Dust Will Rise

 He’s tearing down the gods of old, the mountains we once stood on.

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” (Psalm 42:2 NiV)

When our Image,

We created 

Protected,

             crumbles 

before our very eyes.

When the glory days are gone because His Glory 

has left.

Everything falls to the ground

What is left? What is true?

What  is pure.

What is Holy.

What is lovely and admirable 

“Think about such things.”

Our kingdom will pass away.

 His kingdom is eternal.

Our image will return to dust.

His image will burst forth 

Like resurrection morning.

Our resources will crumble 

They will hit the ground like a mighty giant falling.

The dust WILL rise. 

Remember, we are dust.

Formed by your hand.

Given life by the breath of your Spirit.

Anything that is not under the blood,Nor consumed by the fire of God

will be lost.

So many dry bones.

As far as the eye can see.

An army broken and disassembled.

As far as the eye can see.

“speak to the bones”

Are we saved to serve?

Or

Saved to save?

Or saved for ourselves?

Or saving the lost? 

Are we lost?

Jesus came to find the lost.

Jesus loved the lost.

Jesus saved us unto himself.

Not for an agenda.

Not with an agenda.

But for love’s sake.

Count all things lost for?

The system?

The organization?

History sake?

For the sake of knowing Christ Jesus, 

I consider all things lost.

His is an unshakable kingdom,

He is a firm foundation,

Not an organization.

He is LIFE.

Life will survive without your buildings.

Love will survive without your programs.

Grace will survive without your resources .

Mercy will survive without your provision. 

But how much stronger, how much greater will the kingdom’s glory be when dust rises once more?

When dust looks to its maker,breathing in HIS Spirit once again.

Living by HIS Spirit again.

His glory,

His image above all other images.

His purpose above our own plans,

His kingdom over our kingdom.

On earth,

as it is in heaven.

-Carole Jeanne 2019

A Holy Moment

The cardinal flew into my driver side window, startling me from my texting.

Don’t worry!! I had already parked my car. Don’t tell me I’m the only one who sits in their driveway, key out of the ignition, checking their text messages and social media, I know I’m not. 

With my head down fully absorbed in my phone the bang, frantic flutter and red blur were my dramatic portal back to reality. Only to quickly be transported to yet another world when I realized what had happened. 

My friend Laura with her fiery red hair and tenacious heart was tragically taken from us a few years ago in a car accident. My understanding was an object on a truck in front of her was not securely fastened. It fell off, hit the road and bounced back up and through her windshield as she drove to work. In a moment, she was no longer with us. Her body lingered for days afterward, but she was gone. Her husband, who she had married less than a year before the accident had a red cardinal tattooed on his arm in memory of her. I tattooed a sparrow on my forearm. We were not the only ones who honored her in a way that was permanent, bold, slightly rebellious, and would have made her smile. She loved her tattoos. She loved people boldly, unashamedly, and permanently. She would say to me all the time,” you should write!” She would tell me she saw books in my future, written by me. I loved her mind and imagination, her constant loyalty and encouragement. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows, those who have lived life large, leave a huge void. 

There I sat, in my driveway just having returned from my first writer’s conference. I was still sitting in the driver’s seat. Not yet back in my world, head down in the vortex of social media. 

Bang!

Flutter and then a flash of red.

Startled I looked up and there sitting on the fence in front of me was a beautiful red cardinal. Now straightening feathers and looking back at me satisfied that it survived the assignment it must have been given from yet another world.

A holy moment, a friend’s “I told you so” a portal to another time and place. She is still cheering me on.

I saw demons in the waters
I saw Angels in the skies
Then, I saw the face of God
In every passerby

I saw trees with twisted branches
I saw pillars strong and tall
One shaped by changing wind
Another, unmoved at all

I saw signs in the sawdust
I saw wonders in the mud
With every step on my path
To find the will of God.

Listen to the silence
Hear what love would ask
A vision for the future
Peace and rest from the past

CJ

A Prayer 

Make me a burning bush. Consumed by your Holy fire. May I be a surprising encounter, a sign from God amidst the ordinary days.

 So that, God's will can be heard and seen in me.

Make me a cloud by day that I may offer shade from the judgments of noon day heat. Bringing comfort to those in the wilderness. Being evidence that the presence of God is with us even when we walk in dry and difficult places. 

So that, God's compassion can be seen in me.

Make me a pillar of fire that I may show others the way through the dark and desert places. Bringing   light and direction but also warmth when life's journey becomes cold.

So that, God's way can be seen in me.

Make me like the Rock at Meribah  that even in the hard and quarreling moments, I may pour forth refreshment. When I am "struck",  may my response be living waters flowing forth for Your people's sake. 

So that God's goodness can be seen in me. 

May I be counted as one of Your signs and wonders for this age. A living miracle of Your grace.

Amen

Carole Jeanne

A Straight Path

There is no such thing as a straight path 

To the leaf that is caught by a gust of wind

There is no such thing as a straight path

And butterfly’s journey appears as a whim

But the leaf and the butterfly teach us truth

In reckless abandonment and their pursuit:

Believe a winding path works for your kind.

Rest in the gust of wind to land in His time

Trust the Wind with the destination He brings

Life is an adventure, so spread your wings!

cjb

“We should not fool ourselves, for example that our lives move in straight lines or in well-ordered, successive stages where one experience or growth point can be said to be complete, or done once and for all.” - Befriending Our Desires by Philip Sheldrake

Verbal Cannibalism

Consume all you can of slander

Feed off of slur and banter

sweet morsels they fill your heart

deep down in your inmost part

I believe, it must be true!

I think I heard it, did you?

I saw, I felt, I assumed

I ate and drank and chewed

Biting, gnawing at your life

adding sauce and some spice

nipping and taking my share

Your reputation? Who cares?!

Slice off a bit for me

disassembling with glee.

All you are is now on plates

shared with “friends”, in all 50 states

I believe, it must be true!

I think I heard it, did you?

I saw, I felt, I assumed

I ate and drank and chewed

When licking the last bone

No one wants to go home

They seek a new tasty fable

Beware if you sit at this table

You could be their next meal

Gossip and slander don’t feel

They just whisper and slight.

Verbal cannibalism their plight

“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”

Proverbs 18:8

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:26

A Call for Communion

Speak with me Abba, wash away

All that stands in my way

I need to hear your voice today

Come Abba! Break through!

All that stands between me and you

I need these moments to commune

Your presence a comfort, wrap around.

Sweet presence, a stillness

No where else is found

I need you Lord.

Make room!

Oh body, mind and soul,

Remove all that hinders

Let it go

My prayer is from so long ago;

**"Lord, make me fit to be your dwelling"

Come Abba to my tent

My earthly vessel fill

May you find room, within my life

To show your Glory still

I need you Lord not just today

I need you Lord, come here to stay

To be my constant friend and guide

To be my covering, and by my side
I need you.

* "Oh, I need thee...

Every hour, I need thee"

cjb

** song 188 SA songbook, lyrics by Richard Slayter

*chorus of song 587 SA songbook. Lyrics by Robert Lowry