It's revelation through story, poetry, prophecy and fulfillment
Filled with stories of war, glory, love, sorrow, faith and God
The summation of lives that
Followed Him and Hurt Him
Doubted Him, Experienced His presence
Trusted Him
Betrayed and Disobeyed
Ran away from Him and Hid from Him
Stories of Obedience and Honor
Felt His disappointment and judgment

When I read a book, I find myself there

But this book is not always an easy place to be
It's a mirror
Showing a reflection of the heart
My heart bleeds brokenness and need
But this book
Is also a window into the heart of its author
A heart that is unlike mine, in that it is perfect
And He pens His heart as a letter of love
From a Father to His child

A poem of transparency on humanity and the human condition
And it's here I find myself,
A human, struggling with the human condition
Learning how to love, listen to, and be lead by God
Looking into the mirror, looking into the eyes of God
Plainly seeing all that I am and all that I am not
Not fully understanding what He sees in me, but knowing He sees me
Assured in His knowing, because this book He's given me tells me He's good
He's patient with me
Leading me when I try to walk the other way
Teaching me to trust Him, putting my broken pieces together from the inside out
Reminding me of His words
Of The Word
Who came to be life and light and change my reflection from brokenness and need to one of beauty and redemption

And so I find myself here
A child
Redeemed
Reading His words
Not fully grasping all that He is
But In love with Him just the same

The Question of Oppression

Oppression - unjust and cruel exercise of authority which limits the potential of another.

When the world revolves around “me”, 

I am too busy looking at myself to look to the good of others.  

And so, we deny each other the opportunity to experience a world where everyone matters, 

And matters equally.

The question was raised "Can oppression be avoided or diverted?" 

I struggle to envision a world, this side of heaven, with our imperfections and selfishness and pride, where oppression is avoided or diverted.  

Because people are self-seeking

And oppression is people dependent 

America, as a nation, has made strides toward this end, with the elevation of status for women and all races.  

Sadly, the idea of equality often falls short of the practice of equality.  

We are the individuals that make up the families, the societies, the nations, the world

We are the now, and 

We don't have to resign to the brokenness

For when each of us is working toward a world without oppression it will become better 

One by one we can choose to look outside ourselves

Look outside what we know to be the norm, outside our history (without forgetting it), look outside our hurts, and our pride

We can look up

And work together for a better now, filled with hope for the eternal 

Because, There is a place 

A place where perfection is King

The King knows you and you know Him

There is no oppression or injustice and peace reigns in every heart

Here we work together, not for something better, but as a part of something greater 

We're no longer blinded by ourselves, but see clearly 

It's the Savior who makes us equal

Without exception or expiration

From the time we're little we learn how to earn
Positives and negatives are Reinforced by rewards and reprimands

Victory
Trust
Money
Spankings
Respect
Happiness
Wisdom
Freedom
Punishment
Titles

Earned, through our act of being, our choices, our caring
And, yet at times it seems by sheer luck, misfortune or fate
But it's all earned

And love...
Love is easy to fall into, it's chemistry and connection until it becomes work
And trying and caring
And sacrifice
And REAL
And then it's easy to fall out of
And we learn,
Love too is earned,
Earned when we perform, and put out or put on the facade of something we're not
Earned when we look right and agree and give until there's nothing left
And then it's gone
Lost to the self-seeking temporary of the world
Leaving us empty and believing we may not be worth it

But I know of a freedom that's free
And Of a joy that overrides the happiest of happiness
There's wisdom that's gained by simply asking
A title that can never be stripped away
And a LOVE that is without exception or expiration

God demonstrates His love for us in this; while we were still His enemies, Christ died for us

- Romans 5:8 -

God chose you
Before you knew you needed Him
Before you believed He was real
Before you tried
In the middle of your lacking and mess and sin and fighting Him for control
He paid the ransom
And the victory is found in our giving up
Opposite of all we've ever known is this gift of grace
Ours for the receiving
He calls you daughter, son, beautiful child of the King
You're free from the bondage of sin
There's peace and joy and wisdom and rest in His arms
And He loves you now
As He always has
And always will
Without exception or expiration