Toddler cries

 Lord Jesus, thank you for toddler cries 

Thank you for the burning sensation in tear filled eyes

Thank you for toddler cries

I heard this little sweetie stumble and fall

I watched as her daddy nearby picked her up and soothed her. Thank you for toddler cries 

It reminded me of my Abba Father who interprets my pleas

He hears my whimpers and whining and silent tears

He wipes away my pain

Thank you for toddler cries

Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief you begged in the Garden, and you needed relief

Thank you for toddler cries

I cannot ever imagine you as a toddler my King!

The wisemen brought you gold and myrrh & frankincense

There were so many prophecies. Thank you for toddler cries 

You understand & you interpret each cry

Whether I’m hungry, thirsty, cold dirty, lonely, confused, you understand!

You understand like no human being, woman or man

Thank you for toddler cries

 

Thank you Lord for every single means of Grace

Thank you God that my tears are held in a bottle 

Thank you God that you get my feelings you understand my sorrows

Thank you for toddler cries

I saw that dad scoop up his little girl

It reminded me of the way you lift me up out of my uncertainties

You won’t leave me alone and you know my cries for relief 

You let me stumble and fall so I can learn who to run to 

not to run to worldly comforts or any idol, but to turn to you, 

my Father …Your arms are better than any cradle

Thank you for toddler cries

I’ll praise the one who’ll look at me with covenant eyes and 

I’ll thank you

In that day in heaven there will be no more tears only ceaseless praise

don’t overthink prayer

 

Oh wait brain you’re doing it again don’t overthink prayer

I want to pray for my friend who has cancer oh wait or was it a surgery? I don’t recall. Let me grab my prayer journal. 

See your mind is going this way & that way and now you’re not praying at all.

don’t overthink prayer

I really want to pray Isaiah 41:10 but now I can’t remember the verse what was it again?

See your mind is going this way & that way and now you’re not praying at all.

don’t overthink prayer

I am sorry LORD I know prayer is a discipline

Are you really willing to bend down and listen?

I’m sorry LORD it’s just so hard to wait on you

In this age of distractions and endless scrolling I am sometimes ashamed to approach you 

don’t overthink prayer

Father I need you

Oh no 

I messed up I forgot to Worship I went straight to “request”

Thank you that you interpret my jumbled prayer mess!

I love you LORD 

For you loved me first

Help me hide your Word in my heart irrespective if I can precisely say the chapter & verse

Help me pray honest prayers not a script I have to rehearse 

Help my dear brain not overthink prayer     

Help me LORD pray again & again, for by grace alone you bend down & listen 

don’t overthink prayer

Christ our Prize

 Just 5 more pounds and I reach my goal

Oh what a foolish dream to behold

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

Just a little more, just a few more hours of overtime

My kids are little they’ll understand

As a dad I gotta provide

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

A college degree then life beyond this lame job at Walmart

I’ll do devotions later when my adult life starts  

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

Summer means weights & getting stronger and lean

Going to church once in a while is acceptable as I focus on my athletic dreams

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

I say the right things

I post a verse & say “Christ first”

But money relationships and goals are tearing me apart

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

Who or what is the prize? 

What is it all about?

I read Ecclesiastes and I hope

Solomon has it figured out

One day at a time the men in AA say

Sober is good drinking is bad

But my goal is getting all “As” you gotta pay to play

College marriage then 2 kids and one on the way

Sorrow lasts for a night but caffeine helps keep the sleepys away

God my God

Why have you forsaken me?

I have been a Christian

I said yes to you when I was 3!

I feel empty and sad trying to connect with you feels pointless

But maybe I should try gratitude and complain less

I press on toward the goal of ….well It’s me 

I am trying to build goals for my life 

I need to reconfigure my priorities my Bible says

Seek first His kingdom and remember what Solomon said

Vanity of vanities life is a vapor after all

I realized people are big and my view of God is too small    

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

I repent

I am sorry

Lord I made an idol of my selfish efforts

I made lists and was convinced this was being clever

I desire to dream bigger but be more humble in all my endeavors 

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Help me

I’m weak and I need you to teach me all over again

I want to be dependent on your still small voice  

I press on toward the goal of the prize Christ who is my life

Christ is life nothing else to say

Love you LORD & my heart with you shall stay! 

Camellia bloom in July

 Isaac can see

Isaac can hear

Isaac can taste and touch

Like a camellia bloom in July

One day his peculiar wings will fly

Then down on earth I’ll smile

I do not know how to support you as you navigate the young adult years 

From the beginning quite different from your sister and peers     

Like a camellia bloom in July

One day his peculiar wings will fly

You’ll wipe my tear

“Sad cry” you’ll say

Jesus is coming soon

He is the Victor

 

Not sad, but joy when at His feet I descend

All IEPs burned, all medications end

Like a camellia bloom in July

One day his peculiar wings will fly

“Extraordinary”

“Wired different”

These things they say….

A waterfall experience you love

And a polar plunge in the fall

Like a camellia bloom in July

One day his peculiar wings will fly

My heart aches remembering

Thoughts and hard times

I am overwhelmed with joy at every moment of your life

  

Like a camellia bloom in July

One day his peculiar wings will fly

Hummingbirds stop briefly

Sparrows land to eat a french fry

A doulos a slave to my Master

Til the day I die 

Like a camellia bloom in July

One day his peculiar wings will fly

Not a specimen or verdict after a lengthy trial

Come lay your head down and rest awhile

Duty is delight when it’s all part of the Master’s plan

What a wonder to see the pink hue of the camellia blooming out of season 

….Could be a dbreak through of more glorious joy to come

 As two soft pink camellias bloomed in July

One day your peculiar wings will fly

I’ll smile and cry believing in God’s plan the whole time