Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Leap of Faith


Standing on the edge of sky
Been here long just getting by
I have a notion that I can fly
I’ve never come so far nor high
Ascending to descend

To drop or dive, to feel alive 
Or hit the ground without a cry
Or any sound by this I’m bound
Whoever’s truth is told or found
Ascending to descend

Please hear my thoughts, unspoken
Parachute, my plea to you is...open!
Faith! Be the leap to set me free?
Pull the cord and we will shall see.
Descending to ascend

cjb

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Don't Give Me Roses


Don’t give me long stem roses
All full of themselves with poses 
It is love they claim to own
But none that I have known.
Pretense is another form of lying.
They remind me more of dying.

Lilacs are my favorite flowers
I know you didn’t ask.
Daffodils are happy
They look as if they laugh
“Forget-Me-Nots” say it straight
Leaving a heart awake to fate.

Flowers all have voices, please listen
Wisely chosen, an admirable ambition
Like words selected to share a thought
Are bouquets gathered for a heart.
As a word spoken can not be erased
Nor can that cut flower be replaced.

Pick kindness, speak with grace. 
What are the flowers in your vase?
Did you chose them well?
Do they have a story to tell?
The fragrance will fill a room
As your choices reach full bloom.




cjb

Saturday, January 19, 2013



I like the little signs...
to read between the lines
a play on words, a clever pun
a lyric and a rhyme.

I like the little signs...
a lady bird, a butterfly
a bumble bee, a dragonfly
a fish, which maybe koi

I like the little signs...
a horse that’s white, an ocean’s view
a song that keeps my heart in tune.
birch trees in the snow

I like the little signs...
that life is good and hope still floats
a flower’s bloom, a mother’s womb
it lifts my heart, these little signs.

cjb

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Picture your words


When I had no time to paint the Lord gave me words to share.
When words cannot be shared the Lord has given me paint.




Friday, January 4, 2013

Remember, that I am dust


Scripture reading: Genesis 2
Today’s text: Gen. 2:7 “ Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”


Dust collects overtime. If you are not careful or diligent it can become thick enough to write your name it in. Have you ever taken a book off a shelf and blown the dust off of it? Just the slightest movement of air across the surface and the dust goes flying everywhere. Dust has very little substance.
Until God breathed into the nostrils of man, Adam had no life within him. So it is in our walk through this life. We may live and breathe, wake and work but without the breathe of God, the Spirit of God living within us, we are dead. God not only gives life, he gives us himself, he gives us His Spirit.
Imagine God breathing into you new life. Imagine the dust from the old life being blown off by the breath of God. We, who are in Christ, can do more than imagine! It is a reality for all who ask. Have you asked God for His Spirit to be within you? Have you asked him blow the dust off of your old habits, to renew the spirit within you? The Holy Spirit which is the breath of God is available to all who ask. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 
fill me with life anew, 
that I may love what thou dost love, 
and do what thou wouldst do. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 
until my heart is pure, 
until with thee I will one will, 
to do and to endure. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 
till I am wholly thine, 
till all this earthly part of me 
glows with thy fire divine. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 
so shall I never die, 
but live with thee the perfect life 
of thine eternity. 

Text: Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889 
Music: Robert Jackson, 1842-1914 


Prayer: Lord, You breathed life into Adam and made dust come to life. Breathe into me, I need your Spirit living in me. Remember that I am just dust without you. You are what gives me substance, “Breathe on me...till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.” 


Amen

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Walking Wounded




Put your good foot forward
walking wounded watch us go
limping, broken and on stilts
we perform, we perform

hide us, reject us, present us well
watch us, display us, our stories tell
limping, broken and on stilts
we move on, we move on

how we annoy the healthy
how we frustrate the well
our humiliation, so untidy
we limp on, we limp on

Why don’t we get better?
Why show this side to all
Is it what we’ve chosen?
All is well, All is well

Put your good foot forward
rise up, walk on, oh, wounded 
our pain won’t stop us now
We step out, We step out

cjb