I Thirst
I gave it all
My everything
Not one more drop left
Of me to give
Empty
And now
I thirst
© 2011 Julie Clark
God
Good Friday
Categories: Faith, God, Good Friday, Life, Love, Poetry, Prayer
Tags: empty, everything, gave, thirst
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Summary
Just to summarize
what life boils down to,
the essence of our being
here on planet earth
is love.
Simple? yes
but it takes a lifetime
to learn
best to get started
as soon as possible.
Fire
God uses the fodder
of our everyday lives
to fuel the flame
of His passionate
Refining
Transforming fire.
The result:
unimaginable beauty,
pure gold.
Ash Wednesday
The big problem
of pain or illness
is it is constantly
screaming for attention.
It drives me away
from anything else but myself,
pulling me steadily inward.
This is no way to live
or die for that matter.
I want to learn
new strategies
of living and caring
in the midst of it.
I have a role model
to study and learn from.
I think of Jesus.
His last days of life
His suffering and agony.
He didn’t go inward
and far away.
He stayed with us.
He instructed his friends
to put away their swords.
He looked at Peter
at the rooster’s third crow.
He had a few words
for Pilate.
A few more for the woman
on the path to the cross.
He took care of his mother.
He forgave his tormentors.
He brought comfort to another dying man.
He looked up.
He gave himself to God.
© 2014 Julie Clark
Who Are We?
I Practiced What I Preached on Sunday. I asked about my new name since battling my third cold of the season I was feeling rather Sick and Tired. The answer is embedded in the following poem as well as some excerpts from the sermon.
“Who are we?”
Asked the Poet King
the Battle Weary Psalmist.
There are days I feel
just like a Breath
or a Passing Shadow
as this Shepherd of Sheep
and a Kingdom felt.
What is my name?
Surely not
Sick and Tired.
If I listen open-hearted
the message will come
With an eye of faith
I can almost see it written
on the wing of the messenger:
Overcoming One
Who Loves My People.
That’s a name I
can grow into.
My identity is not
in how I feel or
how another calls me
or sees me.
No, it is in
How my Maker made me
to be like him
Image Bearer
full of Glory
full Grace.
Advent: Peace
Prepare the way
prepare the home
prepare the table
prepare my heart
Fix those potholes
line the streets with
flowers and lights
Clean every corner
dust and sweep
gather and hunt
Fill the house with
color and fragrance
flowers and fruit
to center the table
Now the hardest part –
my heart
Dark and dusty places
replaced with light and
fragrance from hidden
fruits sown and grown
the greatest is love
centering all
In that clear night sky
long ago
the angels could not contain
the joy
and sang of peace
the world is yet longing for
Where will this peace be found
if not first in our hearts
cluttered with care and
discord
Prepare ye the way
© 2013 Julie Clark
Advent: Gifts
When your best
isn’t good enough
When your acts of kindness
go unnoticed or
fall flat like a pancake
missing the plate
onto the dusty floor
When the recipient
of your kindness
doesn’t appreciate
your efforts
Remember
how God’s kindness to us
was spurned
At the inn:
“No room here, try the stable.”
At the cross:
“Crucify Him!”
He knows
He sees how we suffer
He can relate
When our deeds
go unnoticed
He on the other hand
appreciates our every effort
and receives each with
a warm singing heart
and outstretched hands
Thank you is his response
to our feeble gifts
May our thank yous
ever increase
as our hearts expand
to become
grateful people
© 2013 Julie Clark
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