Spoken Word- Why Do I Do What I Do?

((I don't particularly love my voice, but this piece begged to be spoken word so I went with it...it's still a battle raging and this is still the prayer of my heart...))

God…
Why do I do what I do?
Certainly not for the pay…
Not fortune nor fame…
I’d like to think I do it,
To glorify Your name.

But I know I’m failing,
Pretty epically..
For my motivation is twisted
My eyes are set on me.
In this battle I’m losing
But I’m longing to be free…

Free of insecurity,
Free of expectation,
Free to let Your work be done
Without stipulation.
Humbly loving and planting seeds
And fleeing temptation…

Temptation to let the lows dictate my days,
Temptation to let emotions order my ways,
Temptation to grade my failures or success
On how many students pass or fail a test,
Or how many didn’t do their homework like the rest,
Or how many like me the best.

So bring me back
To the reason I’m here
I didn’t come all this way
To let depression and fear
Be the center of my life
And ruin my career.

I came to be a light
Reflecting Thee
To students who often
Remind me of a teenage me
Wandering through life
But lacking to see...

To see a life of faith lived out
Vulnerable and raw
Not without mistakes
Yet He catches every fall
Broken yet beautiful this walk
For He always hears us when we call.

So fix my eyes on You now
Help me to clearly see,
Help me to hear Your voice
Over the whispers of the enemy,
And draw these students to Yourself,
This I humbly plea.

-Joy Lynn

Why do I do what I do?

God…

Why do I do what I do?

Certainly not for the pay…

Not fortune nor fame…

I’d like to think I do it,

To glorify Your name.

But I know I’m failing,

Pretty epically...

For my motivation is twisted

My eyes are set on me.

In this battle I’m losing

But I’m longing to be free…

Free of insecurity,

Free of expectation,

Free to let Your work be done

Without stipulation.

Humbly loving and planting seeds

And fleeing temptation…

Temptation to let the lows dictate my days,

Temptation to let emotions order my ways,

Temptation to grade my failures or success

On how many students pass or fail a test,

Or how many didn’t do their homework like the rest,

Or how many like me the best.

So bring me back

To the reason I’m here

I didn’t come all this way

To let depression and fear

Be the center of my life

And ruin my career.

I came to be a light

Reflecting Thee

To students who often

Remind me of the teenage me

Wandering through life

But lacking to see..

To see a life of faith lived out

Vulnerable and raw

Not without mistakes

Yet He catches every fall

Broken yet beautiful this walk

For He always hears us when we call. 

So fix my eyes on You now

Help me to clearly see

Help me to hear Your voice

Over the whispers of the enemy

And draw these students to Yourself

This I humbly plea.

Until next time,

In Christ,

Joy Lynnn

Forgiveness (October 20, 2017)

Forgiveness: A topic that I have been having on-going conversations with my students about. This was birthed out of the theme God has firmly pressed on my heart lately. 

Forgiveness (October 20, 2017)

What will you do to make amends?

What can you do to make things right again?

Looking at my life that has fallen apart

How on earth can I grant you a brand new start?

The pain you inflicted,

A heart left broken and stricken,

Unless you plead and beg for forgiveness

The bitterness grows in the name of unfinished business.

So here I am, prisoner, to bitter shame,

I suffer from grievous depression and I assign you most the blame.

But what if I can experience true healing,

A wholeness that transcends all feelings?

I don’t possess grace, like God, my Savior,

But with His mercy and strength I seek His favor

In forgiving you without need of amends,

For I, myself, have experienced freedom from God’s forgiveness that has no end. 

Lord, give me healing and let me set them free,

So I will have the freedom to simply be who You created me to be.

Alive in Your presence and washed by Your blood,

Let Your healing and mending descend like a flood.

For holding on to this bitterness has done me no good.

I had to steep deep in Your grace and then I understood,

That forgiveness truly sets the captives free,

So may I willingly extend that grace to others and find healing only found in Thee.

Joy Lynn

God is Good

God is good

On the mountain and in the valley,

In the light and in the shadows,

In the joy and in the pain,

In the sunlight and the pouring rain.

Lord, I struggle with believing this

When all I see is suffering and shame,

But I know and trust Your promises are true

So let this Truth, in my heart, reign.

Joy Lynn

Empty Nest

After countless years of your life invested,

You are suddenly left empty nested.

All your children have up and grown,

They are doing their best to make it on their own.

But your role in their life is not over yet,

You now get to be a safe outlet,

Because life is not always easy outside of the nest,

So they return for advice from those they know best.

So continue to pray your guts out at the foot of the throne,

Pray that your children always know they are not alone,

Because though they are no longer under your control,

A close and personal walk with God was always the ultimate goal.

Well done, good and faithful servant,

Because the faith in which you lived was so fervent,

Though they left the nest, the world is truly blessed,

As they continue to grow and share the faith which they professed. 

Joy Lynn

Continue to Race

So once again I find myself

At the foot of Your throne,

Giving You everything

That I thought I could handle alone.

Though I know Your power,

I’m still independent prone.

I hope that someday soon,

From this I will be outgrown. 

Here’s my heart, Lord,

I lay it down bare.

Rip it apart, Lord,

Leave nothing to spare,

For it's riddled with disease,

It’s caught in a snare,

It’s struggling in life’s waves,

It’s gasping for air. 

Pick it up, Lord,

Breath life anew,

Trapped in these weary bones,

There’s nothing I can do.

Tired of trying to do it on my own,

But that You already knew,

You were simply waiting for my surrender,

Because only You could pull me through.

So until I find my place,

In eternity’s space,

I pray I continually seek You,

Til I see You face to face,

For though the journey is hard now,

You always offer Your embrace,

And though sometimes slow going,

I need to continue to run the race.

 Joy Lynn

Beautifully Free

Please stop and listen,

Repeat after Me,

This ideal dream you have of yourself

Is simply not who I created you to be.

I care not about your makeup 

Or the number on the scale

But I do worry often,

That your confidence is frail.

My beautiful daughter,

Beloved, you are, 

You are created in My image,

You are, in fact, a star…

A star in the way

That light shines from within.

You’ve been illuminating My light

Since the Holy Spirit came in.

So when you look in the mirror,

What do you truly want the world to see?

An altered and carefully manufactured version of you?

Or a life that reflects Me?

The key is that you’re beautiful,

It’s who I created you to be,

Don’t give the idols of comparison control,

Because from these, I've set you free.

Joy Lynn

A Teacher's Prayer (September 30, 2012)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You, firstly, for being my Teacher,

Being a perfect example of the grace and patience one will need,
To feed Your children with knowledge,
While disciplining to keep the peace.

I do not do my job perfectly,
But every day I pray I’ll be,
A good example to my students,
Of a life consecrated to Thee.

I laugh, I cry, I get frustrated too,
Lord, I simply don’t know how You do what You do.
How do You feel when a child looks in Your eyes and lies to Your face?
Oh, I imagine I’d feel much disgrace…yet You give more grace.

Help me love these students You have entrusted to me.
Help me to point them to You and remind me to bend the knee…
Because I cannot change their hearts, and I cannot give what they need,
But for Your work in their heart and in mine, I humbly plea.

Amen.

Joy Lynn

Confidence

I came in to the conversation desperate, hoping you’d somehow know; I was seeking words of affirmation, some simple words of uncoaxed hope.  But you were quickly on your way and out of the room, not only went your presence, but the little confidence I had left turned to utter gloom. 

Why do I give you so much power, you without a name, because it is not one person but a people, who I look to to save face?  Why is my confidence anchored in what you have to say and why is it shattered when it doesn’t go my way?

Dear God, help me take back the power from insecurity and shame.  Help me to seek You, above any other name.  Let Your hope be my anchor for Your promises are sure.  Let my guilt ridden and self-loathing thoughts diminish as I remember and cling to Your grace, love and mercy that endure. 

Joy Lynn

My Tongue May Fail

My tongue may fail me,
But You fail me not,
My words may betray me,
But Your Word will not,
May my labored tongue
And my lispy speech,
Still speak Truth
And experience peace.

Joy Lynn

Please Don't Go

Stop right there, 
Please take a breath,

I know this road is hard
But don’t let it lead to death…

You’ve got people right here,

Standing by your side,

Please let us in the walls,

I know you’re trying to hide.

These demons aren’t new,

I’ve been there too,

But try to dismiss the lies,

And cling to what is True.

You are made in God’s image

And utterly adored,

If we understood even a bit of God’s love,

We’d be totally floored. 

So please, I beg you,

Please don’t go this way,

I know you won’t believe me,

But it’s best for the world if you stay

Can we get through this together?

Would that be okay…

If you and I were buddies

Who pressed each other forward each day?

For we all need friendship,

Love and forgiveness displayed,

That when the storms raged and the waves got high,

When the world seemingly left, someone stayed.  

Let’s press onward and forward,

Let’s together look God’s way,

For though this broken road is hard,

He walks it with us every day.  

Joy Lynn

How Do I Know?

In my Cultural Geography class, we were talking about Creation and Flood narratives and comparing the Biblical account to other accounts found throughout the world. I was then asked by a student, “How do you know that Christianity is true?” I fumbled around an insufficient response and have been kicking myself ever since so I have been praying and processing myself....I am so thankful my students ask the hard questions because I so badly want them to make their faith their own, but that also means, I need to be able to articulate my own faith. So I sat down and outlined why I believe that Christianity is true and this is what came through.

How do I know?  (September 17, 2017)

You’ve heard it in the stories of old

No matter where in the world you go,

Stories of creation and a worldwide flood,

These stories passed down by generational blood.

You’ve seen it through God’s perfect Son, Jesus Christ,

Who lived a perfect life despite the strife, (Hebrews 14:5; 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Performing miracles and offering His blood for salvation, (Hebrews 10:10)

To a broken and sinful human nation.

Not only in life but also in death

He gave every ounce of blood and His very last breath,

But just three days later He rose from the grave, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Conquering sin and death, and proving He alone has the power to save.  (1 Corinthians 15:57)

After His resurrection, His followers did not simply sit on a perch,

For “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,”

They spoke the Truth and preached repentance,

And for that, so many faced a death sentence.

But now let’s bring it home to how this faith is my own,

Before I went my own way but now God sits on the throne

For His ways are best and His promises are sure,

The Holy Spirit’s leading is what makes me secure.  

Ultimately it is by faith that we are saved, (Romans 2:8-9)

For it was to sin that we were enslaved, (Romans 6:20-23)

But Jesus died on the cross and His blood covers our sin, (Romans 4:25)

And when we trust in His grace, He comes and lives within. 

So next time I’m asked, “how do I know?”

It’s not just because the Bible tells me so…

For His work is evident from the dawning of creation, (Romans 1:20)

And my faith in Jesus Christ is my eternal foundation.  

Joy Lynn

A Storms Brewing

I see the dark clouds rolling in,

They swallow up the view,

On every speck of the horizon,

The blue turns to a grey hue.  

I sit on a figurative island,

There is no place to run,

This storm will surely swallow me,

I can only pray for a returning sun.

I’ve walked this life long enough

To know these storms come and go.

God’s light shines bright in the darkest of nights,

Even when it feels like I’m in the midst of a black hole.

So may I rest in Your promises,

May I be anchored in Your love,

Help me find peace in the waves wake,

And keep my eyes on You above.

Joy Lynn

Seasons Change

Seasons change

Summer to Fall

Winter to Spring

You hold them all

Writing a story

Each chapter a gift

Storyline weaves through

Even if characters shift

We plan for forever

But sometimes it ends

The lessons and memories though

Through the story transcend

It was not in vain

Though the season has changed

Forever will be cherished

The lessons and challenges exchanged

So don’t doubt your part

In the pages of my heart

Though one season has come to an end

It allows another to start

As I flip back through the pages

Venturing down memory lane

I see the tears and trials

But I also see the gain

So may I be thankful

For the role this chapter played

The value and the depth of which

I’d never seek to trade

May I experience peace

For I trust the Author of the story

That though change is never easy

That He’s using it for His glory

May the season ahead

Continue to shape and mold

And point my little piece of the world to Him

As my story continues to unfold

Joy Lynn

Just a Closer Walk with Him

A woman of God

Decades of faith

Dedication and service

Wisdom and grace

Displayed in your life

Not lost in your death

For your life always demonstrated

An intimate walk with Him

So now you are even closer

In heaven’s embrace

That day which you longed for

Now you see Him face to face

May our memories forever linger

To remember and hold dear

And take comfort in the solace that because of our salvation

We will once again be near

Joy Lynn

Dedicated to two lovely women, TH and MM. Thank you for the lives you lived and your faith lived out for the world to see.  <3

Life is All About Choices

"Life’s all about choices” is one of the mottos of my boss.  He has said it so often, his students know it’s coming and can finish the sentence.  It may be a motto but it’s so true.  You make a choice literally millions of times a day, some consciously and many unconsciously.  You may weigh heavy what you want to eat for a meal but you may not give a single contemplated thought on where to place your foot for the next literal step you take.

Recently, three areas of life stood out to me as areas where it would be highly useful to pre-decide rather than wait til spur of the moment.  By pre-decide, I mean, to make a choice and commit to it now so that down the road, when distraction or hard times come, you have already made the choice and can hopefully stick with it. 

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Area 1:  Study God’s Word

I grew up in a Christian home and spent quite a bit of time in church activity and being taught the Word.  That said, I didn’t truly make my faith personal until I was 18 years old but at least I had years of background knowledge and people pouring the Word in to me.   In the last 12 years, I have gone about studying the Bible numerous ways but I certainly have not been as dedicated as I wish I was at it, reading it every day, for instance.  That said, I can see how important God’s Word is and have been challenged to make that time in God’s Word a priority, not just because God wants to use it to shape me, but more so because He wants me to know Him.  To know that He is Savior, Judge, Healer, Redeemer and Friend.  Honestly, sometimes when I fall into depression pits, He seems so far away and this is where Bible study is so vital.  If I dig into His Word in the light, it will be the Light that shines in my dark (Psalm 119:105). 

Joshua 1:8

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

2 Timothy 3:14-17

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

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Area 2:  Gratitude

Gratitude is an attitude and one I wish to have more of in my life but often I am reactionary in displaying it rather than wearing it as a perspective.  I have heard it encouraged for people to keep a thankfulness journal.  I have kept one on and off but I generally keep it when I am low and am trying to look up.  Now, that’s not a bad thing, but I was encouraged this week by someone who made the choice to keep a thankfulness journal daily no matter where they were emotionally.  Their reasoning was this:  If I am consistent in taking in all that God is doing and being thankful when things are good, I will be more quick to remember God’s love and faithfulness in the hard times and struggle. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Psalm 136:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Colossians 3:15-17

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

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Area 3:  Boundaries

In Christian circles, I’d guess that boundaries are most often talked about in context of dating relationships.  Some of my friends committed themselves to not kiss until they were engaged and some, even waiting until marriage.  Boundaries, be it physical or otherwise, should be pre-decided ahead of time in order to have your conviction to lean on when temptation comes.  Beyond the scope of dating, boundaries are useful in many situations to try to fend off dependency.  Boundaries are good when in a relationship with a friend, family member or acquaintance that could take advantage of you or vice versa.  Boundaries are useful in social settings when peer pressure can steer you all sorts of directions if you have no stance on the topic.  Boundaries are essential in career and/or ministry, so that you don’t burn out.  Boundaries are wise in finances in order to be good stewards of what God has provided to you.  There are at least a handful of pre-decisions I have made for myself so that in the event that the decision is difficult for me because of circumstance, I’ve already made the right decision for myself. 

Psalm 16:5-9

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

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Life is all about choices and I’ve made a lot of really bad ones in my life.  I’m a wretched sinner when all the facades fade away but luckily, I don’t have to be eternally known as that.  The most important choice I ever made was believing in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  Acts 16:31 says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  I know I am a sinner and that sin would separate me from the holiness of God but through Jesus, God offers forgiveness and payment for that sin, so that I can be made new in Him here on this earth and enjoy a new body with Him in my eternal home. 

So what kind of choices have you made?  Where will they lead? 

And for my own accountability, anyone who is reading this, feel free to drop me a line anytime to ask what I am learning, what I am thankful for or how my boundaries are standing to help keep me in line and my eyes fixed on Him.

Until next time,

In Christ,

Joy Lynn

Love, Even When It Hurts

Dealing with your own grief or walking with someone else through theirs is hard because there is no real right and lots of potential wrongs to be done in those fresh raw moments of coping and every person is different.

"Grief is like a bathing suit. It fits every person differently. Some hang out a bit here, some a bit there. Some shouldn't leave the house with it showing, and others make it look fabulous. Some grieve privately, never inviting another soul in. You might never know how they really feel; you might start to think they have checked out or are callous and coldhearted. Others do it openly, blogging as therapy, sharing their tears because it feels cathartic, because they need to grieve in community.

How is anyone to know what to do, how to help, how to survive? Some of the brokenhearted feel hurt if you don't ask after them, if you don't acknowledge their loss or their crisis. Others never want you to mention it, as if speaking of the lost loved one acknowledges the fact that he or she won't come back...."

- from Kate Merrick's "And Still She Laughs"

What a whirlwind of hyper conscientiousness on both the part of the grieved and the comforter. I've been on all sides.

·         I've been the griever closed like a clam shell and I've also been the griever open in my writing and seeking to share. And sometimes that switch shifts from one day to the next. My poor friends....

·         I have also tried to be the comforter, trying to discern if this is a moment to push in or to back off, and either way, tread lightly in case I made the wrong choice and need to U-turn.

All that said, I wish we'd all try to be a good friend to each other and assume the best of intentions from each other, even when it hurts. Sometimes as a comforter, you'll push in and get whipped back but please don't run. Respect space but be just on the perimeter so they know you are still there when they are ready rather than feel like they are all alone. And for those who grieve, know that people will say pocket clichés, quote misapplied verses, and hand out  overtly positive phrases, and right now you may not want to hear them, but see their good intentions and acknowledge their effort. They are doing all they know how in that moment to try to show support, love and care....they may not be doing it "right" but see their heart of compassion.

So, to both the griever and the comforter, my challenge is this...Love each other when it is uncomfortable...Love, even when it hurts.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”

Until next time,

In Christ,

Joy

Forgiven and Free

Proverbs 17:28
"Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent."

Forgiven and Free (May 18, 2017)

As the accusations run rampant,

I stand guilty as charged,

Laying awake in the middle of the night,

Being assaulted by a barrage,

Of words I wish I never said,

But cannot simply draw back in.

In the midst of the shame and brokenness revealed,

I hear Your promise whisper in the still...

"Forgiven and free,"

That's what You said to me,

Though I stumble and fall,

You're still holding me.

"Make amends and move forward,

For this is not the end,

Remember it is often in your brokenness

Where My work begins again.

Claim My promises and rest my dear,

For you are, indeed, forgiven and free."

Joy Chambers

Lamentations 3:22-23
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness."

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Romans 8:1

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Jesus Christ."

Mountain High

I sit under the gazebo,

Way up on the mountain top,

I take in the view,

The crisp fresh air,

And wish time would just stop.

I know this won’t last forever,

I’d be lucky to stay a few more days,

For with depression etched in my veins,

The valley is more often my home,

Wandering through an endless maze.

But in the valley You are there,

With every turn and hidden snare,

You never left me, always near,

And when I do begin to fear,

I still remain within Your care.

So whether mountain high or valley low,

May I find myself knowing peace,

Because I never lost hope,

Have experienced joy in faith,

And know the promises of Your love never cease. 

Joy Lynn

Cairn

"I will bring these heavy burdens to the foot of the cross and here, I will build a cairn because I know in this place and in these request, God will do a great thing."

-Joy Lynn

Little Miss Independent

Earlier this week, I had the treat of hanging out with a friend and her four kiddos of varying ages with the youngest being 2.  On both Monday and Tuesday when out and about with the family, I found myself, often unconsciously, keeping a closer eye on Little Miss Independent.  She knew it and I could tell she wasn’t too keen on the idea of me tracing her steps or holding on to her hood in the middle of a ski slope just to keep her in my perimeter and be able to grab her if I needed to.  Often if I wasn’t super close, she would play just fine on her own but still, I’d find myself checking in, blocking entries or calling her back more often than pleased her and she let me know.  It wasn’t often, but every once in a while, the situation came where I had to scoop her up into my arms and she’d scream and often her mom was near and so she’d cry for mom and be somewhat-content to be held by her mother for all of 3.2 seconds before begging to be put back down again. 

So when all the moments are added together, there were many a times where she’d be content if I just stayed busy with my own thing while she did hers all on her own but sometimes there was glimmers of her inviting me in.  This one moment I remember vividly, we were down in the toy section and the rest of the family was going to go upstairs to the rest of the store so I was content to stay down with Little Miss and let her play while they explored but when she heard everyone was going upstairs, she was determined to go too.  I hung back a few moments to make sure the youngest son began heading for the stairs and Little Miss looked back and waited for me.  I kind of had my hand out as my body was leaned back craning my neck to look for the boy and she reached for my hand and began walking towards the stairs.  She does stairs just fine these days but she held my hand up each step til she reached the top and then that moment was done.  When she is allowed to reach out and interact on her own terms, she was so stinkin sweet about it.

I haven’t been able to shake that event off in the last few days.  It makes me wonder if that’s how we can treat and see God.  God sees and knows all but we don’t always welcome His “lurking” and don’t want His protection or guidance.  We can play just fine on our own and protect ourselves as need be, or so we think.  Then there are those moments when life hits you hard and lets you down, that God so clearly scoops you up and holds you together and yet all you can do is say, “….but I want my mommy.”  I guess depending on who you are, it may not be a mom but you can fill in the blank with whatever you feel like will be the key to happiness.  But even if you finally got that one thing you wanted, you’d still not be happy and want to continue living life grasping for the next best thing. 

But how sweet a moment, when the God who has been there all along, is invited in personally by us.  When it is not seen as Him scooping us but instead us reaching up and out to Him.  Though many times we have ignored His advice, shrugged off His comforting arms, and run away from His protective stance, He is still faithful and oh so willing, to step in when we cry out to Him needing Him the most.  How cold and distant that kind of rejection would feel to us humans, and yet He steps in, quick to forgive, to protect and to heal as we come on our own accord. 

Lord, please change my heart from being a Little Miss Independent to one that seeks comfort, protection and guidance from You. 

Joy Lynn

Oh Death

The darkness creeps

Beneath our feet

Never know when it will grasp and cling

Filled waiting rooms

Shuffling and stuttering to feel fine

Waiting to hear if it was finally time

Bright hospital rooms

Muffled cries

Whispers of last goodbyes

But sometimes the setting is less serene

Sometimes in the middle of busy things

Over the railing of a bridge

In the grasp of a knot

At the tip of a knife

Or the sound of a shot

It’s the end of a life

With the victim calling the shots

Nobody saw it coming but we all feel the loss

Death it comes

And swallows up time

Never ready to say goodbye

Whether you saw it coming

Or it took you by surprise

It’s something you don’t want to look in the eye

For in it holds the breath of time

And invincibility lays aside

All because of the harsh passing of time

As lives pass on by

Eternity is in sight

Where will you go when you’re due?

Sin has us marred and destined for death

But where, oh death, is your victory?

Where, death, is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:55)

It was nailed to the cross at Calvary

If only you’d just believe and receive

Victory through Christ our King (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Joy Lynn

Scars Tell A Story

Scars Tell A Story

White picket fences

Lofty facades

Painted shutters

Seeking applause 

As you knock on the door

It slowly cracks

You wonder how many doors

This mansion packs

Step inside

What do you see?

Everything in the entry

Kept nice and clean

Sit on the couch

Creaks underneath

Plastic protection

Acts as a shielding sheet

Everything’s lovely

But nothing is real

Fashionably designed

For public appeal

You begin to inquire

Question your host

Do you even live here

Or are you a ghost?

With a glimmer in their eye

The dam begins to break

They walk down the dark hall

With tears running down their face

With a single-edge razor blade

Straight to the skin

They scrape off the make up

To reveal what’s within 

“In the darkest of rooms

This mansion holds

The deepest of pain

No one can ever know

It’s locked in the closet

Kept out of sight

No air to breathe

No access to light

The pain, it festers

The bitterness grows

It zaps all strength

And it takes its toll

The wounds lay open

Though nobody knows

Though healing is sought

The tension just grows

I want to know freedom

But I lost the key

To the door that holds

The deepest part of me”

So freedom is sought

A Light in view

To chase out the darkness

To see things a new

The journey will be long

Vision will have to be renewed

Moment by moment

Remembering His mercies are new (Lamentations 3:22-23)

And though the wounds hurt now

They will eventually be scars

Which show that both

Hurt and healing are ours 

Joy Lynn