Category Archives: Poems

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Poem: Invitation to Light

[I unearthed this poem from six years ago, one of my grittier, honest poems…]

Darkness encapsulates the soul

Flaunting its ability to deplete nearly every last drop of hope and delight

In the ordinariness of a life squeezed by stresses or disillusionment,

Deflated by the realisation that self-fulfilment is not within reach

Nor peace a possibility at this stage in the game of life

(Young mothers may understand what I mean)

Yet merely a flicker of an eyelid commands power through its

Invitation to light,

As the eyes allow access like windows into my very being,

Embracing the call of creation which

Diffuses my small sufferings and dares to defy

Negativity, too much subjectivity

Or inflated thoughts of doom and gloom

Scattered through the day like pepper on a plate

Vision enables me, calls me to scan the horizon from east to west

And to see beyond the boundaries of my existence, while

Everything within cannot resist the rapture of God’s alluring landscape

My lungs expand involuntarily to grasp a fresh taste of salty air

As exuberant waves demand my attention, and I cannot deny

Your existence, Your true trademark of nature

And my all-consuming little life is dwarfed by the wonder of silvery sea and

Sugar-like sand that cannot be captured in the palm of my hand

And I laugh at the way you designed me to depend on

Your light, as you shine through the sun

Saving my sanity, as warmth envelops me,

Teases me, reminds me that there’s more to this world

Than me, than mine, and yet more of me,

And your cotton-like clouds entertain far more than what I see on TV

And the stones on the beach are pure pleasure to see

I’ll remember next time

When I open my eyes and respond to your

Invitation to light

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Of Faith And Fear

Photo credit: Creative Commons (toffehoff)

One compels you to action.

The other prevents you from doing anything much at all.

Fear of failure.

Fear of what others think.

Fearful of the obstacles and struggles.

Fear that keeps you in that place you’ve always been.

Fear is a poison, seeping quietly into your soul.

Faith is a first step.

Faith to face those struggles head on.

Faith to believe the truth and follow it.

Faith to listen to the right voices.

The two pull and tug and war against each other.

Faith is a restorer of the soul.

Faith frees the mind, unleashing potential.

The enemy of faith is fear.

Let faith win.

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smartphone poetry//: Chosen

(This poem was jotted down late one night as I was about to go to sleep & emailed to the intended teen recipient whom God impressed on my heart. Here in its original, sloppy format…)

look me in the eye u know u can’t deny the love / once planted in ur heart/ by Jesus/ don’t look away/ u know the price he had to pay for – the precious blood he shed for – u/ don’t look away, why r u throwing it all away? /  when he’s waiting , waiting for u/ his heart breaking for u/ let him love u. Listen, he is near/ calling out ur name/ precious one, child of grace/ turn ur face again to him/ he holds u in a special place close to him/ and his covenant with u is never broken, for u are chosen/ since before time began u are part of His plan/ even knowing all you’d do and the stupid stuff too/ he’d do it all again/ cos u r his child/

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7/7 (In Less than 24 Hours) – A Poem

On the anniversary of the London 7/7 bombings I’ve decided to re-post a poem which I wrote shortly after that fateful day, seven (eta: now 10) years ago. Thanks to Gillan Scott over at God and Politics UK who has also featured it on his (former) site. [Gillan can now be found over at archbishopcranmer.com]

Image Image

From elation to deflation
in less than twenty-four hours
From euphoria and applause
on the streets of London,
to sudden, forceful pause
across the transportation network.

Stillness in the city,
but for the sirens, the screams.
From gasps of delight
to gasps of horror,
From cheerful celebrations
to serene silence.

Lives cruelly snatched away.
Hearts leapt on Wednesday,
sank on Thursday –
Hope sapping from the heart of London
and the heart of man.
But our hope is in you, sovereign Lord

As the nations rage
our hearts remain steadfast in You.
Eight leaders in a room can never save the world,
nor the words, deeds or music of man
But at the King’s Cross
we still have reason for faith,
Hope and Love, they too remain
We won’t live in fear, but freedom

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FaithWalk/ Destination Highway – A Poem

Well sometimes I find myself driving along this road of virtual Christianity
bordering the highways of pure vanity and supposed reality
Going in circles, not quite the straight and narrow,
experiencing the same levels of religiosity, at times pandering to my curiosity
which leads me down other alluring paths where someone promises an easy ride.
Or is this just church-ianity? (seems akin to intellectual insanity)
Somehow avoiding any new maturity, never reaching my destiny in You

“Am I nearly there yet?” ringing in my own ears. The end is not in sight and I’m lost in a fog on a dark night longing to find my way home –
Home to You, home to Your truth, Your light, Your glorious freedom
Like a breath of fresh air after swallowing streams of stale vapours for so long
And signs leading to easier paths of pleasure and advancement might tempt me
But there’s no peace, no security in any other way than Your Cross-road

And I can hear you reminding me to seek Your face and You’ll show me Your Glory
“Seek Me in the secret place and I’ll show you the higher way –
One that misses out the potholes of confusion and the diversions of emptiness –
along with the inevitable crashes that bring you to your knees in desperation,
Wondering how on earth you ended up here without Me in your broken vehicle.
When all I want is a broken you – someone who will bring glory to My name, not theirs.”

Image: Creativei, stockfreeimages.com

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FaithWalk/ Invitation to Light – A Poem

[As part of today’s writers’ challenge we were encouraged to share something unpolished. Here’s a poem I wrote several years ago that began well but probably needs some work…]

Darkness encapsulates the soul
Flaunting its ability to deplete nearly every last drop of hope and delight
In the ordinariness of a life squeezed by stresses or disillusionment
Deflated by the realisation that self-fulfilment is not within reach
Nor peace a possibility at this stage in the game of life
(Young mothers will understand what I mean)

Yet merely a flicker of an eyelid commands power through its
Invitation to light
As the eyes allow access like windows into my very being
Embracing the call of creation which
Diffuses my small sufferings and dares to defy
Negativity, too much subjectivity
Or inflated thoughts of doom and gloom
Scattered through the day like pepper on a plate

Vision enables me, calls me to scan the horizon from east to west
And to see beyond the boundaries of my existence, while
Everything within cannot resist the rapture of God’s alluring landscape
My lungs expand involuntarily to grasp a fresh taste of salty air
As exuberant waves demand my attention, and I cannot deny
Your existence, Your true trademark of nature
And my all-consuming little life is dwarfed by the wonder of silvery sea and
Sugar-like sand, that cannot be captured in the palm of my hand

And I laugh at the way you designed me to depend on
Your light, as you shine through the sun
Saving my sanity, as warmth envelops me
Teases me, reminds me that there’s more to this world
Than me, than mine, and yet more of me
And your cotton-like clouds entertain far more than what I see on TV
And the stones on the beach are pure pleasure to see
I’ll remember next time
When I open my eyes and respond to your
Invitation to light

 

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Caught up in Summer – A Poem

The weather has been pretty atrocious lately around here. It seemed fitting to at least look toward sunnier days and remember fun family summers of the past. I wrote this poem when the boys were much younger – happy days… (At least ones like this)

Sunshine in my hair
Warm rays soak through the skin
Perforating my soul with feelings
Of ridiculous contentment, as I
Absorb this summer day and await another
Long leisurely night

Slow down
No need to hurry now
Drink in blessings from
Above and around, strolling through Central Park
Sipping ice cold juice or playing
Inane invented games with my boys

Giggles and sparkling eyes abound
Listen intently to my stories
We lie down
Heads towards heaven
Pondering changing faces
In the clouds

Bonded in heart and spirit
Joined by common experiences
Caught up in summer
Captivated by creation