ALL THAT GLITTERS

All That Glitters

by Ruth Harms Calkin

I love our big church with its tall steeple

And impressive white pillars

You know I do, Lord.

But sometimes I get the impression

That we're running a sort of perpetual marathon

That keeps everyone gasping and gulping for breath.

Lord, I can't quite believe

You applaud all our frantic effort

Or demand each time-consuming activity

Or encourage our continual attempt

To function at galloping speed.

The Master's Call

The Master's Call

by Gloria A. Walker

My spirit now is quiet

Resting from the storm.

My heart is mending slowly from

The ache which left it torn.

In quietness I hear Him.

At rest I fell Him near.

He soothes my heart where it mends.

His calm now mask my fear.

JUST COME HOME

Just Come Home

by Ruth Harms Calkin

God, You are so good!

When at last I called to You

From my prison without Exit

You did not exact from me

A solemn promise to do better.

You did not insist

That I adhere to an endless set of rules

To guarantee Your acceptance of me.

Nor did You say with frightening sternness

"Stand on your own two feet."

Kingdom Preparation

KINGDOM PREPARATION (An excerpt from the book “Make Haste, My Beloved”) By Frances Roberts

My people, hear My word: This hour is exceedingly strategic. Every move you make needs to be directed by My Holy Spirit. Every action performed can tell for eternity if you are doing those things that I put on your heart to do. And that which is omitted of the things I ask you to do and say grieves Me, because only I know how much more would have been accomplished for My kingdom if you had been faithful and obedient.

A Love Song

A LOVE SONG

My soul is dry and thirsty,

Blasted by the sun of despair,

Bruised by winds of destruction,

Burned by the sandstorms of care.

As I crawl through this barren wasteland

Surrounded by sweltering heat,

I yearn for a safe Oasis,

A refuge, a place of retreat.

The God of the Mountains and Valleys

The God of the Mountains and Valleys  
By Francis Frangipane

The battles we face are often intense times of weakness, distress, and confusion. If the events of our lives were charted, these would be the lowest points. Yet God is no less with us during difficulties than at other times. In fact, these valleys are often as much the plan of God as our mountaintop experiences.

There is a story in the Bible that speaks plainly to this truth. Israel had recently defeated the Arameans in a mountain battle. In 1 Kings 20, we read: "Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, 'Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.' Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they." --1 Kings 20:22-23

Refiner's Fire

REFINER'S FIRE

Forged in the flames of adversity.

Welded in the cruicible of pain!

Tried in the furnace of affliction.

Birthed in the heat of the same.

Parched for God's Holy Presence.

Thirsty for His healing rain.

Yearning for dew drops of mercy

To quench the heat of the flame.