Friday, August 31, 2007

Poem: Today Mom Died



Today ... She died
This friend of mine
This dearest lady
To me , Divine

And with her, too
The cups of tea
The late night chats
From one to three
The phone calls from
So far away
The car drives on
A summer day
The peaceful rocking
Of two chairs
As side by side
So free from cares
Your sweet, sweet smile
forever gone
To other realms
You now belong

Where are you mother
Oh, yes, I know
To Jesus, Mom
You now must go
But someday soon
I'll see you there
Where is no sorrow
Nor tears to bare!

Dedicated to Ruth Graham and her family and all who have lost a Mother. And to my own Mom who passed away 10 years ago... Sarah Giesbrecht!!!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Poem: The Rend


The rend was made upon the cloth
Ruined, they said, by a tiny moth
Who ate his way between the thread
Not knowing it would bring me dread

I went to take it off its hook
And after I took one swift look
Behold the rend in my dear dress
It brought a tear, I must confess.

And now what shall be done with this
Once perfect dress, but now amiss
It can't be worn, it can't be shown
Since from the heavens, a moth has flown.

I'll cut it up, I'll shape it new
I'll tint it to a royal blue
My favorite color that once was
A cheery plan, Great good me does.

In this same way, I'll try to live
To take the rends life does me give
And look at them a different way
In faith to shape a bright new Day!

Poem: Time


Time is passing
Without our asking
Soon it will be...
Tomorrow

Tomorrow has come
And what have we done
For soon it again will be...
Tomorrow

Today, I've been given
To use while I'm livin'
To waste or to use until...
Tomorrow!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Prayer for Marriage: by Donna Marcialli

September 6 , 2006 Marriage retreat

Lord Jesus, God I thank you for your unique and complex way of thinking that is so much higher than ours. Lord, I thank you for the potential that is in this room today. I thank you for the legacies that are in the womb in this room today, for the potential you have placed in the hearts and minds of these people. Lord, I thank you. Lord, I feel such a strong sense in the spirit , Lord that we are bringing about a moment of peace, where we look at each other in the eye, knowing that we are partners for a reason. We have something to offer to one another. Lord Jesus I pray that we would begin to hear the music. I pray God that we would hear the music, the music we first heard when we met and we were willing to give up our Saturdays, and it made us want to give up our free time, made us want to be with someone, because there was something , there was a missing piece in our heart that they filled. I pray , God , let us forget about our diversity. Let us lay our diversity down. Lord, let us pick up the hand of our partner, and let us hear the music and start to dance. I pray, oh God for your love to flow. I pray for that perfect love , that you said,"I will go to the cross, so that they may live. I lay down my life so that they may have life". Lord Jesus you gave us your Spirit, so that we could emulate that in our homes. You want to bless us. You don't want to curse us. You want us to inherit your blessings. Lord your blessings come where there is unity, where there is harmony. Lord, there is a cinergistic partnership that happens when we're unified in our diversity. I pray, in Jesus name for a blessing upon them. I pray, open their hearts and minds to one another. Lord, I pray against these relationships that are outside our marriages that are pulling at us. Men , telling their friends what they ought to do to their wives, and women telling their friends what they ought to do to their husbands. In these destructive kinds of relationships that are in our lives, I pray that you would sever that from us today. I pray, oh God, let us move close together in commitment one to each other. Lord Jesus, I pray, forgive us of our emotional cheating, the kinds of betrayals, that if our wives or husbands knew what we said behind their backs, that they would be devastated. I pray, Dear God that you would forgive us. Let us move together in that beautiful dance, because we have children that depend upon us, but most of all because we have eternity ahead of us, and you Oh, Lord are looking down at your crowning creation, our marriage. It's more important than the President of the United States. It's more important than the Senate. It's more important than the nation or the King. It's more important than any authority in the world. Marriage was your crowning creation. And it is what you said you were like. You were like the Bridegroom and the church is like the Bride, because the Bride and the Bridegroom are your greatest and most important crowning creation. We are beautiful in your sight, today. We submit to one another, as unto the Lord, because you are looking down on us. We're not just doing what we want to do today, but we are submitted to you today, oh God. I pray blessings will flow, that the doors of heaven will be opened, that windows will be open, when we get in line with the divine order of the family , and the family of God, looking into your face, knowing that you are blessing our marriage. In Jesus name, in Jesus name, AMEN.
Lord, I commit today to listen more. I commit oh, Lord to care more. I commit Lord to be a better me, because my years are slipping by. My eyesight is growing dim. My mind don't think like it used to. God, I don't have a lot of time left. When I look at my past, Lord, I want to be a better me. I want to face you with everything that you really dreamed that I could be. Lord, you are looking at my marriage, and you've got so many great plans for us. Lord Jesus, I pray God I want to be a better me from this day forward. I commit to you. I commit to my spouse today. I want to be a better me. I know you are looking at me. You're looking at my marriage. It's not hidden from you. I pray you will bless them indeed. Lord, let something be born that's been planted in their hearts even in the last few minutes. God, I look forward to seeing the fruit of the womb that's been planted today. In the name of Jesus.

Monday, April 09, 2007

The Gift of God

" For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one mat boast." Ephesians 2:8,9 NES
The gift of God - salvation, freedom from sin through Christ's death and resurrection, joy, peace, a new spiritual family, a reason to live, a home in heaven! All these are a gift of God! and yet, how hard we "work" to get them! We often act as though, we are the ones giving ourselves salvation....by the works we are doing!
Let me be a little blunt! We often talk negatively about other groups and say "they are trying to work their way to heaven." Or we critisize one group or another for what they do! What do we do in our own lives in our own churches, adding to Christ's death and resurrection? What do I do in my own life , adding to the cross of Christ?
Did He not say, "It is finished"? I'm sure that those three words mean so much more than I understand...but when someone says, "It's done" "I'm done" or "It is finished", it means its complete! All that God was moving humanity forward to through history, was completed in Christ's death on the cross. His plan was not just for you to have a good life, but to be whole, complete in Him.
I do love traditions! At Christmas, we have ham, brussel sprouts, cooked baby carrots and mashed potatoes. On Birthdays we sing "Happy Birthday". In church, we do things a certain way! That's how we have always done it and so that's how we will do it!Christ taught us wonderful things like... give to the poor, visit the sick, visit the prisoners, help others, fast and pray... But, All in All, we are not saved by these things! We are saved by Jesus Christ! Again I say: by Jesus christ!
Ephesians 2: 10 goes on to say that we were created in Christ Jesus FOR good works, but before that it says we are not saved BY them!! Big difference!
We are sinners saved by grace, through faith, in the finished work of Christ!
That's hard to swallow!
Even me, just realizing this, in the inner most recesses of my spirit, will have to think about this for awhile.
This is phenominal - but it is True!!
Going back to Ephesians 2:4 it says," But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us.."
Jesus went to the cross, BECAUSE HE LOVES US! He endured everything " for the joy that was set before Him". That joy is when you and I accept His free salvation - His Gift - the gift of God - and become his child.
The gift of God - not as a result of works, so that no one may boast!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Poem: Lord, Help me to feel

Lord, fill me with compassion
The kind that You would show
That draws all men to Jesus
With desire Him to know

Lord, help me be just like You
To meet the daily need
When others share their burdens
That to Your Word I'll lead

Lord, help me draw all people
To look upon your Face
Instead of on their problems
Which hinder in the race

Lord, we are Salt and Light here
Amid a cruel world
The only Hope is Jesus
On Him our lives are hurled

Poem: Praise - When?


When things go right
And the way is easy
Praising the Lord
Sure comes easy

When things go wrong
We pout and frown
We sure let others
Know we're down

Is this the route
That God has planned
Our moods always changing
Like the shifting sand

His Word gives advice
Along another line
To give thanks in everything
And in His Presence dine

Poem: Praise the lord

When all your days look black and blue
Look up to see the sky's bright hue
Just praise the Lord, each day anew
He'll never change, He's always True

Look all around you, then you'll see
The many Blessings bestowed on thee
And ne'er forget who set you free
Who holds to death and life the Key

The Lord above, beneath , around
Is waiting to be sought and found
So, bend your heart, tune in the sound
Of Him in whom love does abound

Poem: Friendship

Friendship is a treasure
That money cannot buy
An inner strong devotion
Unseen by mortal Eye
You feel it with your spirit
This closeness between two
A freshness like the Springtime
As pure as morning Dew

Poem:The Future

The future is a place unknown
Untrodden by Men's feet
A time, we all will face someday
On Vict'ry or defeat

We look at things around us
The world and all its Woes
Temptations come at every turn
And plenty are our Foes

But, is there not a power there
With which to conquer trials
Is there some help? Is there some Hope?
A Signpost along Life's miles?

Oh, Yes! Praise God! Rejoice, Be glad!
In Christ, you can be Free
Through Death, He conquered all the pow'r
Of death, our enemy

Oh, death, wherein is now thy Sting
And Grave, thy Victory?

Poem: God Knows

Wind
getting stronger
Clouds
overhead
getting darker
Nightfall
before it is evening
Heat
everywhere
Suffocating
What's that?
That movement up there?
In the sky?
Wind
louder, louder
faster, faster
Trees, fences
flying around
Houses, barns
flying through the air
Ripped, broken
people...
dead

Lord, you see all this
You know what's happening, Lord

We shall still
Trust and Obey
Amid
Storms
And Tornadoes
Of our Physical
And Spiritual
Lives!

Poem: Life's Goal

Living to Love Jesus
Living to praise His name
Striving to serve Him better
To follow in His way

Leaning on my Savior
Abiding in His love
From His arms receiving
Blessings from above

Yes, this is what my Goal is
That Christ shall have my All
Yet, not through my own Power
But, in His strength to stay

Poem: Burden- Free

When the world seems set against you
Talk to God, He'll listen
When your troubles grow into Mountains
Think of others who have needs
When self-pity overtakes every corner
of your mind
Praise the Blessed name of Jesus
Go and help a lonely Brother

Every problem seems to grow
Completely out of shape and proportion
If you dwell on it continually
Thinking you suffer more than others
Didn't Christ bear shame and misery?
Didn't God, His father forsake Him?

Look to Jesus , the example
Place your cares in His right Hand
Now, leave them there and go on living
Walk along His Holy way
Seeking not that God would Bless you
Instead that Others are Blessed
through YOU!

Poem: Thorn in the flesh (on being shy)

Silence can be a virtue
But , you must remember
For everything there is
a season
Being shy, or rather, quiet
can be a curse
Communication between
two strangers
can bring them into
a close relationship
Those that I most want
for friends
Find me unapproachable
because of
The silence barrier
Oh, to cross that Bridge
Why, fight your way over
If I could only get over it
with eaze!

Poem: Hope Beyond Despair

Will I ever be the same
As I was yesterday
So carefree, full of fun andlove
for Life wherever it leads?

Will I once again pursue
A goal which is in sight
Or gain a pleasure just to sit
And talk to friends I meet?

Will my spirit gain new heights
that will be fun to climb
Or will I allow my soul to drag
Beneath the dust and mud?

There's Hope that's dawning over there
A peace that's mine to have
A new assurance that God's best
Is working itself in me.

For all the gloomy days ahead
God has a plan in store
To chasten me and help me grow
Maturity to reach.

I may not get to be perfect
in this flesh here below
But, someday soon He will be back
And receive me up to His Home.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Bible Study with me.

If you would like to do a personal or group Bible study with me or me and my husband, we can either do it over the internet if you live far from Roselle Illinois, or You can phone me and get it set up to do it over the phone since I have free long distance, or I (we) can come to your house. starbucks is also a great place to have coffee and short Bible studies. If you are already a believer and have not received the Baptism of the Spirit, I would love to share with you from God's Word what is his next gift for you. contact me at sumalennox@aol.com

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Golden Retriever Puppies

I do intend to get a separate website for this, but just to let you know - I breed Golden Retriever Puppies. Purebred, AKC, registered. Right now I have none!!! I just sold 9 puppies , but hope to have a litter in fall! t contact me then write sumalennox@aol.com