2025 Christmas Poem

 

(written on New Year’s Eve)

 

Yet

 

I have not written it yet.

 

Put forth the words of a year,

Recalled the months in rear.

Printed out those memories dear.

 

Yet, I’ve done everything else expected of me.

 

Cards, gifts, décor and tree;

Gatherings, texting, and a wrapping spree.

Decided to host an afternoon tea.

 

I’ve eluded the poem, not feeling the vibe yet.

 

No wanting to dwell

For my eyes to swell

As I painfully retell.

 

I’ve not written it yet—

 

Because God had me wait

Until He spoke His Words of love over hate

Renewed that hope in a plan that is great.

 

~~~

 

Parents killing children, children murdering parents.

 

Floods swept up campers, and planes hit the ground,

Evil aiming guns and truth and innocence shot down.

Fires burned up whole towns. 

 

Infection settled in and gave us a scare. That One Word from the Psalm chapters gave rest.

 

My beloved lay silent but the machines--they drum,

Beeping and pumping, a constant hum,

“Where does my help come from?”

 

That rhetorical question asked in every scenario. Do you remember? Do you know?

 

“The Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.”

He answers and asks us to recall His birth

The Babe, the Man, the God who gave us worth.

 

“I have told you things in my Word for your peace.”

 

In this world there is trouble, depravity and hate

But Love is the answer to make our path straight.

Christ overcame sin and all its weight.

 

God answered prayer this year in grace and provision.

 

For what I care for, those close and adored,

In abundance and wisdom, a hope restored.

Sons and daughters will come back to You Lord.

 

Yet still, a great desire for the all to be calm. He’s not finished…yet.

 

God incarnate, a personal relationship.

The promised Messiah, victory over a death grip

Resurrected, forgiven, joy and grace in the hardship.

 

Just believe and ask Him to show You His truth.

 

Admit you’re in need; let go your own depravity and fears

God makes a way and holds all your tears.

Be born-again for eternity’s years.

 

That baby, Christmas, a choice made every day.

 

To live surrendered yet held captive in wonder,

To worship with His church in splendor,

To know I am loved by God, the Creator.

 

Good-bye to a year of trials and perseverance, miracles and growth; the known and unknown.

 

Yet I welcome the God who pursues.

And pray for His Will and a better attitude.

To hope, rejoice and reflect godly gratitude.

 

Yet, He waits.

BEHOLD Christmas 2024 Poem

 

BEHOLD

A Reflection of 2024

 

Chosen, the word Behold this year

To mean a surprise of grace.

Which with many words I’ve written before,

Previously made my case.

 

John 1:16 “For in His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

The world, the culture—

So intentionally blots out;

Disregards the Hope,

Change, cancel, stir up doubt.

 

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”

 

 In January I BEHOLD and visit the place,

The church where I first heard.

My baptism, my wedding,  now a memorial good-bye.

A Sanctuary echoing God’s Word.

 

Genesis 28:16 “Surely the Lord is in this place…”

 Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, Calif.

 

Along came February,  a month full of hearts.

Two birthday girls forever cherished;

One Heavenly mother, her 4-year old gift.

This love will never perish. 

 

Ps. 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…

 

March brought showers

Both in babies and rain.

Baseball’s opening day,

We climb on board the Big Blue Train.

When your bestie's daughter has a baby...you're involved!  

 We love our Dodgers! 

Ps 85:11 “Truth springs from the earth and righteousness looks down from heaven.” 

 

Behold-- It is spring

Seventieth birthday this May.

 Lord, what more time will You allow?

 …Another bittersweet Mother’s Day.

 

Job 12:12 “So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.”

My birthday at the Dodger Game. Yes, we won!

 

In June, the plethora of the butterfly;

What a sight to BEHOLD!

Until we see glaciers—Creation’s Glory;

Signs and wonders of God unfold!

  What I thought looked like praying hands at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska.

Romans 1:20 “For God’s invisible attributes, that is His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.”

 

July a celebration in patriotism

But we wonder at this country’s mess.

A nation divided awaits an election;

Choose God over all this distress.

Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.”

 

Behold, the summer solstice;

So much oppressive heat.

But a reunion of ol’ classmates

Brings a thankful meet and greet.

 

Hebrews 10:25  “…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”

 

 September behold, the birthday of Tim.

Would be 44 years now, 17 we’ve missed.

End of month travel to Colorado and more;

In So Dakota’s Black Hills-- where we’d blow him a kiss.  

Rev 21:4 “...and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall be no longer any death.”

 

Behold, Wyoming’s vast skies

Out on the drive through plains.

A butterfly cloud forms and floats up above

A reminder of Grace and its gains.

Nahum 1:3d “…And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.”

 

Fall is filled with many a heart concern

Behold! I know God numbers our days.

I learn of the passing of a friend, so dear

A hero, a warrior; John, fly with Heaven’s rays.

Lt. Col John Labuda 

"Stay strong in God's network Coke," John's favorite thing to leave me with. 

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”

 

Linda, my dear partner and mentor

Sought rest, went peacefully home.

In strength beyond, she fought the good fight;

Be still, so missed, loved and known.

 

Psalm 46:10a “Cease striving and know that I am God…”

Behold come November,

The Dodgers crowned victors of the Series.

The election results tallied

Grand Slams answered queries.

Romans 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  

 

Study of the Word, a Daniel lesson,

And God shows up within the fires.

He honors the faithful, shuts the mouth of beasts.

No compromise! Pray! God’s Word I desire.

 

Daniel 2:22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”

 

Behold, December, an Advent expectation.

The lights still sparkle, the Nativity all set,

The presents purchased, Christmas music in tune,

Hope, Joy, Peace and Love in return for our debt.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.

 

Born of the Virgin, Emmanuel;

It’s Christmas-- much more than a season.

But a promise, a Holy relationship divine

He’s Truth and Purpose, Wisdom’s Reason.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

 

Behold, I tell of His wondrous Grace

Of meeting my needs and more.

My hope, I pray for you-- to believe,

His Purpose, His plan… Come and Adore.

 

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  

Blessings

Coleene VanTilburg

Christmas Poem 2024 

 

 

 

Anointed & Appointed Friendship

My Reflective Thoughts on and for Linda Boutin

We found each other in a small group at a time we both were a bit lost. Linda was new to the church and found herself serving in the Dan Vasquez Memorial Library, her comfort zone, as well as the church office. In my grief after the loss of my son, Cathy Hoch and her persistent love, got us together and the three of us became fast friends. Soon, Linda heard from God what He wanted from her, to start a Christian Writer’s Group in the church. As I slowly began to trust and share my own heart in words from a tattered notebook, Linda asked me to partner with her.

With no clue what a writer’s group might look like, or how I might possibly be an asset, this decision changed my life, my walk with God and moved me forward in my own grief journey.

We formatted an outline. It started with Roman numeral I, OPENING PRAYER.

Linda prayed and she frequently used these words: “Lord, INFUSE Your Holy Spirit into our words so that we might give You the glory.”  Amen.

Linda’s friendship infused me, saturated me, filled me with a desire to fellowship with like-minded creatives in the most trusting environment where we could know God and make Him known through our written words.  She had a way of developing a confidence in me and would soon do the same for many women in this church, enabling them to tell their stories of God’s Goodness in the Coffee Break Ministry.

Roman numeral II, the JOURNAL QUESTION. We traded off weeks developing a thought provoking question for our group to ponder. The transparency, the insight, the humor and the tears bonded us as believers to continue what we took in from the sermon on Sunday and apply it to our lives.

Roman numeral number III on our outline: READING TONIGHT. Chapters from manuscripts, poetry, random thoughts and devotionals written in the off hours with hope or just the intent to encourage, filtered first through our group. Linda taught us to use our active voice, to show, not just tell us. She modeled that in her life, combatting and negotiating with a painful and personal disease most of her life, one not many could bare. She did it with bravery and tenacity which I believe kept her with us far longer than any might have thought.

One day, after her and Gary drove me home from an AWF meeting, she had a serious conversation with me. She wanted me to stop sharing my little stories. Growing very comfortable in that, she said it was time for me to move on. What she wanted from me? To write the book, my memoir of all God had done in the last 6 years or so. That is Roman numeral number IV, WRITING TIPS.  

WRITING PROMPT, Roman numeral number V. Last but not least, is Linda’s legacy. She leaves us with a prompt. Everyone has a story to tell of life, love and transformation. We share grief as well as gratitude and sometimes those overlap. We have messy families and challenges. We infuse (that word used on purpose) scriptures that speak only to us at the moment. We encounter people and have experiences, ups and downs, stagnant times and growth. BUT GOD, He prompts us, as Linda so graciously encouraged us to see, to tell of His glory.

As I close in prayer and thought, thank You LORD for my dear, sweet partner and friend, Linda. Our friendship… a gift from God for each other and I will forever be grateful to God for the inspiration to develop a unique ministry, AWF and work beside Linda in Coffee Break ministry. In God’s grace, Year 16 of AWF is going strong and I honor her as I sit in Room 2 every Wed. night with these friends she loved so much. Amen

 I’ll leave you with this quote from C.S. Lewis,

”What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.”

Thank you for seeing the truth in me Linda, and encouraging me to write about it and lead others to do the same-- all for God’s glory.

 A  hot summer day doing a virtual radio interview for our upcoming writer's conference.

                   "Mary's Tears." -- a sketch I did for our first AWF devotional Advent book. 

Me, Linda and Cathy at a wedding photo booth 

Linda and one of her beloved basenji pups.

Cofffee Break Pajama Night 

AWF Year 15 

 

       One of many outlines for AWF curriculum. 

     Recruiting at church for our writing group, AWF. 

                                      A legacy continued. 

 

 

 

Christmas 2023 Poem

The Divine Waltz

 

Wrought with pain, weary from thoughts

This whirlwind of days wrings me tight to drip

The tears of this divine destiny,

Of the weight carried--

All for Your Glorious Will.

I wish upon the stars

And wonder at the Heavens.

The world closes in;

I wrestle. You wrangle.

The Way is made.

When I consider the Heavens...

Lord, I hear your quiet whisper

Above my humble, heartbroken whimpers.

“Trust me,” even in this wreckage.

Grace-wrapping words for the wounds,

Will-submitting words to You, Father--

That will wage war with every soul.

 

Praying at the wake of dawn--

Weaving more threads into this story.

The waiting is real.

Waves wash over me.

Worthy—Worthy, the Lamb of God.

The watchful gather from the hills

The wise come to adore

You are named, Wonderful, Counselor,

Prince of Peace, Waymaker…

Together we warm-up

While the wicked conjure.

Who You are?  The Son of God--

 Messiah; what promise fulfilled!

Love unexplainable yet attainable

Wipes my slate clean.

Where? In my life, my heart.

My unworthiness made whole.

 

In the wear and tear of the waiting--

Walk with me Lord;

Ward off my will.

Wholeheartedly, I worship You

For whosoever believes,

Surrenders to the wooden Cross--

You Welcome Home, an eternal reward.

 

Double You.

Emmanuel, God With Us. 

And in that, Peace wedges in.

Hope winds tight around me.

Love strengthens my weakness

And the dance with the Divine is

A Waltz of Grace.