Sunday 7 December 2014

Promise

Every fleeting breath
Knows the joy
Of wonder
For drifting songs
Sung in a symphony
Wakes the world
Heralds the promise
Just for me

Monday 17 November 2014

Unpacked Suitcase

Unpacked suitcase
Chestnut shadowed curves
Small perfect window
Innocent silhouette
Hidden year on year

Unpacked suitcase
Honeysuckle malice
Blistered passion
Solace of hope
Past becomes the future

Unpacked suitcase
Mistress of crimson
Mania or despair
Legacy `filled chest
Ransom’s treasure


Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life on My account will find it – Matthew 10:39.

Saturday 15 November 2014

My Headstrong Heart

Flowers of harvest rust
Loveliest crimson
For two small sparrows
Comfort and conquer
My headstrong heart

As the thickening atmosphere
Sheds its natural dread
Where shadows turn
And flickering light melts
My headstrong heart

Everything is laid bare
There is nothing left to say
No sound, no movement
Just the forgiveness offered to
My headstrong heart

Friday 14 November 2014

Another Life

Under white leaves
Orange evening grass
Unravelled Stitches
Drizzle silent love
In the light of another life

Monday 10 November 2014

Psalm 13

A vacuum within realities
Threatening rumblings
Growing more intense
Deep within me
Wars take place
After the last door has shut

The liquid of experience
Asks each question
And offers freedom
From regret and despair

Listen to your promises
For the sharing of your blood
Is the reason why I saw,
Forgiveness in your love

Sunday 2 November 2014

Psalm 12

I have seen justice
I have watched as others escaped
I have cherished goodness
I have seen weakness burn.

On falling leaves and rising suns
On something as lifeless as rock
On a far away persistent clock
On a granite boulder sealed to hold

A time when things were made to live
A furnace heat to purify silver
A fragment of a splintered heart
A place that once meant nothing

You remain faithful now and forever
You protect all that are oppressed
You reveal yourself in scarlet nails
You provided everything in your sacrifice

Sunday 7 September 2014

Psalm 11

The night is over
The air is calm and still
Through misty silent valleys
Gleaming water drops
Dance in anticipation
Shimmering
Tender, profound, forgiving love,
Rising into waves of praise
Imparts the perfume of heaven
Omnipotent grace
Dissolving beams of light
Infusing every heart
Shining within
The sun of righteousness.

---

Sunday 17 August 2014

Psalm 10

Dust sparkles in the sun
Small gleams on the bank
Gemstones silent in the moonlight
Angels on the ramparts
This piece of eternal sky
This place beyond today
For arms ached
Hands blistered
Leaf stains as thickened wine
Distant memories.

Written in a century of dreams
Hopes rise as a watchman
Beyond the guilty stains
Marble fire possessing veins
And wonders at the eloquence of love
For mercy melts granite hearts.

----

Psalm 10 - New Living Translation

Friday 8 August 2014

My Father

My Father, knows
what I need
understands me.

I am connected with Him
to enjoy His life
feel His delight
share His presence.

whispering

calm assurance
to each of His children.

Monday 28 July 2014

Psalm 9

Benches adorn a square of grass
Asleep by a public fountain
A tree stands as great as heaven
Chequered pattern dancing in the light

And not far from the old stone wall
Where paths and narrow porches
Decorate the shadows
And dance submerged in flint and glass
The earth lies flooded with glory

On a clear calm evening
In an act of praise
Abbey bells ring
For the dream becomes reality

Taste the bread of life
Accept the gift of grace
Sweet the moment immersed in love
For worship bursts with desire
In radiant shining glory.


----

Psalm 9 - New Living Translation



Friday 25 July 2014

Psalm 8

Vermilion sky
Radiant heavens brightness
Rainbows blossom in a dance
Rich clouds and warm rain
Floating feathers of light
From enchanting stars.

I wonder at the sovereign splendor
Mountains high and rising tides
Kiss the shores of diamond lakes
Reflecting the beauty of creation glances

A world of sweetness
This amethyst dawn shakes free
As warm sun-fingers
Are wrapped in hidden reverence
Declare to life the glory of love
Immersed under a banner of treasured grace.

---

Psalm 8 - New Living Translation

Sunday 13 July 2014

Psalm 7

The mountains call
Flickering rainbows of light
Chasing the clouds
Onward in anticipation
Transported beyond
Fragile rising storms
Unsuspecting arrival
Contemplation of joy
Dangled before my eyes
A covenant of awe
Somehow understood
In the moment of participation
Reserved for me
An undoubted pleasure

Monday 7 July 2014

Psalm 6

Between lost and becoming
Echo so intense
Meandering like shadows
Into a drowned future
Drifting dreamily towards
Old scenes
Old friends
Old days
The joyful praise of a vision
Room and roofs of refuge
Have become my dwelling
In the doorway of your house
Where I find your unfailing love
And weeping
And tears
And hopelessness
Of a suffered life
Is healed
In the promise of rest
And held with the shield of love

---

Psalm 6 - New Living Translation

Friday 4 July 2014

Kissed

Unparalleled passion
Infinite worth
Word became flesh
Divine gift of grace
Unfathomable love
Kissed our birth
Absorbed our pain
Died in our place.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Morning Dew

Pictures of the heart
Paint pastel beauty
Joy and praise
Forever
Encapsulate
Love is real
You
Our morning dew


Friday 30 May 2014

Psalm 5

Who will bear testimony to
This life-renewing discovery,
Falling transcendence
Love, forgiveness, renewal,
On an empty hillside
I never heard a sound
Failure, loss, despair
Hung from a single thread
Pardon, glorious certainty, union,
Everything has changed

-----

Friday 23 May 2014

Psalm 4

A golden leaf spins
Dances in the autumn wind
Drifts of marble rain
Sweeps across the path
As clouds so low I can barely see
The bright morning light
As I silently stumble
And trust the harvest
Spring follows winter
Joy comes after pain
Loss turns to gain
Death changed to life eternal
And after that moment
The peace of dreams
Your face in the mirror
Beyond hope
Sown in a crimson thread
For when I call on you
You declare me innocent
And shower me with your abundance.

-----

Friday 16 May 2014

Psalm 3

In the coolness and freshness of the morning
Step into the garden
Breathe the fragrance of the breeze
The light of beauty
And find refreshment
And renewal
And in creation’s aroma
The presence of His mighty power
In deep awareness that He is good
His blessings abound
And in the heart and soul
Of abounding love
I am forever secure.


Tuesday 13 May 2014

Psalm 2

Remove the bandages
From this chasm of pain
The prism of separation,
For with freedom of vision
One word is infinite
to exalt all things
 And In dancing sunlight
I see things whole.
Speak the word
Listen to the truth
His planned expression of love
For He who paints the sunset
So gloriously in the sky
Enraptures my soul
Captures my heart
And declares,
I am Precious to Him
He has promised
To turn my crisis into an oasis
Of goodness and mercy.

Friday 9 May 2014

Psalm 1

Golden glory
Delighting the eye
Captivating the heart
As the seasons glistens
In rich white blossom
and emerald river banks
exploding
in a blaze of graceful yellow chains
responding to the brightness of the sun
with eyes wide open
to the imperceptible river of grace
flowing
overwhelming every second
dissolved with the joy of love
and held in my Fathers embrace.

---

Tuesday 22 April 2014

This Rest

Sweet the moments
Immersed in heaven
Constant praise
This love
So much within
This rest
Joy released
Constant grace

Friday 11 April 2014

Fire and Air

Today
I pierce the world’s skin
Crimson coloured fluid
Oozed from giant wounds
Our spirits
Danced in livid rage
Blood anointed scared knives
Clashed
Our skin is icy
Violet crystal within the veil
The wound
The silence
The wretchedness
The desolation
In the place of death
At the heart of legend
I will say nothing
As voices fail
And grace is shared
And come to live with us.



(Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion) – Hebrews 3:15

Wednesday 2 April 2014

The Foolish Man

No time to stand still
Brick upon brick
In the worst possible place
In the calm before the storm

Freedom
Visions of growing old

Outside
Swathes of water
On the roof, shining
Creak of wood
Pounding
Heavy as stone

Anger
Rage
The little word
Never had time
To stand
To age
To resist

And after the rain
The sky is clear.

My heart is made of stone.
My name is chalked upon the rock.


Written for Poets United (Susan’s prompt of foolishness) but also works with Mary’s prompt of time at Poetry Jam



(But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. – Matthew 7 v 26-27).

Friday 28 March 2014

Trust

Small bud of trust
Blossoming flower of laughter
Small bud of trust
Faithful confidence never rust
Grasp your hand joyous forever
Knee-deep through life gripped together
Small bud of trust.

(Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much – Luke 16v10).

Sunday 23 March 2014

Drown In The River

 A soft feather of divine bliss
Living fountain, transcended joy
Sweet fullness to dismiss despair.

Consume ecstasy life’s pure delight
Kiss the miracle of answered prayer
Glistening diamond, unfathomable peace.

From the everlasting waterfall grace streams
Intense presence quenches the fever of life
Drown in the river and be renewed.

(Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4v14)

Saturday 8 March 2014

Alabaster Bottle

No words of self defense
Nothing uttered
No attempt to justify
Nothing to defend
No explanation
In the face of criticism
An act of extravagant love
Shameless, selfless
Broken alabaster bottle
Forlorn grace
A legacy of devotion
With drops of matchless beauty
Tears of tenderness
The light of love in the
Darkness of sin
Brokenness
The costliest perfume
Spilled, poured,
Compelled by tears
Expression of selfless worship
Whispers the heart of love.

(A woman came with a jar of special perfume. She had given much money for this. She broke the jar and poured the special perfume on the head of Jesus. – Mark 14:3).

Written for Poetry Jam

Friday 7 March 2014

Promise

Cleansing rainstorm pure release
Nourish my soul and with grace
dance as colourful sunbeams
Promise of your love.


(Not one of all the Lords good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled – Joshua 21:45).

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Eternal Promise

Night has passed over
Embrace your strength and refuge
Peace and rest for weary souls.

Eternal promise
Your comfort now fills my heart
Allow your spirit’s leading.


(Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God – Deuteronomy 7:9).

Saturday 1 March 2014

Boundless

Boundless provision of rest
strength overwhelms holds my heart
taste the sweet divine nectar
infinite heaven

(The manna came down on the camp with the dew during the night. – Numbers 11 v 9)

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Promise Of Life

Promise of life
Hallowed father’s heavens pure grace
Promise of life
Kingdoms compassion heals my strife
Forever you took my disgrace
Love consumed was carved in your face
Promise of life


(Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name – Matthew 6v9).

Sunday 23 February 2014

The balm of encouragement

Filled with compassion
The balm of encouragement
Within the eternal agenda.

In your still small voice
Quiet words in the time of need
Allows my heart to remain soft.


(but exhort one another daily – Hebrews 3:13)

Saturday 15 February 2014

Awesome Tree

In you I find
Love and kindness
My mind in grace
Mercy placed
Encased in such selfless love.

Hope at the cross
Grasp of loss past
From dross set free
Awesome tree now
Set me on the path to your great love.

(But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared – Titus 3:4)

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Heart

Scarlet candles, going nowhere
Hidden chambers, forlorn angels,
After midnight secret despair
Scarlet candles.

Tears of passion through life’s trials.
For spent pleasures never compare,
Where hope shines bright, through pure vials,

Loves desire, each beat aware,
Beautiful grace, tender ripples,
Divine tremor each vein prepare
Scarlet candles.


(Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow – Isaiah 1:18)


A Roundel Written for Poets United – The Heart

Sunday 9 February 2014

Steel

Hot reinforced steel
Shines stainless on your spent sun
Heat scorches the heart.


(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds – 2 Corinthians 10:4)

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Possession - Sedoka

In a net of stars
A place of light and darkness
Rest in a moment of prayer

The struggle for peace
Felt inside with each heart beat
Life at last released in love.


(It shall be, in regard to their inheritance, that I am their inheritance. You shall give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. – Ezekiel 44:28)

Sunday 2 February 2014

Complete Union - Sedoka

Every vein in me
Affirms with recognition
Recreate you deep inside

This worn crinkled mask
Curtains of pleasure and pain
Life in complete union


(As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him – Colossians 2:6)

Saturday 1 February 2014

Every Morning - Sedoka

Sweet soft intrusions
Lengthening shadows in light
As rains scarf burdens the air

I lie listening
Awake as faint tears drizzle
Alive to the wings of dawn.

(Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23) 

Tuesday 28 January 2014

The Architect

One whose heart can never alter
One whom change cannot affect
Glorious, gracious, life’s creator
One whose heart can never alter
Rapture of love, heaven’s altar
Holy, righteous, architect
One whose heart can never alter
One whom change cannot affect


(You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever, - Psalm 104:5)


Sunday 26 January 2014

No Accusations

Let the accusations, have no grounds
Let words no longer condemn
Let guilt be cast aside
Listen to the whisper
Christ has cancelled our debt
Forever with his death
And Satan has no grounds to accuse us.
Let this truth disarm
Every lie
Harsh and unforgiving
That would try to condemn us
Hear the eternal cry.
Let our hearts agree
It God who justifies
Christ is our righteousness
The case is closed
Our accuser is disarmed
Bold and free
Eternally redeemed
Free from condemnation.


(having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. – Colossians 2 : 14-15)

Thursday 23 January 2014

The Vinedressers

Time drew near

And the vinedressers
Of a far away land
In fields that are dark
Beat and stoned
And killed each servant.

On ritual ground
An impossible tower
Entangled in the poison tree.

The master’s tears
Born in hope
Dissolved in despair
Stepped back to mercy
His only option
To offer his son.

Compassionate blood
Poured out on the wild vine
Dashed over a stone.

They took his inheritance
With poison and lies
Rejected
Crushed the stone
Demolished
His precious son.

And broke the heart of the master.

(There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country – Matthew 21:33)



Wednesday 22 January 2014

You Are There

Bring to memory
precious words that stamp my heart
prayers you have answered
wonders you have shown
your presence with me
you are there

("Christ in you - the hope of glory" - Colossians 1:27)

Sunday 19 January 2014

Crimson Chalice

A wine from a pure vine
Shared in tender beauty
Poured out from a crimson chalice.

Taste the sharpness of the fruit
Strong sweetness entwined with goodness
Scarlet blossom, delicate richness.

From a rich nectar ruby drops seep
Delicate tears cascade, overflow, so
drink the dew and be thankful.


(I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:6)

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Equality in the Eyes

Leaves rust on branches
A hope of expectation
Ashes steal the light

Child's silent shadow
A threshold of hidden grace
Perish on the edge

Moment of your truth
Crackled and burned around me
All born to perish

Hope veiled in heaven
Rumor of freedom wings flight
In love’s gracious eyes.

(Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God – Romans 15:7)




Monday 13 January 2014

Clap

Life spirit of praise
Sycamore and cedar sing
Nature’s joyful dance

Welcome summer sun
Each leaf shines with your release
Freedom’s first chorus

(For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills
shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12)

Sunday 12 January 2014

Swept Away

Swept away forever
The measure of dread
In flaming fire
The smoke of torment
A consuming fire
Sins contamination
Poured out at the cross
A fury of fire

Drink the wine of Gods wrath
From the cup of anger
Grasp the sweetness
Crimson savoured

Once and forever
We have been redeemed
The price paid for
Perfect atonement
In holy union
That brings us now
To perfection and joy.


Saturday 11 January 2014

Anthem

Inscribed galaxies
Declare the song of mercy
Heavens grace anthem


(For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him – Psalm 103:11)

Friday 10 January 2014

Scars

Written in scars
Afflicted wounds of sorrows past
Written in scars
Precious love his sacrifice ours
Grace to me, infinite and vast
My name was in crimson streams cast
Written in scars

(Isaiah 49:16  Behold, I have carved you on the palms of My hands)

Thursday 9 January 2014

Stars

Stars placed before time
Flicker with pure silver light
Glorious kingdom

(The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all. - Psalm 103:19)

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Lifted



Lifted up to the end
Led captive by the weak
Angry taunts carefully made
Curses ground in nails.

Fixed upon a patch of land
Pain and sorrow mingle
A mutilated promise hung
Consuming the flame of wisdom.

Watch the soul of grace expire
Power displayed revealed in wonder
Love saluted with surrendered passion
Transmuted in sovereign sacrifice.

(And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. – John 3:14-15)   

Thursday 2 January 2014

Restore

Glorious beauty
immense ocean, drop of love
stainless acceptance