treatise 2

August 1, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

Pablo Picasso

For now
we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
now I know in part;
but then shall I know
even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

How I long to
See deeper into
My soul
To understand
How God sees me
And you.

Would I then
Learn to love
Even more
As I see
the depth of
His love?

rickjstassi

treatise

July 31, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

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

for we who cry

October 29, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artandarts.com

In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.
Psalm 138:3 (NKJV)

Who do we fool? What fears we mask as we seek. Primitive reason lurking about our minds…

We have a refusal to think outside the plane that is endless in all directions – infinite really. Is it because we are finite and dare not venture out of comfortable places?

Why do we seek for the endless and settle for the end. Our means thwarted by a consciousness stopped short. It make no sense to look at the stars and clasp shut our thinking lest it is unbearably challenged with things beyond the stars – before the stars. We want peace and we want love and yet we deny the very One who will freely give these things. Our means always justify our end, because we make it that way.

What is desire? I wonder. I mean our desire for depth not the superficial. It is hard for us to let go of these things that we believe in. These things that we clasp in our hands day-to-day. All soon are gone. The crushed petals of a flower held tightly in our clenched fists. Soon gone…Yet we shall not budge from the stubborn hold on our way. Man would rather deny God to clasp unrealistically where he finds comfort. Adventure is lost but so much more: full life is traded for petals soon faded.

These things are what we are accustomed to. Yet isn’t it odd we are drawn passed the stars on clear cool nights? Then thoughts of eternity turn to our purpose and our purpose turns to our reason and then we stop. There is no ladder than can reach the stars for the man who will not let go of himself. We must ask beyond our reason.

Jacob asked, he wrestled with God. Are we any different? Who are You God? Show Your face and make me a ladder that spans God and Man – eternal and temporal….

So He answered for we who cry out.

rick

a prayer for a thistle

September 17, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Revelations 21:5 (KJV)

Your guardian eyes so warm, removing harm and protecting my way each day. Watched over, I feel safe, secure and steeped in Love. It is Your eyes, Lord, that see me through each abrasion and each incident, turning mismatched moments into seeds of goodness planted deep into my soul. O blissful thought. Watchful eyes turning a bitter and acrid outlook into welcoming warmth. Yes, this is how I hope to be: drawing those into my warmth You provided rather than exuding the bitter glare of the past things in me still half hidden. It is Your guardian eyes that envelope me.

In Your goodness, I forge through paths of nettles and thistle. A thorny weed with a pretty flower is still a thorny weed. Discern appearances, lest be deceived. You tell me this in my heart – answering my prayer, knowing I am mismatched with the surroundings I am in. Separated into goodness. So many scratches on my legs. I was drawn in by the thistle and her pretty purples and blues. Captivated, my eyes deceptively were drawn in. However, I listen to You and know even weeds deserve love. I see their way, misled perspective – short and shallow. They are the remnants of seeds planted on soil not quite prepared enough. Nutrients escape and the hardened clay offers a bed where adaptation is required to survive. Even then, the purples lure. The best you can do poor thistle. Compassion burns within me. God’s goodness brings hope.

Your unmistakable voice, O Lord, thunder and lightning, across valleys scorching mountain tops. Righteousness and truth ought be remembered: “I am God and I am with you”. For the ages. I hear You Father. You will shout and you will whisper. A shout is necessary for me wading ever deeper into the river ready to carry all things to nowhere. I turn back to the water’s edge. Then at night with gentle moon and quiet stars you whisper sweet psalms of joy and wisdom into my heart. It is Your love, both ways. You saved me from the sweeping river to nowhere to bless me with whispers of love. So warm, so loved.

Your guardian eyes, Lord. Steel gaze on all things around. No less me with my eyes looking back. A single tear, a prayer for a thistle. You see her Father. I do too, praying I do through Your eyes. For what You have done for me is ever engraved in my soul and I must break ground and harrow clay to loam. Nutrients are in Your Word and water from Your Spirit. Plant seeds anew and where the thistle once only adapted and survived. Now a blanket of jonquils, daisies, and tulips color the land with yellows and reds. Figs and pears come from trunks stout and firm – roots well watered. Wheat grows for bread. Daily bread.

Oh how I love You. Can I love You more? These days pass and ahead is the horizon – sun waning and moon waxing. All the splendor of Your harmonious way. Help me Lord forge through. To see good. To forgive those adapted to bad. To see guardian eyes looking down upon my upward gaze, Warm, I am, and Loved too. It is wonderful in this way Father. Your path under Your gaze and guided by Your voice. All is bliss, heaven and earth.

Somber Fragments

August 24, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

“Under the Apple Tree”
Artist: Sean Seal

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 (NKJV)

Repentance, Lord, we call to Thee,
Depths of heart hesitant to see.
You alone know us well –
Somber fragments You alone know to quell.

Remorseful heart, spirit crushed,
Lord, Your plan is never rushed.
Seeking solace and clarity
In you eyes I look to see.

Repentance, Lord, a sinner’s heart.
World wanes, I drift apart.
Sanctified by Blood so pure
Ever safe from carnal lure.

Remorseful heart now fades away,
As joyful countenance now holds sway.
And You see growth in what You do
Draw me closer, make me new.

Listening, waiting…

July 22, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

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

Now reborn

July 4, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
Psalm 77:6 (KJV)

So, what is this song haunting so deep?
Passed melodies I once did reap.
I call upon darkened past
To view a journey, shadow cast.

In this shadow, I see my face,
Sullen eyes, somber pace.
Never enough to fill my soul!
Downtrodden heart, sorrowful role.

Remembrance of obedience lost.
Try to find! I must, I must at all cost.
For what I knew and what I now know,
Shows me why my pace was so slow.

Happiness is kindled straw ablaze,
Resting on time I shall only raze.
“But soon, but soon,” my Lord did say,
Your somber steps shall come my way.

Summer songs, haunting heart
To search and toss so as to part.
Only to find songs will stay
In caverns deep attempt hold sway.

Darkness, light, converge to a point
where He is, the One who God did Anoint.
Now all caverns deep inside,
Searched each day, time to bide.

So, search me Lord, I wait for You
Your diligence mine, O mine so true
A song is heard in echo at morn
A new soul is now reborn.

Concerning a Seed

May 15, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist Credit: Sean Seal

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; Romans 1: 3 (KJV)

Concerning a Seed upon the ground
Tilled into soil all warmth surround
Consider how it may grasp from me
Endless thoughts of eternity

Concerning the Seed first long ago
Bleating lambs, cow’s sorrowful low
Consider how the path of all thing are
One night, one star, One from afar

Concerning a Seed from a bed of soil
Sprouts a root anointed in oil
Consider His walk, long, narrow
To showeth hope through adorned sparrow

Concerning a person, me and you
Immersing, crying, seeing Him anew
Consider His influence, truth and fear
Reverence now to hearts so dear.

Seek all ye Jesus our Saviour e’er more
Placing love firmly at our soul’s door
Consider how we shall act in return
Concerning a Seed love’s lesson to learn.

I pray true love will come for you.

Crimson on White

April 19, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” Matthew 16:24 (KJV)

Where shall I go
O Lord, O Lord?
With mountains to climb
And stream to ford.
I shall follow You.

What should I do
O Lord, O Lord?
With the hopeless at hand
And peace in demand.
I shall do as You do

How shall I act
O Lord, O Lord?
With willing heart
And humble start
I shall act godly today.

When should I go
O Lord, O Lord?
To those crying, run
With teary eyes, setting Sun.
I will go now.

How I love You
O Lord, O Lord.
Crimson on white
Perfectly upright.
In Your arms I rest.

Immersion in Grace

April 17, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Colossians 1:9-11

I am inspired always by the Lord’s word. The cause mentioned above is love unto the Spirit. But me? I spend my days in haste. I spend time in motions of survival. I am tired. I weep and I laugh. I am curious and I am wary. I love and I dislike. O how I hate to dislike. It is abrasive. At times I just need to shout, no, let me scream! Spiraling, I digress as I am really joyful on most days. Today is a day of thoughts.

Ever-watching is God and ever-listening is me. Ever-responding to the Lord’s voice is….well, me most of the time. We have a relationship. He has laid before me all wealth and love. He has provided for me. He has poured wisdom upon me and I soak it in like laying in a cool pool of water on a hot day. Immersed and in the His arms.

There is a path in my mind that runs from the tip of my toes (not even an inch behind), to the setting sun. It is my future, my destiny, my life laid before me. God gives me many visions and glimpses into places upon this path – even to my time of glory. There are many smiles, many surprises, and change awaiting. I see growth and I see my wife and I together for all time here and there on this earth. I seem to wait and bide time. How I wish I would participate in every moment. I may regret that someday…

For all that I see, the beauty and light, there are wrinkles in the road I walk upon. The enemy places crumbs of bread in a tidy trail – one after another. They spin off from the road’s center to the right and left like the arcs of subatomic particles at post-collision. Spin off right and fade, spin off left, fade. How do I see a clear future even as far as heaven, and still stop to follow a row of bread crumbs, nose to the ground? A paradox?

I almost feel it is under-appreciation for God’s grace sometimes. Each day after another is beautiful! I long to be upright and walking straight bathed in the adjectives and attributes that flow so eloquently from Paul’s heart:

Wisdom
Spiritual Understanding
Worthy
Fruitful
…and on.

I am made to focus on this moment. Yet I get so wound up in angst. It is in my genes. What once drinking medicated, I must let God fill.

Yet I forget.
I am sorry for this and that
My reasons for shortcomings are usually not that great
I shall remember: Such is our nature, I must go easy on myself.

The ramblings of a man in mid-life. I see mortality and I see immortality. I see death and birth. I trust God yet I walk aimlessly after crumbs of deception. It is life and I like life. I thank God I can see all this. If not, I spiral and careen to paths of emptiness. In His grace, I can love. O how I love the Lord and what He tells me through countless conversations and through His words for all ages in Scripture.

The pool of immersion. Bathing in cool water – head partway under water to drown out noise. Weightless and cradled in His arms. I know His love. I try and love others. This love breathes in and breathes out: ever-sustaining our lives. Smiles and laughing, tears and crying. All incite such a compassion. I can see the heart of those around me and it is the eyes of souls that meet. It is immersion in each moment, each conversation, each action. Under the water I hear nothing but the voice of God. He says it is good. That is good enough for me.

Rick
April 17, 2013