my favourite things/joy cometh in the morning

we need joy
around this world
it seems

so much is falling apart
cities and roads crushed and sinking
fires burning
waters rising
children hungry
lives shattered and taken
and others tarnished by sin's ravages
the pain inflicted so deep
------------------
I'm off to milk
I'm off to sit bent low on bended knee
my head sunk in 12 goat flanks
steamy milk rising to meet these tears
long stained for all who weep
their loved ones hurt or lost
some confused and crushed
by death
or sin's dark stain
the night so dark
it chokes
and fear takes
hope
away
-----------------
Weeping may last through the night
but joy cometh in the morning

our wedding verse
presented to us by an uninvited couple
who wanted to come and bless us anyways

did they have any idea this verse would guard our hearts
and help us press on 36 years now

I keep trying to understand its power
all I know is that
in the morning
something is always new
and though the pain is still there
hope has made it through
~fear has fled
night has passed
and with the day
our hope's
renewed

-------------
I'm off to milk
and weep
and pray
that joy
may come
with
break
of 
day
----------------
when
joy cometh in the morning
it is one of
my favourite things

my favourite things/ this growing old together

I love that it comes every year
the reminder of a promise
a love vow kept

I love our grey hair
the wrinkle lines
the eyes fading
the strength waning

we were young then
hadn't proven love
folks just watched and waited
we lived

and now that love is tested
we laugh more
we know it doesn't have to ever really break
completely
the soft heart keeps it alive

God
keeps the heart soft

this is what I have learned
that I may choose life
but it is God who gives strength of days
I may choose love
but it is God who gives understanding
I may choose to be faithful
but it is God who sends away the darkness
so that in the light we may grow old
together
in Him we grow gloriously wrinkled
and aged together
I have learned that though the body age
the spirit stays eternally young
and we can learn not to be afraid
of being set free

I have learned that time shared
is proof that love does everything it was ever meant to do
that love is everything it was ever meant to be
that love heals broken moments
that love lifts shared prayers
that love binds longing hearts
that love frees soaring spirits

that growing old 'together'
is a 'love' gift
from a very Old Father
who before time ever was
planned that we His children
should share eternity with Him
and it is here
in this holy union
that we learn the joy
of all heaven could ever hold

He gives us so much

it has really only just begun

this growing old together
we will laugh through all eternity
together
we learn how here
now

this growing old together

my favourite things

my favourite things/ double rainbows and the pot of gold

I came out of the barn
wiped my sweaty brow
took up my two full buckets of milk
and looked up from my scuffed shoes to the path home
it was still breathtaking

When I had come out to milk the goats
they were all still roaming in the new pasture
fresh green grass like soft velvet
beneath their hooves
the sound of their munch munching
had stopped me
I had laid down my buckets
decidedly sat there against the barn
and watched

twenty goats encased in a double rainbow
stretched from NorthEast to NorthWest
the mist still drizzling over them
100 meters away I stood in dryness
the sky above me blue and rich with dotted cotton
the sun parading down against the horizon behind me
the glow golden and warm against my beastlies
the sky above them soft gray
the rainbows' glowing against this soft paynes gray
the new leaves of the poplars
very much alive
vibrant on the darkened backdrop

I could almost see the Master painting
I stood in silent awe

I just watched
then closed my eyes and just listened
then shut out everything and just felt the mist begin to sway my way
I remember the first day I smelled Spring
the day Winter just slipped away
the one snow pile on the northside of the barn
the only reminder of the very long rest
the dogs seeking it out for refreshment
a reminder that I was not the only one sad to see its beauty slip away

but now

now I am breathless
the rainbow is iridescent
this indigo starting and coming up again then again
I memorize the colours
I try to remember how kids paint its memory
blue into green
yellow into orange
red into royalty once more
then it is repeated above itself
softer
muted
arching God's promise above the land
of the living
God is with us

and for today
no battle here
though in the distance
I hear the thunder
today all is peace here
joy fills my heart
contentment

this moment is enough

I lift my face from my scuffed shoes
I can still see
double rainbows
and the pot
of gold

my favourite things

my favourite things/ He calls our name, we know Him

they were delightful
leaping
and dancing
in goatstyle
my heart right along with them

even old Mbali
the speckled one
ran young
my old soul
alongside

Spring Fever
is for
everyone

and still
when I called
they heard
and
they came

so like our Saviour's voice
our Shepherd
He knows us
we know Him
we hear His voice
and come

He says
come away
a little while
let not your heart be troubled
I tell you
in my Father's House area many mansions
I would not have told you this if it were not so

I go to prepare a place for you
I will come and take you to myself

this log structure is a semblance of a beginning
it is not our home
but it helps my goats leap for joy
and makes my heart glad

He calls our name
and we know Him
He comes and gives us His Kingdom

my favourite things

my favourite things/ He leads me beside the still waters

Every day
He leads me

there is a quiet hush
at rest with Him
no noisy gongs
nor brutish voice
instead
just quiet
rest

the snow has left us now
except a patch
behind the barn
left to cool
the hounds
it's where
they find
their quiet
rest

the grass is velvet
green not white
five months
gone by
the Winter's rest all done
Spring come
bird song
goat dance
and hallowed calm
the Shepherd's watch
and in the stillness
heart
and
senses
open to the Song

it is His Song
He lives it in the breeze
among the trees
the fields
the streams

my feet
they feel the beat
they walk it slow
then run
and leap

in joy

the Song it goes like this
He loves me so~

the life around
all hear its sound
the gentle rustle
frees
and sets
the soul to soar

beside the quiet waters
He leadeth me

a cleansing tide
it satisfies
gives life
gives breath
speaks
peace
and soars
like eagle
flight

on heaven's wings
He leadeth me
the quiet
waters
by

afraid in Him
I'll never be
He is my life
His face alone
I seek

He leads me beside still waters
He sits with me
and rests
awhile

my favourite things

my favourite things/ new life

new grandchild
new farm life
first rays of sunshine casting themselves across the forest floor
first robin
first geese flying overhead
new buds on trees

first butterfly
first Spring rains
creeks growing
life bubbling
God present

my heart overjoyed

Winter is long~ it is a good rest~ now my heart is ready for Spring

new life
my favourite things

my favourite things/ Thy 'tender' mercies/ Thy 'loving' kindness

the morning was fresh
the air cool
5:58
the alarm not quite off
I had slid quietly
out of bed
to do my goat baby check
and the graciousness of my Lord
met me as usual
as I walked
the early
path

It is always
as I 'lift' my countenance
that I 'feel' Him
or maybe it is because I feel His countenace
that I lift mine
-------------
And it came to pass
in the fortieth year
in the eleventh month
on the first day of the month
that Moses spake unto the children of Israel
according  unto all that the Lord had given him
in commandment unto them


The Lord said
you have dwelt long enough in this mount...
Behold
I have set the land before you:


Go in and possess it
-----------------


as I closed the barn latch again
the goatcheck done
no new young
Blue left in to guard
Sam out with me to check the trails
I lifted my face

He always amazes me
--------------------

the morning was new
the sun not yet risen
wispy grey clouds
disappearing on the low eastern horizon
the moon's soft glow sifted through the clouds in the southern sky
as I breathed in this morning gift of beauty to me
the moon rose above the grey
sat like a sun on a horizon
bright and half appearing
then seemed to burst the clouded sky
to give one last fullness
before the sun's rays cast golden
through the forest branches
-------------------------


Eduardo spoke of faith yesterday
and of what he has learned
through forty years of walking
mostly that we don't always 'feel' faith
...because faith does not 'rely' on what we feel
he shared
the Gospel of Mark
shared how the three women
that had come to the tomb
when they saw the stone rolled away
when they heard the angel's words
that Jesus was not there
the words that He was Risen
the words to go tell the disciples
that Jesus would go before them into Galilee
that they would see Him
Just as He had said unto them...
Eduardo shared
that they went out quickly
that they fled from the sepulchre
for they trembled
and were amazed:
then
neither. of. them. said. anything. to. any. man.
for. they. were. afraid.
this is Mark's sharing of what happened
in the early hours of that first Easter morning
He shared what was real in his heart
Jesus would change the fear
perfect love
casts out all fear

Faith is a gift from God
it does not rely on feelings
we may be afraid but it is as we believe God
that we 'see' clearly

Jesus went before them
to show Himself
to 'help' them believe

more blessed
He tells Thomas
who said he would not believe
until he put his finger in the holes
of Jesus' hands

more blessed
He tells Thomas
are those who have not seen
and
yet
believe
------------------

Faith makes us blessed
-----------------

Still it is a gift
----------------
that none may boast
----------------

I know my Redeemer Liveth
and as I walk my morning path
I 'feel' His presence
but
when I don't
He is still present
and He still holds me
and He still Liveth

I 'feel' His presence
but
when I don't
He still goes ahead of me
like He did for those three woman
who were in so much anguish
who were so terrified
who were so amazed
He goes ahead of us
to increase
our faith
to help us see
----------------
Then I said unto you
Dread not
neither be afraid

The Lord your God
Which goeth before you
He shall fight for you

Yet in this thing
you did not believe
the Lord your God

and so we remember
the forty years in the wilderness...

to know what was in our hearts
though
'His' heart
was to bring us into a good land
----------------
when we don't feel Him
He is still with us
and goes before us
to show us
the
Way
to show us a land
that when we have eaten and are full
we might remember
Him
that we might remember
to give praise
for the good land
that He has given us

it is not for bread alone
that we live
--------------------

Jesus came
to clear the guilty

that is all of us

and the Lord
The Lord God
is
merciful and gracious
longsuffering
and abundant in goodness and truth
Keeping mercy for thousands
forgiving iniquity
and transgression
and sin

we have found grace in His sight

because Jesus found us out
He came to clear the guilty

we are guilty no more

Jesus said
It is finished

only believe
we don't have to feel it
though some days I do
most days I do
but
on the ones I don't
those days I feel all alone
crushed
broken
abandoned

I just lift up my countenance
and meet His

He is Risen
He is Alive
God is with us

His mercies are
tender
His kindness
is loving
His suffering
is long
His love
is forever

Thy 'tender' mercies
Thy 'loving' kindness
The heart of God

my favourite things

----------------






 He is no fool who walks with God ~
He will find life and find it abundantly ~