Be Still

At the end of the land

where the sea and the sand

and the sky all come together

and speak of the One

who created all things

the mountains, the trees, the weather.

At the edge of the sea

You were calling to me

Your presence hung thick in the air

Just to be here with You

refreshes my soul,

my spirit, my heart is laid bare.

Not a word needed saying

I watched children playing

the sand curling up through their toes.

Do they sense it, too

this peace that I feel?

Most surely, they do, I suppose.

The tides coming in

and the waders begin

turning 'round and heading for shore

Your love, like the ocean

will follow them in

Gently knocking upon heart's door.

Quick the hour has sped

but my soul has been fed

with such beauty, ahh, what a thrill.

Sitting here in the sand

I obey Your command,

Just breathe in, breathe out, be still . . .

And know that

I am

God.

© Andrea Dawn Olsen - 30 July 2011

A Hymn of Gratitude

 

When I express my gratitude

to God, I find my attitude
transforms from gloomy doom
to sunny smiles.

In giving thanks, my focus changes
as gratitude . . . it rearranges
the way I think and feel and speak
and live my life.

Counting all the ways He blesses
deepens joy, and my heart presses
in to know Him and enjoy Him
as He is.

"All is grace", the writer pens
Each day, each hour, each breath He sends
His gifts of grace and bids me
open more to Him.

The Ancient Words declare the way
into His presence every day
is opened up by giving thanks
and so I say . . .

For sun and moon and stars that twinkle
Eyes that see and lines that wrinkle
aging faces, waterfalls, and baby's breath
I thank You, LORD.

For bone on bone in knee unbending
ears to hear the never-ending
speech, heavens telling of Your glory,
Father, thank You.

For hope that flutters in my chest
and tiny eggs in robin's nest
just waiting to burst forth and
sing Your praises.

For full salvation, "It is finished"
Healing virtue undiminished
by years long past and
morning mercies ever new.

For children home, and far away
I give You thanks, my God, today
my heart is full and overflows
with gratitude.

Thank You, thank You, Holy Father
Holy Spirit, Jesus, Author
of my life and the Finisher
of my faith.

Amen

© Andrea Dawn Olsen - 9 July 2011

Inspired by the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. 
You can get to know her at http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Source:  Image capture at http://www.aholyexperience.com/

YouTube Video Trailer for Ann's book

(The little bundle of pink joy at the start of the video is my granddaughter.)

(What can I say . . . I am a proud grandmother!)

The First Scripture

Canterbury Bells

Nature was the first Scripture . . . 

to be out in nature is to be near God.    

~John O’Donohue   

While I could easily write about how these photos delight me, speak to me, move me  . . . the wonder, was in the being there.

I had to be there in person, out in nature, to capture the images and thus, was near to God.  Not just by faith, but in a literal, tangible sense.

When I am having a hard time connecting with God, I head for the hills . . .  or the lake or a park . . . and without fail He meets me.  When I come away from all that is man-made . . . the things, the noise, the busy-ness . . . and soak up the granduer of His handiwork, I find Him. 

Or He finds me, and I am humbled.  Humbled, that surrounded by countless masterpieces created by the greatest artist of time and eternity, He calls MY name and His eyes are on ME.

"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away! 

O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff,

Let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice;               

                           for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely."                    

Song of Solomon 2:13a,14

Stepping Out

While I thoroughly enjoy putting together the posts for WORD Pictures, I have been hankering for a home where I can journalize in my own words and photos and poetry, the happenings, great and small,  that comprise my life . . . the parables whereby God speaks to me.  This is me . . . engaging in the art of life, and hopefully, haltingly, eventually getting the message.

  

This photo, taken in the Avenue of the Giants in California, reminds me that there IS light at the end of the tunnel.  And it gets me to thinking, even as I write this, that I often have to face and defeat a giant or two in order to receive the prize.  Even though the road has been long, often lonely, and frought with twists and turns I would never have imagined, the promises of God remain yes and amen.  And so I keep on, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross . . .  (Hebrews 12:2)