In Stillness

“There’s no comfort in this world.

No place to lay one’s head.

Foxes surround the vineyard;

Confusion stirs up dread.

But Peace resides in stillness,

Waiting to speak to me.

Open up the Word

‘Be still’ and ‘Follow Me.’”

 

“O my Dove, in the cleft of the Rock,

In the secret places of the cliff.

Let me see Your Face,

Let me hear Your Voice,

For Your Voice is sweet,

And Your Face is Lovely.”

Song of Solomon 2:14 (NKJV)

 

“Be still, and know

I AM God.” Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

 

Poem by denisebalog©2017

Photo captured by denisebalog©2011 – Sea of Galilee 

Dancing Dawn

“Open up the day;

Bring the sun along.

For sorrow tarries in the shadows;

Rejoice, Oh dancing dawn!”

 

“Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints,

And give thanks to His Holy Name…

Weeping may tarry for the night,

But joy comes with the morning.”

Psalm 30:4-5 (ESV)

 

Poem by denisebalog©2017

Photo captured by denisebalog©2017

Be Still in Time

“Lord,

You know my flesh and read my mind.

Help me to fall into Your arms,

Instead of the grip of time.”

 

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

 

“LORD, You have searched me and known me…

You understand my thought afar off…

And are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-3 NKJV

 

“But one thing is needed, and Mary

Has chosen that good part,

Which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 NKJV

 

Poem by denisebalog©2017

Photo captured by denisebalog©

Bubbling Up

“Father,

Thank You for this joy of heart.

Where do I begin?

What words can start?

Bubbling up,

Bursting forth,

Your Love for me was from the start.”

 

“But God demonstrates His own Love toward us,

In that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 NKJV

Mouth of Jordan – Tel Dan, Israel

Poem and photos by denisebalog©

Poured Out

“At first break of light
Break forth Your Holy hand.
Pour out upon Your anointed;
The Son “poured out” for man.”

“I AM poured out like water…” Psalm 22:14

Movement of Tent

“To move our tents

Beneath the “terebinth’ tree,

To live in the land

You have given to me.

Separate myself from the

World of “Lot” and flesh.

Looking forever upward;

For in You

Is my dwelling and the rest.”

 

“And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him,

“Lift your eye now and look from the place where you are –

Northward, southward,

Eastward, and westward,

 

 

For all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever…

Arise and walk through the land its

Length and width for I give it to you.

 

 

 

Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre.”

Genesis 13:14-18 NKJV

 

Poem by denisebalog©

Humble Bold

“Good morning Lord,

I come before You

Humble bold.

Share Your thoughts;

Secrets untold.

In this place of praise and prayer,

I bring my heart and bare it there.

Strip away the worldly crust;

The jagged pieces, the bits of rust.

Sing over me Your rejoicing song;

For from Your heart,

A new day is born.”

 

“He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

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Poem by denisebalog©

Dawn of Day

“…I held Him, and would not let Him go.” Song of Solomon 3:1-4 (ESV)

“A wall of Word

Surrounds my heart.

Protection for the

Week to start.

Beginning at the

Dawn of day,

In You,

All Strength,

I find my way.”

 

“Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus…” Matthew 28:5 NKJV

 

“When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

Discretion will preserve you;

Understanding will keep you.”

Proverbs 2:10-11 NKJV

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Poem by denisebalog©

Photo – Dawn of day – Sea of Galilee

Crouching Donkey

“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.” Genesis 49:14

 

Yesterday, I went looking for the first mention of the word “strong”.

It actually means, “skeleton of the body, and bones.”

I thought this strange.

 

This morning, the verse came to mind again, only the word “crouching”.

In the Hebrew the word is actually #7257 – “lying”.

 

Issachar was Leah’s 5^th son.  Five reflects –  Favor and Grace!

“And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son…Issachar.” Genesis 30:17

Of the tribe of Issachar it is said they are

“Mighty men of valor” and “Ready for war”.  1 Chronicles 7:1-5

Of all the tribes, Issachar…

“of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” 1 Chronicles 12:32

 

Back to “crouching.” The word comes from the root Hebrew word #7257 “lying”

“Rabats” or Reysh, Bet, Tsadak.

As I thought on the word picture,

• Man’s (Reysh) dwelling (Bet – our heart and body) in praise and prayer (Tsadik) – between two sheepfolds.  (Tsadik is one of my favorites because it looks like the one of kneeling or standing in praise)

Issachar is crouched down in a position of praise and prayer between two sheepfolds (our family and the world).

And of “strong” – Issachar knows

To his bone,

down to his core,

to the marrow of his “skeleton”

only through Praise and Prayer, through the Favor and Grace of Jesus Christ,

Protection for our family,

Discernment and understand for the times we live in.

 

And knowing, in this position of prayer and praise,

When troubles come upon us, we know…

What we “ought to do”!! Wisdom and Discernment

 

“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between two sheepfolds.”

Even when the whole world thinks we are a “donkey”; we are Mighty men of valor and ready for war in the position of praise and prayer!!

 

Mighty men and women of God,

Praise on!!

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Reysh – 20th Hebrew Letter
Word Picture: Head (of a man)
Meaning: A person, the first, the highest, in the beginning.

Bet – 2nd letter in the Hebrew alphabet
Picture of a “tent or house”
Within, heart, begin to,
build, family.

Tsadik the 18th letter of Hebrew
Picture of a “fishhook” or “hook”
To catch, desire, to grasp, to praise
Can you see the man standing, lifted hands in praise?
(one of the five letters with different shapes when used at the end of a word)

Also, not at the end of a word Tsadik looks like this:

Tsadik – the 18th letter.
Word picture of a “fishhook” or “hook”
Meaning: to catch, desire to grasp, to praise.
Can you see the man, with lifted hands on his knees in praise?

A New Song of Heart!

The Lord “Who makes all things new” has caused a new song of Hope to rise up in my heart!!

I was really suffering with indecision and doubt of my future plans.

During quiet time, the Holy Spirit brought a woman who within the past 24 hours and a long period of waiting and lost hope, literally had received a heart transplant. As I prayed for her wellbeing and all the complications and difficulties of a delicate surgery…

The Lord spoke to me…

Just like when I put a “new heart” in you, if your BODY rejects it – it dies!!!

I know what the Word has been speaking to my “spirit” man, but as Paul says, my “body” has been warring with my spirit!! I can either accept the Word of Life or reject it!!!

(I won’t say die, because I know Jesus will continue to walk with me even when I am not strong enough to “walk in the spirit” and let my body lead me the long way around.)

Praise Jesus for His Faithfulness – Mercy and Grace!!!

SO…After a LONG season of drought, He has opened the eyes of my heart to see the “new” in the plans and purpose He has for my life!

I look forward to what lies ahead…

 

“Just when I put my

“Hope” away,

You reached down and

Spoke,

“This is the day that the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice in it!” Psalm 118:24”

 

“…I will…speak tenderly to her.

And there I will give her her vineyards

And make the Valley of Achor a

Door of Hope.”

Hosea 2:14-15 (ESV)

 

Blessings!

Denise

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Poem by denisebalog©

The first almond blossoms are a sign of a blessings! Zippori, Israel. The town of Mary’s Grandparents. A few miles walking distance from Nazareth.

Stirred Colors of Hope

“LORD,

You’ve planted a vision

Deep inside of me.

Stir up the colors,

Refresh my eyes to see.

Plans for the future,

Guided by Your Son.

“To prosper and not harm me,

You’ve purposed everyone!”

 

“LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt You and praise Your Name,

For in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things,

Things planned long ago.”

Isaiah 25:1 NIV

“For I know the thoughts

That I think toward you,

Says the LORD,

Thoughts of

Peace and not evil,

To give you a

Future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

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Poem by denisebalog©

In the Quiet of the Sea