Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Heaven’s Oath

My dear friends, how many are wrestling? With hardship, loss, or disappointment? In these dark days of winter when our frantic feet fumble across earth's crumbling crunchy crust – Let us encourage each other and together remember…
I’ve written this for you. For me. For all of us.



— • —

Heaven’s Oath
© 2018, Jena Rutan, all rights reserved.



In   b r o k e n   earth, 
dormant cold seed waits.
In   d a r k   velvet skies 
gleam celestial lights.
When cries thirsty land,
from  t e m p e s t  wave,
Heaven’s arms draw their rain.


Our Father in heaven brings life from what’s dead.
“Quiet down, O my soul,” Ancient wise kings once said.
Know He still hears – understands each hearts plight.
In winter’s silence dive deep,
Come with me, lift your eyes.


He is Solace for wanderers, a Shield to the weak.
The bright morning Star who guides weary feet.
Rejected ones friend, and despairing heart’s hope.
The branch from love’s root.
True Life we can know.


When each day feels uncertain
When hopelessness calls,
Let faith stir inside.
Let hope not fall.


Memory stones of bright past
recall goodness. His vast
ways aren’t our ways.
His thoughts far beyond.
His redemption, His plan
never fails, never wrong.


Know this my dear friends, He will do it again.
His faithfulness always endures past the end.
When weakness and cold
by fear grips and pulls –
This isn’t the time for regret and defeat,
but a season of strength, a renewal of peace.


His lamp illuminates truth through black days.
When sight becomes blind, trust goodness, see grace.
Let’s not become weary by walking in light
For harvest will come at the end of this night.
So let roots grow down deep.
Be nourished, come eat –
in knowledge of him.
His bread. His wine.
We together can learn
the depth, width, and height.


— • —


Jesus’s love never fails me.
My companion beside,
My peace and my all,
He covers my life
His feathers surround,
His Word is my guide
Protecting and healing,
sharing peace in the night.


— • —

His whisper we hear,
“Take up courage, persevere!”
“Together my children
run this race,
come be near.
Lay your head on My heart,
Know My warm embrace,
I’ve collected each prayer
Heard you face to face.“


When your heart cries out for direction and meaning
When your marriage is fumbling
your children careening
When you don’t have answers
When purpose is lame
He is there. Yes He’s here
Let Him kindle the flame.


As the Northern star shines
Once more we recall
The Father of lights
Authors good for us all
His love endures
He never will change
In His book are recorded
Each one's joy and each pain

And when beaming sun rises,
morning by morning,
How expansive His kindness
So immense His outpouring.
Giving bread to His children,
Softly sending the snow.
In loyal endurance,
Eternal His oath.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

New Day

Furtive glance at the sundial
Brand new day, already on my way
Sun beams through my baited breath
Awake with clouds of praise 

And I'm giving this day Lord to You
With it's hilltops and potholes, You'll see me through
And at the end of this day, please let me say
All glory and honor to You

The rhythm of the day rolls right along
When hiccups come I hold tight to your song
Stretching my faith, testing my steps
Feeling weak until I fall on that cornerstone

And I'm giving this day Lord to You
It's got victory and weakness, You're leading me through
And at the end of this day, I want this life to say
All glory and honor to You

Shadows stretch and my shoulders feel weary
I glance back at this day and see your loyalty
My patience is tired but You know who I can be
You won't let these obstacles overwhelm me

And I've given this day Lord to You
It was triumph and failure, but You walked me through
And at the end of this day, on my bed I lay
Giving glory and honor to You


© Jena Rutan 2015. All rights reserved. 
Scripture references are from the NASB.



Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Loyal Friend

Dear friend we've walked this road
Step by step He's lit our paths
His swinging lantern guiding our feet
Shepherds voice calling, "Follow Me"

Dear friend our songs resonate
Heart strings plucked by the same Mistral
Each dissonant past brought into peace 
Tuned by the author and sustainer of faith

We love because He first loved us
Loving my neighbor like I love my own soul
Two is better than one 
'Cause when I'm down you prod me on
Loyal friend with your faithful heart
Knit with the melody in my soul

Dear friend — my sister in faith
Don't you know you've pulled me through
Pointing me to His high road with your face full of grace
Wiping my tears with understanding

We love because He first loved us
Loving my neighbor like I love my own soul
Two is better than one 
'Cause when I'm down you prod me on
Loyal friend with your faithful heart
Knit with the melody in my soul

No we haven't reached our goal
But you're there alongside for as long as He gives
Forging on together each toward our high calling
This journey of a thousand miles 
We're charting step by step


© Jena Rutan 2015. All rights reserved. 
Scripture references are from the NASB.



Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Deep Blue

I am enjoying this warm sunny weather so much!! We are expecting snow again in a few more days! Whenever I get to absorb the sunshine, roll in laughter and discovery with my toddler son, and feel the blessing of my husband's love, these all remind me of the goodness of God. It is such a generous gift from our Creator, to be able to enjoy life; I am so grateful to have functioning faculties, with which I may experience the wonders of His creation! There are surely hardships which vary in degree and length, but these simple pleasures are exponential enough in the joy they deliver, to soothe any pain with the remembrance of God's love. These pure moments stir in my soul, the love and praise of our Eternal God, who is God of all gods.

"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, Sea monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and virgins; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven. And He has lifted up a horn for His people, Praise for all His godly ones; Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD!"
Psalm 148

This joy, brings healing into my soul. Laughter IS good like a medicine after all. As I mentioned in my last post, I have had some struggles in my faith recently; dealing with the experience of acute pain in my life and those people near to my heart. I know that my questions are not too big for God, and that He is with me in my moments of weakness. So I ask these questions in confidence that He will show me His truth and reveal His love and faithfulness to me. [Therefore, . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13] I had a nice walk in the sunshine with a friend yesterday, and we had the opportunity to talk a little. As we shared our struggles with each other, and encouraged each other, she graciously reminded me of several passages.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cornthians 12:9-10 
 
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:3-6
 
He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45b 
 
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:11-13

Additionally, my husband is a constant stream of encouragement; reminding me that the Lord does not promise to make our lives easy, but rather, He promises to be with us during all times.

[Jesus said,] "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

As my husband says, if we did not have faith during these times, who else would show a dark and hopeless world the light of love? Beyond this, I am coming to see once again that it is prudent upon us to choose to believe that God is with us, and that He does love us. When I see the glory of a bright blue sky encased by a mountainous horizon, I can feel His presence whispering truth and love into my heart; and I respond with thanks and praise. When faced with this simple reality, I must also believe that He does indeed exist, and He does indeed create beauty from nothing in order to display Himself to humanity and beckon me to Himself. I must believe that in spite of some of the most tragic occurances that can and DO unfold each and every day in this fallen world, the God who created us all, DOES love us and desire to relate with us — with me — on a personal level. He is waiting for me, and each of us, to simply believe in His redemption. What a good God.


© Jena Rutan 2010. All rights reserved. 
Scripture references are from the NASB.