This is a sort of journal of things I find that are spiritually encouraging...or occasionally things that I create in an attempt to be encouraging.
Psalm 10
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
"Put your sword back into its place.
For all who take the sword
will perish by the sword."
-Jesus
WHAT SHALL WE SAY?
What shall we say
of a bride adorned
teaching children
their father demands,
“Unless they love,
greatly adore him,
suffer his hand
of brutal torture”?
What shall we say
of children fleeing
bride in horror,
gasping confusion,
“Who here is it,
his bride or himself,
(could it be both?)
knows nothing of love?!”
THE WORLD I LIVE IN
-Mary Oliver
I have refused to live
locked in the orderly house of
reasons and proofs.
The world I live in and believe in
is wider than that. And anyway,
what's wrong with Maybe?
You wouldn't believe what once or
twice I have seen. I'll just
tell you this:
only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.
Fresh Fruit of the Spirit
For more than half a century, I’ve read these verses about the fruit of the Spirit in the same familiar way. One phrase has always snagged my attention: “…against such things there is no law.”
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
— Galatians 5:22-23
Whatever could be the purpose of those final words? Who, in their right mind, would imagine a law forbidding love, or joy, or self‑control? It has long felt like a redundancy, a riddle, or perhaps even a misplaced line.
Today, however, reading these verses again, I was handed fresh fruit — and with it, unexpected clarity. That short sentence does more than describe the Spirit’s work; it warns us about the use of law. The very law inspired by the Spirit must never be wielded in ways that contradict the Spirit’s own fruit. Whenever we apply law in a manner that opposes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self‑control, we become lawbreakers of a deeper kind — those who stand against the Spirit who gave the law in the first place.
Dwelling Place
He made us a dwelling place
to enjoy and tend with him,
in a garden,
the source of life.
He gave it all,
and it was very good.
We didn’t trust him,
craved control, and
went our own way.
He pursued us,
followed closely,
provided every need,
his beauty stubbornly displayed.
He was with us in our greed,
our oppression, idolatry, and conquest.
He was with us as we
misrepresented who he is.
As we groaned in sickness,
thirsting for empire,
our poets caught a glimpse of him,
shaking us from slumber,
lamenting death without him,
and singing a vision of hope.
When we shrieked,
“Power, over prophets!”,
he was with us
in our slavery.
He became one of us,
revealing himself completely,
yet completely vulnerable.
While he was healing, illuminating,
reconciling, loving, and liberating…
we killed him.
He overcame our death,
our violence, mistrust, and blindness,
forgiving and restoring us all…
…into the dwelling place
to enjoy and tend with him
in a garden,
the source of life.
He gave it all,
and it is very good.
I Don't Want to Go That Way
Paper Kites, 2023
I don't want to go that way anymoreI don't want to go that way anymoreThere's a darkness coming downWaiting at my doorI don't want to go that way anymore
I don't want to walk that road anymoreI don't want to walk that road anymoreI don't see no lightsI don't hear no callI don't want to walk that road anymore
Turn me to your songTurn me to your doorI don't want to go that way anymore
"On every side
the wicked prowl
as vileness
is exalted
among the
children of man."
Psalm 12:8
Last Resort
Eagles, 1976
At first, I posted all the lyrics. Then I said, no one will take the time to read and ponder this. So here's the point...
We satisfy our endless needsAnd justify our bloody deedsIn the name of destinyAnd in the name of God
And you can see them thereOn Sunday morningStand up and sing aboutWhat it's like up there
They call it paradiseI don't know whyYou call someplace paradiseKiss it goodbye
But you should read them all. You should hear the song. Best of all read and listen at the same time, and let it touch your heart.
She Star
I am only a shadow
on the west horizon
a sunset silhouette
following the plunge.
Glancing back to chaos
of the darkening east,
oh, the maddening noise,
and all the static grey.
Then a startling flash,
a star streaking upward,
illumination below,
and a bird song calm.
Hope is my refuge
from surrounding night.
I hear the star song swell,
her comforting refrain
that all is well.
From
"The Wolves"
by Watchhouse, 2019
There she stands, so tall and mightyHer gaze facing the EastAt her back our doors are closingAs we grin and bare our teethOn the wind the wolves are howlingShe cries to draw them nearWell turn around, turn around my darlingOh, the wolves are here
Fear is Easy, Love is Hard
Jason Gray
Turn on the T.V. for the evening news
They got plenty to fear and nothing to do
Another somebody who's gone too far
Makes you want to put up your guard
Fear is easy, love is hard
So we draw up another dividing line
We label each other and we choose a side
Peace could come at quite a cost
So we won't build a bridge across
Fear is easy, but love is hard
Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid, do not be afraid
I'm sorry baby is what he should've said
But she wouldn't listen even if he did
They'll die without forgiveness soon
But no one wants to make a move
When fear is easy and love is hard
Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid, do not be afraid
It's hard to bring your heart to a world that can break it
To offer love to those you're afraid will forsake it
But a well-defended heart is always looking for a fight
In a lonely war against an endless night
But love can bring a light
Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid
It comes down to a simple choice
Shouting devils or a still small voice
One is spreading fear and dread
Oh but love has always said
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
I don't know the backstory or inspiration for this song by the Paper Kites. Like so many songs, maybe (probably?) it is about a prospective romantic relationship.
But I love how the spirit finds a way into the modern music industry and electrifies the exposed mystic wire in us. What we hear is a day-long conversation with yahweh. Stoked.
Bloom
In the morning when I wake
And the sun is coming through,
Oh, you fill my lungs with sweetness,
And you fill my head with you.
Shall I write it in a letter?
Shall I try to get it down?
Oh, you fill my head with pieces
Of a song I can't get out.
Can I be close to you?
Can I be close to you?
Can I take you to a moment
Where the fields are painted gold
And the trees are filled with memories
Of the feelings never told?
When the evening pulls the sun down,
And the day is almost through,
Oh, the whole world it is sleeping,
But my world is you.
Can I be close to you?
Can I be close to you?
"You can bomb the world to pieces,
but you can't bomb the world to peace."
- Brian Zahnd
And I feel the future trembling,As the word is passed around."If you stand up for what you do believe,Be prepared to be shot down."
What About Me? -Quicksilver Messenger Service, 1970
Angel
Can I be an angel?
If I can't be a leader,
counselor, singer, prophet, or preacher,
can I serve?
Can I come to you
in troublesome, struggling times?
Can I say, "Do not be afraid",
and bring, from Yahweh,
a word of encouragement?
Can I be His messenger?
Can I be an angel?
Crystal Blue Persuasion
Tommy James & the Shondells, 1968
Look over yonderWhat do you see?The sun is a-risingMost definitely
A new day is coming (ooh, ooh)People are changingAin't it beautiful? (Ooh, ooh)Crystal blue persuasion
Better get ready to see the lightLove, love is the answer (ooh, ooh)And that's all right
So don't you give up now (ooh, ooh)So easy to findJust look to your soul (your soul)And open your mind
Crystal blue persuasion, hmm, hmmIt's a new vibrationCrystal blue persuasionCrystalBlue persuasion
Maybe tomorrowWhen he looks downOn every green field (ooh, ooh)And every townAll of his childrenAnd every nationThere'll be peace and good brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion, yeah
We Are Loved
Avett Brothers, 2024
Whether we speak up