Peasants beneath Trees at Moret by Camille Pissarro
For God
so loved the world
that He gave
His only begotten
Son,
that whoever believes
in Him
should not perish
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
treatise
Tag Archives: joy
a single drop
Seurat
a single drop, heaven’s tear,
falling from a billowy
home far above…
the moment is just right
to weep for he
who wanders away.
a single petal, with hue of warmth
breaks a long fall
allowing safe passage
to the ground
softly to rest, gently
nourishing parched soil.
a single moment, a cleansing tear
upon my cheek
from blurring my vision
of a harsh day
to clarity of the new life
I see.
a single drop, of eternity.
blood from flesh
grace to the willing
and seeking souls
who now look up and see God’s face
smiling…
(c) 2014 rick stassi
me alone
“Jardin a Eragny” Pissarro
“Let me alone,
For my days are but a breath”
Job 7:16
Let me alone, passing time
For I have so much more to
Ponder and to absorb –
To wonder about things forward
And reflect on things aft.
Let me alone, eroding wind
For I am shielded in godliness
A true and unique
Creation of God –
There is joy in my heart.
Let me alone, wretched noise,
Cacophonous thoughts
And opinions and words
That attempt to clog every artery,
But resistant are mine.
Embrace me now,
Father of all life
No less mine
As I lovingly remember
Your loving heart.
(c) 2014 Rick
going home
“Mondsheine” 1919 Paul Klee
as open doors beckon me
with a revealed realization of full life-
more than one man can imagine
in a lifetime or a string of
lifetimes.
the eternal nature of God:
so much more than
self-goodness and happiness
or impossible distance measured
in redshift;
but the redemption
of a single tarnished soul
by grace alone.
In His grace.
yet how does one
thank eternal Love
for this chance to
really live?
we are but to live and love
Father and brother and sister
til paths of gold
receive our steps and
the pure and crystalline
river flows from
Goodness and we know
we are home.
(c) 2014 Rick Stassi
waning pale
Untitled Abstract 122-12
Artist: Sean Seal
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4 (KJV)
Divinely led from valley low
Once, fitful of this way to go.
All moments claimed by more than me
Try to wrest them back, I plea!
Elements of ashes and dry bones
fervently deny life.
Why do most walk as these element?
I did. Blindness mired in strife.
Why did I let air be breathed?
Into a soul parched received?
I wonder at times what I did
To be counted even as I hid.
And I pray now for your dry bones
You who believe you know the path.
The Lord, without prejudice, sees your heart.
Where flesh is absent love atones
So, I stand in gaps of gray and dry
Watching bones and ashes pass by
Light come forth and rid these souls
Selfish hearts, stubborn, hidden holes.
For there is Light around to see
Certainly it is blinding now
But Love and heart is set free!
Life from death. sinew to bone.
All can be one glorious day
If those would see the truth, the Way
And I can rest in waning pale
Seeking breath for those who fail.
rick
Listening, waiting…
Artist: Rick Stassi
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon 1:7
What do I hear, O Lord?
The voices of many and the ways they afford.
But it brings me strength and movement toward
Growing in Your family in one accord
What do others do, O God?
With a staff and a rod
Within Your kingdom
To those I laud.
What do others see, Father of all?
Obediently forward in their call.
With their eyes ever seeking truth and love.
Joining together, the enemy’s appall
What do others say, Father of Life?
Promoting joy amongst your children rife.
With their hearts in deepening love,
This their weapon – double-edged knife
So, I beg, give me Your word, Father of mine
That direction is heard toward the will of Thine!
That I would be blessed to share your work
As with my loving brethren, You give me that sign.
rick
i heard him say
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.
© 2013 Rick Stassi
[1] Simon & Garfunkel
Love Completed
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NKJV)
and indeed toils for naught
retrospect sought
we seek certain pleasure
in life by world taught
and when we peer
upon life’s year
grains of sand through hand falls
with sadness and a tear
but what shall profit be
under sun? God voice in thee:
toil not but reap from the Wind
My voice first, start from Calvary
for blood has left stain
sin’s scream of pain
from Son of Man
all therefore not in vain.
pray first from heart
as our soul doth part
from toiling plow
to purest love, Lord, Thou art
emptiness we try and see
is in our soul away from Thee
You Lord we wish at hand
and love then comes completedly.
© 2013 Rick Stassi
Our Truth, the Way
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Psalm 144:4 (KJV)
For as we behold angst in our days,
These are the times when our focus on God strays
Be wary of moments of depart
As the enemy shall aim his fiery dart.
But, for what will we gain in attention?
Doesn’t grief and angst strike at mere mention?
Indeed, but awareness is our choice to seek
God’s help from our valley to our peak.
And lack of awareness is surely vain
Empty reason, Man’s painful bane.
For wind and fire shall cull our secret places
We change anew – man with God eternity faces
The sun shall set upon mankind
Never waking again morning to find.
Without sunlight shadows pass
Like the days of man existential harass
There is a way vanity is cast
Our emptiness now in times past
Redemption’s pierce Jesus’ pain
God fills vanity to see life’s gain.
Praise Him on most high
Be aware O grief-stricken sigh.
Soon awakened, resurrection day
Jesus our Saviour, our truth, the Way.
(c) 2013 Rick Stassi
Old Seasons…
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25,26 (NKJV)
Upon this place alone I stay,
I wait for Him to come my way.
Inside my mind all thoughts do roam,
But God of Grace bade me home.
Determined dreams look out beyond
To blackened night, heartless bond.
Shall my heart, my core, look toward a Light?
Piercing darkness with Divine might?
Once we looked within our soul
With selfish reason, its corrupt toll.
Pray seek the Spirit abiding there,
Bringing peace from our Father aware.
Wait for His joy and peace Divine,
Quiet sanctuary & grace align.
But salvation foremost in thoughts and cares
Burdens passed to the One who bears.
The young shall seek with unseasoned mind,
A given time our Lord they shall find.
Their minds vain and settled not
God our King eternally sought.
He shall come to be with you
New seasons of joy and peace so true
Salvation is ours burdens tossed
Jesus our Lord, old seasons lost.
© 2013 Rick Stassi
Jesus, Light of the World 