“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
…
The sweet breath of spring
rises up to greet the
pure, first light of dawn.
…
The fields dance,
stirring silent butterflies,
rising to decorate the sky.
…
The seas surge and recede,
calling to the waking earth,
It’s a new day!
…
Resting there,
receive the gift,
of the innocence born of God,
of the intimacy known with God.
By Linda J. Humes
Written 1/5/98
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30 KJV
✝
When tempests boil and turn,
This way and that,
Uprooting all you find sacred,
All you find worthy –
On which side of the cross do you rest?
✝
When your thoughts are so strained,
Facts threaten your hope,
Doubts threaten your faith –
On which side of the cross do you rest?
✝
When your family and friends,
Dwell on sorrows and pain,
Straining joy,
Stretching joy,
Quenching joy –
On which side of the cross do you rest?
✝
When you’ve let promise down,
To the ones that you love,
To yourself,
To your dreams –
On which side of the cross do you rest?
✝
Do you curse and cry out,
Blaming God in the dusk,
Screaming “why” in self-pity,
In pride?
✝
Or do you lay yourself down,
At the foot of the cross,
And rest in His promise,
His love?
✝
Written 6-20-1998
“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47 KJV
Written 2-6-2002
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy
unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalm 86:5
…
Forgive me, Lord, for my doubts.
…
Forgive me, Lord, in my pain and fatigue,
Your voice was distant and faint,
I thought You didn’t care.
…
Forgive me, Lord, I forgot the blessings,
Of yesterday in the crisis,
Of today.
…
Forgive me, Lord, for not recognizing,
How very precious I am to You,
You showed me again and again,
Buy my self-esteem couldn’t receive it.
…
Thank you, Lord, for continually calling my name,
Calling louder and louder,
When my ears were turned away.
…
Thank you, Lord, for the friends and warriors,
That You sent to my side,
When I was to weak to fight.
…
Thank you, Lord, for forced rest,
When my body was in desperate need,
But I refused to rest.
…
Thank you, Lord, that I am Your daughter,
And You are my Father,
And nothing can ever change that.
Written 6-14-2002
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
—
The road before me seems narrow and unending,
Fear stands before me,
Regret trails behind,
Why must I travel this path?
—
To the right are green pastures,
To the left are mansions of gold,
Yet my feet won’t veer,
Destiny pulls firmly,
Is this the path I walk for me,
Or do I walk for another?
—
Fatigue drains the strength from my bones,
I thirst,
The green pastures call to my desires,
“Rest and Drink,”
Forward I walk, determined.
—
Mansions of gold call my name,
Fulfilled dreams, riches,
Reason fights the Spirit,
Think what I could do with all these,
What lives I could touch,
Forward I walk – steady.
—
Those who call me loved bite angrily at my sides,
Bitter words echo in my mind,
Must love hurt,
Throbbing starts in my palms,
In my feet.
—
Who must I walk this path for?
Is it for You?
Is it for me?
Is it for lives yet to be touched?
—
Forward, Lord, place Your hand in mine,
Let me walk in Your footsteps,
Let me see Your path,
Let me lay aside my selfish dreams,
So that I may reach the broken soul,
That sits at the side of the path,
That You have sent me to travel.
—
Anoint me, Lord,
With wisdom, with love, with peace,
That I may overcome the burden,
That You have placed in my life,
To reach the lost – for You.
—
Written 4-2-2004
“My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.” Isaiah 51:5
—
Gathered in His arms, resting In His lap.
A daughter held safely in the tender arms of her Father.
—
We rock gently, back and forth,
To the song You’ve placed in my heart.
—
The warmth of love radiates through me.
It is a preciousness I feel nowhere else.
—
And as the pressures of the day begin to push in,
I will step away to a quiet place.
I will wrap Your arms around me,
And taste the sweetness of Your love,
That burns always in my heart.
Written 6-15-2002
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Not long ago an event shook our quiet little town. It was an event that made national news and turned a happy community into a place of fear.
My husband and I were visiting our oldest son in a town 8 hours away, and for the first time, left our 18 and 20 year old boys at home by themselves. The next evening my cell phone didn’t stop ringing and texting; a motorcycle gang war had broken out and my property was involved in the melee.
My youngest son and his friend had just stepped into the front yard when the shooting started and they saw 2 people shot in front of them. They ran back into the house and saw a vehicle park in our driveway with 4 men inside, assault rifles exposed when they opened all the doors. They saw one man in our backyard. The police dispatcher told him to sit on the floor of a room with no windows, put a shotgun across his legs and if they come in . . . shoot! My son was terrified, I was terrified; we were both helpless.
After the shooting stopped the police arrived and the kids were told to lock up and leave the area. Helicopters and dozens of police vehicles were all through the area. Calls came from friends who knew where we lived and offered to take in the boys.
By the time we arrived home we were permitted to go into our house. Police cars and command posts remained for days. We called the police to come to the house when we found a bullet lodged in a lamp on our porch. The police took pictures and told us to be prepared . . . the war wasn’t over.
The feeling of physical helplessness flowed into my emotional and spiritual life. What if it happened again and I wasn’t home to protect my kids. What if no one was there and our animals were shot. What if . . .
Driving around town I noticed something that I’d never noticed before; guns. An elderly man was raking the rocks in his driveway with a gun on his hip. A white haired elderly woman stood in the grocery check-out line with a gun on her waist. Every motorcycle rider I saw had a gun strapped on. Someone came to our home to pick up a refrigerator, with a gun on his belt. We had a yard sale and those who came had guns strapped on. Fear had permeated Chino Valley.
I couldn’t sleep; thrashing all night. Every time I left the house I locked every door and was uneasy until I returned. My prayers seemed hollow. Our home had been on the market and we were told to take it off because no one would consider buying in our area for years. Helpless. Overwhelmed. Fearful.
As I prayed one evening I told God that my whole life seemed out of control. I asked what was wrong, what could I do. He spoke to me and quietly said that I’d let the war steal my peace.
I thought about all that had happened. 50 shell casings were found, but not one innocent person had been harmed. Not one animal in the neighboring homes had been harmed. 60 people had been arrested. Gang homes were ordered sold by the court. Gang awareness was clear in the community and people were prepared to fight back. God had His hand on Chino Valley and everything surrounding it.
God forgive me for forgetting that even when it seems like chaos all around, You are there. When nothing seems to make sense You reveal the big picture and Your perfect will. Thank You for not giving up on this worrier, but bringing perfect peace and rest.
Written 10-25-2010
I’m resting, Lord, here in Your shadow. Wars wage at my right, and along my left. Famine and failure, torture, even the most strong fear, but I’m safe here, beneath Your wing. I know the paths around me, are tainted with sin, that dangers lurk, at every turn, but I fear not. You, Lord, have sent angels, to guide my path, to set my feet, one in front of the other, straight ahead, not to the right, not to the left. I have placed my feet, in faith, knowing You have set, a safe path, before me. I have listened carefully, for Your call, I have trimmed the wicks, and replenished the oil, for the night watch. For the time when, My Beloved may call. I practice my stitching, in purple and red, as I wait. Keeping my mind flooded, with the constant blessing, my Lord has bestowed, upon me. Delicate, sure, stitches, adorn the robe, my Lord will wear, when the day is come. Each placed with a prayer, each outlining a blessing, each anointed, with the tongues of angels. I wait at Your feet, precious one, as the night passes once again. Catching a glimpse of You, a glancing touch, bringing such peace, strengthening my desire. I wait, with the gifts of my hand, gifts of my heart, gifts of my tongue. I wait, for the day You will call, and draw me to Your chamber, to share in the riches, kept deep inside. The wait seems long, but holds no burden, only the treasure, of promises seen, and promises known, and truths only realized, by lovers. I wait for the day, You will come to my chamber, and raise my hand, to a delicate kiss. There will we dance, for the joy, and the treasure, held in intimate bonds, of true love. Until that day, My Beloved, My Lord, I will wait, and prepare, and rest, that I might not miss, one moment with You. Written 4-22-99
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 KJV
In my most tragic moments,
When all I see,
Is unforgivable failure;
When I feel least,
Among all men –
You are there.
When I’ve done all the right,
That I know to do,
With my best ability,
And still things fail –
I hear You call.
When man labels my ways,
Calling me wicked,
Even in righteousness,
When I want to lay down,
When I want to quit –
You smile and nod “go on.”
In my smallest failures,
And grandest dreams,
I feel the conviction of life,
Pulling me down,
Taunting me to give up –
But you pull me into Your lap,
To rest.
Why Lord,
With this ever failing vessel,
Would you lead me on,
In tender love,
As an untiring parent,
Choreographing hope.
You knew me before time was,
You saw me in my Mother’s womb,
You knew my success,
You shared the joy,
You saw my guilt,
Yet held me close,
Even though you knew,
What was to come.
My child,
Frail and humble,
I see the heart inside,
Chained and fenced,
Tender, vulnerable.
Look past the vessel,
Surrounding the soul,
Molded dust,
Easily blown,
Easily moved,
Tempted.
Inside lies My Word,
Ready to birth,
The promises made,
Right next to My Spirit,
My seed planted there.
You were created for Me,
The child of My love,
No mistake, not unwanted,
As some say to believe.
You’re the child of My chamber,
Fragrant oils,
Sweet savor,
Rising to Heaven.
I wait for you in the night,
I watch for you in the day,
I’m as close as you will hold Me,
Or as far as you should say.
Child of My desire,
Precious one at My feet,
Rest with Me,
All the days of our life.
Written 6/24/1998
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17 KJV
—-
Lord, rest here.
Comfort in this humble home,
Shine with Glory through our prayers,
Lighting the way in our darkest hour.
—-
Lord, rest here.
Sitting beside me as I read Your Word,
Explaining each question
as I meditate the passage,
Highlighting special scriptures
when I need an answer.
—-
Lord, rest here.
A misty image as I try to see Your face,
What Heaven must be like;
green, pure, peaceful,
Content at Your feet.
—-
Lord, rest here.
Set Angels all about for the moments
You must leave,
Keep anger and temptation and evil at bay,
Helping us become the people You need.
—-
Lord, rest here.
I could not bear a single day without You,
I could not consider a moment
without the touch of the spirit,
I could not imagine a thought
without Your Son in it.
—-
Lord, rest here.
For this child is Yours,
To mold – and shape – and place –
In Your world – in Your Perfect Will.
—-
Linda J. Humes 