The Closet

Darkness fills the closet.

My eyes open, but I see no exit.

Built and designed by my enemy,

Its walls are Fear and Insecurity.

Rejection and Shame pave its floor,

Lies shut its door.

One day, the door opens.

A LIGHT beckons.

He holds LOVE, ACCEPTANCE and FORGIVENESS,

"Come", he says, "Receive of my goodness."

I hesitate and doubt.

It's more natural to pout.

My enemy shuts the door,

That I see the LIGHT no more.

"These gifts are not for you.

They are for the new.

You are damaged goods,

To deserve them, you never could."

I take his words to heart.

Why should I get a new start?

Time and again the door opens.

To this LIGHT should I quicken?

One day He offers FREEDOM,

Another day He sets out HOPE.

I believe,

I rise to my feet.

I see His pierced hand stretched out.

It's LOVE, He is about.

I grab on to New Life,

To call Him Daddy is my right.

Never let go,

Defeated is my foe.

Never look back,

Nothing I now lack.

The Search for Security

Security, where are you?

A six figure salary?

A dream home?

Finding Mr. Right?

An excellent education?

A perfect fitting job?

Religion?

A fit and thin body?

Notoriety?

Praise and admiration?

Achievement?

A strong military?

Security answers,

"You will find counterfeits of me in these things.

But they are not lasting and will leave you in want."

"I reside in the Creator of all things.

He is the embodiment of all that I am.

I, Security, dwell in Christ."

"Come to Him and you will find me.

You will be satisfied and whole.

You will no longer fear,

You will no longer want."

The Shawl of Shame

The Shawl of Shame is knit with many threads:

Illegitimate birth,

Secrets kept,

Family rejection and disdain.

The Shawl is heavily adorned.

Sexual abuse keeps the Shawl in place,

Suffocating freedom and life,

Hiding the real person underneath.

Sexual sin and pride then tighten its fit,

Creating guilt and a desire to hide.

Darkness fills the future...

Then LOVE breaks through.

The perfect sacrifice lifts the Shawl.

Forgiveness and New Life are adorned in its place.

Followed by garments of Joy and Praise.

Freedom is now within reach.

God's purpose lived out,

God's name lifted up.

The Shawl of Shame adorns no more.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is power,

Power to move mountains of despair.

Forgiveness is freedom,

Freedom from from attachment to the offender.

Forgiveness is faith,

Faith to let God be the judge.

Forgiveness is maturity,

Maturity to understand the wisdom in letting go.

Forgiveness is strength,

Strength to get up again.

Forgiveness is healing,

Healing from deep wounds.

Forgiveness is life,

Life abundant that Jesus promised.

Weeping in the Night

Weeping may remain for a night,

But Christ brings joy in the morning.

Confusion may come in the darkness,

But understanding dawns with the new day.

Heartache may strike like a thief,

But healing breaks through by His touch.

Lonliness may linger for a season,

But comfort arrives in His presence.

Disillusionment may come in a moment,

But new dreams are born in the heart.

Anger may arise in a flash,

But forgiveness is found at the cross.

Trappings may come by another,

But freedom comes through the Son.

Fear may grip in the shadows,

But power comes by His light.

Sickness may strike in a moment,

But healing comes in His time.

Even death may pass through your doorway,

But life everlasting awaits on the other side.

Weeping may remain for a night,

But Christ brings joy in the morning.

Voices

The voice of pain says

"Why live today?

I will overtake you,

Body, soul and spirit.

I am part of you;

You cannot escape.

Rejection,

Neglect,

Shame,

Lies told,

These are my tools.

Since your birth,

I have used them,

To trample and destroy you."

Yet another Voice speaks...

This One calls in the darkness.

He says, "Come to Me,

I can carry your hurts,

Your rejection,

Your neglect,

Your shame.

I give you the Truth,

Acceptance,

Attention,

Forgiveness.

Rest.

These are my gifts.

From before your birth,

I have saved them for you,

That you may be full,

Body, soul and spirit.

I heal, restore

And make all things new.

Soon we will meet face to face,

The voice of pain silenced forever.

Until then,

Stay in My love,

Drink deep of My Spirit;

And do not lose heart,

For I have overcome the world."

Hope Deferred

Hope Deferred

Hope deferred makes the heart sick

My heart has been ill.

Hoping to be reconciled,

Hoping to be loved,

Hoping to be accepted as his daughter,

Hoping to be brought in close,

And now it is final.

He has passed from this life into the next

These hopes will not be fulfilled.

Yet ALL hope is not lost.

My hope in God the Father remains;

My heart will be healed.

I am reconciled to Him,

I am loved,

I am adopted,

I am brought in close,

It is final.

This hope has been fulfilled!