Author: Em

A southern beach bum with blue eye soul.

Love (Kenya)

~ Em ~ Leave a comment

love (kenya)

The big round eyes of a baby looking back at you

The way a stranger hugs you for the first time

The smile of the woman who doesn’t understand a word you speak

The circle of support around you that have heard your darkest and bear it with you

The reuniting of friendships between peers and mentors

The twinkling stars in the sky that help light the darkness

The gentle breeze on warm days that provides relief

The outreach of one dry, rough hand to another

The wisdom that is spoken to your particular predicament

The shared moments of silence where words are no longer needed

The time in His presence where calm fills the atmosphere

The unexpected, instantaneous answers to prayers

The discovery of rest after an uneasy test of faith

The hope that a single sunrise conveys

The sigh of relief and sense of peace that comes with each sunset

The love of our Father day after day, disguised in pieces on our daily retreat

Questions

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What can be written that has yet to be written?

What can be said that has been left unsaid?

If eyes cannot see and ears cannot hear, what can make the heart feel?

How do I make another’s heartbeat increase?

 

Which words will fit together to create emotions as songs do?

Will they sing along?

Will they dance to the rhythms of truth?

Will they delight in the freedom of inhibitions?

 

But when the music stops, will they continue to believe?

What if they cannot dance without having tangible evidence?

Where do we stand when this true trial begins?

How do we keep each other dancing in the quietness?

 

When there is no beat, no melody, no lyrics, do we attempt to sing acapella?

Do we shout to hit decibels that only amplifiers can reach?

Can just our syllables create unconscious reactions the way a driving bass drum can?

Or will our inflections evoke emotions the way a simple chord progression does?

 

What if this does work, is the impact just as grand?

If we attempt acoustic encouragement, can we still expect an electric response?

Why must it be so loud to stir our insides?

Why must it blind us before we attempt to see?

 

Can they not just imagine how great?

If it takes extremities, how strong is our faith anyway?

Is this why we write even if it has been written or reiterate inspired words and phrases?

So in hopes that the lyrics and rhythms are contagious enough for a change to spark?

Changelings

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Gone is the comfort of yesterday

Our wings took flight to soar heights unreached

No longer confined to borders

Each changeling’s journey predestined for each to seek

We no longer can guess the path but are to trust the footprints set before us

He sets lamps at our feet as we take to the soil

Our hope is in Him who is our shepherd

He will guide us through pastures which will lead to questions

But He will also take us to the water to drink and become drunk with answers

As we hydrate with His love and gargle His goodness

We are reminded of our purpose

The changelings have been obedient to His calling

And will swallow and regurgitate each word He gives us

Perspective

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It’s amazing what a little change in perspective can do to your life. I have grown more in the past year than I have in the past five years all because I decided to change my perspective. I decided to have a more positive outlook on things and to look for the silver lining in every struggle I faced. Even though God blesses me on a daily basis with so much, I still wanted more. I couldn’t see that He gives me all that I need to come through every storm.

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For awhile I thought I was somehow being punished because there was this lack of growth and backtracking in my life. I hated my job, lost all focus and drive and was completely unhappy. I asked Him to make things better for me but what I was missing was that things are already pretty great. I saw that God was keeping me in the valley because all I was focusing on was what it would be like on the mountain top. Don’t get me wrong, He wants us to envision the mountain tops in our lives but what He taught me in the valley was to focus more on what I have a my lowest and how that will get me up the mountain.

You just have to realize that what you have and who you are is enough. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t work on bettering yourself. This means that when you put less on what is inhibiting you from growing closer to God and start counting your blessings, God will bring you up that mountain. Of course this doesn’t always happen overnight, so “until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.” (Orebela Gbenga) I’ve learned this lesson the hard way but I now know that having a more positive perspective will help me get through every storm and climb every mountain that crosses my path. 

Therefore, I pray that as a generation, we learn to become less greedy and more grateful for things we do have and to not focus on what you don’t. I pray that God speaks in our lives on a more regular basis so that our hearts are satisfied with the route God has us on. God, I just ask you to guide us in our diligence so that our rejoicing and praise is the same in Your quietness and as it is in Your presence.

“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself, or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”

 Orebela Gbenga

Dimming Lighthouse

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Let me be a beacon of hope for the travelers of the darkness

Let me light the path to harbors of rest

Where guidance along the rocky shore provides a kinship to its maker

Let its favor also provide relief from treacherous waters

For the mirroring coast is a vivid pretense of what life could be

And when my glow starts to dim, let my strength feed from natural light

So that my warmth may continue to be a safe haven for the lost