Taking Power Away

Have you ever noticed that there are things in life that really bother you and they repeat over and over again? I have severe allergies to milk products and beef, so for me it was when food I could eat “improved” by adding milk products. This used to infuriate me and I guess I felt threatened, too, when I could no longer eat the food item. At one point, this was happening so often that two or three products a week were removed from my available food. I was whipped up to a fine lather! So, I went to the Lord in prayer and questioned why this was happening. 

What an interesting answer I received! This is a part of the spiritual war that we, as God’s children, will be subjected to. This is the way our joy is stolen, this is the way our eyes are moved off of God and placed upon our concerns. If we are worrying about what we will do or how we will solve our problems, we are not praising God. If we are angry because something we wanted has been taken from us, we are not praising God. Since I have discovered this, losing food does not bother me anymore. I simply say, “I know that God will provide, I will not give up my joy.” 

Now, when I see myself getting upset over something, I look for the enemy’s hand. When I see it, I rejoice, I praise God and I tell Him how glad I am to be His daughter. The moment no longer has any power, and suddenly, it no longer seems important. 

Words, Rhymes, and Rhythm

Matrix

The majesty of your curling waters
The darkness of your depth
The power of your movement
The waves which ov’r swept

The path of our migration
On a matrix joining the world
In heat and life and movement
As each mighty wave unfurled



***






A Hope For Not

Recession
The word curls inside of me
Like sour milk, looking for an escape
This can’t be right.
This is not how it is supposed to be….
But reality hits hard with each newscast
No Worries, there are other channels to watch
Still, no relief
The checkout stand tells its own story

Recession
Small eyes watching me
Wondering
Will we be all right?
Brave smile, “Of course we will!”
Tears on my pillow
Nights of doubt

Recession
I cringe at the word
Like a snake in my path
I hope it will slither away
I choose to focus on hope

Recession
Look at the flowers in their glorious color
Watch a sparrow fly

Recession
Grateful heart
It is
Not
A
Depression



***



Peace

(A Rhythm Poem)

I lay on her

Broad back,

Her sides heave.



She huffs

And pulls the grass,

Reaches,

Pulls, and nods

Her head.



The insects buzz.

She blows out.

The clouds float by.

The sun shines down.



I hear birds sing

Nearby

In the woods;



Sweet chirps

and chattering

squirrels,

tell me life

is good.



The wind, like silk,

Lifts my hair.

She’s warm beneath,

I close my eyes



And feel peace.



All poems © Sally Wyatt, 2008

What am I, Oh Lord, that you think of me?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
Says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil,
To give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me,
And I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me,
When you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord,
And I will bring you back from your captivity.
Jeremiah 29:11-14, New King James version

***

Everlasting 

Tears awaken me.
My mind turns the problem this way, then that.
No solution,
Just more tears.

Then, suddenly, I remember God.
Wasn't I doing things for Him today?
I remember! I was writing down all of His names:
Almighty, Ever Present, Glorious Counselor.

A glow of joy begins to fill me.
Ah Yes, Worthy to be Praised! Gentle Savior.
Hosanna. All Powerful.
Maker of Heaven and Earth.

My tears are completely gone.
A year from now this problem will just be a memory.
But He, who is and was and is to come, Slain that we might live,

Glorious, Wonderful Father, He shall be Everlasting! Lord of All.

***

Eyes

Father, there is so much pain in all of our lives.

Pray for them,
But as for you,
LOVE ME.

Father, there is so much fighting in the world.

Pray for them, 
Weep for them,
But as for you,
LOVE ME.

Father, there are children dying in wars, dying of starvation.

Pray for them,
Weep for them,
Care for them,
But as for you,
LOVE ME.

 

***

Rooted In Love

As a beam from the sun
Lights all of the way through
The surface of a leaf,
It changes its color.
Its holes and tears become
Cascading beams of wonder and beauty.
Suddenly, more than all the other unlit leaves,
It is unsurpassed, and glorious in its splendor.

So too, does the love of Christ light
All the way through the lives of those He loves.
Then, once lit by His love,
The life of His loved one cannot help but change,
Because like the leaf,
They will glow in the Son-light,
And reflect His penetrating glory.  

Rejoice!
For unlike the leaf,
Our Sun does not "set".
He does not get tired of shinning
Or of illuminating hidden things.
We walk always in the light of His love.


***

Savior

No one likes me!
They hated Me first.
I have nothing!
The Son of Man had no place to lay His head.
I live in a trailer!
I was born in a manger.
Everyone turns from me!
My disciple betrayed Me with a kiss.
I try, but it doesn't seem to matter!
God sent Me, but they did not hear.
I feel rejected!
They choose to free another than Me.
I was abused!
I was beaten for your sins.
I feel that I've failed!
I was nailed to a cross.
I have no direction!
I rose from the dead.
Peace. 
There is life. 

***


Wellspring
 
A challenge lies before me.
I know it
And I am afraid.
I pray I will not cry,
But I know I shall.
I always do,
For I am afraid,
And sad,
And confused,
And hopeless within myself.
There is nothing I can do to solve my problem.
It is old, perhaps as old as the generations. 

But my Lord has prepared for me!
He knew of my problem even before I did,
And He has prepared the way before me.
 He has sent His spirit to comfort me
For He knows
I listen to hear His words.
He has sent His hope to lift me,
And soon, 
Within His loving attention,
I am calm again.
I am assured of His love
And comforted by forgiveness.
I am deepened in my understanding,
And totally,
Totally 
In love
With my
God! 

***

Sunsets

Do you think others
Are better than you
Because they have not sinned
As you have?

No, I tell you,
This is not so,
For The Father loves
All of His children.

If you were wounded,
Would He not care for you?
If you were trapped by wolves
Would He not die for you?

Understand My love.
I am God.
You do not have any earthly thing
To compare to My love,

Except, in some way, a sunset.
Can you not see the beauty in every sunset?
Is not every sunset different,
Yet, still beautiful?

Have any two sunsets been alike since the beginning of the earth? 
 Yet, all are special and breathtaking.
Such are My children to Me,
Each beautiful, each loved.

***

"Go Up."

As a butterfly unfolds its wings
To sail upon the hidden wind,
So is my spirit to the Lord.

For while the butterfly is seen,
It is the wind that holds it up.
Such is the spirit of the Lord to me.

Without Him
I could not fly, 
No, not even crawl;
For without the Lord
I am but a worm,
Eating continuously
With no purpose,
No hope for life
Above the surface
Of the leaf.

But the Lord in all His glory has said,
"Fear not, you worm Israel!"
And through grace
He has given us
Wings
That we might sail
Upon His spirit
And know
His love.

All poems © Sally Wyatt, 2008

Christmas Giving

This Christmas I have heard more than one person express dissatisfaction with Christmas. The expression goes like this, “I am spending money buying things I can’t afford for people who have no need of them and do not want them; and then I must store the gifts I don’t want or need until I can re-gift them, which means I will be giving it to someone else who does not want it either; and they will have to store it until they can re-gift it.” In these distressing economic times, this becomes even more upsetting because people no longer feel they have money to waste, so this vicious cycle does not bring happiness or joy to life. 

 
This year, when I asked my parents what they wanted for Christmas, my mother said she had enough things. I moaned a little, because I never know what to buy anyway, so she said, “Wait, I know what you can get me, buy food from the food bank in my name. Your niece told me that was what she was getting me and you can give that to me, too. I have enough things, and I don’t want anymore.” 

This idea excites me! What a wonderful tribute to Christ. Instead of buying a $10 to $20 gift that nobody wants, why not give food to those who need it? Our local food bank said they could feed 8 people for $1. If I give a $10 gift, I feed 80 people! World Vision has a catalogue of gifts, and for slightly over $10, I can buy chickens for someone to give them eggs all year long. In addition, they can sell the chicks to get money to buy medicines. For $25 dollars, I can teach orphans to grow food, buy their farming implements and their seeds. For larger amounts, I can buy a part of a hog or cow. These are real gifts; gifts that say you love others, gifts that feel like Christmas!! Both of these organizations will send a card for you and World Vision sends an e-card. 

So, you ask, what did I get for Christmas this year? Two chickens and some seeds? No, I got life, I got love, I got Christmas.

Recipes for My Favorite Salads

Mexican Shrimp Salsa

Makes about 9 cups 1 cup = 3 WW points 

1 - 14oz tub of Old El Paso Mild Salsa
4 to 6 T (to taste) Albert’s Famous Mexican Hot Sauce, mild 
2 Avocadoes – cut into chunks
¾ to 1 C (to taste) Heinz Zesty Cocktail Sauce
4 C boiled shrimp, cut into pieces
Mix and serve with Tostitos. Keep refrigerated. 

Product Information:
· Albert’s Famous Mexican Hot Sauce (mild) – 2 T = 20 cal, 1 g fat, 1 point; use 4 to 6 T (to taste) 4 to 6 T = 60 cal, 1 point
· 1 - 14oz tub of Old El Paso Mild Salsa; Old El Paso Mild Salsa is in a cold case. It is made of tomatoes, onion, cilantro, assorted chilies & Peppers, salt, and spices. 2 T equals 5 calories, not fat, 14 servings, 0 WW pts. Questions: 1-866-976-3797. (28 T = 70 cal, 1 pt)
· 2 Avocadoes = 16 points
· Heinz Zesty Cocktail Sauce – ¼ C = 60 cal, 0 fat, 1 WW point; use ¾ to 1 C (to taste) = 240 cal = 5 pts 
· Shrimp – ½ C = 1 pt; use 4 C, cut into pieces = 10 pts

· 31 pts total in 9 cups = ~3 points per cup

Created by Kirksa, after tasting a similar one at a restaurant.

Texas Caviar

makes 7 to 8 cups

1 can rinsed black-eyed peas (cut up snaps)

½ can rinsed whole kernel corn
1 bunch green onion with chives
1-1/2 C fresh, diced tomato without seeds
¾ C red onion
2/3 C red bell pepper
2/3 C green bell pepper
1 to 1-1/2 C light, Italian salad dressing
Tabasco sauce to taste
Mix well.

Serve with Tostitos.

Given to me by Nancy Jefferson

Chinese Cucumber Salad

Makes about 2 cups

1 large cucumber, cube or slice medallions into quarters
1/2 red bell pepper, thin sliced 
1/2 red onion, thin sliced
Marinate slightly in light, Italian Salad dressing (1 to 2 hours) and serve cold.

Created by Kirksa, after tasting a similar one at a restaurant

Today's Thoughts - Stars

How many stars can we see in the night sky? How many are really there; billions, hundreds of billions, or more? Yet, each one of those burning orbs is unique to where it is. We are like those stars, unique, magnificent, bright shinning lights and the best part of it is that God says He thinks of us like the number of stars in the heaven. What am I dear Lord that you would think of me? David asked that and the Lord answered him by showing him the stars in the sky, the grains of sand on the beach. If there is ever any doubt that we are incredibly special and unique, look up and try to count the stars in the sky. With each one you number remember that God loves you, and at the end, you will know you are loved.

Have you ever noticed when you are in the city that it is difficult to see the light of the stars because of the lights from the city? Sometimes when I am living my day-to-day life, I also feel this way about God’s love. Just like the city lights, things interfere: anger, stress, anxiety, rushing, being late – or trying not to be late, my own inadequacies, my own desires; thinking about the things I have to do, the things I want to do, the things I wish I could do, and even the things I have done. These disturb the connection I feel to the Lord’s presence, just like the lights from the city disturb the light from the stars. Thinking about these interferences from daily living makes it more difficult to remember God’s love and care. Perhaps this is why Paul said to “think on things above.”