Category: poetry

Oak leaves ruffling
Captured by the sound
Spring’s gentle breeze
Familiar calm abounds

Indelible hope
Nestled within
Something is stirring
Strokes of The Author’s pen

Glimpse the page
“Haven’t I commanded
Be Strong and courageous“
Neither alone nor empty handed

Moses had a staff
David had stones
The Israelites marched
Significant undertones

Ubiquitous bristling
Is heard throughout
Footsteps prevailed
Until the ordered shout

The leaves bustle together
Atop the trees
Erasing a faint memory
Of hard winters freeze

He does comfort
Our Giver of life
Springs gentle breeze
Balm for strife

Life has emerged
His promises reign
Soft like spring
Solace for pain

The tides have turned
The fight is real
Only In Christ’ Name
Is the Victory sealed

© laurette laster 2021

Oh how I missed the fragrance of privet blooms this year. The heavenly fragrance permeating the fresh spring air with the tender white pedals adorning the trees, they didn’t happen this year. The butterflies visited but without the sweet nectar couldn’t linger. Typically the spring would find privets a busy metropolis, amassing with excitement, the working of the bees and the butterflies gathering and distributing the precious pollen.

This year was difficult, desolate and sadly different. The privets were bare, unable to offer their delightful fare. No nectar or long visits from the honey bees and butterflies. Were the privets dead? I had almost given up hope. Not from the root for life was emerging with tender new shoots, but what about the branches, could they live? Would they bear fruit, fruit of the vine or would they require cutting off, only to be thrown into the fire and burned? Oh the thoughts, the uncertainty, the unanswered questions. No one had the answers I searched for or longed for.

Researching, I learned pruning would be necessary and then to watch. You know wait and see! Like faith, when we hope but haven’t seen.

We must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest. So you also, keep your hopes high and be patient, for the presence of the Lord is drawing closer. (James 5‬‬).

Seeing this little bloom gave me hope. The excitement I felt was different. This wasn’t an emotional excitement, believing everything would continue as usual, no hallelujahs and dancing, but rather a deep understanding of rebuilding from deep within and getting back to the basics. Like the farmer waits, yes waiting for the precious fruit, the fruit of the vine.

The darkest hour is on the verge of day…

My understanding has grown much deeper, giving me new perspective concerning “indelible hope”. We cannot be moved by what we see or how we feel. Every faith person would agree but this is a hard fight. We cannot quit, Especially not now. America has suffered a hard freeze, a damaging freeze, and time like I’ve not seen in my lifetime but there is life and new growth in the branches.

America will recover. I truly believe America will bloom again. We will be covered in blooms and nourish nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most importantly we will guard and protect Israel. If you search the beginning and the prosperity of the United States of America from our inception, we find Christianity as our rebar and protecting Israel our blessing from the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12).

“He cares for the branches connected to Me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest” (John‬ ‭15:2‬ ‭TPT).‬‬

And yes just as Jesus taught, those who abide in Him will bear fruit, fruit that lasts. (John 15) This is fruit that not only nourishes, but teaches allowing seeds for planting. Those who refuse Him will be destroyed, cut off and thrown into the fire.

The spring rains softened the ground, allowing me to dig up and remove the entire root ball of green briars. There is indelible hope in everything that is happening.

Sing o barren one, We will bloom again!

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me.

Blessings Laurette

“But only the redeemed will walk there, and those The Lord has rescued will return” (Isaiah 35: 9).

Sometimes when I cry
My heart becomes sad
But then I remember
He said rejoice and be glad

Sometimes when I surrender
The pain and distress
Again I am quickened
This is only a test

When the time is right
These things will work together
For the good of the One
In this storm with me to weather

Sometimes when my heart
Is fragile and aches
I’m reminded
We will awake

To righteousness and goodness
Grace and love
All streaming down
Likened to a heavenly dove

Weighty and glorious
Tender and light
No time to stumble
Fight the good fight

Sometimes when I cry
He dries my tears
Other times sits quietly
As I battle the fears

Sometimes in laughter
The regaling and fun
Everything is worth it
When I’m one with The Son

Sometimes is generic
Not really His Name
He is the Great I Am
Today and forever always the same

Christ The Lord is with us in laughter
Also in the pain
But never oh never
Is it without gain

© laurette laster 2019

Yesterday my heart jumped with excitement seeing the tiniest new rose bud. Can you find it? I don’t believe I’ve seen such a tiny bud.
This small plant is approximately 3X3” wide and about 3” high. A root from a rose bush I transplanted last year; freeing it from a pot to a bed. A very determined main root had grown through the drain in the bottom of the pot. In search of and finding the lush, nutrient rich, moist ground beneath, this root began to grow deep into the soil. I’ve protected this tiny shoot since noticing the growth.

I actually expected it would grow into a new rose bush. When cutting the root to free the rose bush from the pot, I believed and wondered. I was careful to cut the root, not wanting to uproot it. When noticing the new growth, immediately I placed a guard around this tender new shoot.

I’ve protected this tender shoot through the hot summer, watering it, prayed for it during the bitter harsh cold leaving it beneath leaves for mulch desiring so much for it to survive, guarded this new growth from being mowed down or forgotten. And yes, according to His promise, from Isaiah 55: 10-11 we have a new emerging rose bush.

How much more our God watches over the redeemed, and those not yet redeemed during this season.
The life springing forth from this root will be another beautiful white drift rose bush, soon bursting forth with life, flocked with fragrant white blooms, filling the air with a delightful aroma as only roses can. This gives me hope.

We can take comfort in knowing He will not fail. Yes we will awake, and yes we will rejoice in our God! For we are growing from the Main Root which is Christ our Lord, and He watches over our coming and our going from this day and forevermore. Because it is a promise from Him and we are the planting of The Lord, (Isaiah 61:3).

“They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away”
(Isaiah 35: 9-10).

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

The Day of The Lord

In times past God spoke in peals of thunder
With shouts of rain and lightening
So fierce were these sights
Even Moses found them frightening

The Perfect work complete at Calvary
At The Cross redemption’s red glow
Now in the still small voice
Jesus blood speaks a better word we know

Now He speaks in drops of rain
Silver and streaming down
His Voice gently saturating
As mornings dew covering the ground

He speaks in tender snowflakes
Quietly drifting over a town
Covering the earth
Comfort as blanket of soft down

I hear Him speak in buds that appear
In springtimes fresh new glow
Buds that burst forth with life
Eager to bloom and grow

I listened in summers soft breeze
on a warm and sunny day
When softly against my skin
I sensed His touch brush my way

He created all this to appear
Before our very eyes
Each different yet beautiful
Offerings of new surprise

He speaks in magnificent sunrises
To help us recognize the time
offers of unrequited newness
with its own unique shine

The sun never dims or loses its shine
or seemingly wasting away
Because with each new shining
We are coming closer to ‘The Day.’

He speaks in times of setting
The going down of the same
To teach this valuable lesson
Consistency is HIs Name

He is The Alpha and Omega
The Bright and Holy One
He is Aleph and The Tav
Consistent like the sun

He is that He is; and always will be
Long Suffering, Kind and Loving
He is Gracious and Merciful while calling
Softly and tenderly, never shoving

Do not become distracted
From the beauty He created us to see
every beautiful sunrise and sunset
He is saying, ‘The Day’ Is to remind you of Me!

© laurette laster 2018 April

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:21-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time. Thank you for listening with me. Laurette

The Week of His Passion

Now the week of His passion
They surely wanted Him dead
How to carry out this evil
Keep the crowd going ahead

They wanted to avoid a riot
trying to cover up their scheme
It was the Passover celebration
Thousands gathering, the crowd could turn mean

Jesus went about cleansing the temple
And delivering all the woes
They desired even more,
His life to simply dispose

He gave attention to last details
Instructing His disciples to follow
Unleavened bread, bread of affliction
Isn’t He called the Man of sorrows

The last supper, Passover meal
He stood and did boldly proclaim
He uncovered the way and the plan
His body and blood our claim

Jesus said, “This cup is my blood
Blessed and poured out for you
When you drink it remember
for as often as you do.”

They seeking to take His life
How foolish could they be
It wasn’t theirs to take
He would lay it down willingly

Through all the pain He didn’t speak
His life was not His own
He and God did make this plan
His will and His alone

Behold I make all things new;
His heart and mind steadfast
But they didn’t understand
they needed Him gone, and fast

Thinking to do away with Him
And get this hushed away
Only later to realize,
Behold, Salvation’s Way

Through the scourging and berating
brutality and pain,
for the joy set before Him
At the Cross, He endured the shame

The week of His Passion
Free will offering poured out
He laid down His life gave His all
Now we know without a doubt

His perfect work was finished
And we do have our place
Secured for all who believe
Until we see Him face to face

© laurette laster 2019

Have you ever stopped to consider Jesus Christ’s intentionality when He fashioned the whip?

The purpose, The plans, The Passion of driving out what was not Holy from the house of God. He worked literally and diligently while preparing to cleanse once and for, making propitiation for our sin, placing His blood on the mercy seat in heaven.

He fashioned, working with His hands, with intention, with purpose, making, twisting or braiding a whip where with to drive out the money changers from the temple courts. This gesture was neither weak nor passive. This was intentional and bold!

“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:10-15‬ ‭

He is able to save all who come to Him!

If you haven’t already, now is the time and today is the day, prepare your heart, be intentional!

Blessings as we enter the remembrance of the Holy season of our Great Deliverance.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

Things are fixing to get ugly, poor, violent, and devastating. Welcome to Joe Biden’s America. Because I voted for Donald Trump, I own no part in the…

SOON, CHRISTIANS WHO VOTED FOR BIDEN WILL FACE A RECKONING

The Awe of a Child

Give me the awe of a child
The determination to go all in
Along with the strength of an ox
Show me how to begin

Teach me I am made for this
For challenges yet concealed
Hide me in the cleft of the Rock
Where Your Glory is revealed

Show me again the snapshots
Of the God inside of me
Let glee with wonder and excitement gush
Never tire, surrender willingly

I know what I believe
Like a child oblivious to the trial
Keep me focused on You Lord Jesus
Mile after very long mile

Yes Give me the wonder of a child
Tackling obstacles ahead
Never intimidated by the challenge
Or peering through a sense of dread

Yes, that awe invoking desire
To make it no matter what
The place where champions arise,
Refuse to quit and never give up

© laurette laster February 2021

Praying, I caught a glimpse of a child, looking intently, totally focused, standing in front of a staircase. I remembered I’ve never seen a child that doesn’t immediately attempt to climb stairs or staircases.

What is in the crawling baby or toddler that intrigues them, what or perhaps the question is Who is calling them to the climb? What is it about the challenge; devoid of fear, not understanding the daunting trial that lay ahead, not to mention the fatigue sure to ensue from the immature muscles not yet mastering the motor skills? Why are they so determined? Not only physically incapable, they are not steady enough and certainly cannot comprehend the height, the length, the depth…then I paused, oh!

Oh, this is a truth we need to grasp and begin the climb, or begin again. Look at this challenge with excitement and determination, not dread of failure.

I’m so amazed that children immediately tackle the tough stuff, you know impossible staircases unmoved by the possibility of failure or falling. Unaware they are alone. Not comparing their climb with anyone else’s. With short legs, no instruction, no teaching, and without OSHA available pointing out the dangers, and lack of safety equipment, the endless violations; they climb, over and over and over again!
And then I prayed, Lord Jesus, give me the wonder of a child where faith is concerned.

I remembered Jacob at Bethel, his dream encounter about stairs, angels ascending and descending. Then I sensed, as children we are not unfamiliar with the stairs at all, we are born inherently knowing we are born for the journey.

The message I sense is that no matter how overwhelming the obstacle or calamity of our day, this is our climb, we are made for the obstacles and we are never doing it in our own strength! Over and over is how we gain strength. We’ve climbed before and we will again.

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭AMP

‬‬God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom. Until next time, thank your for listening with me. Laurette

Nancy Pelosi fears Donald Trump so much that she has become so deranged as to try to impeach him, even though he is now a private citizen! Her goal …

DONALD TRUMP FOUGHT FOR US. NOW IT IS OUR TURN TO FIGHT FOR HIM.

Reaching for Hem

Reaching to the hem
Of His garment as He goes
Desperate for an encounter
Drag me don’t let me go

I’ve sought the help of others
Ones who say they know
My eye is on the Hem
This isn’t for a show

Pressing through the crowd
I don’t care what it costs
Let them think what they will
When I touch Him will I be tossed

Punished for breaking the law
Set aside possibly banished
Desperate I no longer care
Healed then I’ll vanish

I know He has all power
There is healing in His wings
I will be made whole with one touch
At the garment hem of my King

© laurette laster Jan 31, 2020

Salvation, all encompassing, made perfect by faith in Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Have Faith in God, and push through in-spite of consequences.

From Isaiah 51:5
My salvation has gone forth…
My salvation
יִשְׁעִ֔י (yiš·‘î)
Noun – masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong’s Hebrew 3468: Deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety, welfare

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette