deliverance

freedom

hope for my heart

which has been longing

for a breath of truth

it came to deep parts of me

acknowledged and spoken into

your Spirit broke through

and caused tears

when nothing else was adequate

tears fell, expressing more

than any words could

I no longer have to lay in defeat 

of an enemy that holds me

to lies that have no power

i need my response to be different

calling on a God who has 

put his shield of truth

his righteousness

and secured me in his salvation

and offers me truth to defend against lies

has brought me peace which carries me

wherever my feet shall your peace follows

he has given me faith which protects

and his Spirit inside which penetrates

with all these things I'm found

yet the defeated enemy

continues to come hard to me

through means far beyond my control

seeking to defeat and destroy

he has come to steal, kill, and destroy

through ways I wouldn't expect

anything to pull me from abundant life

a life which is free and secure

as things continue

help me to see your hand

as bigger and victorious

nothing escapes you or is to great for you

you are the great victor whom walks with us

the never ending kingdom

the king came

not in power or might

not by force or storm

but surprisingly 

to a virgin

who was betrothed 

an angel came

and spoke of a Spirit

that would make this possible

and she believed him

believed that this king could be conceived

inside of her

scoffed and shamed

the king was coming

dejected and without explanation

the king was coming

God walked her into this

gently bringing his kingdom

to a place that desperately needs it

pain and sorrow were had

to bring this kingdom

pain and sorrow were had 

to make a way into this kingdom

a way has been made

into this kingdom 

that never ends for those whom he loves

Captivity

invisible prisoner

he came to set captives free

free from bars that may go unseen

bars that are true for all 

they are strong

and hold undefinable things inside of me

bars that go unseen

yet weigh on the heart 

Christ came to set us free

the hope of freedom one day

what about now

the making new

setting free

working through his Spirit

the active present tenses

now i must believe

he has destroyed these bars

I'm in them

not remembering

or believing this 

help me Jesus

the gate is open

I only see bars

change my heart

I'm no longer a captive

to this mind

in me

its my hearts process of birth

there has been this idea of me

being grown and nurtured

and has been formed in me

i'm ready for this to be met

i'm ready for people to meet

this thing that is real

which can define itself

that has been forming

and greatly contributing to me

i denied its existence

yet its crowning with hope

please don't be misunderstood

help me be me

you've been formed

beautifully and uniquely

you've known this part of me

thank you for caring for this neglected place

thank you for preserving 

that which i forgot 

and tried to kill off

you are the giver of true life

birth in me that which is true

and continue this process

i wait in expectation

the other side of the world

out the window

rests lush plants and life

you feel this place all over

its quiet and sticky

yet their are many lives

nobody is known

they bow and look down

education is the cure all

pride and respect maintained

a whole different world exists

that inside of a person

their likes and dislikes

their joys and pain

their dreams and sorrows

but pride and tradition

maintain and preserve order 

when hearts are woken

and questions raised

maintain what is

it is you who can

and who will

wake us from our sleep

all cannot be maintained

when our hearts

are revealed

when we are exposed

and the inside is seen

you maintain

you bring new order

and a new way of life

him

as we sit amongst the grass

that brings life to this earth

as we connect on the concrete

that has been a place

a stop on the journey

for so many

you see

is it in the gentleness of a voice

or the abruptness of laughter

the touch in your present state

or simply in our eyes

or is it spelled all over my face

he is more able then I

I because of him

pieces of me

despite these you see him

do you know what you see?

him who is able and greater

he reveals himself in our frames 

see him not me

he alone is good

stillness

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he 

has brought desolations on the earth. 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spears;

he burns the chariots with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God.  

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:8-11

reflections. . . 

 be still my child. . . still as a sleeping baby. . . a tree untouched by the wind. . . 

be still as the distractions melt away. . . as the tensions of the mind find ease. . . 

Is it easier to know when I am still?

Stillness reflects a posture of humility- being still with open hands as releasing all things to him who is able and trustworthy. Recognizing that he is God. He will be exalted among the nations and in the earth.  It is God who moves and allows us to rest and be still in him. 

Does stillness bring perspective?