I was at the shore a couple of days ago, and I found myself sitting by a rock with some graffiti on it. I probably wouldn't have taken the time to read it, but some little Spanish boys scrambled over to the rock and began to try to read the poem, which was written in English. After they struggled over the first few words, I read it outloud for them. 

In case you can't read it all, the poem went like this: 

"Long you live and high

you fly...smiles you give, and 

tears you'll try, and all you touch

and all you see is all your life ...

will ever be."

The rhymes were very nice and sing-songy, but when I finished reading it, I thought, "How terrible!" You see, I can't quite accept the idea that all we have is what happens in the here and now. There's so much more. So very much more. The lives we live echo into eternity, and I'm so very glad. 

So, this Easter Sunday, a rainy one here in Spain, I'm thankful, again, for a life that will outlive me. I've been given a beautiful hope and future: Christ in me, the hope of glory! Jesus is alive and well and on the loose, friends! There's so much to look forward to! 

Happy Easter! 

Playing Catch-Up: A journal entry from February 27th, 2013

Psalm 57:7-8

My heart is steadfast, O God, 

my heart is steadfast. 

I will sing and make music. 

Awake, my soul! 

Awake, harp and lyre! 

I will awaken the dawn. 

Sometimes, I have to wake my sleepy soul into the dawn of the light of Christ. Sometimes the soul's sleep is just a worn-out-tired, sometimes it's a distracted half-glance, sometimes a purposeful slumber, but I speak life and breath into my heart-of-hearts. I speak wakefulness to the drowsy one inside of me and say, "Awake, O Sleeper and let Christ shine on you! Receive His joy! Receive His peace!"

Lord, here's my turning soul, gradually lifting itself from the blankets of sleep and night. I see much more clearly now than I did at the beginning of the week, and I'm grateful for the fresh eyes. Teach this attentive and overflowing soul today, Papa. I sit at your feet and say that I am listening. Here I am. Teach me.

I remember when I was flying into Malaga about two months ago. I was just in your hands, unsure of what exactly was before me, except for your faithfulness. I have not been disappointed.

You have transformed my heart, God of Everything, in ways that I never could have planned. I believe your love for me. I believe in your strength to accomplish your purposes. You are true, and I love you. I lean not on my own understanding.

No Shoes On: A Gift from God

Has God ever given you a really sweet gift to help you understand Him better? A couple of weeks ago He did that for me in the form of this poem.

I had a dream about a mother and her child. They were laying on the floor, barefoot, and the little girl was falling asleep. As she drifted off, the mother spoke this poem over her. I remember really liking the poem in my dream, but when I woke up, I could only recite the first two lines.

Later that day, I tried to write my way into the rest of the poem, but it just wasn't working out. So, I just asked God to give me the poem back. Within a few minutes, all of it flooded back into the front of my mind. I literally just started writing and scribbled it all down in a minute, exactly as it was in the dream.

I believe it's a picture of the tender love that the Father has for His children. So, dear friends, read it through the lens of God's love for you. It's better than you can imagine.

No Shoes On

No shoes on

Skin to skin

You're fast asleep

And I begin

To sing a song of love so deep

I kiss your fingers while you sleep. 

Skin so soft

Your pretty toes

I laugh a bit
At your crinkled nose. 

Breath so deep 

You sigh awhile
And then, so softly

Begin to smile. 

Child so dear

And sweet to me

You are all my eyes can see. 

Little One, 

My Dear, My True, 

I am so in love with You. 

Morning Prayer

Hey Friends,

I've been doing a good bit of writing since I've been in Spain. It's one of the ways that God's been moving in me and through me. This is a poem I finished awhile ago, but I was reminded of it one morning while I watched the sunrise over the Med. So, here you go, friends:

The Poetry-Inspiring Sunrise

Morning Prayer

The birds burst forth in morning song, 

The wind flits through the leaves, 

Bright sunshine streams in light-beams long, 

And I am on my knees. 

I kneel before Creator God, 

His Son, the Prince of Peace, 

And welcome His strong Spirit near, 

His presence brings me ease. 

Before the King of Heavens High
I lift my voice, and I do cry

I carry all my burdens here
And then I lay them all to die. 

Before the empty cross of sin,
Rings music from His heavenly spheres.

Deep in my soul, truth settles in,

And swiftly quenches all my fears. 

I rise from that dear holy place, 

The place where victory's won, 

And find myself in broadening space, 

Now that the new has come.