Risen With Christ

Oh, catch me Lord, for I have fallen once again.

My heart and mind Lord, at times I wonder
if they are really even mine.

But then Your love shines through within...

Bringing truth on wings of grace...

Filling me; engulfing me with your peaceful embrace.

How great is Your faithfulness!

And then I am truly thankful...

No, I am not all just mine...

For I have risen with you, my sweet and fearless Lord!

Jesus ~ Savior of my soul!

About the “Risen with Christ” poem...



If we do not pay attention to where we are going, considering the consequences of our actions, from the path we choose to travel, we can wind up in a place we would rather not be in. And speaking from experience, this can happen in a blink of an eye if we are not mindful of what we are doing.

The most recent experience would be of a quick glance off from the road while driving, big mistake. In a heartbeat, because of my negligence, I unintentionally drove onto the too soft shoulder of the road and was sucked over into making my own new path: an extremely bumpy one from hidden small tree limbs on a grassy terrain that was still partially covered with the late last snow of the season. I just missed sideswiping a long stretch of fencing, and also miraculously avoided a telephone pole and utility post. Fortunately, I was able to drive out of there and back onto the road without much assistance (there were a few people that stopped to see what in the world is wrong with that woman?... and coached me back onto the road once they seen I was okay and no apparent damage to my car or the property I had invaded). “Thank you, Lord!” was pretty much all I could say.

Although my car seemed alright, a week or so later I found I had done some damage to the K-frame underneath...I had broken the cross members...part of the framing that helps hold the engine in place, which is fixable. Again, Thank you Lord!

The broken cross member part got me to thinking though about our relationships with other Christ believers, our brothers and sisters in Christ. How our actions really affect one another. And with loving God, like we should love in a marriage, we don’t do things to get Him to love us more, or don’t do things thinking He would love us less if we did them...we simply live life through His Son, who let His life be broken for ours, so we could live through Him.

As in healthy marriages, friendships, family relationships, relations with our neighbors, and our relationship with God (which affects all of our other relationships), our love for another speaks through our actions. We do things to help the relationships grow, and we don’t do certain things in order to help protect the relationships from corruption. Because we are a fallen people, we cannot do that without God’s love in our heart. And so, we can choose not to sin out of love...with Christ we can break the chains that bind us to sin. Therefore, because we are fallen, and Christ has risen, we can keep rising with Him daily...letting His love free us from the bondage of sin.

Since I had written this poem, a friend of mine, Rob, was in a fatal and tragic motorcycle accident. Knowing he was a much better driver than I, I am having an awful time accepting what has happened...along with the loss and sorrow that everyone else that knew him is going through. I pray for his family, friends, and all those co-workers that seen him on an almost daily basis; for such an empty and quiet loneliness that must be there now, because when Rob was around, you knew it...he filled the area with his presence (mostly audibly : )


Among many things, Robbie was great at fixing things, and had done the last repair to my car, replacing the K-frame, charging me much less than what he could have...but that was Rob, he would do for others and not ask for much in return. He had a very big heart, and he was not afraid to share it.


This poem has a much deeper meaning to me now, especially knowing that Rob has risen with Christ, and he is no longer held by time like we are (thankfully, or else he would be missing his Ashley something terrible!). And... we are still connected with Rob in spirit, and someday the Body of Christ will be reunited for eternity, living in love the way it was meant to be.


© Sheri * May 2011
Photo clip from Google Images.com

Parameters of Prejudice

The lines of the spoken and the unspoken rules of prejudices...

   Something we may see every day.

   Something we may be a part of everyday.

   Something we may try and hold people captive by every day.

Going over the lines of the spoken and the unspoken rules of prejudices...

   Something we may try to free others and ourselves of everyday.

Parameters of prejudice....

Imprints of indifference stamped in our minds...needing to be exchanged in the heart...our fears with that of acceptance....

to know that it's okay to be different,

but not just as individuals, but together, because together we are only one race, the human race.

So let “the” race begin, and finish as one with Him who has made
us all to be different together in Him.

 Let us all meet together at His Cross.

~About the “Parameters of Prejudice” poem...

This poem I awoke from a dream from. In the dream our “comfort zone” became a physically visual thing that we could move and make adjustments to according to one's liking...or to other people's liking. It was like a tent canopy with mesh siding, so you did not feel confined...you still seemed free to be you. Although ironically, you often had to keep moving it for those around you because of the differing opinions they held of the differences of others.

So, in the dream it seemed like I was always picking up the four corners of my parameters and moving them back and forth just a few feet here and there...physically moving the parameters of those spoken and unspoken rules in some relationships, but realizing I had to look beyond the parameters...time for us all to let go of those deep-seated fears or misconceptions from childhood, or even worse, prideful superiority in adulthood.

God says He has created us all to be equal...to be good...to love one another as He loves us.

© Sheri * March 2011

(Cross photo from Microsoft Office Online)



Heaven is at Hand

God’s will is wonder-full; Heaven is at hand.

Although, there are times we don’t see it...

And feel as though we’ll never understand.

So, keep reaching out...that’s it...reach out!

 Keep it up and never give up!

That’s right; give it all you've got...

Because His love cannot be worn out or ever fade away.

His love is with us to stay!

Receive His Life and let His Word lead yours.

Walk with His Son; crawl if you must until you can trust.

Embrace Him...share His love with others; Heaven is at hand.

© Sheri * January 2011

About the Heaven is at Hand" poem...

Living one's life for God involves making a conscience effort. Without His passion our lives can become rather dull, less colorful and even flavorless of His goodness, causing one to possibly crave unhealthy ways to sustain themselves instead.

Bad habits can easily be made but can be hard to break. Repeating behaviors become habits and can become so automatic they may even seem void of right or wrong. One can easily establish a pattern of living and begin to take their life for granted, losing the wonder of God’s precious gift, becoming insensitive to His passion.

His Word teaches us to seek God through His Son Jesus...John 14 gives us confirmation that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the only way to our Father. Matthew 4 shows us our Lord has asked us all to repent, that the Kingdom of heaven is near...specifically stating that it is written we are to worship the Lord our God and serve Him only.

Embracing Him is claiming His promises, empowering us in His strength to live in His will. Luke 17 shows us the Kingdom of God is within us...we need to acknowledge His presence and share His love with others...heaven is at hand.

The picture with this poem is from Microsoft Office Online. To me it captures how we need to keep seeking God, searching for His higher calling on our lives...to not settle for less than what His will for our lives would be. Through His love, grace, and forgiveness we can start each day new...it is our choice, our gift to open...one we have to make, move towards, and act upon.

****Originally, I wrote and posted this poem as "God's Will" but have often thought of changing it to "Heaven is at Hand".... just seems to fit better, and since there have been others that think that also, Wala! Thanks for your input, Greg  (two years later : )

Will You Still Love Me?

Will you still love me when I’m old and gray?

When my eyes are no longer doing myself or

 anyone else any good?

Will I still hold any value to you in the eyes of your youth?

Hoping your coming to see me will not seem like

having to pull another tooth.

When you do spend time by my side,

And find me with a glob of peanut butter on the skin

 of my ever-sagging chin...

Just remember, I’m praying right now that by then

 neither of us will fret,

And that you would graciously just wipe it off and forget...

But within your heart being grateful we both learned that being

vain was such a pain. 

© Sheri * November 2010

About the “Will you still love me?” poem...

Pride can hide in the deep crevices of aging skin, and so it is that our vision usually also betrays us in our aging years. I used to think that was just one of God’s mercies for vanity addicts like myself : ) Now seeing the effects of aging with my own eyes, of my own eyes, I now look at that differently...especially while trying to read labels.

Needless to say, I did not grow up unscathed in a world that puts so much value on the superficial aspect of a person, especially for women. In our youthful years it is very easy to look at life and think one has “forever” before getting “that old”; investing considerable time in pruning the outer person, not setting precedence on cultivating the inner person...deceived in planting superficial seeds of vanity through our own hidden or blatant selfish pride. The laws of time do not let us escape the reaping of our harvest though. Pride has deep roots that can obstruct God’s grace from opening us up from the inside; preventing us from the growth in becoming the person God has called us to be...keeping us from accepting His true love for ourselves and the ability to share His love with others.

Truly, God knows what’s best for us; to seek His face and not our own.

I am not suggesting that we do not take care of our bodies, because we should. Our bodies house the Spirit of our Lord, and we should worship Him by taking care of the gift of life He has given us, but we should not worship our bodies, for they are only temporary. We should do our part in taking care of ourselves to be able to do what God calls us to do, in His strength, right now in His kingdom.

My writing this poem has to do with the process of letting God’s grace change me; allowing Him to show me the need for continual growth in helping me to be who He has called me to be. And also, to be able to accept the things that cannot be changed...and relying on His wisdom for discernment. He has helped me let go of many a hindering things and ways...and I am coming around to seeing things more through His eyes, with His love.

Next to God, the love my sons may have for me is something I treasure, something I don’t ever want to lose. And that no matter how old I grow to be in this life, I pray they will never outgrow their love for me. And that they continue in their lives to grow and allow their Savior Jesus Christ to help them become the men our Heavenly Father has called them to be... to never give up or lose hope in God’s love, truly sharing that with those in their lives.
 

Reflection

When we are looking for ourselves,

then that is all we will see.

When we are looking for Jesus, we will find hope. 

Though there is only one Christ, our Messiah,

our Savior...

When we step into faith in Him, we will see ourselves as
God’s sons or daughters...

We will see we are inheritors of our King.
We will see the love of our Father.

Thank you Jesus...Amen 

© Sheri * 2010

About the “Reflection” poem...

I was inspired to write this poem because of how easily we can lose sight of who we are in Christ...to subtly start listening to the enemy, the deceiver. We have to be careful how we see ourselves and what we should be looking and listening for; how we think about ourselves and our self-talk. When we are having a hard time accepting others as they are, there is a good indication that we are not seeing ourselves as we should be; making it difficult to accept others as they are through God’s grace.

The picture I used for this poem are two overlapping, applying the hand releasing the butterfly onto the other, to be with another. They represent how we are transformed by being born again in Christ. How we are to dwell in His love so we can learn to love others as ourselves. Also, how we need to step back and view the bigger picture at times in our lives, especially when we are having a difficult time seeing the hand of God in our lives; to keep seeking His will.

I like the look of the picture.... looks like the Lord's hand has come through and entered the garden...crinkling the paper as He entered...showing that there is much, much more beyond what our vision can see.

Memory of a Broken Heart

Your pain is my pain.
“Because underneath it all...the color of our skin...

the body mass clinging to our bones...
from dust to dust...we are all the same.”

For I know how it is, that pain of a broken heart...

your whole world seems to stop within you,

while the rest of the world keeps moving on,

without any meaning or hope for the future...

you just wished it would stop so the pain

would go away...but...

you have to keep going, cause life does go on,

and sooner or later, hopefully sooner but usually not,

little surges of life begin to jolt you back

into the mainstream of life once again

(probably angels giving us

emergency heart defibrillation : )

And life will once again have a purpose for you....

To some extent that is part of

the process of grieving,

as long as it stays within healthy boundaries...

but one could slide into self-pity rather quickly

if we’re not careful....

and that is when we can let our poor judgment from

a broken heart make unwise decisions for us,

entrenching us in bitterness...

and when we give Satan any kind

of foothold in our lives...
you can bet he will take advantage

of every opportunity we allow him to have.
to not let our hearts beat as one,

to make us “think” that he has won.

But the battle belongs to the Lord.

A battle that Christ has already won...

For us to be as one.

© Sheri * September 2010

About the “Memory of a Broken Heart” poem...

I cannot recall coming to know someone that has not experienced a broken heart from some kind of relationship or other in their lifetime. Some though, go through the experience more gracefully than others. And there are those that have seemed to have gone through so much in their life that their survival is truly a miracle.

We do not need to wear our pain, past or present, as a badge, but we can share the good along with the bad, to show that with God all things are possible. There are circumstances in our lives that happen, and we may never understand why, but if we keep laying them at the foot of the cross, the Lord will heal our wounds and restore our soul...we can know that we are loved by God even in the midst of our pain, to trust in Him to see us through it, that we are not alone.

The quotation in the poem is a combination of some things I had previously read. Partly from an art project that a group of art students had completed a couple years ago, but I am not sure of the source of the idea's originality. The “dust to dust” is from the Bible.

Being a mother myself, knowing the pain our children go through themselves can be heart wrenching, something we must also lay at the feet of our Lord...knowing that there is no greater love than our Father’s. The main purpose of this poem was for that reason. That when we love others, their pain is our pain...just like ours is to our Lord. For us not to forget what the Lord has done for us all because of His love for us...that we all would come to Him and be one in Him.

(Photo from Google Images)

Our Master Pruner

Once upon an evening, I was loading lopped off branches into my cart to haul off and burn. I had pruned them a few days prior...long hanging dead straggling branches. And some still with life and leaves, but they also were hanging too low to the ground, becoming obtrusive, to my head.

I had separated and piled the dead leafless branches from those laden with green leaves. The limbs were from a tree that the limbs seemed to grow out downwards, instead of out and up. Their growth reminded me of how as people, when we do not keep our focus on our Lord, our Tree of Life, we will not grow up closer to Him in His love, causing us to look elsewhere for a substitute. There is nothing higher or greater than His love, so that would mean we would begin to look for something lower than His Way, something less, which would cause us to grow in a way we were not intended to, to not become the person God has called us to be in Him.

I had the hardest time getting the dead branches loaded onto my cart. They all kept clinging to one another, making it difficult to transfer them to the cart. To my recollection they were the spikiest branches I had ever dealt with. They had multiple stubby branches off branches of branches. They made me think of how my life may have seemed to have been thus far. All those short run-offs from the main branch... little detours off from God’s Path of Life. They were short, stunted growths...resembling spikes...like I must of turned back to His Way shortly after trying to go my own way...again...doing so repeatedly, before finally having a long stretch of growing healthier and stronger. As if I was consistently being inconsistent in walking with Him on His path. Sometimes this was done knowingly, and sometimes unaware, or insensitive, of choosing to saunter off on another lone debut. Those must have been the years when it seemed like I would never learn from my mistakes... “You can’t keep doing the same thing expecting different results” ---Albert Einstein.

I finally got them all loaded; the last load was the most uncooperative (I finally took Einstein’s advice and tried doing it differently). Every attempt I had been making to get them into the cart seemed futile, and just when I thought I was making progress, I would get hung up in some other area from another spiky stubby branch. I just wanted to give up and walk away. I was growing impatient and frustrated with myself and those stupid branches. "Lord, what is wrong!!? Please show me what I am doing wrong...give me the strength and wisdom to do this...help me to learn from this...help me to finish what has been started..."

At last...I was on my way to toss them into the already blazing fire (old as sin scrap wood from previous “self”-help projects...pride + vanity = highly toxic and flammable material).

As I was going through the gate the branches seemed to try and hang onto the chain link fencing, like hands gripping on for dear life, grasping with its fingers, making the cart and I come to a standstill. They were so desperately trying to avoid going any closer to the fire, not wanting to give up their stubbornness, even though they had been void of life for some time now, no longer serving its purpose (other than their own violent attempts at combing my hair as I mowed under them, painfully clawing at my scalp and face).

That is kind of like how sin can be in our lives; taking away from our purpose in life, causing us to travel down wrong paths, destructive ones that lead to death and despair, leading to a life of hopelessness. We can lose sight of His truth, His eternal life within us....

Glorious God that You are...
Only You can save me from my wretchedness.
Thank You Lord...for Your life...
Faith, hope, love, mercy, grace, and peace....
Help me Lord...plant within me

A burning desire to know You.
Because where You are,

That is where I want to be...

Living in You.
Help me to awaken each new day

Anew with You...
Your life in me, becoming one through You.

Lord Jesus, help me not to be stubborn as those branches. Help me to let go of those things, those ways of living that do not give forth life, that are keeping me from becoming more like You, the person You have called me to be in You...Because You love me, and there is no greater love than Yours.

© Sheri * August 2010

Illustrated by: Jeremy