Be Safe, Be Saved

 

Christmas 2020 Poem 

 

--Will remember, forever that Sunday

Sitting with friends in class,

The cell phone—that blast.

A text message reads:

Kobe Bryant deceased!

 

An ending of a life, and another…

And another…

 

In the morning mist, in the low-hanging clouds,

A helicopter spins and pivots

And the hill burns a divot.

The time clock resets,

The soft sway of the nets.

 

Center court—all nine off the bench,

To glory, more glory…

 

Psalm 84:10 “For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

 

February takes a leap; March lands unsteady.

A virus in China?

A concern? Kinda.

By the thirteenth of Friday

It’s no longer hearsay.

 

Stay home, wear a mask,

PPE and T.P.—Corona-19

 

Psalm 91:1-2 I will say to the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 

Essential becomes a term, a status.

Sending out a stimulus check.

Tom Hanks and his wife? What the heck!

We become familiar with the daily briefings

And all the statistic increasings.

 

We can’t visit our mother

And she passes away…alone.

 

Isaiah 49:13b For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on the afflicted ones.

 

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil’ for Thou art with me…”

 

Tears and tiers; and what Dr. Fauci said…

Binge-watching Netflix

Zoom and Google meets mix.

Weddings cancelled, reunions too.

Ventilator shortages and beds in ICUs.

 

And two sides make their case

As a knee presses into a neck.

 

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

 

Olympics on hold, Orlando NBA bubble.

Let’s root for the home team

Because here is where we dream.

We worship from our sofa

With our coffee or our cola.

 

Missing the hugs and connections;

Collateral damage amongst us all.

 

Hebrews 10:25 Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

And I am not sure what I should do

But I know I must protect

Not let this affect

What God has ordained

For a world bent and stained.

 

Government mandate, a journey very far.

A tent or a cave…we’ll accept.

Matthew 1:23-24 “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel, (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife…

 

When Hope arrives will we even take notice?

The debate rages on

Nothing new under the sun.

But with the Son

All things infected become undone.

 

Christ still reigns; then and now.

He is my Good and healing Shepherd.

 

Deuteronomy 31:8 the Lord Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

 

Ashes rain down, smoke fills the skies

Red states, blue states

No conventions or debates

A virus still burns to the left and right

Do we know with God, we win this fight?

 

What, we can’t sing a praise?

Grab your lawn chairs.

 

Psalm 147:1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and a song of praise is fitting.

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

 

2020: Muted or perfect vision?

Stay at home or Home Bound?

Feeling lost or new focus found?

Zoom gloom or

Creativity bloom?

 

“For I know the plans I have for you…”

Be Safe, Be Saved.

 

Romans 10: 9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

 

 

Silence Gifts

 

Inspired by the author, Ann Voscamp ( "A Thousand Gifts"), as well as Scripture, a friend from a group I fellowship with on a regular basis posts a prompt for every day in the month of November for us to reflect on this time of the year.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “ Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Here is today's prompt: Name three gifts found in silence. The three things below were my response.

The flutter of a butterfly wing. The Holy Spirit’s direction. Silence in and of itself.

Thought I’d write more on my blog today. 

Have you ever heard it? A butterfly wing—the movement of air and delicate powdery wings overhead? When I sit alongside my butterfly garden, especially in the spring when there are frequently more than one butterfly, I can hear it. It is a sound of freedom, of rebirth, of meeting a goal, a purposeful fulfillment of the master plan in do diligence of a greater will, magnificent metamorphic creation! 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit’s voice is very obvious and loud and we celebrate in corporate worship and song. But, sometimes, the voice of the Spirit is gentle in our quiet hearts, in our pleading and privileged prayers or in between the lines of God’s Word—a personal revealing direction to go ahead or most of the time, to wait and to trust. There is a strength that comes from this silence. Trusting in Him has its own sound; it is a sigh, a release of anxiety, a movement of debris so we can sit comfortably under the Rock, shut the doors of the Fortress from the world’s thoughts and ideas minus a sovereign God.

Sometimes, silence is a lonely feeling. One can miss the noise of a loved one gone, or working from home instead of the office, or just when there are no words to justify a wrong action or deep hurt. But silence can bring a reflection, an insight we may not have heard in the world’s rumble and continued banter of perceived truth. Silence in itself is a gift, because it is just that--noticed. We can use our other senses to take in more—stand in awe at the sight of God’s beauty in Creation, appreciate more of the tangible gifts we use every day and blessed by, that we can touch and share with others-- a soft cheek of a toddler, the pie dough coming together in our palms, the ding of a notification from a friend who shares how your story led them to see… hear God in a new way. We can taste the satisfaction, the swallowing and digesting of God’s Holy Plan and most importantly, the fullness in submission, the surrender to that plan in trust. The air around us fills our lungs and we breathe and smell the difference between what is rotten and what is righteous.

Gifts in silence are not silent.

They are loud explosions of love in our hearts that God is Good and that He loves us in our loud messy days and in our quiet humble moments. In silence is where are strength is increased.

Psalm 62:5-6 "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken."

And isn’t it just like God to grant me grace upon amazing grace as I finish these last few words, that my stereo is now playing a classic Christmas song by Bing Crosby, “Silent Night.”

Gifts in silence are Holy.  Oh, Hear His Voice in the silence of your own soul my friends. It is a beautiful moment going into all of eternity. 

All is calm, all is bright.

Peace, Coleene

VanHalen/Nash Collaboration, RIP

I get up and nothin' gets me down.

I can see clearly now, the rain has gone,

You got it tough; I've seen the toughest around.

I can see all obstacles in my way.

And I know, baby, just how you feel,

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.

You got to roll with the punches and get to what's real.

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day. 

Ah, can't you see me standin' here, I got my back against the record machine

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone.

I ain't the worst that you seen.

All of the bad feelings have disappeared.

Ah, can't you see what I mean?

Here is that rainbow I've been prayin' for.

Might as well jump! (jump) 

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day. 

Ah, might as well jump! (jump)

It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day. 

Baby, how you been?

You say you can't know; 

You won't know until you begin

It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day. 

RIP Eddy Van Halen 

1/26/1955 ~ 10/6/2020

RIP Johnny Nash

8/19/1940 ~ 10/6/2020

Songs: "Jump," released by Van Halen, December 21,1983 

"I Can See Clearly Now,"  released by Johnny Nash, on June 23,1972

Psalm 9:2 (MSG) "I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I am singing Your song, High God."  

John 1:5 (NIV) "The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." 

Reflections on How to be Better

This week encompassed personally for me a conundrum of emotions, a great triumph seeing a dream realized and great sadness as I watched another dream unravel, the latter, a dream sought by many Americans, most notably quoted from the great Civil Rights advocate and inspirational leader of our nation in his day, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This dream:that one day...all men will have equal opportunity and be known by their character, not their skin color. 

I first became aware of such differences, emotions, reactions and protests, the reality of racism in my white suburb of Los Angeles in the sixties. 

I studied race relations in college, took an interest in that very thing. I would not be the "P" word, ...prejudice. 

I thought I was OK. Both of my sons embraced friendships of diversity and the boys all frequented my home quite often. We played sports together, worshipped together, worked together.

Yet this week, I paused an examined my own thoughts, reflected inward, had a few dialogues with others and prayed. I prayed not just for the family of George Floyd, and the horrific incident that resparked an already simmering fire, but I needed to muster up humility to recognize my own bends away from God's truth,  for I am the only one I can change first. 

There is a prayer one needs to say at times like these, taken from Scripture, 
"Lord, ...see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me to the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:24). 

I thought about our country, our world  and all who have spoken out in poetry, music, essays, creative ways to express pain or challenge us in our own thinking. Compiling a few here, I challenge you to reflect as well. 

"As if it harm'd me, giving others the same chances and rights as myself--as if it were not indispensable to my own rights that others possess the same." Walt Whitman, Great American Poet. 

Lord, have I harmed anyone with my words? 

When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul. 
Langston Hughes, American Poet.

Lord, Am I doing enough, am I understanding? 

After all, Scripture tells us, that Love is action. 

I John 3:18-19 "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 

Lord, help me be Love in action, bring me opportunity and may I be obedient to Your direction. Use me as an instrument of Your truth. 

Lord, How do I see people? Do I see them as You do? Always? 

Tupac Shakur, in his rap and poetry spoke from his pain and challenged us. 

"You see you wouldn't ask why the rose that grew from the concrete had damaged petals. On the contrary, we would all celebrate its tenacity. We would all love its will to reach the sun. Well, we are the roses, this is the concrete, and these are my damaged petals." 

While gathering my thoughts and quotes, I took a break outside and captured this butterfly.
Do you see its compromised, tattered wing? 

Can you still see its beauty? The hope? Did it emerge from its chrysalis just for a doomed destiny or will it fly? I believe it will fly for I care, and I want to believe in the good we were created for. It brought me joy, thus it served  a great purpose already. 

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Lord, you gave me a voice. Help me to use it for Your Glory and speak up for injustices. Give me courage Lord to do that very thing. 

Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV) "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." 

Father God, guide me in my freedoms to be fair and just and loving, a good listener as well as responding in Your wisdom.  

Are we talking or are we listening? 

One of my favorite scriptures, Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" 

Nelson Mandela said it well, "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." 

So did the Apostle Paul: Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Lord, I humbly ask to continue to free me from my own thoughts that weigh me down and help me to be a chain-breaker for others. 

Psalm 119:45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 

Such a gift of grace we have received, yet may we never use that gift to inflict ungraceful actions onto another. Forgive me Lord of that sin in my heart. 

Help me Lord to obey and serve You best in Your greatest commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Galatians 5:13-14 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

"I do my best counting on you counting on me." ~Maya Angelou, American Poet Laureate 

Let us count on each other, hold each other up, but let it begin with you and me God.

Tupak Shakur 

Mandisa with Kirk Franklin and Toby Mac 

Essential Thoughts During the Pandemic

This world is taking notice, considering one another. 

Maybe...

Because, we have to.

We've been mandated...

and separated into essential groups. 

Isolated. 

And some essentials have emptied off 

Our familiar shelves, bare

Surfaces exposed,

Surfaces wiped clean

Again and again.

To be cleansed is a good thing.

Humanity rises up to meet the challenge

And we're doing things, amazing things

in our pajama bottoms

With wild, untamed hair

And wild, semi-tamed kiddos at our feet. 

New words and catch phrases in our vocabulary

Begin to define who we are

Right now--but not forever, right? 

Quarantine-fifteen, Zoom meeting, 

Flatten the curve, 

Face masks

and...Asymtomatic.

I've got it...

I just don't know,

Testing.

Shelter in place, containment,

Social distancing,

Tic-Toc...

Tick-Tock

Furlough, Layoff,

Depression, recession

Can't get a deep breath...

Just breathe. 

I've been tested--

Tested and Tried, 

Tired of it all. 

Are we praying more?

More or less, I hope, yes. 

Are we living more?

One might say no, while another

might say, -- might have missed her first word,

That cousin reunion on Zoom,

The hummingbird nest...

The new organizational skills aquired,

The amazing desserts and bread baking

Filling the air with an aroma one can remember.

The garden planted this Spring,

The artist discovered within.

The metaphors are endless

And this virus, relentless.

Now one can deny that this time

Will leave a picture on our heart canvas.

Are we, as humanity still open?

Is the meaning of our lives cancelled?

Or can we take what we've learned, what we've lost, 

And make the best of it and appreciate so much more? 

White roses seem to illuminate in the dark

But one needs to take the time to see them, really look,

Open the Good Book.

Celebrations, graduations

Weddings and Reunions

Plays and concerts

Baseball, Olympians... 

Vacations,

Commmunion

We were created to fellowship with one another,

Cheer each other on--

Break Bread

Make memories,

Remember.

Six feet apart

But never our heart.

Be kind, Be the kind that makes a difference. 

Paint a rock and rock

Those Yoga pants.

Smile at your Grocery clerk

Leave a soda for the Amazon guy 

Cover those rants. Disinfect your mind. 

Breathe and take notice of our stay-at-home, 

Wild hair days as a time we discovered 

So much more. 

Yes, we've lost
But what we gain can
Make a difference in
you, me...
Eternity.

Hummingbird babies hatched yesterday

A baby Praying mantis in my garden 

My friend Darren Rivera has discovered acrylics on canvas. This is a painting of the
Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary. He is a gifted musician leading us in worship every week,
but learning and stretching in COVID-19 time.

This is me! I need a haircut!

Here is the second batch of essential health workers painted rocks I created.
A crew of 15 for Emergency room nurse Tanya West (daughter of our bff, Blake)
at InterCommunity Hospital, Covina.

White roses "illuminated" at night,
HOPE IN THE DARKNESS 

Considerably Yours,

Coleene VanTilburg