how I feel.
Unless you walk this walk you can’t.
No, you really can’t imagine, trust me.
Peddle your sympathy somewhere else.

Don’t think that because I wail at this sentence
I’m giving up on God or my situation.
Sometimes I have to point out the ugliness.
It makes the humblest of plain beautiful.

Don’t think, ever, for the smallest moment
That any strength or good or patience
You think you witness in me is of my doing!
To God be the glory, He does and is all.
       dfav 6/2/17

—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

The America I Know

May29

Photo courtesy of Angel Kaye.

The America I know?
She’s resilient and strong.
She’s feisty and determined,
Been the underdog in the fight,
But, the America I know?
Believed in fighting for the right.

The America I know?
Cared for her own.
Cared about values and honesty,
Even when the price was high,
But, the America I know?
Seems to have forgotten why.

The America I know?
Has given the blood of her finest,
Has wept with the broken hearted,
For the human rights of her own
But, the America I know?
Has fought for others like her own home grown.

The America I know?
Set today aside to observe,
Those fallen military personnel
Who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
But, the America I know?
Could heed true Godly advice.

The America I know,
Shouldn’t forget God comes first,
That our freedoms came with a cost
And we can’t stop paying the price.
The America I know,
Honors the ones making the sacrifice.
        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

Remembering​ Those Gone

May17

Thoughts gather about the ones
Whose lives once intertwined with mine.
Who invested prayers and time
To try and help me my life to shine.
The loved ones I hold so dear,
Whose paths have gone to another time.
Who are at peace and now have no tears.

To not miss us, those who’ve been left behind
It must just be the notion we’re coming soon,
As if we’re only next door or in the next room?
We’ll be there before the clock strikes noon?
Perhaps that is what death truly is,
A passing from the earthly to Heaven’s room?
Still I think of them and grief makes me sad.

Oh, the Homecoming we will surely have
When at last we’re all gathered home.
To be in the presence of our Holy Father,
And know from Him we’ll never more roam.
All together we will love God more,
And so love one another in our Heavenly home.
I can remember those gone and smile.

                 dfav 5/16/17

—Donna

What Happened?

May15

The colors used to sing to me,
They hummed in perfect harmony.
Bright voices tweeted to play all day,
Sober hues revealed other things to say.
Primary tones danced ‘cross the page,
Waltzing, tap-dancing their feet gave way.

Words used to call out loud to me,
Sometimes a poem with or without rhyme,
Words built upon themselves a story to tell.
The words worked wonderfully well.
Sometimes a story a novel foretold,
They didn’t care if they would sale.

Blank paper or canvas once revealed to me,
Drawing, painting some artistic endeavor,
The absence of colors called creativity,
There but not with clear visibility.
Until the blankness whispered their piece,
And mind eye becomes breathtaking realities.

How sad I am the calls grown silent!
Chilling my heart without their muse,
I feel the absence to the core of me,
The colors draining is all I see.
Silence is all my soul can hear,
What now is to become of the me I be?
            —-dfav 5/14/17

—Donna

Prayer for Those Seeking a Church Home

May12


Today Lord, I pray,
For these fellow brothers and sisters
Who for church homes they do seek.
We know there’s a place for them
To draw encouragement from every week.
Not a place for their entertainment,
But one where they can actively participate.
Not just on church committees,
But among those whose needs are great.
A church that still believes in the Bible.
Believes that it teaches right from wrong.
A congregation of God worshippers,
Who hear and mean the lyrics of their praise songs.
No church we know is perfect,
Comprised of flawed human kind,
But guide them to Your choice for them to serve You,
And help them understand what they find.
           dfav 5/12/17

—Donna

From the Cottage-by-the-Sea, #15, 5/4/17

May4

You gave flesh, blood and life
To bones dry beyond death and skin.
You parted the Red Sea for the Israelites,
Saved Daniel in the Lion’s Den.
You caused a bush to burn
But never turn to soot and ash.
Told Noah to build an ark
Then guided it so it didn’t crash.
Your Son, Jesus was born of a virgin,
Became the way of Salvation for men.
Called Peter, John, Thomas and Paul,
Taught us to pray and say “Amen”.
Our history is filled with Your wonder,
Our hearts truly fill with You here,
So why Precious Lord have You turned,
Your face from me over there?
I’ve searched for You haven’t I?
Sought You to fill my aching heart?
Why do You remain so silent?
What here is the missing part?
You are listening I know for certain,
You will answer when Your time decrees.
Meanwhile, I will remain ever faithful,
Waiting my God, the Holy Trinity.
          —-dfav, 5/3/17

—Donna