God is present
So I come to His presence
In this present
And pray
Which is my response
To His presence
In this present
Poetry
My Front Door
There is a world out there waiting
An adventure ready to unfold
When I step out my front door
It’s uncomfortable at times
I don’t know my neighbor
I don’t’ know how to ride a bus
Or start a conversation
But once I take that first step
Say that hello
Make eye contact
Smile
The journey has begun
The question moves from
Who is my neighbor? To
Am I a good neighbor?
What if we each do our small part?
What if we stepped around fear?
What would we find?
Perhaps a new friend
Or some way I can make a difference
A new purpose to keep me going
Put a new spring in my step
Northwest Sunshine
When the eagles soar
High over the high ways
I have to be careful
Not to bump the car ahead
There were four the other day
Two the day before
Did they notice the sun was out?
A rare occurrence in the northwest spring
Were they just being like the rest of us?
Drunk with sunshine
Low tolerance for it
Only a little makes us giddy
And run out the door
When the Church Became a Building
When the church became a building
She forgot her founder’s call
She chose instead brick and mortar
to build herself a wall
The doors she built
Locked some out, others in
Proclaimed who was holy
And who was still in sin
She lit the candles
Said it was time to pray
Blew out the lights
Now time to go away
She is made of salt and light
Her stones, they are alive
You cannot keep her in a box
If she is to going to thrive
Her glory is far greater
Than four walls can hold
She is to be a city
Shining bright as gold
She is to be a healer
For weary, lost, and sore
A comfort to the broken
And oh so much more
When the church became a building
She made a room for strife
When outsiders didn’t fit her mold
She crushed their heart and life
Church you are not a building
You’re Christ’s body and His bride
You’re His hands, feet, and heartbeat
The love He cannot hide
© 2013 Julie Clark
For All My Girls
Cause a raucous
Cause a stir
Stand up and let your voice be heard
No more low maintenance girls here!
Cause some drama
Shake us up
You have every right to be heard
No more low maintenance girls here!
Your thoughts are important
Your feelings count
Stand up tall and straight
Your gifts are needed
The world cannot wait
You too bear the image of God
Not just your brother or your mate
Brothers hear this cry:
“When you squish me
You are less
Than you are meant to be!”
© 2013 Julie Clark
Jesus Said
Abraham
Pleaded for mercy
For a city full of brokenness
I hear voices today
Calling for judgment
Jesus said:
Don’t pull up the weeds
Wait
Wait for the end
When everything is ready
Otherwise
You will pull up the wheat
With the weeds
Who is wheat?
Who is weed?
We don’t know
Time will tell
Things change
People change
There is always hope
Lets stop judging
Or we will be judged
Maybe
When we judge
We are pulling up wheat
After his resurrection
Jesus said:
You follow me
Don’t worry about anyone else
Perhaps
If we concerned ourselves
With ourselves
In this way
There would be
Less strife and judgment
More love
And peace on earth
© 2013 Julie Clark
Lenten Post # 7
I find myself
Hacking my way through a jungle
I cannot see clearly
But my heart compass is set north
Deep calling to deep
All of a sudden
Breaking free
Onto a well-worn
Path
Sprinkled with Saint and Angel dust
I am not alone after all
© 2013 Julie Clark
Ask
They’ve been waiting
Anticipating
This moment
Ready to move
High alert
Waiting
Anticipating
The feeble prayer
Forms in the heart
Barely makes it
To the lips
If at all
A mere
Seed of faith
Commotion
In the cosmos
“She asked!
We are moving in!”
The cogs begin to turn
Heaven moves earth
Surely help is on the way
© 2013 Julie Clark
Lenten Post #6
Have I loved well today?
The unexpected guest who shows up
When my house is a mess?
The beloved spouse or irritating boss
Who gives me a list of extra things to do
When I am already overwhelmed?
The child who just does not
Seem to understand the meaning
Of the word “No”?
What about the media inflated or created
Unseen enemies?
Have I loved them well?
Prayed for God’s mercy and love to shower them?
Have I loved well today?
Those who don’t get me
Misunderstand me
Judge me
Think I am wasting my time?
What about those who snub me
Forget me
Don’t find me important enough
For their time of day?
It’s really all that He has asked me to do.
His one last dying request
Some days are better than others.
I have to confess
I have not loved well today
Lord have mercy
He does
He always does.
© 2013 Julie Clark
