my favourite things/ the holy things of God

out in the cool of the night
under the shelter of His wings
I know His holiness

alone with Him
one with Him
resting in Him alone
He comes and offers
peace and quiet rest

I need no words
my life is an open storybook
He knows by heart
but He shares His joy
His strength
His hope
His Love

with me

little me

out in the cool of the night
while night hawks fly
and the wild things
watch through the dark...

my Saviour bids me come
walk with Him

there is no shame
I need not hide
He knows each beat of my heart
and bids me come
come
and know His holiness

though days are filled with the groanings of life
burdens bulge
pressures mount
always there is
grace

This is God's holiness

He offers to take our lives
and live His through us
He offers to take our everything
and make it beautiful

This is God's holiness

me
little me

wrapped in the love of God
a ribbon of Grace to hold me in

and all the while to know
the holy things of God

my favourite things

my favourite things/emerald sea green in the night sky

At 11 PM
where the morning sun
begins her journey
at the crest of the poplars in the eastern sky...
lay the moon

It lay bathed in a sea of emerald green
and shone with intense brilliance
yellow and on fire

I almost mistook it
for another

Its fullness and light like the Source

but never had I seen it bathed in an emerald sea
laced in a glowing clear brightness
that pierced me clear through
I watched as in a trance
I couldn't move my feet
I didn't want to lose this moment
I watched and waited
I sighed
I groaned
for the beauty

time moves on
I had chores pulling me away
my back to this glory
I walked away

away yet filled

and later
on my trek home

I set down my bucket of milk
warm and foaming
almost spilling in its fullness
like the moon
which lay heavy
caught now in a web of the poplars

I could still see its glory
laced in this web that held it

three days ago it would have been hidden
by Spring's budding
the poplars clothed in their new garments
fresh greenness
thick and lush
a warm cloak
a shield from the sun's hot gaze

but today...

I had felt some sorrow
when the tent caterpillars arrived
I saw them first on the gate post
then saw the tree tops bare
could hear the sound
of their appetites
the steady soft crunch
If I closed my eyes
it was like the contented
grazing of our horses
while on pasture
and I thought how all creatures
must live or die

how all of creation groans and travails in pain
together until now
awaiting the adoption

that is...
the redemption of our bodies

and because these tent caterpillars live today
I can see the moon cupped in the poplar's web
and so I remember that we are held in the Master's hands
and if we live or die
He holds us
I breathe deeply and groan
for the fragrance
the beauty...
this life...


He holds me in an emerald sea
bathed in the moon's glow

always
He holds me

my favourite things

my favourite things/after the rain

we heard the song of the rain

all night it lulled us to sleep
a calming peaceful presence
knowing God was bringing freshness
to a dry land
while we
rested

Bethany called ahead of me
in the early hours
and into the rain we went
goats to milk
horses to put on pasture

paddocks to clean

overnight God sprouted my garden seeds
the little shoots singing a happy song
with the morning

Bethany and I had a song in our heart

then dripping wet
came home
a nice hearth fire to warm us
a hot milk to remove the chill
mocha cheesecake
and a book
together

then out again
on the horse trail
a new one cut fresh
these past days

the horses glad for the adventure
the dogs
our
faithful
companions

more rain
those sweet showers of blessings

then sun
glorious sun

the heavens jeweled in sparkling clouds

the earth radiantly vibrant
after the rain

an epiphany of new life
new colours
new beginnings

is this the feeling
one has as they enter heaven
the soul raptured
the senses awakened...

To see as one has never seen
to find a melody in the air that gives flight
like the eagles'
where 'breath' is of another world
and you know 'His' presence

though He is there all along
I feel dim witted at times
and it takes the beauty 'after the rain'
to refresh
my memory

to rekindle the  flame within me
and remind me
I walk where angels walk
and Jesus is the One

He sets my heart to dancing

after the rains

my favourite things

my favourite things/ half moon overflowing

it is now early morning
the moon has settled somewhere

I am not just sure where
but I am certain it is because
of the overflowing

when I first found it tonight
I had to gasp at the surprise

there was my friend
settled brightly above my field
some would call it half full
or half empty
but I caught
the gift as it fell
overflowing...

joyous
laughter
giggles that couldn't be muffled
glory that would not fade
for the brightness it held

a vessel only
like us
filled with bright glory
not its own

It was a Northern Summer night
where the night melts into day
where the blue sky never really leaves
nor the yellow glow
on the eastern horizon
though the stars shine
and the cool freshness
refreshes the land
and wet dew
satisfies
the thirsty earth

I sang to my Abba Father
in praise for His beauty
His faithfulness

I lifted all my beloveds
into His gentle care
my Tommys and little Tendais
all the Nicholases
the ones still with us
those gone on before
the dreamers and the hopers

and those who dare not dream at all

and then the moon was just gone

I had given hay
put down clean bedding
milked
settled all in for the night
then on the walk home
found my friend was just not there

I seriously looked all around the night sky
but it was the overflowing

I know the rest that is found
in the overflowing

when Jesus fed the five thousand
when the nets were put on the other side of the boat
when Lazarus walked out of the tomb
when the ten lepers were sent on their way


always rejoicing
the stress gone
fears subsided
peace renewed

so I caught the laughter
and Saphira wagged her tail with me
we danced with the frogs all the way home
stopped to hold one
and giggled to find it loved the warmth of my hand
and didn't mind Saphira's inquisitive nose

we talked to them all

sang a joyous song
to the Maker of the night
Who melts it into day
and sends the overflowing...

if we just lift our gaze


one might just catch
the half moon
overflowing

my favourite things

my favourite things/ the rain is falling

the rain is falling
fresh and light
a steady pattering on our tin roof
the fresh wet fragrance
lingering
my face upturned
to catch its falling glory

we have been waiting
for rain

the winter blanket
lifted
unlocked from the earth
set free to fill the valleys
and fall to the great ocean floors
to bring refreshment
cleansing
healing

and now
the seeds are in
the ground soft around them
the manured earth warmed
by Spring's sun rays
joyous
and sure to wake all
from winter's long sleep

the white and rose blossoms
fill my senses
there is no room to breathe more deeply
no room to hold the symphony of all the wind's rustlings
through Earth's wedding garments
fragrant with Love's scent
again
so full
one must
share

I keep saying...
smell this!
It is too much to keep to one's self
and so you hear everyone saying...
Come smell!

And ...Look!
everyone saying....
Come look!

and while we awaken and expect winter's silence...
instead there is
this Song
lifted
in praise

to the One

Who is worthy

Who loves His own
and calls us by name

Before we were formed in our Mother's womb
He knew us
and planted in us ... Seeds
to love the rising sun
the sunsets
the running of a hundred wild horses
and the strength of one's youth
He knew our frame
that we were but clay
yet fashioned in His image

amazing

in His mind's eye
so worth redeeming
that we might share
the fruit of
The Seed... planted

The rain is falling
the soil is ready
I will pray for the blessing of the Shower
and thank Him for the showers of blessings

the rain is falling

my favourite things

my favourite things/the senses

guess
she said

what is in the juice ?
four things

I could see it was carrot
the rich orange colour
I could smell it too
the sweet bitter of the winter storing
my nose caught the celery
before I even tasted it
the apple I could smell
and definitely taste
as it dribbled sweet
down my throat
the third one was harder

I could taste a sweet freshness
light and almost flat
but couldn't guess

because I couldn't recognize it
didn't mean it wasn't there
and I thought of God
how sometimes we don't recognize
His presence
until later
and wonder...
is He really there

If I couldn't see... I would still taste the juice
If I couldn't taste... I might still smell the juice
If I couldn't smell... I would be left to feel its wetness
If I couldn't feel... I would be left to hear

If someone would just tell me it was juice
I could believe them

Why is it so much harder with God?

I can see the works of His hand
I can taste and see that He is good
I can smell the fragrance of His love
I can feel the comfort of His presence
I can hear the truth of His Word

there is nothing lacking

should I ever doubt Him
He is more than a glass of juice
always more

He passes me a pear
just so I believe

He is always there

our senses
my favourite things

my favourite things/ true love

today
at the entrance
to the Senior's home
a regal 'old' lady
asked which way I was going

brought out of my reverie
quite unexpectedly
I answered
to see Granny Ruth...
this way...
as I pointed down the long corridor
to the right

Will you walk with me
she asked

we were half way down the corridor
when she was greeted in a friendly manner

looking for Gordon?

it is down that corridor
Vonda dear

we retraced our steps
then down the left corridor
through the greeting room
another hallway
then to the right
across to the other side
all along the way people greeting Vonda
with such heartfelt joy
telling me 'she' knew the way to Gordon's room

(she didn't)
she leaned in on me
without asking
believing I would lead her there

more dear ones greeting
asking me if I was taking them to lunch
(sadly, I wasn't)

At the door to his room
we saw him sitting
wheelchair turned away from us
eyes at the open window
his attention on the bird flight
and the bird song

Gordon, I spoke gently

He won't hear you
someone said

Vonda and her cane
manouvered with me to the chair

I touched his shoulder gently
to not startle him
He looked disoriented
I released the chair brakes and turned him to face His wife
of sixty one years

My dear One
he exclaimed
their eyes joining
glistening with a love
matched nowhere
arms wrapped around each other
soft cooing and
whisperings

I know he heard each word

Now others motioned to a special lunch table
set just for them
a special meal
a celebration day
She had told me she was late
she had always been early

She was worried
and had become forgetful
lost

that was when she found me

I sat them across from each other
they said they liked it that way

He reached his hands out and she placed hers in his
and their eyes sparkled
and it was only them in the room

as I quietly slid out after leaving a blessing
I could catch their soft love song to each other
an untamed passion
a trusting gaze
a heartfelt touch
the 'til death we do part
through sickness and health
for better or worse

I cried all the way back to Granny's
down the corridor to the right
through the dining room
I saw her wheelchair
her small frame
hair freshly styled
head on her bosom
eyes closed

a special table setting
for Granny too
Easter celebration

I touched her gently
she woke and smiled

was happy to see me

I told her my Bethany was engaged to be married
to a wonderful Mexican prince

At this she really woke up
her eyes sparkled
remembering the days
and I saw her in another time
wrapped in love's embrace

and I needn't grieve for her empty arms

her eyes told me that her heart was still full

would always be

All the way to my car
I wiped at the flood of tears
that wouldn't stop

Young love is a joyous treasure
holds hope
and a future
builds dreams
and lives them

and if love reaches old age
that same delightful love
tested over time
is unbelievably
heart wrenching
because
it never gives up
it is a heated flame
that won't be put out

and there is nothing so lovely

marriage
Christ and His bride
the love that binds them
a great mystery

I saw it uncovered today
and it was holy ground

true love
my favourite things