speaking truth in loveliness
oh, i need You!
every hour i do, but it’s
here
in these frail,
crumbling moments when
my courage is dying
that i lay down
the weights
and let my muscles tremble
in Your arms.
it’s here
at the end of my
frayed, weathered rope
when i fear the next step
that i lay down
my pride
and let my heart break
in Your hands.
Guys… one of my poems is going to be published in this gorgeous book!!!
Am I bouncing off the walls? Maybe.
What Darkness Fears is releasing on October 13th… but preorders are now live! Preorder your copy here… and get some bonus preorder goodies!
Here’s the blurb:
Light Dawns in Darkness
Even in the darkest night, there is hope. This collection of stories and poems portray light in the darkness. Multiple authors in various genres take you on a journey from dark to light, from despair to hope.
Within these pages, you’ll discover teens locked in a hotel with a mind of its own, a young man on an adventure choosing the worst sort of companion, an author facing her own deadly characters, an arguing couple picking up a hitchhiker in the middle of the desert, a woman fighting an ominous monster on the high seas, a Headless Henwoman carrying souls to their afterlife, the god of mischief visiting the underworld, and other spooky stories.
I’m excited to read it when it comes out next month… and to see my own poem in print!😊
More poetry today!:)
lead me gently
hold my hand in Thy
strong ones
guiding me across these jagged shards
my shattered past and dreams
have left here on this road
clear Thou the path before my feet
strengthen my hands, my heart to
lift the boulders keeping any part of me
from Thee
lead Thou me on until I’m safely
home
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
Hello, friends!
I’ve been having fun writing off of these flash fic prompts this July. Today’s prompt was awake – and for me, it inspired more of a freestyle poem than a piece of flash fiction. I decided to fly with that idea… and here’s what happened!:)
stop living your life like it’s endless.
it’s not.
make the most of each
song
conversation
quick talk
goodbye hug
every moment
you have with this life, or else
soon
the tomorrows you planned for and wanted
so badly
may fade into days of regret.
live this life
to the hilt
awake
so that you may see clearly
the mist
of your trembling mortality.
Hello, friends!
Graduation – for me at least – is/was a bittersweet time. Yes, you’re saying goodbye to several things. But you’re also opening the door to SO much!!
Soak it all in, graduates. Thank God for the past. Trust him for the future. This poem is for you.💕
I’m striking out into waters unknown –
Waters I’ve spent hours dreaming of.
In my dreams the ocean called my name –
The wind sang a melody that
gripped me.
I longed to dip my toes into the waters of
adulthood.
But my childhood
and the familiar
have twined about my throat and blossomed
memories.
The smell is sweet –
how can I tear them away?
I look ahead at the ocean stretched before me.
It’s darker than I thought.
Rougher, too.
Tears well in my eyes as Time pushes me to the
water’s edge.
I’m scared.
How can I make my way in such a storm?
I don’t even know where I’m going.
Slowly, light ebbs across the waves,
and I can see the path I’m standing on
continue
through the sea.
I cannot see its twists and turns,
but the path is
still there.
I’m simply traveling on –
doing what I was made to do.
Slowly
tenderly
I pluck the flowers from the vines and
tuck them away
where their fragrance will always
linger near.
I take the tangled vines,
gently loosing their grasp.
I let them fall now to the shore
and I step into the sea.
I’m struck by how often the Bible exhorts God’s people to remember what has happened in the past. This poem came from my thoughts on that.:)
remember
when you walked in that
storm
even though I said
no
that the rain clouds were
close to you
close and
dark
remember
when I ran through the
rain
to go get you and you
cried
on my chest, told me
you would
remember
next time
and so here we are at
next time
I don’t think you
remembered
I didn’t ask you to
keep
all that guilt in your
soul
or that feeling of
fear
that is flooding you now
darling, no.
just remember
in the rain and the
wind
I was there in the
night
I was there
for
you
remember.
Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash
Another April has come and gone… “and what will be the proof that it was here?”
Fields greening under the joint effort of thunderstorms and sunlight. Planters and soil finishers emerging from the sheds to work in the fields. Bugs… because… there must be bugs.
Also…
these are the days
we will long for.
live wide-eyed;
live wide-eyed.
Aagh, the beauty and truth in that. I feel like this month has reminded me to do this. To stare at the world in child-like wonder, while recognizing the responsibility that comes with living life on this spinning mudball. To face down the evil while delighting in the good. To treasure the moments that can slip by unnoticed. To keep my eyes on what matters, and let the rest fade away.
To live wide-eyed.
I guess that’s my little ramble for today.:) On to the rest of the post…
Devotedly: the personal letters and love story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot – Valerie Elliot Shepard
I became interested in the Elliots’ story while reading Shadow of the Almighty, so getting to read more about them in this book is really awesome. I love the humor, genuine love, and passion for Christ that’s infused in their letters. Also, the author’s commentary and perspective on her parents’ story is so sweet.
Courageous – Randy Alcorn
Courageous is one of my favorite movies, so when my sister laid hands on this novelization of the movie, of course I had to borrow it.:) I haven’t finished it yet, but already it’s gone far above and beyond my expectations. The way Randy Alcorn weaves so many more elements into the original plot… i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e. For mature readers, I can’t recommend it enough.
You Need to Define Your Writing Voice Before You Can Refine It – Daeus Lamb
“Self-discovery is nebulous, so approach it carefully. Don’t allow your culture or subculture to influence you. That may sound as clichéd as Disney’s “follow your heart” gospel, but rather than a call to indulge in your sinful instincts without regard to others, it’s a call to embrace the fragment of God’s image that you most represent.”
I highly recommend this article to any writer who is trying to find their voice! Or to anyone who’s just trying to get comfortable in their skin.:)
Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem
I’ve been wanting to study theology for awhile and finally started taking it seriously. This book has been so helpful!
God, I want to want You desperately. I don’t want to be satisfied with my life and human relationships, though I thank You for making them so sweet. I want to crave You desperately. I want to pursue You relentlessly. I want You to be first in my heart and mind, always. Let me desire to know and love Your ways, and to walk in them faithfully.
Oh, God, it truly is all about You! Not about how I look to the world or what I do for the world… help me to take the focus from me to You and keep it there for eternity.
“Lead, kindly Light amid th’encircling gloom. Lead Thou me on.” Let me bounce that Light into this dark world. Make me patient and faithful in the dark.
God, bare my heart to Your instruction and correction, no matter the cost, no matter the pain. I want to be but a channel in Your hand. Make my life soft clay between your fingers; shape, twist, smash, and form it into proper shape, then hold it to the flame. Remove the dross, O Lord. I say so a bit tremblingly, but know this is what I want… what You want.
Help me to love others extravagantly – to live intentionally and boldly so I may do so to the fullest.
What made this April stand out to you?
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission… at no extra cost to you.:)
Happy Thursday, all!
May I present to you… a poem.
a master of disguise is
staring down
the tearful, trembling girl who whimpers
in the mirror.
“behave yourself…
go out and show the world that
you’re just fine.”
a smile plastered for so long and with
such skill
oh, they can’t see
the knot
that’s weighing heavy deep inside
tangible weight
that pulls at propped up corners of her lips
oh, they can’t feel
the sobs
that rip her lungs as
tears
are pouring down her swollen face
and they can’t read
the thoughts
she can’t untangle in her mind or know
the agony
that’s swelling in her chest
oh, they can’t see
and they can’t feel
and they can’t read
and so she cries
and wonders why
and plasters on the mask
Another poem for you today!
The spikes they drive into Your hands
Are pinning down the base demands
My flesh makes of this life.
Poured onto You is all the wrath
I’ve pent up for myself – this bath
Of pain was meant for me.
Whippings
Stabbings
Piercings
Shame –
Hatred
Malice
Awful stains
Of sin were bringing these on me
But You stepped in, said, “Let her free –
I love her – punish Me.”
I weep here as I hear You groan
In agony I have not known
Because of what I’ve done.
How could I bring such awful pain
On You – the One Who speaks my name
With love and songs of joy?
The sky is black – Your voice is loud
“It is finished!” hears the crowd
Before You bow Your head.
Rumblings
Crumblings
Quakings
Dead
Are stirring –
Now lift up their heads
As sin’s dark curse forever breaks –
The broken heart inside me shakes
In awe of what You’ve done.
This matchless love – like crashing waves –
Has swept this haughty white-washed grave
And washed it of its rights.
I see this life’s not truly mine –
You gave me Yours for all of time
The day You died for me.
Such love deserves all I can give –
All that I want now is to live
To hear You say, “Well done.”
Friendships
Free time
Choices –
They
Are Yours –
I pray, Lord, day by day
To live this life to make You proud
And unashamed to be my God.
I love you, Lord – I’m Yours.
First of all, the photo has absolutely nothing to do with this poem. But who doesn’t like knotholes on old doors?:)
As the title says, I wrote this poem three years ago this spring. At the time, it was my pride and joy. While I can now see many of its flaws, it still holds a special place in my heart. One of the reasons I love it is because it points me back to simple truth. I hope it can be a blessing to you, as well.
I don’t understand.
I don’t.
There are times, Lord,
When I,
The pen in Your hand,
Long to
Spring from Your mighty
All-knowing
Grasp, with a cry of,
“No, no!
That isn’t the way!
Here!
Let me show You how!”
But that
Is as silly as a toddler
Grasping
The brush of a masterful artist.
A clock
Does no good without clockwork
And so
I do no good without You.
With no
Master I lie here, my ink pouring
Out
A miserable, meaningless
Blot.
But in Your loving hand
My life
Is a song – a beautiful witness
To You.
So here – take my tears, though many
There be
And do what You will with them.
And here –
Take my years, though few they may
Be
And use them to glorify
You.
Laurel Luehmann 