Category: poetry
It Is Free “Not Cheap”
It Is Free “Not Cheap”
Grace changes everything
The Work Jesus Accomplished is Holy!
John 1:17 grace and truth came through Jesus Christ-
I write under inspiration
To share this story
I write under inspiration
To help set the captives free
He gifted me the ability
To share in all He has done
It is under His inspiration
The poetry doth come
He called my name and beckoned
I didn’t understand
Until came the inspiration
Summoned by His hand
I long to share the truth
Of a life of liberty
I write under His inspiration
To the God who set me free
It rhymes and has rhythm
Songs can freely flow
Under His inspiration
The gift began to grow
If you know the Author
He is summoning to you
Come up higher and closer
It’s up to you to choose
I write under inspiration
The story of His Son
About our God so Holy
To tell of all He’s done
His grace though freely given
In a world that makes it cheap
But just remember this one thing
It is mountain-ness steep
You cannot make Him common
Holy is the work He accomplished
He came to lift and take us out
His authority for the impoverished
To show those who see
Authority in His name
He did rise again
And expects from us the same
We must come up higher
Walk in His commandments and ways
Because these gifts and callings
Crucial for the coming days
I write under inspiration
To the struggling and the lost
Their are those who try to cheapen
Remember JESUS paid the ultimate cost
So as they peddle grace
Like tricks turned on the street
When grace is truly tasted
You’ll walk to a different beat
Beware of those who say
You can be happy in your sin
That is a lie and deception
Slithering in the vipers den
Snakes slither on their bellies
Licking up the dust
Set your thoughts above
Where neither moth nor rust
His power and grace have purpose
Eternal things spiritually discerned
It for this one reason
That earthly trash can be unlearned
So if you’re happy in your sin
Telling others this is grace
You my friend are spitting
In The Masters face
So please don’t make Him common
Holy is the work He accomplished
He came to lift and take us out
His authority for the impoverished
I write under inspiration
Today I feel I must warn
Those who want to cheapen grace
Have not truly been reborn
© laurette laster
Recently in prayer, in the early morning hours, this poem flowed.
First let me say and clarify, I am a recipient of God’s Amazing Grace. It is free, but it is not cheap.
There are some articles and posts I recently read that caused a twist in my gut, if I can speak plainly. Grace is free but it is not CHEAP. Recently as I was praying about my attitude The Lord revealed to me, my attitude isn’t off, I am discerning that there are those who are peddling His Holy Grace like cheap tricks with no real commitment or covenant rights.
Mercy covers all, grace came through Jesus Christ.
It is like paying a prostitute for sex, while exclaiming you are making love. Making love is confined within covenant, and this by God’s design. God has designed the art of love making to be between one man and one woman, in the art of Holy matrimony. I realize it may not be the most popular idea but it is His Holy Design and cannot be changed.
I know God’s Great Grace is freely available for anyone, regardless of what they’ve done or where they come from. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven and there is no sinner so far gone that cannot be changed by His Amazing Grace.
However when grace touches the (sinner) recipient, the sinner is changed at the very core and is made brand new.
If you haven’t been changed in the inner man, you weren’t touched and have not tasted His grace.
Romans 5
The apostle Paul says the old has passed away and the new is here.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone.
The grace Jesus Christ offers, lifts us up and out of a pit. Here are a few translations: a slimy pit, the pit of despair, a pit of destruction, a horrible pit, a desolate pit, a pit of confusion, a miry pit, and then God’s Great Grace sets our feet upon The Rock making our steps firm. So grace pulls us out and establishes our direction.
I am not in any way attempting to withhold His Grace from anyone, I am saying His Grace is Holy, and cannot be handled (fondled) or tossed around like a new toy. Once tasted, His Amazing Grace will be guarded and valued like the most precious gem, and taught with reverence.
God’s Grace allows us to walk through fire and not be burned or even smell like smoke. This grace erases the evidence and the smell of the old man from our lives. Once the smell is gone we do not want to go back.
His grace restores relationships and makes us bow down, even prostrating ourselves under the anointing of the Holiness.
Jesus said, “no one can come to Me less The Father draws them.” How much holier can it be?
We cannot be saved and be comfortable in our sin. Holy Spirit comes to convince (convict) us there is a way God desires for us to live.
Recently a friend shared this memory with me. While in prayer to The Lord, and repenting, she began crying out to Him. Telling Him how sorry she was for not fully surrendering and living the life He desired, she said He spoke these words to her, ” I won’t love you any less but you won’t know Me any more. She described a feeling of complete despair at His answer. Thinking His answer meant He would leave her, she was terrified at this thought. Later she realized what He meant. He would never quit loving her, yet she would never have the joy of knowing Him in a more intimate way than she did at that time. There couldn’t be a deeper walk with Him, an ongoing or a growing relationship wouldn’t be experienced without total surrender.
Beware of those who serve a common, cheap work of Christ, this is a cheap counterfeit.
The invitation is to whosoever, but His work on the Cross is Holy and Divine and is a game changer to those who are in covenant with Him. Those who have tasted His grace are changed and it is evident.
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 Beaver Moon
Photos taken at daybreak!
Greg called and said you should go check out the moon in the West. I said I will. My coffee was brewing and I had a sense of urgency to go ‘now’ so I grabbed my keys, my camera throwing on a full length coat over my pj’s and dashed out the door. Out the door to snap a few pictures thinking no one should see me if I hurry. You know at least ten cars passed as I stood outside my car taking pictures.
Soon after returning home a friend text, “I saw you.” Oh well I’m glad I dashed or I would have missed this big orange moon at daybreak.
The Beaver Moon this morning at daybreak! It was an awesome sight! And I was caught in the act.
The moon was nestled
Resting atop the tree
What was it thinking
Was it waiting for me
What’s keeping her this morning
My time I’m biding
I’m bright and visible
Maybe she thinks I’m hiding
Perhaps Greg will tell her
Is she even aware
When I’m gone I’m gone
She cannot share
The moon nestled in that tree
I believe waiting for me
I captured a few photos
To share as you can see
A Full Beaver Moon
November of twenty and nineteen
Taken with my coat over my pj’s
Before coffee and caffeine
Someone said they saw me
Oh now what can I do
Just smile and post the pics
And share them with you 😉
© laurette laster
Written in the Leaves
“If you’re unable to understand and believe what I’ve told you about the natural realm, what will you do when I begin to unveil the heavenly realm?”
John 3:12 TPT
Written in the Leaves
Some want their name written among stars
I want my written with the leaves
Then I’m reminded I am pleasing God
If I can let go and simply believe
Some desire their names to be written in lights
I’ve decided mine belongs in the leaves
Reminding me I cannot go forward
Holding yesterday’s baggage and receive
All the good that God has
The gifts He is waiting to bestow
I’ve found nature teaches plainly
Quid pro quo-receive-let go
What does nature teach
It has to die to live and grow
And if you want to receive the new
Well we simply have to let go
Why is this root work important
Why is it so complicated
Because simply my dear
That is how our Lord created
Line upon line, Day by day
You must be born from above
When we are most frustrated
May be His language of love
Lord write my name in the leaves
And teach me to simply believe
That I am most pleasing to You
When I let go ready myself to receive
There is a leaf for your name
So today as you’re walking around
Stop and pick one up
Lift it up high above the ground
Pray God, surround me today
With Your good and perfect gifts
Then keep the leaf as a reminder He hears
Reminded to pray when you need a lift
Yes write our names in the leaves
Teach us how to let go
Remind us over and over
Train and teach us how to grow
In the simple and silly prayers
I’ve discovered we genuinely align
Is this how to be led by His Spirit
After all…….
each are His peculiar genuine unique design
copyright © laurette laster 2019 All rights reserved
Early this morning I went to capture a few photos of the moon (I will post in another post). It was breathtaking.
Coming back, it was a small pile of leaves that caught and kept my attention. All the colors are magnificent. Even though they are dead and dying the colors are beautiful. I couldn’t refrain from taking a few photos.
In 2011, While driving home I was marveling at the beautiful fall foliage, thanking God for such beauty. He spoke something I’ll never forget. He said, “Laurette they are dead.” Talk about jerking me back into reality, and I thought, Lord, as a matter of fact yes they are. I hadn’t given that much thought before.
I ask Him, how can something dead be so vibrant and beautiful? He quickened to me this is what repentance looks like to Him. I caught a deeper revelation at the changing of the seasons. It might have been nice if He had left me reveling in the thoughts, allowing my emotions to be stirred, but He didn’t. No, He desired truth in my inward parts and I am grateful.
After all what is the prayer many of us pray: that God will give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know Him better, that the eyes of our understanding (hearts) be enlightened so that we may know the hope to which He has called us, oh and the riches of His glorious inheritance with the saints, His holy people.
When I was adding my signature to one of the pictures this thought came rushing out as a poem. What came to mind was inspired of The Lord. So many people have dreams and aspirations of their names written in lights and being seen or achieving great things reaching the stars, and these are good, when done with Gods favor and blessing.
Without God’s favor and provision, achieving worldly heights often leaves people more wanting, dealing with feelings of sadness or loneliness.
Finding the will and purpose of God for our life is what brings eternal value with true joy and contentment. Simple tasks and kind deeds, seeing needs and coming up with solutions have turned into businesses some million dollar ideas have come by meeting a need and taken off.
Knowing our loved ones are saved and born again is a longing fulfilled becoming a tree of life.
So today I believe many of us are realizing our stories and dreams, indeed are written among the leaves. Don’t become discouraged, we are a solution waiting to happen, we are not the problem.
I want to encourage you if the promise hasn’t manifested, snuggle down, He hasn’t forgotten us. Who knows it may come today, or it may be on the way or it is being matured by another root season. Either way it is coming.
If like me, you’re not where you thought you would be by now; the promise is being perfected and nourished allowing for deeper roots.
I want to encourage you with this, out of 7 plus billion people in this planet, we are His unique design. No other soul on this planet has our fingerprint. That alone is mind blowing to me. But God!
I don’t know what your finger print or prints will be left on, but I do know we shall reap if we faint not.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 KJV
“If you’re unable to understand and believe what I’ve told you about the natural realm, what will you do when I begin to unveil the heavenly realm?”
John 3:12 TPT
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”
1 Peter 2:9 KJV
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
At The River
At The Paluxy
(November 2019)
Sitting down by the river
Moon twinkling through the tree
Pouring out my heart in prayer
God is listening, He hears me
What is in your heart My child
Silently summoning me
Then I am reminded
How gracious and tenderly
The Lord our God
Gracious and everlasting
From beginning to the end
His love stills the gasping
He hears me in the morning
He heard my prayers at night
Where it all began
From the prophetic foresight
She said The Lord told me
At night when you pray
He is listening and He hears
Every word that you say
What was it I prayed all those years ago
Where it all began
I told Him I was terrified
I couldn’t see the plan
His hand extending out to me
Summoning to join Him in the deep
Tonight sitting by the river—quieted
Those fears are fast asleep
I didn’t see the plan
While being acquainted with the Author
He simply said believe
While whispering “my daughter”
The fear dissolved completely
His perfect love replaced
He put my fears to rest
At the touch of His embrace
On the bank of The Paluxy
Sitting down by the river
Reflecting back in time
Walking now with the Life Giver
Giver of love and grace
Giver of all things good
If you haven’t reflected
Maybe now we could
Thanks be to God
Sustainer and Protector
Thanks Be To God
Author and Perfecter
Thanks Be to God
The Speaker of Peace
Thanks Be To God
Calling Storms to Cease
Thanks Be To God
Faithful Supplier and Forgiver
Thanks Be To God
May we be forever Thankful-Forever
© laurette laster 2019
Greg and I just returned home from a weekend getaway, celebrating our seventh anniversary.
With the stress of the business and his commute he really needed the down time. What we didn’t realize is how prophetic it would be, we aren’t surprised knowing our steps are ordered by The Lord.
We stayed at a Inn that is one hundred years old this year. Greg made the reservations based on a recommendation of another, not knowing the history of the place. This Inn is a landmark. The Inn on the River was originally The Snyder Sanatorium, where holistic healing was used to quiet and calm tension and stress.
Being one hundred years old there was no television or telephone in the room. No business office with internet or the likes. Everything we needed was basically within walking distance, get the picture? Well almost everything; Greg would drive a few miles to the nearest Starbucks for his coffee. I on the other hand went prepared with a coffee pot and the Folgers
Sunday evening we were sitting down by the Paluxy River, the very bright crescent moon was shining brightly between the branches of a three hundred year old oak tree.
It was as if the moon was vying for and grabbing my attention and seemed to be winking or twinkling at me. Greg was reminiscing about praying outside; saying it is like the trees are listening………
Are they listening?
As I sat snuggled down in the high back Adirondack chair beside Greg, quiet and so peaceful, I was reminded of encounter with a messenger prophetess, while shopping in a bible book store, in 2001. The year I had stepped out in faith (this poem began to flow).
I was standing at a sale table full of clearance books, she was on the other side of the table directly across from me. When I looked up she was looking directly at me and began by saying: The Lord says when you pray at night…..she went on to describe things no person could possibly know.
I didn’t pray only at night. While lying on my air mattress (my new bed) I did pour my heart out to God now my Father. I hadn’t given much thought to His hearing me. I had found peace I had never known and I just knew something was different. It was Him! He was real and He listened to me.
Her words meant so much that day. I glowed in the dark for days after this encounter. Other supernatural events occurred on this day confirming God was with me.
When checking out I ask the store owner if he knew the woman who had prophesied over me, he said no I didn’t see and I’ve never seen anyone like you describe here before.
Was she an angel in disguise? I don’t know but I know she was a messenger with a word for me that day.
Many of the things I prayed about still have not manifested or come to fruition (yet), but I know I am no longer afraid. If He said it-He will do it!
I know the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, I know the Peace Speaker, and I know Him by Name.
The storms cannot destroy us, they have come to define us. If you are going through a storm right now, He is preparing you to face your giant. Your are being prepared to conquer.
I pray today you can take some time to reflect, He has been, always is, and will always be forever faithful!
And now I impart to you……
He hears you when you pray! So pour your heart out to Him, He is listening!
Blessings to you.
Keep me Desperate
Test and prove what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:10
Keep me Desperate
Keep me desperate
For more of You
In a desperate heart
Precious promises come true
Eternal grace
Sealed envelope
Seeking for You
With faithful hope
With each desired fulfilled
Encourage me to reach higher
Never become complacent
At Your request inquire
Where are You Lord
What is Your plan
Not my flagrant
Blatant foolish sham
You desire truth
In our inward parts
Only by Your wisdom
Holy Spirit impart
Yes keep me desperate
Not dry or unproductive
Hungering for You
Your word Instructive
Oh Taste and See
The Lord is Good
Desperate souls
Have understood
Ages past
Kings and Saints agree
The Lord is Good
Oh Yes Taste and See
© laurette laster
Recently I’ve felt like I am in a dry spell. One that isn’t normal for me. I have had several intense battles coming at me; none of these hindered my faith, did they, have they? Have you felt this way? I’m sure most, if not all of us have felt this way at some time in our lives.
In 2018 I made a vow that each morning first thing I would share a scripture to facebook. Facebook has become so fake, my husband, Greg, calls it fakebook. I’ve felt recently that I am just going through the motions, almost robotically. Not having the energy and zeal, or intent I first vowed. I had to ask myself is it real or has it become mundane? Is this works? Am I sowing to the flesh or to the spirit?
As I was in prayer I cried out to The Lord, Oh Lord, keep me desperate for more of You! We understand being desperate for more of The Lord is not the same as being in a state of desperation. We can be desperate without being in a state of desperation. More than once I have been in a state of desperation in my life, hopeless desperation to be exact. Not knowing how it could possibly work out, but it did, it always did because He was always there. Because The Lord has been, and always is faithful, and isn’t this where faith is grown? Grown on the battleground somewhere between the state of desperation and pure panic and begging? As we witness God’s faithfulness over and over our faith is increased. He indeed is challenging us to believe Him, to put our trust in Him alone. As our faith grows we fight harder battles, engaging at different levels of warfare. As we train we are being trained to use the weapons of our warfare. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are mighty in God, to pulling down strong holds. 2 Corinthians 10:4.
We are told in Proverbs 4:18 the path of the righteousness grows brighter and brighter, and in Psalm 23, The Lord is our Shepherd we shall not lack, and in Galatians we hear the apostle Paul, as he encourages them and us today, for you shall reap in “Due season” if we faint not. All of these scriptures give us hope to continue. But how we continue is equally important to our faith.
Are you desperate for more of God? I know I am. I pray today we all cry out, Keep me desperate for more of You Lord Jesus Christ. I am not suggesting we be in, or remain in a state of desperation, I don’t want to go back there, but I could never have learned to have the faith in God I have by simply reading the word. James tells us to be doers, not hearers only, so the doing is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak.
How could God be good if we are running to and fro, going from crisis to crisis with no hope of a brighter path? I am suggesting that we know where He is in our everyday affairs, in our walk, and in our homes and in our thoughts. Is He pleased? Are we pleasing to The Lord?
As He renews our faith I pray we reach higher in Him. The saints of old after fighting mighty battles agree on this one thing………………………
Taste and see that the Lord is ‘only’ good, for God is faithful to His people that put their trust in Him.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing Psalm 34:7-9
In the business and chaos of the times we live in I believe being desperate for more of God is something we will fight for. Being a doer may leave us a little drained, but we do it anyway, knowing He is faithful and will strengthen us.
There is so much vying for our attention: negative, positive, hateful, loving, good, bad, shouts, whispers, wanted, and unwanted just to name a few. We will want to keep our playing field intact with clear boundaries set. I’m appalled when seeing some commercials today. I recently read that the commercials today mimic early Playboy magazine publications, from many years ago ( I don’t know because I didn’t see them, but I do think today’s commercials are R rated. Total nakedness was not where it all began. It is and has been a slow fade, like the frog in the pot of water. Knowing this is what our children and grandchildren are veiwing and will come to see as ‘the norm’ or no big deal, while desensitizing their souls to what God desires and requires can become overwhelming.
I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living…Psalm 27:13-14
But God! Keep me desperate.
Let’s pray this prayer, Oh God keep me desperate for more of You that they may also long for You and not for the vile things of this world……………………………..
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
Only Believe
Collins English Dictionary-Phrase: something up your sleeve!
If you have something up your sleeve, you have an idea or plan which you have not told anyone about.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. (Proverbs 25:2 HCSB)
Only Believe
I love the sounds of morning
Autumn winds whisper through the leaves
I am quickened to have faith
He has something up His sleeve
He Who promised is faithful
He is there of course He sees
He is El Roi our Mighty God
Commanded “Only Believe”
Our God is not a magician
The All Powerful Mighty God
His plans eternal and omnipotent
Jehovah Shammah Sovereign Unflawed
When I cannot see He knows
When my faith seems so small
Like the disciples I’m told
As a grain of mustard seed is all
For my faith is on The Rock
He alone my firm foundation
Then my soul quieting
Into calm grateful meditation
I love the sounds of the morning
Autumn winds whispering through the leaves
Summoning where is your faith
“Only Believe” I have something up My sleeve
© laurette laster 2019 all rights reserved
Occasionally when The Lord gives me a poem I will hear a phrase or a catchy saying. With the words of the phrase ‘something up His sleeve’ I had to ask a question. Is this disrespectful? I love and honor God with all my heart so I never want to use puns or slogans that would be disrespectful or shallow. He teaches me, challenging my thought process and today leading me to learn something new. I went to look up the meaning of this phrase. I thought the reference was toward magicians, maybe from the years of Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I was totally off base. The meaning someone (in this instance Almighty God) has something planned that they have not done, or announced, or told other’s yet. I find this so comforting in light of my own personal issues, and issues shared with me by others. It supercharged and rejuvenated my faith and I pray it does yours also. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. (Proverbs 25:2 HCSB)
El Roi I’m known by The One who see’s. I see and I am seen and I am known.
Jehovah Shammah God is there.
This morning shortly after dawn, while scattering seed for the birds a sound caught my attention. I stopped to listen. Hearing the comforting sound leaves blowing in the autumn breeze. This is a favorite sound of mine, in spring and fall; the sound is soft and comforting. I did not see the wind that caused their movement but I could see and hear the effect of the wind.
Isn’t that the way of faith? Luke 8:50 Jesus telling Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, “Only believe” and she will be healed.” Faith is felt, heard, touched, and the evidence is overwhelming. We believe before we see, and in believing we are assured we will see. Other’s may not see or understand our faith until the substance of what we believed for is manifest. Without faith it is impossible to please God. While faith is what we strive for we can become battle weary. I’ve sensed something a little off or out of whack this week and now I realize it is an enemy trying to sneak back in. This enemy, fear, is unwelcomed but trying to come in unnoticed until this morning. Reminding myself of His precious promises, I was prompted to exhale and, “only believe,”
Fear can grip our heart suddenly, I’m sure we all have memories of an event where this happened. But what about fear that attempt to silently attach to us, little by little without our noticing? When we have believed for something for a long time fear may drop hints, hoping to get us to question God and His timing. Whispering, “Why hasn’t it happened yet? Or is this ever going to happen?” Fear may not announce its arrival by shouting hey you, fear here, here I am oh you of little faith. We may realize we’ve allowed stress along with the gnawing doubt that can creep up on us ever so subtly, hoping we will doubt or become afraid. I’m reminded of an acrostic I learned years ago. H. A. L. T. Don’t allow yourself to get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
We may be under attack with new issues surfacing, or suffering from resurfacing of past issues, but we can quiet our souls assured God is faithful.
There is an offer of comfort, The Comforter speaks and reminds us, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” Jesus did tell us He would not leave us orphans but would send us The Helper until He returns. He went on to explain that He, the Spirit of Truth, would remind us what He had told us.
“Only Believe.”
Jehovah Shammah walks with us into whatever our tomorrow holds, simply because of His great love for us. He is with us today no matter what we are facing, simply because of His great love for us. So we needn’t worry or become weary, for at the proper time we shall reap if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)
And I am reminded of a song I loved as a child. This song still speaks to me, today: He walks with me and He talks with and He tells me I am His own………………
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
