Onward… (poetry)

 I don’t feel so special today
 In fact I feel quite small
 Maybe that’s how you feel too
 With your back against a wall
 
 Cornered in by circumstance
 So far out of our control
 What can we do to break out free
 Crawl out of this big dark hole
 
 There is a way, a gift of sorts
 Given long ago
 That we can step right into
 Where liberty will flow
 
 Freedom from the world of guilt
 That weighs us down sometimes
 Freedom that is born of love
 A treasure hidden by Divine
 
 As we seek to find this out
 Asking God to show
 He’ll take you on a wonderful route
 For eyes that want to know
 
 God is good and always is
 The devil tries to stomp this out
 But light comes out for those that seek
 Destiny lets out a shout
 
 You can feel it, I know you can
 It’s buried beneath the snow
 The cold and dark the world piles on
 But truth lies in your soul
 
 Like a caterpillar you must fight
 Your way out of the cocoon
 Your Father waits to hear your cry
 Then empowers you to move
 
 He waits for your invitation
 That’s just how Father does roll
 He’s not into manipulation
 He wants to see you whole
 
 If you don’t know He’s cheering you on
 Then you don’t know Him well
 Just look at those He’s chosen
 They all have a story to tell
 
 Look at Mary, a prostitute, 
 Delivered from the dark
 Became the first to see Him rise
 His choice of her was smart

 Peter was a fisherman
 Impulsive and full of self
 But when His life with Jesus was full
 He became part of the Book on our shelf
 
 Zacchieus was a cheating man
 A taxman that took too much
 But Jesus saw his heart that day
 And went to his house for lunch
 
 David was a shepherd boy
 Sitting in the fields
 But God chose him to be a king
 His life so honest and real
 
 Gideon was a chicken heart
 Afraid of everything
 But God gave him the power to lead
 To victory his people he did bring
 
 So now lets look at you and me
 Why is it failures we see?
 Cause that’s what the enemy wants of us
 His job is to cause us defeat
 
 The first of his lies is to turn us from God
 Make us think He’s who He is not
 God will never forsake us
 Once we’ve given Him our hearts
 
 Once we have invited Him in
 He’s always on our side
 Never to leave us, always there
 Whether we see Him our not
 
 You were made on purpose by Him 
 Before you were in the womb
 He made you cause He wanted you
 And He’s coming back real soon
 
 So fight through all the discouragement
 Encourage yourself in the Lord
 Watch what your mind is thinking upon
 And with help you can turn this around
 
 His Word is so we can know who He is
 Read the story of His life
 Start with the gospel of John again
 And ask Him to open your heart
 
 You are so beloved
 And I guess so am I
 I battle with this daily
 It’s something we all have to fight
 
 So I say, yes God loves you
 And yes, He loves me too
 Soon this life will be over
 No more sorrow no gloom
 
 Keep your head up, looking up
 And looking to His ways
 You have been chosen to witness this
 The very end of Days
 
 It is an honor to be here now
 The Book says the last shall be first
 He knows what it is we must endure
 To be a part of new birth
 
 New heaven, new earth is waiting for us
 So we must take our place
 Keep our hearts from sinking low
 And looking into His face
 
 Keep the faith
 I know it’s hard
 But yes, we must endure
 We know there is a kingdom for us
 So beautiful, clean and pure
 
 No more pain or sorrow
 No more brokenness of soul
 In heaven we will be given a newness
 In heaven our hearts will be whole.
 
 Don’t look back and stay in the past
 Onward you must go
 Choose to look forward and you will see
 God chose YOU, and now you know!
 

 

 copyright 2021   Jean Chamblee Thomas
 

You Are Loved – poetry

You are so loved

By God Himself

It’s almost hard to believe

 

But you are His

Created intent

Each nuance about you He sees

 

From deep in His heart

He has fashioned you

Though Satan tries to destroy

 

That plan will not work

The Cross has come first

The Lion of Judah receives

 

A cry from your heart 

Will join you to Him

A cry of simple belief

 

No one can snatch you

Out of His hand

He’s stronger than all things conceived

 

Turn from the things 

That keep you apart

Repentance is all that you need

 

Allow Him to wash you 

Deep in His blood

Your past will not succeed

 

copyright 2020   Jean Chamblee 

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.”

THE PAINTERS HOPE – POETRY

We paint upon the canvas

Of our childrens very souls

What picture we do paint

Will forevermore be told

 

Not one of perfection

Does our dear Lord require

But an honest projection

Our need for Him is dire

 

We paint on them forgiveness

Our lives can be a mess

We show them how great His love

Our sins we must confess

 

We paint an honest picture

Denial to avoid

As we come before the Lord

His mercy we implore

 

We paint upon them hope

Of an ever loving God

One we need not hide from

Who is alway on our side

 

We paint upon them grace

That can never be earned

Freely given to us

His character we learn

 

We paint upon them attitude

Of a humble heart we choose

Always bowing down our heads

Or else there’s much we’ll lose

 

We paint upon them seeking

The One who should come first

There is no higher person or thing

For which our hearts should thirst

 

We paint upon them dignity

Our actions shine out loud

What we do in secret too

That’s hidden from the crowd

 

We paint the crown of righteousness

A life well lived receives

Giving glory to the Lord

For the good things we’ve achieved

 

We paint on them the honor

Of service to the Lord

Obedience unto our call

Commitment to His Word

 

We paint upon them sacrifice

His example we must see

Taking up our cross each day

Continuing to believe

 

We paint His face of Justice

He sees both good and bad

One He will reward so good

The other makes Him sad

 

We paint the hope of heaven

With friends we’ll reunite

A happy place that’s paradise

All things will be made right

 

We paint on them endurance

One day at a time

Clinging to the promises

His faithfulness we’ll find

 

We paint on them their value

A gift we have to give

Showing them how much they’re worth

Our words can help them live

 

We paint on them the love we have

Received from God above

Passing it on to them

With prayers He’ll fill their cup

 

We cannot reach perfection

This side of the dirt

We point in His direction

And hope that they will learn

 

Amen.

copyright  2018  Jean Chamblee

Streams In The Desert

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” — Mark 4:35

Even when we go forth at Christ’s command, we need not expect to escape storms; for these disciples were going forth at Christ’s command, yet they encountered the fiercest storm and were in great danger of being overwhelmed, so that they cried out in their distress for Christ’s assistance.

Though Christ may delay His coming in our time of distress, it is only that our faith may be tried and strengthened, and that our prayers may be more intense, and that our desires for deliverance may be increased, so that when the deliverance does come we will appreciate it more fully.

Christ gave them a gentle rebuke, saying, “Where is your faith?” Why did you not shout victory in the very face of the storm, and say to the raging winds and rolling waves, “You can do no harm, for Christ, the mighty Savior is on board”?

It is much easier to trust when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging.

We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm; and that is the reason why the Savior is on board.

If you are ever to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, your strength will be born in some storm.
–Selected

“With Christ in the vessel,
I smile at the storm.”

Christ said, “Let us go to the other side”—not to the middle of the lake to be drowned.
–Dan Crawford

From:  Streams In The Desert  (Cowman)  June 3  (devotional)

HOPE – Poetry

Hope, hope
What lies in that name
There’s something so powerful
It crushes souls pain

Hope, hope
It reaches beyond
This time that we live in
Makes our emotions respond

Hope, hope
A much better place
See into tomorrow
With faith of beauties grace

Hope, hope
Pulls us out of despair
Knowing our reality
Will change and take us there

Hope, hope
Food for our soul
Sets us free from what is now
A promise to make us whole

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

SILVER LINING – Poetry

There is a silver lining
To the crisis we are in
It takes a perfect stranger
And it makes of them a friend

Lots of great destruction
May be coming fast our way
But how we choose to deal with it
Is in our power today

Crisis can produce a fruit
That’s sweetest to the taste
It breaks down many barriers
That are standing in the way

It puts us all into a boat
We share in all the land
When crisis hits a neighborhood
We lend a helping hand

Now we can let it take us down
Or rise up to the cause
It’s all on how you deal with it
Will you rise or fall

Trouble seems to peel away
All the false fronts there
It puts us in the human race
A chance to really care

So when the rain starts falling down
No matter what form it takes
Remember let the love come forth
And live for goodness sake

copyright Jean Chamblee 2011

YOU ARE NOT A FAIR WEATHER FRIEND – Poetry

When all hope is lost
There You are
Shining on me like a beautiful star

Though I scream
With angers rage
Not understanding the current page

It doesn’t deter You
You can handle my pain
You never leave me, You remain the same

When my broken heart
Is bleeding mad
You stay with me, Lord, just like You said

You are not fickle
Don’t run away
Like so many others, yet You choose to stay

How can you love me
When there’s ugliness there
You look right past it, see my heart laid bare

You’d rather have an honest spit
Than a fakeness that comes
From lying lips

It’s with You Jesus
That I can get real
And not be afraid that You’ll leave me still

You’re promise is
That You will stay
And see me through another day

Your love so deep
We’ve never seen
Even when we’ve been so mean

You are not a fair weather friend
Your love so deep
That it never ends

Beyond the veil
We must go
And not be afraid our truth to show

Be it bad or be it good
You will still love us
That must be understood

Our problems seem great
But to You it’s not so
Because Your commitment is more than we know

In the morning You will be there
The price You have paid
Our sins to erase

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Hebrews 13:5  “For Jesus has said, ‘I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.”

MY COCOON – Poetry

You are my cocoon
No matter what’s around
You are wrapped about me
Your presence peace surrounds

Loud the voices shouting
Wanting us to fear
But our place is next to you
Always drawing near

Focused on Your majesty
Your kingdom it will come
No matter what happens here and now
My thoughts are on Your throne

But sometimes I’m a weakling
It’s then my heart does know
I reach out my hand to You
Instead You help me grow

Crazy things may happen
But the end of it You’ve told
We can trust what’s in Your book
You’ve known from times of old

You are my cocoon
No matter what’s around
I know that I can trust You
Your love for me is sound

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

CLAY – God’s Artwork

The “Potter and clay” relationship is not always pleasant….but when He is finished…..even after the heat of the kiln….we will be a shining piece of original pottery, with the fingerprint of God as the signature Artist!

#worthit #nogreaterlove #surrendertotheprocess

 

Isaiah 64:8   “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”