i heard him say

June 27, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Heidi Brummer

I heard Him say

“and when you ran to me
your cheeks flushed with the night
we walked on frosted fields
of juniper and lamplight
I held your hand”[1]

…and I responded

and when You held out Your hand
warmth from lamplight Oil
I, once barren seed upon the sand
sprouted now from fertile soil

i heard Him say

you opened up your heart
and with peace let me in
even tho you had to part
with old thoughts and aged skin

I see your flushed night face
turn to light
running to me as a child
knowing now what is right

I hold you in my arms
I cradle fear away
I remove you from all harm
with thanks you sincerely pray

I gently wipe away
tears long fallen down
their path show deeper wounds
Onto my path now! without a sound

So I heard the Lord speak to me
Through song and bird upon a tree
I hasten toward that heartfelt cry
for now my soul shalt never die.

[1] Simon & Garfunkel

embraced

June 25, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Sean Seal

Embers glowing, fire bright
Warmth protrudes from what is light
From afar we view, you take my hand
Such distance to travel to this venerated land
Through freezing field I traipse a pilgrim’s journey
But I worry not because you’re with me
And tarry not, the gait is swift
A lightened load gives me a lift
Our teardrop joins, hearts both break
For broken, disheartened, souls yet to wake
How I love this walk – time with you
In this moment virtues ne’er misconstrue
My feet are cold, the hoarfrost stings
I shall endure these trifling things
I waver once and look at you
Eyes of brown, hazel and blue
All of the colors, spectrum bright
The warmth afar yet still in sight.
You and I alone in this space
Time to thank, sing, embrace
For your hand I hold on dear
Removes all doubt, removes all fear
I love you now with all my heart
You love me too right from the start
And frosted path is stinging feet
Endure it now until Maker meet
I shall endure as life meanders well
Ever with you gives so much to tell
Closer now, face dark to light
’twas not me, ’twas your might
Rapping now upon the door
Peaceful…feet they sting no more
And bright inside shines ember glow
I look outside to see the snow
Another comes, soon even more
An ever rapping to narrow door
Love is bright and frost is cold
Time to realize young to old
But only in this earthly place
For by the fire, age disgrace
And I am calm, ’tis peacefulness
All I have seen gone to rest
But surprisingly joy is at hand
My presence embraced, His demand.

scattered

June 21, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

artist: sean seal

“…he loved them unto the end” John 13:1 (KJV)

seeking the sweetness of true love.
bound to a series of feelings inside
my heart, as it breaks daily
allowing worldly collide.
for love is a dream – an idea of rare things:
gentle jonquils, sunsets, diamond rings.
holding someone dear, in my arms,
as scattered thoughts ignite alarm.
for true love is and shall always be
from God to us unto the end by way of a tree.

Feathers and Iron

June 14, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Untitled Abstract 61-12
Artist: Sean Seal

“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
Colossians 1:11

O the strength and all the might
Epic proportion never contrite
Power beyond iron will as
Iron will melt at His sight.

O to level mountains and drain the seas
Glorious God teach patience please
Enrich my soul with endurance long
Restless ardor, angst shall cease.

And the hand that wields
Shall joyfully adorn the fields
With peace and grains for the wild
All for down feathers and iron shields

the end

Regarding a Fowl

June 12, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Sean Seal

“He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler”
Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)

“By natural instinct she not only protects them, but calls them under that protection when she sees them in danger, not only keeps them safe, but cherishes them and keeps them warm.” Matthew Henry – regarding a fowl.

Covering is ours indicating protection
Feathers defining His compassionate selection
Refuge is our fortress, our safety, our Rock
Truth being the pinnacle of our focus, the key to unlock
Shield is this truth fortified ’tis true
Buckler shall stand just as our shield shall too

God beckons us in a way that shows His deep care
And we come to Him when we are aware
Of danger thrown by the enemy’s sling
And God’s truth is His steadfast wing
This truth is His Word and impenetrable it is
But within the truth is soft down bliss.

So with the first sign of the enemy’s attack,
The Lord shouts our return to Him: Come back!
We learn to recognize these times aware
Of His presence and care
Thus is our anthem as a believer we ne’er flail
With our eyes ever seeking, His promises ne’er fail.

Concentric

June 9, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Pressing into every joint,
Into His omniscience we immerse.
His Spirit strong at a single point,
Outward, direct, sure, never adverse

With the spherical radii we reach into
The Cloud of wisdom, love around.
Infinite presence stable and true
We know, we just know, without a sound.

For God is there, in all direction
And to be sure the Spirit has His place.
Concentrically immersed in His affection
Influence from single point to His shining face.

Each of us children of dispersion
Walk upon His graceful path
All because of our immersion,
Avoiding, ever, Satan’s wrath.

A circle within a larger one
Center point thus shared.
Concentric is our Spiritual soul
With God’s omniscience, Eternity bared.

So unique we are in abundant grace
Spherically, to see all ways, designed
That we would run a greater race
Our sphere-ness is thus refined

For we can reach only so far,
For now…He deems this best.
Our vision of God is our radius
Our faith with us til our rest.

Centric

June 4, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

“…where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.”
John 19:18 (NKJV)

Centric is the point of origin,
Where souls radiate what is God allowed.
Starting at this point within,
Wherefrom flows a Light and a Cloud

Centric from within my soul
Emanates Love’s lighted ray.
‘Tis my joyful role,
With hopeful obedience, anyway.

Centric with left and right.
Metaphorically written anon,
There sits dark and light
Lost e’er for the scoffer, but paradise the other one

Jesus

Centric is at Calvary: Look right, look left!
Sin nailed to the tree
All darkness thus bereft.
Centric now Salvation be.

Cry ye ones who seek for more
The ‘more’ you seek is close
And coming close to Narrow Door,
Centric Spirit cries “Death! Morose”.

Centric is the point of origin,
Where souls radiate what is God allowed.
Starting at this point within,
Wherefrom flows a Light and a Cloud

flailing at darkness, uncertainty lost

June 2, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist Credit: Sean Seal

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.”
1 Corinthians 9:25,26 (NKJV)

so where is it that one should strive?
to win a race that we contrive?
to rush about is foolish still
to win a crown, not of God’s will

yet we try alone
under the strength of sinew and bone
to pull ahead of the slower one
and be satisfied for a fruitless race well run

all for naught in this season’s light
for alone is Sorrow’s, fruitless plight
perishable is the crown for which we compete
bypassing the Lord Who will complete

so awaken thus with determined heart
the race has begun, His good work’s start
my mood is level with steady gait
imperishable crown at end awaits

so i take on this godly feat
uncertain once, at emptiness my flailing fists beat
dark uncertainty shant admit defeat
against dark shadows I shall no longer compete

light falls upon victorious dawn
a hand of strength helps us along
and each day a new certainty
that God will increase, His eyes we see.