find the oasis

In A TOILET BOWL

| Shelly

Grace in a Toilet Bowl

Yes, you read that correctly.

I found grace in the most

inconspicuous places

like toilet bowls

and dirt-packed laundry.

Was there ever enough time

or clothespins?

Hardly….

bookkeeping with numbers

that multiplied

and vegetables

and weeds

and meals

as daylight 

diminished.

Then one

evening, unaware

you staged

a Divine Ambush.

So ample life now,

and time.

Surely you heard my praises.

But tell me,

was I the first to thank

the toilet bowl

and pay homage

to the weeds

and laundry

as I clung 

to your fringe?

LET YOUR HEART

| Shelly

Let your heart

touch a flower

have it sing with the bees

Spirit moves through

mountains

Spirit rides the seas

Dancing on moonbeams

While lighting love

in our smiles

Taking all our 

nonsense

But trusting in a child

The Christ we hold

is truly, really more

Than we can ever 

put to thought

and

much

much

more

than

lore

PRECIOUS ONE (PRAYER FOR THE WEARY)

| Shelly

My rivers

run 

deep

My mountains

rise high

Low and behold

I’m ever at your side

Fret no more 

my gentle one

grasp my hand

it’s near

Together

we will walk

crushing

every fear

Into a field

of blooms

upon a

mossy trail

My love

for you

my precious

one

Will 

never

ever

fail

The Mountain The Blooms

| Shelly

The ground

YOU

walk on

“HOLY, HOLY.”, says the bees.

And all in the forest

concure with the trees.

What’s all your fussin’

what’s all your blame?

Take a walk in nature

do you hear it shame?

Of course not!

We, while beggars

see not the trees

or know the sound of eternity

humming like bees.

It takes a broken moment

forged from deep faith

to see the truth in light

from where all

and all

is right.

Metal your efforts

return to child’s play

for Christ has plans

and Christ has ways.

Now go to the Mountain

walk through the blooms and blaze.

Take the hand of Christ

follow all Christ’s ways.

Join the journey

stop to smell the blooms.

Heaven in your heart and mind

has many

many

rooms.

Thanks Given

| Shelly

There are seasonal reasons to be thankful.

I am thankful for the rain that arrived today.

There are national reasons to be thankful.

I’m thankful for the original Americans for their generosity in feeding our ancestors a turkey dinner for which we now celebrate family and thanks.

I am thankful for my kids, my dog Violet, my friends and family.

Primarily I am, as well, thankful because I know who to thank.

That’s a big one for me.

I know who is ultimate, infinite, eternal, loving and close by; it’s Jesus.

There are times it feels like finding a needle in the haystack, seeking God when all about seems like dried hay, while I’m grabbing for straw- that messy, unmanageable and itchy stuff; I still know Jesus is in there waiting for me to glorify him and grace Him with my appreciation and ignore the mess in life.

Today has been a day where I feel I’m covered in a huge pile of loose straw.  I keep finding I’m in a messy haystack but I keep busy seeking Jesus somewhere inside.

When tomorrow comes and we are sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner; let’s ready ourselves to thank the one who brings everything to us.  Be prepared to thank for what is, what is not, what might have been and what will likely never be.  It’s all His and He is using all of this to do His wondrous mysteries for the benefit of us all.

Pretty cool huh?

And a Happy Thanksgiving to All..