This Heart, Soft

Matthew 21:15 “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did…they were indignant.” (NIV)*

When Jesus comes gentle

Life stirs mad.

Cloaks and branches laid down

Hosannas sing glad.

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Gentle reacts strong

Den of robbers scatter,

Healing blind and lame

Praise rises above chatter.

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Observing His wonders

Chief priests and teachers of law,

Stand proud and indignant–

Not impressed at all.

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Who is this Jesus of Nazareth

Intruder of their space?

Their heads full of books

Truth, hides in their face.

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Knowing much about God

Yet not sensing Him near,

All His wonders lost

On hearts too hard to hear.

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Oh Lord, take blinders off, so I see your wonders. May daily miracles bring glad hosannas from this heart, soft.

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photo and poem by Patty Perkins

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Check out today’s reading, Matthew 21:1-17* and see just how He stirred things up in Jerusalem.

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

His Trophy Cup

Matthew 20:22 “‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?'” (NIV)*

Humbly, He took

The cup poured for Him.

Modeling truly great

His way to win.

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Laying His life

Across the finish line,

Ransom paid in full

His victory, mine.

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The way to first is last

The way to last is first.

Humility is beautiful

Pride, the ugly worst.

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Perspectives change

Down becomes up,

When ambitions fall

Into His trophy cup.

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photo and poem by Patty Perkins

Matthew 20:26-28 “…Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (NIV)*

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

Ancient Doors

Psalm 24:7-8 “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” (NIV)*

Chateauneuf (Photo credit: skycaptaintwo)

Ancient doors open on creaky hinges. Fresh air and light stream in as truth gains a foothold. Dust particles are sent flying. And there stands the Lord. Ever the gentleman, yet never the doormat, is He. Strong and Mighty is His name. Mighty in battle, He conquers enemies. He protects.

There have been ancient doors in my life, stuck closed and sealed tight. It’s just the way I am. Old habits and attitudes have been hidden from light. He can change ingrained patterns and bring new perspective. Lord, would you lift up ancient doors and come in?

Cross the threshold, walk through, and clear out this musty dwelling. Shine the light of your presence in shadowy corners. Replace dust with gleaming truths. Brush cobwebs away and put glistening promises in their stead. Sweep away trash and make a path for my feet.

And may the King of Glory ever reign in this ancient castle.

Psalm 24:8 “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (NIV)*

Psalm 24:10 “Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty–He is the King of glory.” (NIV)*

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois.

Beside Quiet Waters

Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul…” (NIV)*

If the Lord be my Shepherd

I’ll have all I need.

Led beside quiet waters

Surrounded by pastures green.

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Staying with my Shepherd

His presence surely guides.

 Abundant bread and water

Daily, He provides.

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Restoring broken dreams

Healing crevices of soul,

All the way leading

Renewing, and making whole.

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Though winds of life threaten

To pull me from His side,

His gentle hands grip tightly

In shepherd’s cloak, I hide.

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He offers inner calm

When clouds storm the day,

If in green pastures I lie down

And beside quiet waters, stay.

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photo and poem by Patty Perkins

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Check out Psalm 23 in today’s reading from The One Year Bible*. It’s one of my favorites and the origin of this blog’s title.

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

Bowing Down

Exodus 4:31 “…And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped.” (NIV)*

When God seems far

And life too hard

Is He even there?

Surely, He couldn’t care.

Then, a song brings tears

He bends listening ear

The Word resonates truth.

The enormity of Him

Beside what I am

Creator, sovereign God

Is concerned and sees.

Moved by such news

bowing down

I worship You.

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

photo and poem by Patty Perkins

Call Him I AM

Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  I AM has sent me to you.'” (NIV)*

Fire flower (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

I AM the God of your fathers

I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

I AM the God who hears the groan of slavery

I AM the God who hears the cry for help

I AM the God who remembers His covenant

I AM the God who looks on the Israelites

I AM the God who sees their misery

I AM the God who is concerned about suffering

I AM the God who sends a deliverer

I AM the God who comes to rescue

I AM the God who owns a good and spacious land

I AM the God who prepares milk and honey

I AM the God who stretches out a mighty hand

I AM the God who will provide

I AM the God who speaks from a burning bush

I AM the God who needs no name

I AM WHO I AM.

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

Check out today’s reading, Exodus 2:23-3:22, and see just who He is. And may He be all this to you, and more.

Basket of Hope

Exodus 2:3 “…she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds…” (NIV)*

Hope contained in papyrus

For God, this fine child spared

Hidden among the reeds

Deliverance awaits his care.

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If I could stay in that basket

Placed in waters still

Nestled in God’s woven plan

Sheltered in His will.

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Whatever threats be spoken

Or arrows thrown my way

I’d float secure in papyrus

And for His purposes, wait.

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photos and poem by Patty Perkins

Exodus 2:10 “When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, ‘I drew him out of the water.'” (NIV)*

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

Life’s Wellspring

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (NIV)*

Life gushes clear and cool at a wellspring. It’s where streams begin. And all the water flows down.

Should the wellspring become contaminated, filth flows down as well. Then the water becomes unfit to drink.

If a wellspring becomes muddied, it’s undrinkable. It takes time for dirt to settle.

No one can live without water. If life is ebbing low, backtrack to the wellspring, and look for the problem. Has the heart been compromised with unwanted agents?

Did someone consider your heart their personal garbage dump? Or, have little pieces of your own litter been mucking the water? Dispose of the contamination. Post and enforce NO POLLUTING signs, setting guards around the wellspring of your heart.

If your wellspring is muddied, quit stirring up dirt. It may be time to speak up when others dip their stick into your pool. Water flows over packed mud topped with rocks. Pebbles smoothed with the knowledge of God may be just the thing to keep mud in its place. This may take some work…

Don’t be discouraged if your wellspring looks more like a drainage pipe. We all have messes. There’s nothing floating in your heart that others haven’t faced. You’re not alone. Let the Lord fill you with His living water and drink from His spring daily.

Strive for a wellspring pure. Life will be replenished. There may be someone looking for pools of living water. It could be they need a clear, cool drink. Go ahead, share.

May your life gush fountains of fresh water from the wellspring of your heart.

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

photo by Patty Perkins

Father’s Embrace

Genesis 46:29 “…As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.” (NIV)*

rose (Photo credit: alice_ling)

Time stands still

Father and son reunite.

Cleansing tears pour freely

Grief, too long wound tight.

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Jacob, master of your craft,

When served stew of deceit

The same recipe you once served,

Brought years of exiled grief.

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Relationship now restored

A balm to aching soul,

Ready to leave this life,

At last, your heart consoled.

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The Son left with purpose

Paving a path for humanity,

Leading to the Father’s embrace 

That all may be held for eternity.

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poem by Patty Perkins

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Genesis 46:30 “Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.'” (NIV)*

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

The Swaddling Thread

Genesis 45:8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God…” (NIV)*

Luca (Photo credit: dontshoot.me!)

Brothers, want to turn and run?

In his presence, you’re terrified.

That spoiled one you sold slave

Could very well have your hide.

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The news left you speechless,

As tension erupted tears.

Benjamin, safely embraced–

Has justice come after years?

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Culture disguised his resemblance

Egypt’s power sitting in hand.

Unmasked, he sheds uncontrolled

Flesh of your blood strand.

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He beckons across the chasm of truth

Will he push you in…retaliate?

Or will love construct a bridge,

Forgiving past and covering hate.

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 Joseph could have your head,

Yet pins your sin on God.

Not only does he untie the noose

He offers life on Egyptian sod.

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If it was God who sent Joseph away

Then it’s God who brings you now.

Only He could design events

To save your lives, somehow.

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Hindsight reveals purpose clear– 

To preserve family lines unbroken.

Divinity’s seed, divinely saved,

The swaddling thread stays woven.

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poem by Patty Perkins

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Genesis 45:7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (NIV)*

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishing, Wheaton, Illinois.