Prompt: Psalm 42 Echo

Photo by Bonnie Kittle @bonniekdesign

~ BE STILL ~

As a deer looks for flowing streams

so my soul reaches out to you, O Godde

cries out to behold the face of living Godde

my soul turns to you, my ever present help

yet surrounded, held by your love as in a womb

I’m apt to miss the flow ready to quench my thirst

- prone to let the noise of my loud panicked cries

drown out the object of my search: your touch

your quiet answer breathing in my heart

the piercing of my blind spots

shading your ever present

flood of love from view

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When shall I come to know your breath again

dear Godde? Your familiar presence holding me?

As a fawn resting by the stream, I know, and

am reminded; I’ve been swimming in your

living waters all along. Safely held

Here I will live and breath and

listen for your Wisdom with

hope and a thanksgiving

stirring in my heart

Thanks be to Godde

JoMae

6/16/19

The Psalmist goes on to speak of sorrow, fear, wounds and feeling downcast -  forgotten by God, then recalls and repeats:  “Hope in God; for I shall again praise…”  That hope is reinforced by remembering moments when God was not distant. When God’s face had been more clear.  

Sympathy cards often wish the recipient many happy memories to comfort you.  At some point I realized that warm memories of the past not only sooth and comfort, but can also become the underpinnings for future joy. After loss, life is largely ‘before’ and ‘after’.  Memories, and all one has learned from them - from the past - provide the building blocks for what lies ahead. Each chapter of our lives is built on or against the one before. Life goes on. In deep mourning, one might not even want it to go on. Yet it does. 

At first we stand disoriented with one foot in the past, one unwillingly pulled ahead. Finally, when we reluctantly accept that the old chapter is closed and the new is inevitable, we do well to put both feet into it. Start building with every tool and memory we’ve known before.  Let each joy and sorrow be a teaching block. Turn any hobby and small skill into a gift to share in making a new friend, in finding a new purpose for this next chapter.  

May we allow past memories to serve as a firm anchor for life ahead, let them be a gift of hope as we create new joy and find the strength to build bright futures, Godde helping us.  -JoMae 

Today's Prompt: My echo of  Psalm 42 

Prompt: Psalm 63 Echo

~ Praise from the Shadows ~

Beloved Godde, you are my anchor

I hold on to you, rely on you, trust you

I turn to you for balance when thrown off

when thirsty, empty for answers, you

hold me steady and provide what I

need to survive on weary days

You are my sanctuary, the rock
to whom I cling.  Your love
sustains as life cannot

In the shadow of your wings
nestled in parental care

I’ll rest and sing my praise

JoMae

6/13/20

Today's prompt: my echo of Psalm 63 

sWords

~ sWords ~

when wordS become Swords

wounds will be severe - and

while both can be forgiven

(even  seventy times seven)

healing does take time

and consequential

scars may long

remain

JoMae

6/08/20

Pandemic Mourning Prayer

~ A Prayer of Mourning For Pandemic Losses ~

Dear Godde, today we reach 100,000 lost in just the first few months of this pandemic. We can’t even get our heads around such a number - even as the count continues to increase - in our towns and in our nation.  

Our minds are over whelmed when we pause to mourn such loss. 

We turn our hearts to you as children in need of holding turn for comfort to a loving parent. Please hold us close. May we be conscious of your presence as we grieve. As we, in shock and the confusion of so many sudden changes, grieve all that has been lost.  So many people. So many familiar life patterns have been altered. 

Please, Gracious Comforter,  be especially near to those countless families who have lost a loved one to this virus. Send caring in all its many voices to help and comfort. Dear Jesus, guide us to be your hands and feet in these strange times.

We grieve, yet count our many blessing with hearts full of grateful praise - trusting, knowing you are with us always.  Thank You.   Amen

JoMae

5/26/20

Memorial Day 2020

~ Memorial Day 2020 ~

As we lament the deaths of many wars tomorrow

may we also mourn the multitude lost to this

pandemic trampling through the world

soldiers of the hospitals battling for lives

servers managing the food supply
endangering their health

protectors of communities
and leaders guiding all

 let us mourn the lost around the globe
and honor those who daily risk their
lives in reaching out to help

with heartfelt thanks

JoMae

5/24/20

Ascension Day Paradox

~ Ascension Day Paradox ~

Christ ascended, Alleluia!
yet Christ still walks this world today

in all the helping hands and voices

responding love to daily need

in hearts carrying our losses

trudging with us as we pray

Christ ascending into heaven

left his body here to stay, in

the lives of Godde’s own people

- by diverse blessings on us laid

left Godde’s mantle on our shoulders

Christ’s body for the every day

JoMae

1/7/19

Morning Hugs

Photo from: Creations in Nature

~ Good Morning Hugs ~

Often I begin my day by opening a couple blogs
of online friends, people I have never met
yet kindred hearts who touch my life
whose words are full of wisdom

able to enrich and teach

vastly different, they than I
yet  their voices ring so true
that I turn to their creations for
good morning hugs and inspiration

JoMae

4/25/20

John's Garden

- Johns tulips keep on keeping on -

~ My Garden ~

this morning I watched a tulip topple

not broken by a squirrel this time

but by the larger rotund bunny

who harbors in my yard

bright red, tall and firm - the flower was

still standing after rain undid the rest

I was surprised to see that rabbit

could conquer the very best

JoMae

5/19/20

Those lovely tulips have passed their peak and are looking tired now. Yet one stood apart a bit and soldiered on - until this morning's run in with a determined nibbler. 

Blushing Green

~ Blushing ~

The trees are blushing a delicate green

  beside my morning meditation window  
as infant leaves begin to decorate the

driveway oak and  nearby sycamore

not yet enough to block the sky or

hide the sun from my porch chair

yet enough to promise that long

awaited Spring is sure to come

 other trees- already leafed 

have shown the way that

soon all the world will be

bedecked in shades of

green

                             -JoMae

                                  5/14/20

Morning Ritual

~ Fresh Start ~

at home in her chair, laptop ajar

she offers a heartfelt  prayer - the

morning repast  (coffee aroma still

fresh in the air)  a good night’s rest
 peaceful writing hours to meander... 

in the silence memories rise with a smile

she is off and running through the years

until caught short, recalls the ONE she

was addressing and adds, for all this

too, dear Godde I bring my thanks

and for each blessing added to
my day

Thank You

JoMae

3/30/20