BUT GOD

 

GOD'S RULE

“You will freeze their bodies
But God will warm their hearts
You will numb their toes
But God will spark a fire in their souls
You will destroy their bodies
But God will make them whole
You will divide and conquer
But God will unite the world in peace
You will bring death and destruction
But God will bring new life and resurrection
You will rule for a moment
But God will rule forever”

2/11/2021 — ALJ

FRUSTRATION (HOPE IN 2021)

I am frustrated.
People claiming Hope outside of God.
People spending years hating others.

I am frustrated.
Individuals being awarded the idea Hope.
Only Jesus has that claim.

I am frustrated.
The shouting and the pointing from both sides.
It is deafening, distracting from the true Hope.

I am frustrated.
By the distance this creates between people.
By the distance this creates from God.
 
Yet I have hope.
I have hope that God is greater than our politics.
I have hope that He is in control.
I have hope that His love is greater than others’ hate.
 
HE is the rock,
The Foundation,
On which I will build my life.
HE is the hope,
The Salvation,
In which I am given new life.
 
I will turn to Him.
I will focus on Him.
Even when I am frustrated.
 
1/20/2021 – ALJ

Grandma B.

Where is Home?

Hanging out in Grandma’s kitchen

Watching her make pies

As she cooks all the food

Made with love

And served with joy

Where is Home?

Sitting in a church pew

Hearing her sing

Listening to the high notes

That perfectly ring

Praising Jesus, our King

Where is Home?

Gathering in the basement

Opening gifts by the tree

Sharing many laughs

Singing merry carols

Surrounded by love

Where is Home?

Quiet moments with her

Sitting and holding her hand

Taking laps around the garden

Not remembering much

Just being near

Where is Home?

Not here any more

But there’s a better place to be

Reunited with Grandpa

At home with Jesus

To live eternally free

ALJ – 6/24/2020

BREATHE

I can feel it now 

Creeping in 

Like a bad feeling 

An emptiness  

Tempting to swallow me whole 

Nothing good can happen 

As it starts to take hold 

Joy slipping away 

So much doubt 

And sadness 

Where did it come from? 

How did it slip in, 

To a day that was once whole?

Play the music 

Distract the mind 

Trying to think of anything 

To pass the time 

Until I can get out 

Until I can get away 

Make it stop 

Make it go away 

Take a deep breath 

And just breathe 

Breathe 

Breathe 

Breathe on repeat 

6/16/19 -- ALJ 

SUNSHINE

You were born

To tend a garden of flowers

To help them bloom 

And watch them grow

No flower unwanted

No flower over looked

But too much focus

And too much free time

Spent on just one

No matter how it makes you feel

When that flower is gone

You will come to see

That your garden has gone empty

The others have died away

So please don’t fret

But I’m afraid that as of yet

You will soon find

That you’ve spent too much time

Please don’t get fenced in

By the demands of one flower

It may help you to survive

But it won’t let you thrive

There’s a bouquet of flowers for you

Just across that line

Don’t look back

You can still return there

As a matter of fact

That flower should be able to share

And try not to possess you

There’s no new you

In this very new place

Just the You that you are

And how you can be that

In this space

So though life may shift and change

The essence of you is very much the same

Don’t let your garden whither

And those flowers you hold dear

I know that’s very hard

When you’re not as near

But you were born for more

Than a one flower life

Please look at your world

Though it may feel tiny sometimes

There are flowers everywhere

That need your sunshine

Your joy

Your care

It’s just hard to see

When the moon is there

Casting shadows over everything

2/4/19 – ALJ

FADE

Unable to bottle the feelings deep inside

It’s just not fair

Why do I care?

Why do I demand so much

It’s not mine to claim

Your attention

My shame

For not just letting it go

And moving on

It was fun

It can still be fun

How do I make this fun?

Time to just fade into the background

11/12/18 -- ALJ