lovely and true

August 13, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

grove of trees Renoir

peace comes in drops of rain
light piercing in prismatic plane
with hopeful glances far above
He is near and cradles in love

when do we fill the gap of vanity
and overflow like tourmaline sea?
i ponder inward and see my flaw
knowing God’s restoration in awe

renewal waxes in unfurling leaf
soft green waves silent absence brief
my Creator will not leave my aching heart
He is watchful and shall never part

I hope someday I will see
into myself amber lens free
to see the possibilty of finding anew
what God has always seen lovely and true.

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

a new worship

June 27, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Loriann Signori

storms ebb in pale gray dawn
as first light stirs and
eyes are rubbed in confusion –
for a bit – as thoughts catch up
to this moment.
what we believe we cannot endure,
soon is another victory
claimed with the confidence bred
in the aftermath.
however, listen now and hear:
true victory is realized
in the battle
in a tender cry of joy.
All things are made new
and there is a new worship.
A time when we sacrifice wholly
and give out of pure selflessness
even in biting pain.
There is a glint of light
out of the corner of my eye
and though merely a glint,
truly a beacon of victory
as I am reminded that as we
seek more understanding,
our worship is more than new
as in a fresh day, but new, as if
never been previously seen.
this is my word from God:
That we must cast off trite
daily ritual and seek
perspective through His eyes.
He makes all thing new
and the sweetest moment
happens in a dim morning
awakening – realizing we did not
just endure, but we flourished
and a new heaven and
a new earth beckon with
crystal water of Life flowing
from the throne of the Lord
and He sees it is good.

hope realized

January 2, 2014 by Rick Stassi you

‘Abstract’
Artist Sean Seal

Walking further unto winter’s night
When geese and swans have long taken flight.
The steel-cold winds cuts my heart in half –
I can bear no longer his icy laugh.

I have illusion – a semblance of warm and dry
Yet hope avoids a heart so awry.
I dig ever deeper seeking strength for flight
As coldness, darkness, swallows my might.

Where are you feeble hope?
Why abandon me? In blindness I grope!
Stinging hoarfrost singing calloused feet,
As I peer, rays from a window, my eyes do meet.

And ever so warm flame’s flickering dance.
Gentleness bids me entry with a single glance.
A warm arm o’er my broken, tired frame.
He knew where I was going, He knew from where I came.

O wonderful, shameless, humbly sat I.
In Him I release a decade-long sigh.
I know now of love’s gracious allay,
Through loving eyes, here I shall stay.

O guilt be gone: your promises and lies led,
You’d rather me join’d with guilt, remorse, instead.
But now I lay my head on His lap.
Time’s toll taken, submitted to love’s long nap.
rick

contentment comes

September 22, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Poppies

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6,7 (KJV)

Therefore, “what is contentment?”, me asking forlorn…
I seek with all of my heart, a heart e’er torn.
To my God, imploring answer with reverential fear.
From His heart it comes, with His truth, begins a tear.

Then there stands a poppy, gold and proud,
She and many, so many, blanketing a hillside – color loud.
Content staring at the sun, waiting, for ray of light to show.
What else does she, this poppy, need to know?

Or the robin gathering food and bits to nest,
Busily seeking to gather, no love, no rest.
Ah, but content, she is, to build a place her family for,
Instinctual it is, and to her, there is and shall be no more.

And what of man, what of me?
Where do I look and what do I see?
I am promised much and much is dismissed.
I need something more, something held in my tight fist.

What kind of man will bare his heart?
To ponder the very things promised to we apart.
God wants me to abandon self, die I must!
And I shall rid myself of darkness and gain more trust.

So as I wrestle with thoughts it soon becomes clear
That God purposes for me to draw near.
And with the knowledge of good and evil I find,
The basis of angst and the reeling mind.

“But listen!” He says, unwavering tone, silent ne’er.
“I shed light in your heart to show you thoughts laid bare!
And forget for now robin’s plight and poppy’s witless way.
I give you more. Eternal Life”, He says, “always to stay!”

I rest with this in heart and mind
Rejoicing in what prayers I do find.
And as I shall ask no more, forlorn and lost,
For contentment came with Thorns and Cross.

green and white

September 7, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

O that I should look upon the past
Still salvaging pieces of things You will outlast
Gripping struggles gone long ago
Greener pastures, whiter snow.

But what is this pain inside my core?
A reminder! Espy the Light on distant shore.
For upon Your path I surely go,
Greener pastures, whiter snow.

For You Lord know the way for me
As you bend and mold my image toward Thee.
And sometimes it hurts, this refining show.
Greener pastures, whiter snow.

Shadows hide the eyes of Peace.
Through them I fumble fears increase.
But, forward, faithful, effortless flow.
Greener pastures, whiter snow.

Greener pastures, whiter snow.
A promise that to Thou I surely go.
And sit upon a rock, or tuft of grass,
I did doubt a little though, I sigh alas.

To the depths of Your heart I seek,
Traverse graven valleys, mountain peak.
The promise when I am feeling low,
Greener pastures, whiter snow.

O that Your thoughts would be e’er for me.
I dash all fears upon the sea.
Now looking forward seeds to sow,
Greener pastures, whiter snow.

abandon

August 3, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Phoebe Stassi

“Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21 (NIV)

What is submit? Compare submit as the giving of something to the abandoning of our very soul. A deep contrast. What we give or what we abandon. The first is easy. The transfer of something for one hand to another’s.
But abandon…

So, in submitting to God we are really abandoning ownership of our souls to be transferred from our hand to the Lord’s.
Actually He has purchased our souls and it is up to us to loose the firm grip of straw we incessantly have.
We are those who are frantic over comfort and security. Naively thinking the fading things around us will provide. Naive.

A man can no sooner grab his own collar and lift himself from a pit. So, another must assist. But tragically he awaits at the pit’s bottom as tens of thousands pass by. The world is impersonal. Our despair is not the world’s concern. I submit.

However, if we believe in One greater than ourselves and are at peace with Him – meaning we rest knowing He is there, then the amount of impersonality is meaningless. We are lifted from the pit – from despair – by hands of Love. Maybe, just maybe, those who previously were oblivious to our entrapment in despair, will catch a glimpse. Maybe….

I submit that at our abandoning of our soul to God, His light emanates from now what is His. This will make heads turn. His work is captivating, omnipresent. Some come back to see. Love them even as they once ignored you. Our calm peace in God is infectious.

Finally, then, prosperity. The world talks of prosperity in a different and pompous tone. But we who abandon, possess prosperity in His peace, in His Love, in our eternity. Life is bigger that the sum of all it’s parts. To cross the abyss for the world to eternity requires abandoning our soul. Give up what is not even rightfully ours anymore. As we look from our worldly eyes at this abysmal precipice, we see only the long fall into despair. But abandon transfers. One side to the other and we soon are looking back at impossibility which is now possible. We have comfort and know love and needn’t argue who is right for He is righteous and He rains prosperity on us.

Abandon. Submit. Peace will come. Prosperity is love. God knows and waits.

rick

home

July 11, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

home is a
Light well lit.
There in my heart
discarding my wit.
placing dreams of gold
and arms of love –
pierced then healed,
my guardian shield
subduing fear I feebly wield.
eyes upon my soul now pure
tis my home i reason, so sure
to where He beckons –
to where dew shant dry
and roots shall pry
deep to Living water.
Beacon of hope.
It is home I go
for He is there
His heart shall provoke
my glowing soul upon this night
Dark bird of prey shall now take flight!
For I shall stay home,
and will surely scare
and rebuke the preying dark bird away
for home with God protected I stay.

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.

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.