Isaiah 57:15

"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
'I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite."


We offer pieces
Broken and shattered
Grateful that this offering
You accept, and love.

Consecration

My heart, my dreams, my girlish hopes
I bring and place them at Your feet.
It's You who sings that love-filled song
To which my heart was meant to beat.

When hope has fled and tears don't come,
I find in You my second chance.
My heart and hands I place in Yours--
Yes, You may have this dance!

-R.J.S. (15?)


This simple heart cry was penned several years ago when I was first learning to walk with Jesus. I had even less of an idea then than I do now of what these words would mean. All I knew was that I loved this Jesus and I wanted to follow Him. That is the kind of childlike trust and bride-like love I want to have today.

Heart's-Ease

Oh, there was never a blossom
That bloomed so blithe as she,
On the bitter land, by the salt-wet sand,
On the margin of the sea.
Where never a flower but the gorse can blow,
And the dry sea-pink that the mermen sow,
There grows she.

Oh, there was never a blossom
That bloomed so brave as she
On the narrow ledge of the mountain's edge
Where the wild fowl hardly be.
And over her head the Four Seasons go
With a rush of wings when the Storm Kings blow--
There grows she.

Oh, there was never a blossom
That bloomed as content as she,
In the heart that burned, and loved and learned
Of the Man of Galilee.
And plant her high, or plant her low,
In a bed of fire, or a field of snow,
There grows she.

--Amy Carmichael

A Prayer

My mind is swirling
With thoughts about life
And every idea
Slips out of my grasp
I can’t pen it down
Who am I?
And what is life?
Teach me the truth

Life is so short,
But so shockingly real
And I forget what lies beyond
Beyond the visible
Give me a bit of Your Vision
That I may feel the weight of eternity
And in every precious person
See the wonder of a soul

I wait here quietly,
Listening for Your Voice;
My heart strains to hear
The strains of holy music.
Where is my place in this symphony?
I'm listening, I'm yearning,
My heart is straining to hear
The music of Your Voice.

R.J.S.

Precious children...

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” -Jesus (Mark 9:37)

Sweet little girls,
With your wide, innocent eyes...





When I look into your eyes
Sometimes I think I see
Jesus looking back at me





I pray that when He knocks
Your heart will open wide
That you will recognize His voice
And follow as His Bride.

(Photo credit: Shaunda Stoltzfus)

The Answer

Empty eyes filled with longing
Empty hearts filled with sorrow
Empty lives filled with pain
Empty people dreading tomorrow

Thirsty eyes, always seeking
Thirsty hearts, never satisfied
Thirsty lives looking for love
Thirsty people needing purified

Hurting eyes filled with anger
Hurting hearts deep inside
Hurting lives, broken and trampled
Hurting people full of pride—

Empty, thirsty, hurting people,
Turn your eyes to a darkened hill
Where the King of Heaven suffers
Bring your sin here, and be still.

See the anguish in His eyes
See the thorns that pierce His brow
All this blood He shed for you
Longing, hoping to heal you now—
Behold, the Lamb of God!

Now come see the empty tomb!
See the One who conquered death
Receive from Him Eternal Life
Return to Him who gave you breath

Joyful eyes shining bright
Joyful hearts with songs of love
Joyful lives, healed and hopeful
Joyful people looking above


R.J.S., 2006

Ode to My Love

(a sonnet)


True love that holds me up and gives me love

Who never leaves or fails in faithfulness;

Who rescued me and made me His belov'd;

One glimpse of love like this, and I confess

He is the King, and so I must believe.

'Tis dark without the glory of His face,

And to reject His touch is not to live,

For life and death both have a bitter taste.

But not with Him, for He is Life indeed;

Unending life is found in Christ who died.

From darkness and from sin forever freed,

Let me each day with joy be crucified.

Because of love the world is fresh and new;

My Lover true, may I be true to You!

A Vote for Jesus!

So here is my Election Day post...a month late.

I think American Christians can easily cloud the vision of the Kingdom they are truly seeking in their desperation for a leader who shares their moral values. Let us not forget that Jesus taught us by example how to live in the world. He did not choose to usher in His Kingdom by political means, but rather by becoming a servant. The other day I found a powerful poem by a fellow blogger. (Thanks, Laverne!)


A Vote for Jesus!

My ballot doesn't have his name

He must still be dead

Will you help resurrect him?

Will you vote for my King?


A cup of cold water to the thirsty

A coat for the shivering

A sandwich for the hungry

A vote for Jesus.


A crib for the unwanted child

A father to the orphan

A room for the homeless

A vote for Jesus.


A visit to the sick

A chat with the prisoner

A drop in for the widow

A vote for Jesus.


Hugs for the crying

Care for the pregnant moms

Love to the troubled youth

A vote for Jesus.


Forgiveness to the murderer

Freedom for the oppressed

Pardoning for the debtor

A vote for Jesus.


A welcome to the stranger

Freedom for the slave

Care for creation

A vote for Jesus.


A meal for Hussein

A bed for Bin Laden

Enemy love

A vote for Jesus.


Embracing the victims

"Thy people will be my people"

"Where thou goest I will go"

A vote for Jesus.


The banner is a cross

Death...inevitable death.

Resurrection!

All Hail, King Jesus!


I have a dream!

Swords beat to plowshares

Spears into pruning hooks

All Hail, King Jesus!


I have a dream!

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation

Neither shall they learn war anymore

All Hail, King Jesus!


The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of Peace

The tree of life for the healing of the nations

All Hail, Prince of Peace!


Change we really can believe in

Change we so desperately need

A resurrection from the dead

A vote for Jesus.


In the world

Not of the world

But for the world

A vote for Jesus!


For those of you who, like me, say that you "don't vote" because your allegiance is to a different Kingdom...do we not often use this as an excuse for laziness? We are called to advocate that Kingdom by our servant's hearts, through our actions and not just our words.

Whether or not you voted on Election Day, I pray that all of us will step forward at the call of our True King.

I cast my vote for Jesus.