Set Free

“Up early, desiring You.

So many questions,

Answers few.

“Be still and know,”

Remains the same.

Stay close to Me,

For I removed your chains.

Chains of time,

Prison lines

Step upon step,

Heart’s neglect.

Now your set free,

Continue with Me.

For I’m about to show you

Life’s tapestry.

Your heart’s not dead,

Nor your ear to hear.

Continue the safe path

For the way is clear.

Can’t you feel His Breath,

He’s flowing in you.

Stirring your heart,

Empowerment too!

Stay the path,

Follow the lines.

Precept upon precept,

The bud’s on the Vine.

Bursting forth in your identity,

Don’t turn back now!

For whom the Son sets free,

Is free indeed!’

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 ESV

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Poem by denisebalog©2021

Photography by denisebalog©2021

Founded in Peace

Jerusalem – Anyone who knows me well, knows my heart skips a beat at the mention of the word, Jerusalem. According to the name meanings in the Strong’s Concordance, Jerusalem means – founded in peace.

Drawing my thoughts back to Israel, bits and pieces of memories penciled into my pocket journal. May I  share a poem penned on the last day of our journey into the gates of Jerusalem in January 2018.

“As all the days before,

We started our journey

With the open bus door.

Up the hill we climbed.

Each step drew us closer

To the days back in time.

Through the Lion’s Gate.

The place were Stephen,

A “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”

Was crowned a saint.

Along the streets of old,

One day knowing,

Will be made of gold.

Carried right along,

We sang our final pilgrim song.

Each note tucked deep inside

Hearts overflowing,

Washed in emotions tide.

In this place we understand,

The price He paid to

Save this wretched man.”

May you and your family be founded in His peace today.

Thank you for sharing the journey with me.

Denise

Xoxox

Poem by dbalog©2018

Photograph captured as we climbed the steep hill by way of the Lion’s Gate into the Holy City of Jerusalem © 2018

No matter where you are located in Israel, one says, “going up to Jerusalem.”

“And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” Acts 6:5 NKJV

Stephen’s story begins in Acts 6 through Acts 8:2.

Dancing Loved – Part Two

“Dancing loved my heart conceals.

He speaks His Truth in Word reveals.

Plans and purpose His good for me.

What once was lame my heart does see.”

 

“For indeed I AM for you, and I will turn to you…I will make you inhabited as in former times and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I AM the LORD.” Ezekiel 36:9-11 NKJV

 

Having come through a long season of waiting…my heart now sees.

 

Poem by denisebalog©2019

Photo captured by mbalog©2019

Fire Blue

“Fan the flame Lord, as only Your Holy Spirit can do. Speak words of Truth; ignite the fire of blue.”

“There is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in.” Jeremiah 20:9 ESV

“For the entrance of the Door to the tent they made a curtain of blue…”Exodus 36:37 NIV

Treasures of Time

“A journal,

A journal,

More than a book.

Pages to turn,

Places to look.

Concealed inside

Are treasures of time.

A place to return

In Holy Land stride.

Memories and

Wisdom;

Thoughts far too deep

To absorb all at once,

So in writing we keep.

Days and hours of

The trip to enjoy.

Returning once more,

To our

Promise Land joy!”

 

 

 

 This photo was captured of me by a fellow traveler as I was writing in my journal at the Dead Sea – 2011. 

 

Poem by denisebalog©2017

Photographs captured on both the 2011 trip and 2014 to Israel.

 

Entranceway of Change – Capernaum Part Eight

 

A person could take a boat to reach the entranceway of Capernaum.

Stepping off the vessel, Levi the Tax Collector would be waiting at his table to ensure you stopped to pay the Sea tax before entering the busy village.

 

Jesus passing by, called Levi as he was busy counting shekels and making change.

As Jesus passed by, He invited the unpopular tax collector to “follow Him”.

Jesus proceeded to Levi’s house to fellowship and eat a meal with the despised tax collector and his friends.

Times haven’t changed at all.

When Jesus “passes by” and one sits down and breaks bread with Jesus, not only are do our names change, but our lives are transformed.

Capernaum “changed” the day Jesus passed by Levi.

Levi’s name change to Matthew, and he went from

handling coins of loose change

to the one who handles

the most precious Word of God.

He was transformed into a follower of Jesus Christ, and

the writer of the

Gospel of treasures of gold – The Book of Matthew.

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“Then He went out again by the sea…

As He passed by, He saw Levi…sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” Mark 2:13-14 (NKJV)

Photos captured by denisebalog 2011 – 2014©

Pressing In To Know the Neighbors – Capernaum Part One

WordPress has been like a neighborhood to me. As I wondered what Jesus would think about my spending time here in this place of sharing and checking in on others, He opened my thoughts to Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee, the place where Jesus began His ministry.

And what about Jesus? Over the next few days, I would like to share some of my journal notes and travel photographs of this place called Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee…after this He went down to Capernaum, with His mother and His brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.” John 2:1-12 ESV

 

Cana Wedding – Jars displayed in Church located on the site of Jesus first miracle.

Stone ritual water vessel displayed in Cana. This is similar to what would have been used during Jesus time.

My first glimpse of the Sea of Galilee from the bus leaving Cana to proceed to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee – 2014

Walking With the Dove – Capernaum Part Two – next…

Photos captured by denisebalog 2011 – 2014©

Have You Not Heard! A New Thing

“New Day,

New Month,

New Season,

New Change.

Purposely setting

One foot in front of the other;

Embracing Life,

Never the same!”

 

“Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness and

Rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV

 Poem by denisebalog©

 

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“A “suddenly” Lord, have they not heard!

You are Faithful, Loyal and True to Your Word”

Poem quote from Day One

Forty Days to the Cross – A Time of Reflection by denisebalog

Available on Amazon

Sit Alone in Silence

What keeps a blogger from checking in, posting a thought or sharing their heart for an extended period of time?

For me, coming through the politics, State and local, as an Elementary secretary in Public school.

“Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him…” Lamentations 3:28 (ESV)

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This “season” is over and summer now stretches wide before me.

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Sunday evening, I logged in and went about the neighborhood visiting friends and fellow bloggers I haven’t heard from in a long time.

Reading comments and linking through to new neighbors I would have otherwise never had the pleasure of meeting.

It has been said, posting comments is so “time consuming”; this is true.

BUT, without the time invested to learn about each other,

I would have missed the blessings of encouragement,

Stirred desire to write,

And the lifting up of my heart from

“…straining at rowing, for the wind was against them” Mark 6:48

 

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THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME BACK WITH OPEN ARMS

AND NEIGHBORLY LOVE!

 I truly enjoy sharing my heart,

and being inspired as you share yours. 

 I am blessed to belong to this neighborhood we call WordPress, and

look forward to spending summer days reading about you!

Blessings,

denise

Blessings of the Morning Dove

“Pour your heart into,

And with one read it is gone.

Is this really in

Your plan, Lord,

Or am I merely spinning on?

 

Morning by morning my ear hears

As my pencil moves upon.

Words of praise,

To You Father.

Songs of love,

To the Son.

Blessings of the Trinity,

Quiet as a Dove.”

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“O LORD, You are my God.

I will exalt You,

I will praise Your Name,

For You have done wonderful things.”

Isaiah 25:1 (NKJV)

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“He awakens me morning by morning,

He awakens my ear…” Isaiah 50:4 (NKJV)

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Photo: dove-pigeon-new-hd-wallpapers-free-download-birds-pictures

poem by denisebalog©

The Hope of “Romantic Love”

The last one to share. This essay really touched my heart. I pray you have been blessed reading the thoughts and hearts of fifth grade children.

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“Romantic love to me means: someone who you care enough for that you’d do anything for and they care enough for you to do the same thing, or family. As some people like to call it, that is what I call romantic love is: never wanting to be away from one certain person, that’s what romantic love is to some people.

To all romantic love is the thing that bonds people together. To some it is hope, it is the thing that everybody needs, without it, we’d be lost, we would be emotionless robots.”

Written by a Fifth grade boy in a single parent house.

Love fills the air in Elementary!

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Writing Prompt #2 – “Romantic Love” – Hugs in Elementary

 

Romantic Love #2  

“You might think Romantic Love is mushy and gross but im shure when you get older you will be interested.

Take your perents as an example my perents have been maired for about 15 years. You have to have a bond with someone. Its not about how cute they are its about what you like about him or her. If I was looking for a guy I would want someone who is helpful, smart, sweet, loyal, honest, understanding and sporty.

Some people have been mairied for 75 they ate at the same table and sleep in the same bed. They love each other a lot. They have a bond.”

Written by a Fifth grade girl in a two parent house.

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Married 12 plus years