Word of Creation - Word of Promise

Word of Creation - Word of Promise

 In the beginning was the Word - John 1:1

The Word first brought about creation 

Order from chaotic nothingness

God spoke and the world began to form

The Holy Word called forth perfection that

Mortals, although made in their Creator's image,

Were unable to maintain. Life became death 

Creation was broken - yet held together by 

The Almighty's love and laws and hope 

For the promise of a future restoration

~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~

The Word of promise came in person

To speak healing, life and a new beginning

To walk and talk with mortals once again

Divine Light entered our dark broken world;

Messiah, promised Word, named Jesus Christ,

Born human, he knew our pain and fear and loss

Christ touched and taught the way back to life eternal

Modeling for all the true manner of being human:

Love, accept, respect; serve and submit 

- And be willing to die for another -

-JoMae                      

  9/23/15                     

Touch of Gold

 A Touch of Gold

We're poking around the Finger Lakes today


In summer's final breeze and sunshine


Under endless skies of blue

Bright cotton clouds float lazily


Trailing their shadows along the hills

Here and there a touch of gold gleams through 


On this pre-autumn day - 


A promise of more color yet to come


Before the winter of our lives

                                                                      JoMae


                                                                           9/17/15   

  By Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen           

Radiant August Sky

Iridescent Blue

A canopy of iridescent blue peeks through the leaves today

Accenting assorted shades of green outstretched above

Lifting a luminescent glow from the black eyed susans

Marking in bold the trunks and 

limbs encircling our city yard

Feels like a small quiet

clearing in a forest

Feels like home

                                                            -JoMae

                                                             8/23/15

One and One

One and One Equals 55
and Counting
(in celebration of a long loved marriage)

The two are one
As surely as if
Once one, then split apart,
They'd been reunited -
A perfect match.

As if at first sight after separation 

They'd recognized a missing part  -

That she was a bone of his own bones

He flesh of her own flesh.

No, not the perfection of that storied pair

In their ancient Eden,

But close.

Thankfully, close.

                                                     -JoMae

                                                     8/4/15

The man said,

   “This is now bone of my bones

     and flesh of my flesh;

     she shall be called ‘woman,’

     for she was taken out of man.”

Genesis 2:23

Dwell In Me

DWELL IN ME

Jesus Our Immanuel, 

In this quiet place please fill 

this waiting space within my

heart and guide my way.

Please sit with me and

let me hear your voice,

sense your presence and

know your listening ear.

Please hear my cry, my tales, 

my joys, my doubts - my thanks and 

adoration. Like a small child with her

Mother, may my soul be at peace in you.

O BLESSED SPIRIT

                                                  
                                                              -JoMae

                                                               6/13/15

At 80

Love On The Back Stoop At 80

Summer day

Morning calm

Coffee on the porch for two

Relishing the colors of his garden 

White daisies brilliant in a patch of sun

Crowned by golden lilies and shades of lavender

Warmed by a poem she shares

And his drawing of a patio design

Sharing plans for their day - and for their tomorrows

He's off to build her patio

She to catch the music in a gentle breeze; to write

'Til supper time

 Hearts still quickened by love first discovered in their 20s

                                                                 -JoMae  
                                                               7/20/15

PURPOSE

Purpose

Some days I wander through the hours

On seemingly meaningless routes

Yet in the end I recognize that

Each word I hear or read or write

Finds its place within a larger

Purpose 

                                              -JoMae

                                              7/20/15

I'll Love You Forever - A guest post by Paul Spoelhof

Mother Dearest

Hi Mom,

The other night Henri chose the book "I'll love you forever" as a bed time book.  It was late and he had procrastinated his way through putting pjs on and brushing teeth but he just wasn't ready to sleep.  He often asks for a book even when he knows we're exhausted and the answer will likely be "not tonight sweetie. Maybe tomorrow if you can get ready for bed more quickly." On that night though, he was especially clever.  He pulled the book off the shelf, got onto his bed and when I came in to tuck him in, he held up the book and said will you read just this book to me tonight.  I choked back a giggle and tried to be serious about bed time, but he said, "you know you really like this book.  You want to read it to me, don't you."  I asked him what gave him the idea that I like the book so much and he said "Your voice always get so quiet when you read the mother's song."  Garrett heard this from the other room and said, "yeah dad, when you read that book it seems like you're reading it to yourself and have forgotten that we are even there."

I never realized that it was so obvious, but they are right right, I do love that book.  I love the fact that the story traces the life of the mom and son; that it comes full-circle in more ways than one; mom singing the lullaby to son, son singing it to mom, and then son singing it to a baby daughter.  There are a lot of useful life lessons in that book, but that's not why I can't resist it.  When I read that book out loud to one of the boys, you are right there reading it to me.  

I can't explain what it is about the book.  It's probably not just one thing, but a combination of the illustrations reflecting the style and gadgetry of my childhood and the rhythm of the story reflecting a poem or song; something I associate closely with you.   I'm pretty sure it was not a book that was around when you were reading me bedtime stories.  So, it probably isn't an actual memory of you reading it; unless the memory is of you reading it to the boys.  But when I read the chorus that is the mother's song to her son, I sing it in a simple cadence to the most basic melody; barely singing it at all, and every time I can hear you singing to me. 

I love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as you're living

My baby you'll be 

I cherish that chorus.  I even hate to get to the end of it, especially the last one.  Sometimes, if I get it just right I can hear your voice deliver the first few words on the following page as well.  Other times, if I try too hard to make it happen, my voice is the only one I can hear.  Those are disappointing moments but your voice usually reappears magically the next time the chorus comes up.  I am so lucky to have a mom who manages to read me stories and sing to me, even now; when it is way past my bedtime.

I love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living 

My mother you'll be

Paul

-----------------

This lovely Mother's Day email from 2011 warmed my heart at the time and is a hug that I go back to often!  It's long past time to share it here.  Thanks Paul!

God Beyond Language

~ God Beyond Language ~

When an admired and accomplished teacher leans down to explain something to a three year old, she doesn't use all the words in her vocabulary. She chooses those a child can understand. Words that build on concepts already known to his limited mind.

Perhaps, when our great all knowing God bends down to explain the Divine to our small minds, a similar thing happens. God uses the familiar to help us begin to comprehend a mystery - the fullness of which is so many times greater than we are that we can never truly grasp it all. The Godhead. So God speaks of One who has hands and arms to carry beloved children or rescue them from danger. Who knows us already in the womb, gives life and nourishes us. Who knows both birth and death, good and evil. Who knows all about both anger and love. Who teaches about fear and pain as well as healing and joy. Who offers both comfort and justice. All of which a mortal can comprehend from personal experience.

From heaven's vast and perfect realm, God enters our lives, takes our hands and carries us as children. Out of abundant language far beyond our own; far beyond our capabilities, God teaches us on our own level, the way of salvation. Offering a glimpse of eternity and giving the joy of Christ's Spirit to guide our way.

The people, now thinking we grasp the essence of our Creator, interpret and express our view of God's self as a gloriously magnificent manifestation of ourselves. Forgetting the incomprehensible enormity of ONE who holds the oceans in cupped hands, weighs mountain ranges on a scale and counts the stars by name. Forgetting that God is not created in our image.

We tend to forget that God's language goes far beyond any we will ever learn on this earth. That God is so much greater than our vocabulary is able to express. We tend think too small. We tend to limit God.

JoMae

6/3/15

A Mother's Day Echo of Psalm 131:2

  Like A Weaned Child With Its Mother

Like a weaned

 child with its Mother,

My spirit is quiet within me

Like a weaned child

 with its Mother,

My soul is at peace in Godde

A Little Lullaby for Grownups on difficult days - my echo of Psalm 131:2 

         Reminding me that my LORD (YHWH) is also my Mother

 

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1My heart is not proud, Lord,

my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters

or things too wonderful for me.

2But I have calmed and quieted myself,

I am like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child I am content.

3Israel, put your hope in the Lord

both now and forevermore.   (NIV)