And God Cried

Life seemed to be an all-encompassing storm
Through loss upon loss from my heart hope was torn
Crisis begat crisis time and time again
Each day a new problem without any end

Dark clouds settled over my head
I felt less alive then someone physically dead

In anguish I cried out to the Father above

He lovingly reached down with His strong arms of love

Picking me up in response to my cry
So gentle came the answer from the Most High

Hanging my head in shame

I despising both my condition and the pain

Yet closed my eyes to rest
Cradled closely to His breast

His gentle arms brought such peace

I seemed to slowly drift off to sleep

Soon I was awakened by a drop
Then came another and they did not stop

Again a drop and then some more
And soon a steady downpour
"What is this?" I said

As the droplets soaked my head

My eyes began to look around
Nothing but dark clouds could be found
Until a steady piercing light
Began to shine ever so bright

Suddenly I felt His glory all around
"Why does this rain not fall to the ground?"
Drip, drop it fell upon me
I began to look up in curiosity

His Glory did shine with awesome wonder
It was more jolting then the most deafening thunder
But the sight I beheld was more glorious to see
I saw the tears of God falling down upon me

Tears streaming down from His cheek
These precious words He did speak
"My little lamb I love you
When you hurt, I cry too."

"When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope." Psalm 34:17-18 CEV

Sunday Scripture

"God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings.

Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?

Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world. " Psalm 8 The Message

When violence hits home

For six days it laid, submerged in water, inside our washing machine. I'd put it in to soak after promising to work wonders using my many years of laundering skills. Afterall, it is his favorite shirt. Our son, that is.

A mixture of mud, blood, and grass stains eclipsed the once crisp clean blue checked cotton material. I've laundered all of those things out in the past. Just never all at once.

Soaking seemed to be a good place to start. In addition to helping to loosen the stains it provided a quick way to get the soiled shirt out of our sight. I'd forgotten it was there until I began my pre-weekend housework.