Windows of time

… but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I Tim. 6:17

Windows of time close, even as they open.

Gravity has no mercy.

The present can’t be found

in windows past, nor windows to come.

Look now. Take in the beauty.

Bask in the life this window brings.

Search for four-leaf clovers and linger over wild roses —

Before leaves wither and petals drop.

Go barefoot through dewy grass and chase sunsets with a butterfly net —

before grass brittles and the sun vanishes behind a looming horizon.

This moment in time, embrace. Then, let go.

Lest heart be caught — turned to salt — and miss the next good thing.

For as one window closes, another one opens.

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Patty Perkins

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Life goes quickly and we sometimes don’t realize what we have until we don’t have it anymore. We dwell on yesterday or live for tomorrow — missing the joys of today. Live today. Seize each moment as a gift. Treasure it because moments pass and life never stays the same.

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“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Alexander Graham Bell

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There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

But Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26

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Any advertisements shown are not from me.

He exalts

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land …” Psalm 37:34

Oh Sacred One there standing

Grant me now your favor.

Oblige this soul to know

The blessing of the Savior.

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No longer exalting self

My Lord stands at the helm.

He alone lifts up

To a higher, unseen realm.

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Our part is to wait for the Lord. To walk in daily obedience to his Word and follow as his Spirit leads. It is not our place to exalt ourselves. He alone, the exalted one, lifts up.

Thwarted arrows

 “In the shelter of your presence you hide them … in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.” Psalm 31:20

Where is the arrow

shot from enemy’s bow?

Where are the accusations

that have been thrown?

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They’ve been thwarted,

diverted from my path.

Dispersed, fallen,

and of strength — sapped.

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Keep me in your presence,

hidden in perfect love.

Safe from accusing tongues,

restored and ready to serve.

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He shuts out accusing voices. He stills the echo of negative words and constant criticism. He quiets the soul. In His presence I am hidden, tucked under his sheltering wings — out of sight and out of mind from those who would bring down.

 

A quiet place

“…Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

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My rest is in Jesus

My strength and my song,

No matter the workload—

The day short or long.

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He settles my heart

Before the task,

Refills the tank—

If I but ask.

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Alone with him

Is surely ideal,

A chance to recoup—

Restore and heal.

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Time with Jesus

In a quiet place,

Prepares the heart—

For the hectic race.

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Seed scatterer

… This is what the kingdom of heaven is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.  … the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how … Mark 4:26-27 (NIV)

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Come be a seed scatterer

     A kingdom of heaven gatherer.

          Sow seed into wide swaths of soil

               For planting is the laborers toil.

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Growth comes only by God’s hand

     The sprouting seed not caused by man.

          Who can know how a seed does grow

               Where the wind of the Spirit might choose to blow?

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When he comes may he find my sack

     Empty of seeds upon my back.

          Sown in soils where he has led

               A harvest sprouting from entrusted seed heads.

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That reason to get up

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8

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He made James faithful and John devoted,

Timothy proved loyal and Peter emoted.

Martha got it done and Mary took it in,

David grew heart-broken, and Paul determined.

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He created Moses a leader and Ruth a follower,

Joseph rose a dreamer and Esther an interceder.

Each one granted a purpose to fulfill,

These heroes, the faithful, who do his will.

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Each of us has a purpose to fulfill. It’s that reason to get up in the morning. May we all find it, or die searching.

Whisper then to me

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” Hebrews 1:1-2

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If prophets hear your word

may I a prophet be.

If visions reveal your will

then visions give to me.

If angels do your bidding

let me an angel see.

If worship draws you near

find me worshiping free.

If you whisper to your child

Lord, whisper then to me.

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Rocks split open

“He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky craig and made water flow down like rivers.” Psalm 78:14-16

When God’s people were living in the desert and needed water, He split the rocks open. He provided water as abundant as the seas and streams flowed like rivers down the rocky craig.

When it looks like you’re surrounded with nothing but rock, turn to him. He supplies living water from the most unlikely places.

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Lord, split hard rocks open

where only you can go.

Break through barriers,

release silver streams,

let thirst-quenching waters flow.

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Lord, split hard hearts open,

the inside—only you can know.

Cut through chains,

release the prisoner,

let your spirit then freely flow.

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“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

 

Through the fires

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

Flood waters are going to come. Rivers will rush through uninvited and unpredicted fires will burn. It’s the way of life.

Rather than elements of nature, it could be tough life issues we face. As much as we’d like to avoid the unexpected, sometimes there’s no way around it. The only thing to do is walk through.

We have one who walks through trials with us. He might teach us to swim through rough waters. We may learn to cling to the lifesaver during the flood. The heat might get uncomfortably hot—yet we’re changed for the better.

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When rivers gush fast

And floods wreak havoc

When fires claim what was mine.

There’s one who walks with me

He fights battles for me

Mighty warrior, strong at my side.

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“But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior…” Jeremiah 20:11

“You will not have to fight this battle…Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” II Chronicles 20:17

A blank canvas

“…I will turn the desert into pools of water…I will put in the desert…the myrtle and the olive…so that people may see and know…that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:18-20

If you find yourself in a dry place, take heart. A desert is a perfect venue for God to work. Though you may be exhausted, the Lord is a source of strength. Though thirsty, He is living water. The end of ourselves can be the beginning of His chance to plant something new and growing. Let go of what brought you to the desert and allow him to paint a new picture.

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Dry times unrolled

are a canvas blank,

pleading—

God’s hand to show.

A desert place

is wide open space,

begging—

 saplings to grow.

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“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19