Vineyards Beyond the Clouds

Long table arrayed in golden splendor
Finest cedar with plates made of diamonds
Gem studded goblets, ruby and sapphire
Grapes, berries, and melons from all seasons


Jesus invites us to sit in our seats
My chair golden, cushion made of linen
I gaze at the wonderful wine and treats
The aromas of plum and cinnamon


I lift my goblet filled with ruby wine
And inhale the most beautiful bouquet
Scents of spice, vanilla, plum so divine
Complexities beyond what I can say


Swirling the dark liquid grown in heaven
My eyes peer into the shifting whirlpool
New colors appear in this concoction
Sapphire, amethyst, heavenly jewel


Slowly taking a drink and overcome
Such intense dark berry, plum, and melon
Then honey, vanilla, and cardamom
Citrus, peach, nutmeg, and then cinnamon


The body feels like a smooth, heavy weight
Gliding across my rejoicing palate
In the middle heaven's spices elate
Pounding my senses like a smooth mallet


Vapors and flavors diffusing as one
Tingling, lifting, and growing sensations
Then comes the finish and I am undone
Such intense power, it could move mountains


Pronounced and developed heavy tannins
With hints of spice, blackberry, and cocoa
Timeless ruby drink of the high heavens
Experience beyond what earth can know


4-09-12

My Garden of Worship

Energy coursing in green
A ring of growth and birth
Colors so lush to be seen
Trees, gardens, and flowers
Rich shrubs are encircling


A grassy shaded meadow
Vegetables, fruits and squirrels
I dance in the trees' shadow
Birds chirping sweet melodies
Open space where grasses grow


Sun shining through the morning mist
A rainbow in the heavens
This garden the daylight kissed
As I worship Jesus here
Presence I cannot resist


His love courses through the trees
And the bushes shout His Name
Rabbits, spiders, and the bees
Weaving webs and honeycombs
Timeless artists in the trees


A free, wild, worship dance
Warrior angels circle
To join in the romance
As heaven invades the earth
As fire ignites the plants


Burning bushes all around
Rivers overflowing
Creation dances to the sound
Bodies and Spirits alike
To joy springing up from the ground


4-3-12

A Discovery without Time

A never ending expanse

A gloriously deep romance

Trumpets of angels sound

Light and majesty abound

Never closing pearl gates

An army of angels awaits

The river of life flowing

Shining waters slowing

Draining into the lake

What only God could make

Beautiful fish and coral reef

Tropical colors beyond belief

Light from above and from below

Colors surpassing earth's rainbow

Gliding across the lake I inhale

Leaving a rippling, warm trail

Surfing barefoot and boardless

Traveling into openness

Rapid acceleration

Timeless joy and elation

Liquid light and holiness

An ocean of happiness

Magnificent fish appear

Into the waters I peer

The sea as clear as the sky

It seems I'm miles high

Above the visible ocean floor

Endless creation to explore

God's Presence so thick in this place

I can feel His warm embrace

A school of heavenly creatures 

With odd, beautiful features

Swim rapidly to the surface

Beauty leaving me speechless

A tornado of colors

Breaks the surface waters

And fly like birds through the air

Twisting column of fire and flare

Plunges back into the sea

Temporary canopy

They rush back into the depths

Twirling down like winding steps

Enticed, I follow them down

Impossible to drown

I breathe in the liquid light

As I continue in flight

Like a torpedo I shoot

To discover the oceans' root

What awaits I can barely explain

Cities across a vast plain

Farms, gardens, and vineyards

Civilization beyond words

Saints dancing in large circles

Like moving white hot coals

They smile and invite me

Undersea community

So I dance underwater

Passionate steps without falter

I decide to remain here

For well beyond a year

I long to know all their stories

To hear of all their glories

To know this heavenly culture

With rich past, present, and future

4-1-12

The Greatness of You. A Psalm of Lament

I desire that all people would know the 
         greatness in themselves
I long for all to know that they don't have to
         try to be good enough for You


Repent! O you nations!
Turn, all you peoples!


Know that there is glory inside you
Created by the One Who loves you


You are worth more than diamonds
More precious than rubies
More beautiful than sapphires


The treasure within your being
The person you were meant to be
Is worth more than all the riches in the world


You don't know how wonderful you are


You don't know how God's heart 
         leaps at the thought of you
You don't understand that He
         moved mountains for you
You don't understand that He sheds tears for 
         you everyday and every night,
         longing to be with you


But He will not force Himself upon you


He invites you, 
         He waits for you


Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
His heart bleeds for you
         You are why He dances


Did you know?
The thought of you puts a great smile on 
         His face and a wild dance in His feet
Did you know?
There is an uncreated lover beckoning 
         you to Him


Have you heard?
A great King wants to elevate
         you
         to a high position in His royal family


Have you seen?
The beauty of spring
The grace of a flock of birds
The colors in the sunrise
The majesty of the ocean
The greatness of the mountains
The wonder of the stars
The warmth of the sun
The beauty of a blooming flower
The grace of a blue heron
The colors of orange and purple across the
         morning sky
The majesty of the coral reefs
The greatness of the green forests on the
         Appalachian Mountains
The wonder of the shining band of the milky way 
         in the night
The warmth of a summer morning


All created for you


The earth is groaning since the dawn of creation
         for you to become who you were meant
         to be
For you to realize the dreams God has placed upon
         your heart


Will you dare take this journey?
Will you embark on this great adventure 
         of love?
Will you let God honor you?
Will you accept His invitation to a 
         high place of royal honor?
Will you let Him love you?


He gave His Son to die and rise again just so
         you 
         would have a chance to be with Him
Will you accept His sacrifice for your sins?
Can you comprehend the vastness of His violent love
         for you?


It is a fire the world cannot comprehend


But you


You were not made in the world
You were a dream of God long ago in heaven


And now you are here.
What will you do with freedom?
Will you throw away His sacrifice?
Or will you drink deeply of the vast,
         living well of goodness from heaven that is 
         available?
Will you dive deep into an ocean of
         endless love?
Will you let the King Who has waited for 
         thousands of years
         for you to be born
Will you let Him love you?


3-21-12

The Goodness of God. A Psalm of Praise

O God of gods, Lord of lords,
Who is like You?
Who can tame the seas with their hand?
Who can move mountains with a thought?
You are so mighty, O God
You rule the heavens
You are my fire
You stir a deep well in my soul that flows 
            through my being
You ignite every cell in my body


When my heart sleeps
And my bones are dry
You fill me with strength so 
            I can fly
You lift me up so I have the
            strength to move mountains


Your grace is why I enjoy my day


I wish that every soul
I wish that every spirit
Would experience the engulfing 
            flood of goodness from heaven that is 
            Your love
I ask that You would open the eyes of every person
Every being
Every heart
To know Your goodness
To look into Your eyes
To feel Your beauty
To hear Your Voice


For You are good


3-20-12

The Righteous Ruler

A king walks into the throne room
Knights lined up for his entry
Men who fight for his majesty
Attention at his entrance they assume


He strides in his glory
The righteous ruling king
Of him the people sing
Compassion marks his story


Eyes of a protective lion
A studious mind
A heart that is kind
A leader reborn in Zion


His morning prayer burns in heaven
An incense rising
His praises and blessing
To the King of Kings are given


He dances before God's Throne
Fearless in worship
Knowing his son-ship
The glory of God in his eyes shone


Generosity a river
Flowing from his heart
Gives orphans a new start
And widows a hopeful answer


Such thoughts abound in number
Inspiring his knights 
As he passes torch lights
Down the hall of his royal chamber


Then his eyes ablaze look
Upon his desire
The one who lights his fire
Long ago his heart she took


His bride among brides on earth
Standing beside the throne
Depth of love unknown
Connection of immeasurable worth


For her he would move mountains
His royal dancing queen
Her eyes and robes shining
She can shake the earth's foundations


As he sits upon his throne
And gazes down the hall
Thinks of his royal call
His heart the people do own


3-18-12

What We Were Born To Do

An endless ocean of blue

Little resistance brushes my face

Wisps of white

Translucent floating foam

Rays of gold warm my face

A flock of geese join me

A sea of green passes below

Arms extended

Mountains pass by

People busy themselves at work

As I soar into the vast beyond

Wind underneath and above

Rushing at blinding speeds

The ground is lost in freedom 

Former rules no longer matter

No boundaries exist

Effortless flight through the open air

3-6-12