We are the Temple of His Spirit

Look into my heart
See what you can see
Be careful not to judge harshly.
On first or last glance…
There may be more than meets the eye.
The outer shell hides too well
As the goatskin of the wilderness tabernacle
Covered and hid the Holy of Holies.
Plain, rough, average…
Common to the eye.
Yet, all along the temple of His Glory.

What about you?
Do you know Him too?
Does He reside in you and you in Him?
Let His Glory in!
We are the temple of His Spirit.


cjb

Drawing by Mary Ann Parks

Thus Far The Lord Has Brought Me

After every night comes the morning light
Winter will pass! Spring comes at last!
So don’t give up the fight.
Don’t give up the fight.

You’re closer than you’ve ever been
His word is true; he’ll follow thru on everything he’s said.
The Lord has brought you here.

You may not see what lies ahead
But don’t give in to doom and dread, the fog will lift real soon
The Lord has brought you here.

Sing a new song as the morning dawns
Trust that he is with you, he’ll see you thru, rejoice in him
The Lord has brought you here.

On this day- mark the way
Guard your Ebenezer!
Thus far the Lord has brought me,
I testify to this…..
Winter has past, spring comes at last
This is where my Lord has brought me.

-cjb

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."
1 Samuel 7:12

Grace for me

There is enough water for the smallest fish.
Does he know? Does he worry the seas may run dry?
as he swims, as he drinks in the ocean wide.

There is enough grain in Joseph’s barns for the tiniest of mice.
Does she know? Does she worry he’ll run out?
as she consumes, as she has her fill of his provision.

There is enough air for the newest life to breathe
Does the infant worry? Is there oxygen for me?

As he rest in his mother’s arms, takes each breathe, safe and warm.

Is there enough grace for me, grace for me?
Tell me again of its great expanse; let me swim its depth
Fill me with its all consuming provision – Grace for me!
Let me breathe it in and know- Your grace never will run dry.
Till my final breath and even then- It’s on your grace that I rely

Grace for me- grace for me.

cjb

This concept is adapted from the devotional book STREAMS IN THE DESERT by L.B.Cowman- Feb. 26th entry “My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

It's just like God

It’s just like God to choose
A caged bird to sing a song of freedom
So others may be set free.
To choose the humble and
Strategically place them
In authority for all to see.

It’s just like God to choose
One who gets easily lost
To show others the way.
and to choose
a sinner, saved by His grace
to reach out to the human race.

It’s just like God to choose
The broken to heal
The weak to show His strength
The foolish to confound the wise

To choose..
Humanity to reveal His Deity
A clay jar to hold His surpassing Glory
The darkness to let a light shine
Suffering to birth compassion in others
The dust of this earth to wear His holiness.

It’s just like God.
It’s just like God
To choose..
To choose you and me.

cjb

King of Light

Just as the wise men brought gifts
Giving them to the baby Jesus
Laying their treasures in the darkness

At the feet of Light

So I come to you
Giving you my heart
Break through my night

Just as the shepherds came to kneel
Bowing before the baby Jesus
Adoring, worshiping the shepherd

Born to be their King

So I kneel before you
Worshiping my King
Come shepherd me

Just as Mary pondered these things
Full of wonder with baby Jesus
Cuddling God’s promise in her arms
Vulnerability

I am full of wonder
Holding to you tight
Reborn in thee


King of Light
Come shepherd me
Hold me tight in my vulnerability
I worship and adore you-
I’m reborn in thee

cjb

Jesus calms the storm

Rembrandt- "Jesus cams the storm"


When the waves are crashing
When the sea is angry
When my boat is tossed about

I call on Jesus -My prince of peace
I call on Jesus -Who was and is
I call on Jesus

He stills the waves they crash no more
He calms the seas brings me to shore
My boat is safe - I fear no more

I called on Jesus- Prince of peace
I called on Jesus- who was and is
I called on Jesus

But in his eyes- I see a look..
That questions why I yelled and shook
“Why is your faith so small?”

The storm without and around
That beats against your boat
Can never steal the peace within
Why did you scream and doubt?

How did he sleep, right through the storm?
Why was he not afraid?
He rested in the Father’s will
He knew the peace he gave

Be still- I’m here
Be still –I’m near
Be still and know
I’m God

I’ll get you to the other side
No need to still the waves
Just rest my child, find peace in me
I’ll get you through each day.

Call on Jesus- your Prince of peace
Call on Jesus- who was and is
Call on Jesus – he’ll calm your storm within.


cjb

That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let's cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him. A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up. But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care that we're going to die?” Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm. He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith yet?” They were overcome with fear and asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Mark 4:35-41 (GW)

You Lord

You Lord
You are my citadel
My stronghold
My fortress
My sanctuary
My refuge

In You Lord
In You, I hide
My shelter
My protection
My cover
My shield

You Lord
You are my love
My adoration
My affection
My devotion
My heart

In You Lord
In You, I live
My life
My purpose
My reason
My breath

You Lord,
You are in me.
I’m in you
Apart from you
I can do no good thing.
I can do nothing.
Nothing without you.

cjb

Prayer of an intercessor

Sometimes when we pray for others our hearts become anxious or burdened for them. Our motives in praying for them can sometimes hinder the Lord's perfect will. But if we know what His prayer is for the individual then we can pray in agreement with the one who interceeds for us. I often wonder what His prayer would be, I would love to listen in and then agree.

Prayer of an intercessor

Lord,
Tell me how to pray
Tell me what to say,
Settle my heart today.

You say..
Bring all your anxieties.
I give them all to you
On this day, this is what I do.

Right or wrong
My thoughts are yours
Good or bad
My heart lays bare

I cannot hide from you
I do not want to.
I cannot calm myself
My peace is found in you.

Give me the prayer to say
Lord!
You, who intercedes for me,
Give me the right words,
Lay them on my heart
Help me to intercede.

cjb

Wounded for healing- Healing our wounds

I’ve been thinking that “by His wounds we are healed”
so, if we become like him…then can it be said …by our wounds we can heal others?

Wounded for healing
Healing our wounds


Wounded for healing
I have so much pain
How can my hurt,
Be someone’s gain?

Wounded for healing
This was our Lord’s way
He laid his life down
And gave it away.

Healing our wounds
Can be rather slow
Hurting us more
As physicians know

Healing our wounds
Was worth the cost-
When He suffered most
And died on the cross.

God’s Glory, to gain.
Take all the pain
Wounded for healing
Heal Lord, our wounds!



CJB

The Battle Cry

Victoria Ward designed this graphic for my poem The Battle Cry. I love it!! I am looking into getting it poster size to hang in my new office!

Thank you Vic.

"The Lord gives instructions. The women who announce the good news are a large army."

Psalm 68:11 (GW)

Ebb and Flow

I share this poem which was birthed in me through various discussions about the ups and downs in our walk with God.
Once, a person explained to me that the highs and lows in our faith walk are like a heartbeat. Those of us who may have highs and lows, he said, are the ones with a “normal heartbeat” of faith. He went on to say….anything else is “flat lining”.
However, I’ve see people who seem steady both in personality, disposition and their faith. I guess I believe it can be done- is this deception?? They don’t seem like they are flat lining.
Recently, someone else mentioned how our growth in God and in our faith is like the ebb and flow of the ocean. I haven’t figured out yet why I like this picture more. I just know it resonated with me. Maybe it’s the consistency of the tide.
Another friend told me that all the people of the Bible had highs and lows…faithfulness she said, is that we continue to call on God from the mountain top or from the pit. Be consistent in calling on Him at all times, that, she said is the faithful that God wants to see in us.
These thoughts, my experience with this personally and the Bible Study at our corps, “God on Mute- engaging the silences of God” by Pete Greig inspired this poem.
I’m pretty sure I am not the only one who has ever felt this way. I hope it ministers to someone out there.

Blessings!

Ebb and Flow

Ebb and flow
High and low
This is my walk with God

I’ve seen the steady
Walk with God
Faithful they are called
I’ve often strived to be like them
Though i stumble and I fall

Ebb and flow
High and low
This is my walk with God

I call on him- when I’m up
I call on him- when I’m not
I call to Jesus faithfully…
That’s all the faithful- that I’ve got.

Ebb and flow
It’s how it goes
In my walk with God

cjb

Heavenly Alchemy

With you Lord we can receive
Sweetness after the attack;
When time has past,
When we walk this way again
God gives
Honey from the carcass of the lion

With you Lord we can receive
Refreshment in the hard places;
He gives this now,
When we come to him and bow
God causes
Water to gush forth from the rock

Your hand of mercy and your providence
The sweetness of my life
Your words of comfort and your grace
Refreshment in the fight.

I’m trusting you for sweetness
looking for the signs.
I’m drinking up the waters
That quench this thirst of mine.



cjb

Harvest Rains

The rain falls softening the earth
Preparing it for new birth

Our tears fall softening the harden heart
Preparing it for a new start

We want the blessing of your rains
We want to gather up your grain

See Lord our tears
See Lord our tender hearts
Hear Lord our prayers
Let your revival start
Bring forth your harvest
Lord today!
This is what we pray..

Fall down oh blessings from on high
Lord, open up your skies
Shower us with your mercies fair
Hear oh Lord and answer prayer


cjb


“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV)

A butterfly's season

If Robert Frost is right
then butterfly…
“fate had made thee for the pleasure of the wind”

The wind lifts and tosses
crosswinds bat about your delicate state
You know your fate….
when trees begin to sleep
when leaves fall to the ground
the wind will carry you off
to another place
a warmer spot
then…
Who will inspire,
when cold colorless blankets
cover the land?
When the earth hardens like
a bitter unforgiving heart.
Will we see your colors again?
Will we remember your flight?
Your dance in the new spring light?
How is it that you find your way back?
In a dream or a new wind stream?
Who would have thought …
you,
so small and insignificant
so fragile and short lived
could fly so high
be so strong
than afterward …
when the snow is gone,
return.

cjb

undisturbed

Looking for somewhere to land
Looking for somewhere to rest
A tree, an olive branch

Looking for somewhere to settle
Looking for somewhere to glean
a mountain top, a harvest spot

Some storms wipe out all places of rest
hiding,
covering,
flooding

but there is a place…
a place that’s deep like the ocean floor
a place where no storm has stirred
a place of peace
a place of depth
a place in you Lord
where I find rest.

So when life’s storms come crashing in
Stand up and calm my sea within.
When I have no place to land
Catch me Lord and help me stand

As deep calls to deep…
I know a place where we can meet…

a place where no storm has stirred
a place that’s undisturbed
a place of peace
a place of depth
a place in you Lord
where I find rest.

cjb





From Streams in the Desert, compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman- Oct. 19th:

Cushion of the Sea

"And the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7) (Weymouth).
There is what is called the "cushion of the sea." Down beneath the surface that is agitated by storms, and driven about with winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed in the least, for hundreds and thousands of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble and disturbance; and he who enters into the presence of God, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.--Dr. A. T. Pierson

Autumn Glory- 2005

Picture by Jeff Strain

AUTUMN GLORY

Fall comes with autumn breezes.
It is cool, crisp, brisk.
Darkness is on its way …
A winter sleep,
A stillness,
A certain kind of death.

The leaves on the trees change and fall …
Dying with colors that brighten the grayest skies.
They die gracefully,
Drifting to the earth,
Covering the ground,
Leaving the tree bare until spring.

Seasons are short.
My life is like one of those leaves.

Lord,
No matter how short the season is …
May I die with colors
That are brilliant like the autumn trees.
May my death, my death to self,
Brighten the grayness of ordinary moments and days.

May I die to self, gracefully.
Gently dancing in the currents of Your Spirit
Like the leaf slowly falling,
Lifting, twirling,
Carried by the current of the wind.
Touching the earth and
Covering it with small,
Short seasoned sacrifices
For Your glory.


cjb- 05

Picture by Jeff Strain

His work in me

If I could fly to the heights of the sky
I could not hide from you
For you are there
Your Spirit lifts me higher
I’m caught up in you.

If I could swim to the depths of the sea
I could not flee from you
For you are there
Your Spirit takes me deeper
I sink deep into you.

From the highest and
To the lowest points
My God is with me
Lifting me higher
Giving me depth

He calls me by name
He makes me into
What I am not
Taking a nobody
With one word from His mouth
Calling me something
As if it were

I wait to become
All he hopes me to be
I wait for The Creator
To finish
To perfect
His work in me.


cjb

Psalm 139:8-9 (NIV), Romans 4:17 (Message, NIV), Hebrews 12:2 (NIV), Jude 24 (NIV)

He hears us when we pray

When we stumble, when we fall
When we struggle to believe at all
On His faithfulness we call

He hears us when we pray
He hears us everyday
He hears us come what may
We can trust in Him

When it’s sunny or it’s gray
When we know what men could say
He will not go away

When we’re beaten and let down
When life’s heartaches do confound
Our hope in Him is found

cjb

There is no one like you

No one says my name like you do Lord,
Your voice-
Like rushing waters soothe my mind

No one knows the soul of man like you
Oh Lord.-
Your love my passion and my fire

No one makes my knees go weak like you
My Lord. –
Your beauty holds my longing heart.

No one fills my life like you do Lord
Who could?
You’re my desire - all I want.

No one is as loving
Or as loyal
No one knows me
Like you do
No one captures
My attention-
Quite the way you do

Oh, Lord-
I’m so in love
With you!


cjb

A Harvest Moon