God and Oil

Oil boils from the earth into the sea,

Released by the hand of man.

God looks on

But does nothing or so it seems.

God looks on and weeps
For his creation.

So many gifts have been laid

At humankind's feet.

We squander them one by one.

We pollute the land we live on.

We pollute the air we breath.

We pollute the fresh waters.

Now the ocean fills with our mistake.

We cry to God for mercy.

The Almighty reminds us of his promise

Of Infinite Forgiveness.

The Prince of Peace reminds us that

He will be with us always 

Even to the end of the world.

The Comforter reminds us

He came to be with us,

Not to deliver us

From the consequences of our misdeeds.

Salvation there is,

But the scars we cause on others,

On this world,

Are not erased.

Forgive us.

Forgive.

Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Water is blue, Vegetation red, and Oil silver.

Prayer for Haiti

God, I know that you are everywhere

And I worship you.

Yet my heart cries out

Because of the suffering of

The people of Haiti.

Why, Lord?

I do not hear your answer.

I turn to the Bible.

Jesus says death does not come from sin

When buildings fall and kill.

But Jesus does not tell us why
Buildings fall.

Do you refuse to answer, God?

Is your answer the one you gave to Job

When you showed your majesty and power?

Is the answer beyond our comprehension?

Some say

If we are to have free will

This universe must be as it is

With suffering and death.

I do not know.

Lord, give me understanding.

Wrap your love around the suffering

In Haiti.

Ease their pain and

Give them solace.

Let them know you are there.

That is your promise:

"I am with you always."

The Comforter walks among

The ruins in Haiti

Just as the Spirit stood by
Christ on the Cross.

Let all of Haiti

Know the Counselor

As he holds each person close,

Dead to us or alive to us

But all alive to God.

Photo by United Nations Development Programme

I Am With You

"Lo, I am with you always,
Even unto the end of the world."
With these words of the risen Christ,
Matthew ends his Gospel.
This is Christ's promise,
Not to protect us from the world,
But to be with us.
We are never alone,
In sickness, pain, or deprivation.
God is always there,
Crying when we mourn,
Hurting when we suffer,
Laughing when we are happy,
Holding us when we die.
Our companion, our life.

Photo courtesy NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Time and Chance

...the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

The words of Ecclesiastes
Do not bring comfort.
They are not the words
Of the gurus of this modern day,
But they still ring true.
We live in a capricious world.
We want to believe that
We control our destiny.
We do not.
Only God is in control.
We must trust his purpose,
Though for us the path is difficult
And the world is filled with pain.
Christ did not promise ease.
Christ promised to be with us.

Photo by fancycanoe

Seek Me

Last night I gazed into the sky
And beheld the miracle of the light:
From the moon,
From the planets,
From the stars.
I marvel at the vastness of space.
Where in this infinite emptiness do I find You?
I remember Your promise.
To be with us always.
I will keep that in my heart,
And not feel so alone,
So insignificant.
When I gaze into the heavens
I will remember that throughout history
God sought us.
Seek me.

Always

"I am with you always,

even unto the end of the world."

Matthew 28:20

Lord, I'm impatient for spring,
But winter continues to battle on
With gray days and damp skies.
I need to know that spring will come
Just as I need to know that you will come.
Lord, I thank you for your promise
To be with us always.
Let me know the reality of that promise
As I try to be your follower.