Clouds

What’s behind the clouds in the sky
That makes them move and shift?
Causing them to gather and darken
Or upon the breezes float and drift.

The storms that come from clouds
Can make us fearful and nervous.
But they provide shade and water
Proving they serve a good purpose.

With the sun breaking through in rays,
Is that a sign of hope from above?
Causing us to think and wonder
That Someone is watching in love?

Non-believers will say it’s all science,
And cite the process and the way.
If they thought about that response,
Shouldn’t there be a Scientist in play?

Perhaps the clouds’ greatest design
Is to cause us to look to the skies.
Instead of casting our heads down,
Defeated by depression and lies.

For behind the clouds is the Designer
Who dreamt them up from nothing.
And created them as clear proof
That He’s a God of creative loving.

He sees the beauty in their variation,
And the provisional purpose they serve.
He looks at us in the same loving way
With adoration and supreme worth.

So, when you doubt His existence,
Or that you think you’re never enough,
The God who designed those clouds
Designed you for beauty and love.

What Are We Doing?

Self-righteous gavels in one hand,
And Satan’s pitchfork in the other.
It never ceases to amaze me
What we will do to one another.

We point our crooked fingers
In judgment and condemnation.
With no knowledge of the pain
That unveils the explanation.

Of the behavior that is hurtful
From the wounds of our youth.
Festering in the absence of
God’s mercy, grace, and truth.

We rail against those who hate.
But isn’t that hate as well?
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Just two versions of earthly hell.

Yet God is sitting on His throne,
No doubt with tears in His eyes.
Watching us self-destruct
Ignoring His offer of new life.

Through His only begotten Son
Who proved His love for all.
When He looked at our worst,
He still chose to answer the call.

To make forgiveness possible
Was His objective at the cross.
Giving hope to the hopeless,
And a safe home to the lost.

Do you feel the conviction?
If you do, will you repent?
God prefers love and forgiveness.
As this is why Jesus was sent.

So, believer and non-believer,
What will you choose to do?
Bring judgment or offer love?
Remember what God chose for you.

Blinding Speed

Moments spiral into memories
Faster as life’s pace accelerates.
Then they vanish into the abyss
As our minds age and degenerate.

Why are we all in such a hurry
To get to the next breaking news?
The lessons and the wisdom
Of the present we miss and lose.

To stay current and relevant -
To follow where the winds blow.
Will cost missing the blessings
Our frail faith needs to grow.

Too much focus on tomorrow
Leads to the ignoring of today.
All our pain and suffering
Blind the goodness in the day.

For it is in the here and now
Where we find God’s presence.
Who has an eternal perspective
And a provisional true message.

A message of redemptive love
Proven by His blood on the cross.
Sacrificial pursuit from a desire
To save the lonely and the lost.

It is difficult to imagine and trust
What we can’t hear or even see.
Inspection of design in creation
Reveals a Designer we can believe.

But we must take the time,
And opt to slow down the pace.
To see the truth of His love,
And the evidence of His grace.

The question for each of us
Are we truly willing to try?
Or will we let His gift of life
Just keep passing us by?

A-Mazed

An adventurous and self-confident man, named Ewen Me, had heard about a new challenge that few were able to conquer. Being the competitive and prideful man that he was, he opted to take on the task. The challenge turned out to be a large maze with high walls that had only one way to get in and only one way to get out. He listened to the owner of the maze provide some brief instructions and tips on how to get through the maze. Ewen noticed a hint of despair from the owner of the maze as he told him how few people have made it through to the end. Ewen, always the confident person in his own abilities, was determined to prove he could make it through to the other side.

As he entered the maze, he noticed a small kiosk. The sign on the kiosk said, “Glasses for the blind.” Ewen thought to himself, “What is this? Is this a joke?” He dismissed the kiosk and proceeded into the maze. He was taken aback at the height of the walls and noticed the light was dimming as he kept going. It wasn’t long before Ewen started getting frustrated. He couldn’t believe how little progress he was making on his own. Worse, he ran into another one of the kiosks offering glasses for the blind. He saw this as both an insult to his intelligence and a tasteless display of the owner thinking a blind person would actually participate in a challenge this difficult. 

After about an hour of wandering and getting nowhere, Ewen found himself back where he started. Trying to decide if he was just frustrated or feeling somewhat humbled, he noticed the owner standing at the beginning as if he was expecting Ewen. “This is impossible!” Ewen snorted at the owner. 
“I warned you it was not easy - not a lot of people make it all the way through. Have you tried the glasses?”

Ewen snapped back, “Of course not! I can see, so why would I need glasses for the blind? And, what’s up with that, anyway? Why would a blind person have any more success a seeing person like me? Kind of feels like a bad joke and mean spirited.” The owner just smiled at Ewen, seemingly amused by his attitude and accusations. 

Ewen looked down and thought to himself, “I know I can do this – I don’t fail.” So, he went back into the maze again letting out a sniff of disgust as he bypassed the kiosk. Thirty minutes later, he once again found himself lost with the only thing he recognized was another of those ridiculous kiosks. He found his way back to the beginning – this time starting to realize he could not complete the challenge on his own. 
Again, the owner was waiting for him. Picking up on Ewen’s humbled countenance, the owner looked deeply into his eyes and said with soft voice, “Try the glasses.”

Ewen shot back, “I’m not blind, pal.”

The owner continued his fixed look on Ewen and said with some playful snark in his voice, “Could you do any worse than you have already?”

Wanting to quickly respond, something got him to hold his tongue and found a voice saying to him, “He has a point.” Ewen sensed the depth and concern in the owner’s look on his face. He grumbled to himself, “What have I got to lose?” He went to the kiosk at the opening and saw an unfamiliar logo for the brand on glasses’ frames. It was “GP.” Ewen looked back at the owner, “How much?”

The owner simply said, “My treat.”

Ewen reluctantly put on the GP glasses and was taken aback about how quickly and differently things looked. Things were brighter and clearer. He began to step forward into the maze, and it wasn’t long before he saw a sign on the wall he had not seen before. It said, “Turn left.” In amazement, Ewen complied with a left turn and kept slowly moving forward. It wasn’t long before he saw another sign on the wall that said, “Turn right.” Ewen thought to himself, “What is it with these GP glasses?” He started to realize he was making more progress with the glasses on than he had by himself. He felt the pressure coming from his self-confidence subside and experienced a peace that as long as he kept the GP glasses on, he was going in the right direction. 

Eventually, following the multiple signs throughout the maze, Ewen made to the other end. He was surprised to find the owner waiting for him – as if he was so sure Ewen would find his way out of the maze. The owner hugged him and told him, “Well done.” 

“Thank you.” Ewen said. “These glasses are incredible, but I don’t understand how I could see the signs with them, but not on my own. Who put those signs up?”

“I did.” The owner said and continued, “They are my words.”

“But what is it with these GP glasses?” Ewen asked almost exasperatingly. 

The owner, with a smile on his face, said, “Take a look at the full name on the frames.”

Ewen took off the glasses and looked at the arms of the glasses and read “God’s Perspective.” Ewen felt the self-confident air exit his body as it was replaced with a new air of humility and revelation of something greater than him. Lost for words, he looked at the owner with both tears and wonder in his eyes.

“Ewen, if you’re willing to put those glasses back on, you’re going to find that you will never be alone moving through the maze of this life. I’m so very proud of you for your willingness to humble yourself and take that leap of faith to follow My words and direction. I can’t promise you that life will get any easier. In fact, it might very well get harder. However, as long as you keep the glasses on, you’ll realize I’m always with you and will lead you through the remaining maze of your life. I’ll also be waiting you with joy when you finish.”

Ewen put the glasses on and realized the owner looked different with them on. He noticed the scars on the owner’s hands and a look of deep love on the owner’s face like he had never seen before. Everything he looked at was new, and he felt at peace and free from his self-confidence. 

This is the story of Ewen Me. I’m sure he would encourage you put on the owner’s GP glasses. You’ll be a-mazed.

Nothing Else. Nothing More.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,”
He unlocked salvation’s door.
To open it is to believe.
Nothing else. Nothing more.

All your work and efforts won’t
Make God love you anymore.
To please Him is to just believe.
Nothing else. Nothing more.

When the storms of this life,
Crash upon your heart’s shore.
He alone will be your peace.
Nothing else. Nothing more.

Or the chronic pain deepens
Making it impossible to ignore.
Healing will come through Him.
Nothing else. Nothing more.

Should you stumble and fall -
Succumbing to Satan’s roar.
For when sin is at its greatest,
His grace abounds all the more.

His love is deeper than the seas.
You are someone He adores.
By faith He will refresh you
Through His love to your core.

Forgiveness applies to every sin -
Today’s, the future’s and before.
His grace through faith redeems.
Nothing else. Nothing more.

So, be at rest, oh beloved one.
You’re His child whom He adores.
Life is fullest in His presence.
Nothing else. Nothing more.

God’s Forgiveness

Life is hard, and the
Pain keeps mounting.
All of the offenses
Are beyond counting.

Then the walls go up,
And bitterness sets in.
Bridges get burned,
So, no one can get in.

If you look in the mirror,
This life you’ve chosen -
Solitary confinement
Is this path’s conclusion.

But God never meant for
Life to be lived alone.
He proved this when He
Rolled away the stone.

Giving hope for the light
Like a rolled-away stone.
Believing His forgiveness.
He never leaves you alone.

Resurrection power gives us
Power to do the possible.
Like extending forgiveness
To the offenders plausible.

The power of His forgiveness
Leads you to a better place.
Walking with Him on a path
Paved with mercy and grace.

And the promises of His word
Make His love to be known.
He’s a God who can be trusted
And never leaving you alone.

The Coming Light

Haunted by the dense fog of my past
Brings fear of the approaching night.
This is no way to live.
Something’s gotta give.
Am I just sentenced to a losing fight?

So, I went for a walk in the city park.
And found a bench empty and alone.
Sat down and gazed.
Then I started to pray
To whom or to what I didn’t know.

A disheveled man came upon me.
He could see the tears in my eyes.
He gently sat down
Without making a sound.
And asked me what was my plight?

I had never seen this man before,
But His eyes told me he truly cared.
Where do I begin
With what lies within
To a Man who came out of nowhere?

Before I could share a single word,
He moved closer and held my hand.
On His was a scar - 
Weathered and marred,
And He said to me, “I understand.”

Those words meant I wasn’t alone
And shook me to my soul’s foundation.
“Hope does exist
If you don’t resist
My offer of forgiveness and salvation.”

Something told me this hope was real.
The darkness gave way to a coming light.
The burdens of yore.
Once impossible to ignore.
Faded into the shadow of a coming light.

I asked the man what His name was.
He said, “The Way, the Truth, the Life.”
If you will follow Me
My love you’ll surely see,
By being born again with a new life.”


As I considered this amazing offer,
I thought what do I have to lose?
Keep living in the past,
Or accept a new path
His love for made it easy to choose.