point of view

Dear one – yes you with the pain hidden in your eyes And the shoulders slumped with the weight of it all Did you know?   Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; I know you ask, what does that even mean? It weighs a hundred pounds Yes, but He’s carried millions Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. We belittle; mock Him as He hangs naked and suffocating We shudder; pronounce Him disgusting Not seeing – that is us But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The bruises, the lashes, the hellfire, they were yours Come, weary one, lay your wounds in His lap He holds you in His infinite battle-scarred hands The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, Yes, peace – in this broken world it is possible Past this broken world it is sure, complete And by His stripes Ah!   The blood spurts, washes over “See how I love you.” We are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5   ...

Melany, I watched the ABC 20/20 documentary. Here are my thoughts. If I mixed up details about the story it's because I watched it all once and then couldn't find it back again =) Yay for living in Canada where American broadcasts disappear because of copyright issues! What does ABC News know of the ache in your eyes cameras roll as tears slip down you tell the world that your Indian name, Stands Against The Wind, means that you are forever strong that you will never hang yourself in the closet again because your brother found you you say you are strong but I know I know in my heart it means hard I watch through the television lens as feathers and beads spin, dancing with a little girl's giggle and my heart, well, I can feel physical pain even writing this oh, my little ones... It's hard and it hurts to remember their giggles it still hurts the boy who tells us he wants to be the first Native American President and his cousin displays burn scars from a parent who wa...

are you thirsty? Come Come to the Waters are you hungry? Come Come eat Living Bread are you broken? Come Come to the Healer are you chained, imprisoned? Come Come taste freedom are you grieving, in mourning? Come Come dance to the Song of Salvation are you dead, dead and buried? Wake! Rise and live!

If we never teetered to the edge of the nest if we never flew past our comfortable circle If we never did the uncomfortable the too hard the impossible I wouldn't be bleeding this way If I never knew, I'd never care It wouldn't hurt like heartstrings snapping My soul wouldn't be broken and bruised But If I never knew the sorrow of separation If I never hurt for another broken heart If I never felt the wild frustration of not being able to solve the problem I wouldn't know the wonder the elation, awe and joy The being overwhelmed to know There is a Savior There is a Solution There is a Healer I would rather love and bear the anguish By His stripes we are healed.

I wrote this a little while ago but I need to be reminded again and again! Promises... Tearing through walls of doubt melting away walls I built to protect my pain The agony of loneliness the guilt of knowing there's no reason for it knowing I am not alone The sorrow over my numbness my rebellion and envy oh, I want to be thirsty! Child Hush Others have betrayed you but I was betrayed so that you will never be forsaken I am your hope drink, though it may choke you at first no place, no heart is impervious to the gospel whether you believe it or not My grip never slackens in the blackest night or the foggiest day if you ask I will give you trust.

I recently started a notebook of "1000 Gifts", inspired by the writer of http://www.aholyexperience.com/. It's kind of an exercise in "counting the ways He loves you", as Ann Voskamp puts it. I am up to #367 right now and I thought I would share a few, and some photos I've taken over the last few months... #1 Redemption - Jesus holding all hell on His shoulders, "I love you" #3 The unrestrained joy of spring's frenzied birdsong #8 Curlicues in a wisp of sunlit steam #13 The untaught dance of baby femininity #14 Coffeeshop air #28 Striped morning sunlight #31 The return of a long-absent friend #33 Colored pencil shavings #35 Gifts waiting to be given, like a secret only you know #50 Iridescent bubbles floating to the sunshine #51 Three generations around the table for a cup of tea #58 Something to do, to give #62 "He will praise the Lord through the night, until the sun arises" #6...

today the sun shone a little spot of robin-red popped up from brown-green grass six-year-old voices repeated the meaning of the Easter symbols: "New life! new life!" We sang of assurance with a dying man I looked in your eyes I saw your soul shining bright though your bones were too visible and you talked of your body starving itself the doctors say there is no healing but you and Jenny have joy on your faces and peace is in the air as she looks love at you and talks of how little time you have left but there is content because you put your trust in a healing the doctors don't know about because it isn't here on this earth she will go through dark days but she will still rejoice in that healing it is promised her too. And for now I thank you for the gift of your love the glow of hope in your frail embrace I feel a strength I want and I marvel at the beauty of the two of you a little envious of your sweet communion but mostly, I thank you for the gift you gave - my spi...

Love, take me by surprise let the river of healing overflow it's banks let the music of Life shatter my windows like a little child disconsolate I am crying with my whole self, with all my might runaway droplets like shimmery butterflies take me by the hand be my Comforter tug my hand I will run, like a child, to Your arms oh I need You how I need You wash over me with glory awaken my awe oh Love, take me by surprise There are things about working with little children that teach me about myself. I am always amazed or amused at the way kindergartners cry. Some of them cry loudly, and you can't hear anything the other children are telling you about why they are crying, and others cry silently, shaking and shedding tears profusely. All of them cry with every fibre of their body. When I was helping out with the JK the other day one of the little boys, one with a temper, hit another very hard and vehemently, the result being the naughty little boy promptly taken out of the room ...