UP AHEAD (poetry)

 Wisdom of the Holy One
 Maker of heaven and earth
 His thoughts are high above our own
 And He can see our worth
 

 He made us in His image, yes
 To be His family
 To know Him in all spirit and truth
 To open our eyes to see
 

 The evil of the world came forth
 To steal what God had made
 He tricked us in the garden
 But God knew just how to save
 

 The end from the beginning
 Is how our God does see
 Even though He knows our faults
 He sees what we can be
 

 He sent His son to show His love
 To legally set us free
 His blood upon the alter seat
 Perfect sacrifice was He
 

 Such are the wondrous ways of God
 There’s so much more to know
 As we look into His Word
 And seek His truth to grow
 

 To be in Him and Him in us
 A temple for the Lord
 Can’t wrap our minds around it
 Just have to trust His word
 

 Once we come of age in life
 All of us have sinned
 It made inside our hearts go dark
 So we need to be born again
 

 When we accept what Jesus did
 He makes in us all things new
 Our heart it changes deep inside
 Then His Spirit can dwell in you
 

 Then oh the journey we can have
 As our Father grows us up
 He loves to reveal the secret things
 And to joyfully fill our cup
 

 He will also teach us to be
 A warrior in the earth
 Overcoming darkness
 That’s fought us from our birth
 
 Then one day we all will rest
 In heaven we will be
 Our Father is a Creator
 What beauty we will see
 

 We each have a destiny
 That in His heart conceived
 Nothing will make us happier
 Than to be what we were made to be
 

 So now we must anticipate
 Our eyes kept up ahead
 As this age comes to an end
 And Jesus will crush Satan’s head
 

 

 copyright  2021   Jean Chamblee Thomas
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DON’T LET PERFECTIONISM RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY (OR ANYDAY)

With the holidays almost here, just a little encouragement to keep you from the trappings of perfectionism.  The definition of perfectionism is ‘refusal to accept any standard short of perfection”.   It can drive you mad!!  It is actually your own perception that drives how you view perfect.  It may come from upbringing, teaching, or your own ideas.  If we look at it, what drives it is ,I believe,  from the root of pride.  Or wanting to please or be perceived as perfect. Sometimes we don’t even see it at work in our lives and inner thoughts.  It can simply be ingrained in us by the world. 

It is a sad way to live because it is often in imperfections that something is made unique and beautiful.  We were never made to be cookie cutter humans.  Just look at our finger prints.  God gave us each one that is like no other.  Or like snowflakes or the grain of wood.  You get all that, so I will make another point.

Personally, it was my upbringing that imprinted this deep into my psyche .  It was sad as I watched my mother try to live up to her own self imposed image.  Perhaps it came from her upbringing too.  At any rate I promised myself I would try to live an authentic life and I am probably more vulnerable and open than most.  But I still have those lingering subconscious pressures I have to fight against.  

I have to work at it.  Catch myself tensing up and even more if  someone begins pointing things out.  I have to look within and regain my peace and commitment to be kind to myself and realistic about my limitations  Personally my health doesn’t permit me to do “all things”, maybe for you it is your job, energy level, finances.  These things are real and I think God wants us to have true mercy for ourselves.  A perfectionistic spirit is not realistic. It is subtly tormenting.  We can choose to be realistic and give ourselves a break.   

As a believer and follower of Christ, I also know that the enemy of our souls (the devil)  is an accuser and loves to get us to condemn ourselves.

Fortunately my family is mostly used to my imperfections and limitations.  My family is small though, yours may not be and you may have some pretty big criticizers in your midst this holiday.  I encourage you and remind you that God the Father knew we could not reach perfection or righteousness on our own so He sent His Son who was strong enough to never sin and destroyed sin on the cross for us!!  What a gift.  We are covered as we accept what He did and we try to walk in His ways – imperfectly.

So give yourself a break, determine now to reject any petty criticisms about your home, cooking, anything at all.  Protect your soul.  No criticisms allowed.  And know that you are okay and that this is a day to focus on more cherished things like….love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience/long suffering , faithfulness…  let these things be in your mind and heart.

Enjoy the many things about the holidays that are special to you.

You are loved. You are beautiful.  If someone else can’t see that…..it is their issue.  Let it fall off.  Protect your soul and know quietly inside that you are are a blessing.  Period.  

Much love and have a great day!

REMEMBER TO LOOK UP – poetry

Look up, look up, look up I say
Jesus instructions for those living in this day
Don’t look at the storms, don’t look at the waves
Keep your eyes on heaven, bad things will pass away

Do not mourn at the doom or cry at the gloom
Know that a childbirth is coming very soon
The earth groans and travails, the Word has said
Until the sons of God have been revealed

Great things can happen in the midst of it all
Many will come forth, though many shall fall
Purified by fire, refined like gold
Takes place at the ending, just like we were told

Hang on to Jesus, draw ever near
No need to doubt, and no need to fear
Feast on His promises so you can endure
Our faith will be challenged, but come forth so pure

And we must remember to keep heaven in sight
He’s prepared a place for us which comes after the night
In the darkest hour, never forget
Jesus is waiting, your place He has set

We are His bride, a wedding feast to come
We’ll be wearing white garments, see God on His throne
No more corruption, no more tears,
No more pain or long difficult years

We will all celebrate, like never before
Our Father is waiting, He has so much more
Remember “Look up”, there’s more on the way
That will help us endure these present crazy days.

copyright 2019 Jean Chamblee Thomas

Luke 21:28
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Deep Waters – Poetry and Thoughts

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Sometimes those who have suffered the most, have the most to give.  

2 Corinthians 1:3-5    “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

DEEP WATERS

Don’t be afraid of deep waters, my love

This journey’s been sent from heaven above

It is at Gethsemane you are purified

In ways you can’t see, so don’t try to hide

Lay it all bare, at the foot of the cross

Let His word cleanse you as you follow it’s path

Clinging to truth, let all else pass away

Let it burn up, it’s not meant to stay

Deep into the waters you go

Let Him enter in to the depths of your soul

Stirring up places where pain still remains

Let Him expose them and pour healing rain

copyright  2017  Jean Chamblee

Calmly Walking – Poetry

Calmly walking by the bay

The mist is rising up

It crests the rocks and scatters ‘round

And peace, it fills my cup

 

As I walk and seek You

Silent and alone

My soul it lifts to meet You

My heart lifts to Your throne

 

Standing in your presence

Your warmth shines on my face

Just as real as earth is

I’m home here in this place

 

These moments are so holy

Sweet and set apart

As I see reflections face

Your love it fills my heart

 

Solid our connection

Fruitful are Your words

As they speak into my soul

My place with You assured

 

Don’t let it break away now

As I enter back inside

A place in our society

It seems no place to hide

 

Yet it takes a moment

To close my eyes and see

Our beautiful collection

Of quiet times with Thee

copyright 2016  Jean Chamblee Thomas

HE THOUGHT YOU WERE WORTH IT

Slowly, with purpose
He walked through the streets
Each step He was taking
Your life He could see

Breathing in pain
Sores on His back
He suffered the shame
But His heart was intact

He knew that His mission
It must be fulfilled
There was no other way
Except Calvary’s hill

Looking at faces
His mind must have swirled
He kept the joy before Him
Of saving the world

Strong and determined
As His life blood poured out
He knew it was worth it
He ignored hell’s loud shout

As He hung on the cross
He gave out a cry
As He paid for our sins
Tears streamed from His eyes

Love kept Him there
We’ll never know
How bad was His suffering
The three days He was gone

Paying our penalty
As He hung on the cross
He knew what it took
To redeem all the lost

So now it’s our choice
To believe and receive
The beautiful gift
For which He did bleed

 

copyright 2013 Jean Chamblee

OUR HELPER – Poetry

The anointing is an amazing thing
It can take a broken girl
And make her a queen

The Bride of Christ
The King of kings
He longs to lift her up and give to her His wings

Jump into the water
The streams of His love
He went back to heaven to send His Spirit dove

Dwelling inside us
Is where He longs to be
Comforting and guiding us to a place we can be free

 

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee Thomas

SELAH – (To Pause and Calmly Think About That) – Poetry

Do we take the time to just “Selah”
To rest in the moment
To ponder the sky

To treasure the moment
The richness therein
We could just sit for hours
Much better than zen

To sit and to think
Meditate where we are
The blessings in life
What has brought us this far

Or do we allow
Our thoughts to be sold
Down the river of doubt
Where darkness takes hold

Do we surround ourselves
With radical noise
Music, T.V.
Or technologies toys

We are being so robbed
We do it ourselves
Let society dominate
It comes in so stealth

The heart of Creator
Cries out loud
All the beauty He’s made
Treasures to be found

Ignored and bypassed
For something much less
The splendor of creation
Under the rug it gets swept

Don’t let technology
Become your God
Forgetting who made you
Forgetting His love

Stop and “Selah”
You can choose to awake
Don’t be swept down the river
Of His Wonders partake

copyright Jean Chamblee 2010

Question: “What does selah mean in the Bible?”

Answer: The word selah is found in two books of the Bible, but is most prevalent in the Psalms, where it appears 71 times. It also appears three times in the third chapter of the minor prophet Habakkuk.

There is a great deal of uncertainty about the meaning of selah. Most versions of the Bible do not attempt to translate selah but simply transliterate the word straight from the Hebrew. The Septuagint translated the word as “daplasma” (“a division”). Well-meaning Bible scholars disagree on the definition of selah and on its root word, but since God has ordained that it be included in His Word, we should make an effort to find out, as best we can, the meaning.

One possible Hebrew word related to selah is calah, which means “to hang” or “to measure or weigh in the balances.” Referring to wisdom, Job says, “The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold” (Job 28:19). The word translated “valued” in this verse is the Hebrew calah. Here Job is saying that wisdom is beyond comparing against even jewels, and when weighed in the balance against wisdom, the finest jewels cannot equal its value.

Selah is also thought to be rendered from two Hebrew words: s_lah, “to praise”; and s_lal, “to lift up.” Another commentator believes it comes from salah, “to pause.” From salah comes the belief that selah is a musical notation signifying a rest to the singers and/or instrumentalists who performed the psalms. If this is true, then each time selah appears in a psalm, the musicians paused, perhaps to take a breath or to sing a cappella or let the instruments play alone. Perhaps they were pausing to praise the One about whom the song was speaking, perhaps even lifting their hands in worship. This theory would encompass all these meanings—“praise,” “lift up,” and “pause.” When we consider the three verses in Habakkuk, we also see how selah could mean “to pause and praise.” Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter 3 inspires the reader to pause and praise God for His mercy, power, sustaining grace, and sufficiency.

Perhaps the best way to think of selah is a combination of all these meanings. The Amplified Bible adds “pause and calmly think about that” to each verse where selah appears. When we see the word selah in a psalm or in Habakkuk 3, we should pause to carefully weigh the meaning of what we have just read or heard, lifting up our hearts in praise to God for His great truths. “All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name. Selah!” (Psalm 66:4).