Friday, December 28, 2012

Pondering Heart: Paradox

Dear Holy Friends,
 
I love the delivery scene in The Nativity Story when Joseph helps deliver the baby and then just breaks down and cries as they see the Baby. It is a side of the whole Christmas story I think we may sometimes skim over. This poem is for Joseph.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 

Paradox

 

I hold a paradox

the tiny babe in my arms,

In Him prophecies come true

how can I keep him from harm?

Why am I the chosen father

of this heavenly child?

I cannot organize my thoughts

they circle and run wild.

This boy so small and helpless

is going to look up to me?

I am a poor carpenter

hardly fit for royalty.

I look at this little baby

feel fear and humility.

This is a mighty task I face

Father, I need you to help me.

And as I pray to you my God

I hold my son, Your Son.

My baby, my child, my Savior,

God may Your will be done.

 

~Chandra Lynn Smith~

Monday, December 24, 2012

Pondering Heart: Not Here, Not Now

Dear Holy Friends,
 
There was a nice frost on the ground this morning, and the pond had a sheen of ice. Aah . . . that looks like Christmas. We may have flurries tonight and tomorrow. Aah, again. The peace that no one can explain but only happens on Christmas is covering my household. I LOVE Christmas Eve!
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 
Not Here, Not Now
 
Not here, not now,
I just want to be at home,
it's not time, cannot be,
just Joseph and me alone.
Why a stable,not even a room
is there really nowhere to stay?
Thought we'd be home in time,
but the pains started today.
Not here, not now,
not a barn instead of my home,
did we do wrong Father God,
why are we alone?
I'm scared Lord, it hurts Lord,
can't say I understand you,
my faith is big but my trust is small
I'm weary, I cannot remember what to do.
. . . not here, not now . . .
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith ~

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Pondering Heart: Head Full of Thoughts

Dear Holy Friends,
 
We are down to the last few days. I have not finished shopping and that's okay. I enjoy last minute shopping. I try to smile at those who aren't smiling. I started some of my baking Thursday and one of my sons said, "I wondered when you'd start making cookies!" Today my house will smell like cookies and breads. Yum. I don't know how many days Mary and Joseph traveled before arriving and labor beginning. But the next few days poems' will be some of my older ones about the journey and the birth.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 
Head Full of Thoughts
 
sleep eluding
baby moving
leg cramps at night,
body bloating
emotions floating
dreams filled with fright,
world changing
life rearranging
not ready at all,
packing gear
time is near
that donkey looks so small,
faith wavering
home savoring
soon is time to go,
Lord blessing
peace caressing
following the unknown.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith~

Monday, December 17, 2012

Pondering heart: MOst Kings

Dear Holy Friends,
 
I don't imagine a single one of us was not deeply affected by the events of Friday. I wrote a bunch over the weekend, but am not ready to share yet. This one I wrote last week as I pondered differences between King Jesus and every other king our world have ever had. As I read over it today I know that our precious King Jesus is the only answer for the pain in this life.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 
Most Kings
 
most kings have servants
mine came to serve me
most kings rule with fear
mine set my heart free
most kings imprison
mine offers me grace
most kings rule from a throne
mine chose a bed of hay
most kings like control
mine gave me free will
most kings want action
mine says 'peace, be still'
most kings answer to no one
mine answers God above
most kings offer nothing
mine offers perfect love.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 12/10/12~

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Pondering Heart: Don't Miss the Night

 
Dear Holy Friends,
 
I wonder how bogged down people are right about now. I am listening to Faith Hill sing "A Baby Changes Everything" right now and I pray that all who are hearing that song at this moment have paused to think about its meaning. I pray we don't miss the night.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 
Don't Miss The Night
The night was dark
the air was cold,
no one could know
what the hours hold.
A quiet town
filled with guests,
all they needed
a good night's rest.
And while they slept
their world would change,
salvation's plan
did rearrange.
Two tired people
would become three,
a stable stall
made history.
How many missed
their Savior's birth,
so busy with life
they lost its worth?
I hope we won't miss
the Holy Night,
our Savior's birth
that makes life right.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 11/27/12~

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Pondering Heart: Proclamations

dear Holy Friends,
 
This morning I played around with similar words and came up with a rather simplistic poem about Christmas.
 
in His Grip,
Chandra
 
 
Proclamations
 
sin's devastation
God's frustration
man's emotions
God's devotion
evil generation
God's dedication
need restoration
God's incarnation
Mary's gestation
mankind's salvation
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 12/12/12~

Monday, December 10, 2012

Pondering Heart: A Manger Look . . .12/10/12

Dear Holy Friends,
 
We all do it . . . wear the happy face when things are way less than that. Whether we can't share or won't or just think our issues aren't important, we tend to hide the real difficult things from others. But, this time of year more than others I think the increased stress makes us cover the rough things even more. But, one look at the manger and the birth of Grace can bring us all to our knees in prayer and praise.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
A Manger Look
I'm okay
doing well
facing things
can't you tell?
not to worry
it's all okay
know I can make it
through this day . . .
facade crumbles
weary heart
when I give it up
my healing starts.
see the manger
drop to my knees
the Savior born
meets all my needs.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 11/29/12~

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Ponderign Heart: Reset the Heart . . .12/6/12

Dear Holy Friends,
 
It is only December 6th and already I see people stressed out by the season. It's such a shame that so many have lost the meaning of Christmas. I know it is tough sometimes, but I try to do everything I can to remember Jesus. Christmas carols, even the secular ones, point me to why they are playing. Everything points me to the manger and that keeps the joy in my heart.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 
Reset the Heart
shopping
parties
rushing around,
mean crowds
long lines
joy not found,
stressed out
too tired
energy gone,
we've lost
the hope
the Holy One,
reset
your heart
feel no more loss,
Savior
sleeping
in the shadow of a cross.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 12/6/12~

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Pondering Heart: Joy of Heaven . . .12/4/12

Dear Holy Friends,
 
Our scripture for the first Advent candle this week was from Luke when Gabriel appeared to Mary. I have been thinking about that this week as I look for depth of Christmas inside me. This morning I though about Gabriel's mission.
 
in His grip,
Chandra
 
 
Joy of Heaven
 
Think of the excitement
heaven filled with tension,
something about to happen
beyond their comprehension.
Gabriel given a mission
to a virgin named Mary,
no one fully grasped
the message that he carried.
Were the angels surprised
at what God had planned?
did they think humans worthy
to receive the Son of Man?
Gabriel delivered
the message to the girl
one single act that
forever changed the world.
And as I savor the season
the miracle of God's love
I hope my celebration
please those in heaven above.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 12/4/12~

Monday, December 03, 2012

Ponderign Heart: Heart Beating for Mine . . .12/3/12

Dear Holy Friends,
 
He came to earth for me, for you. He took on flesh for us. So many people missed it then. So many still do today. I don't want to miss it.
 
in his Grip,
Chandra Lynn Smith
 
 
Heart Beating for Mine
 
what would it be like
to hear angels sing,
see the star in the sky
to witness these things?
what if tonight
I felt peace on earth,
and finally understood
the precious baby's birth?
or would I be like them
and sleep through the night,
unaware life was changing
missing the amazing sight?
may I not wake tomorrow
finding reason to whine,
but look to the manger
where a baby's heart beats for mine.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 11/23/12~

Monday, October 22, 2012

Just For Today . . .poems in all times . . .10/23/12

Dear Holy friends,
 
Years ago when I began Just For Today I never submitted anything that wasn't upbeat. I remember being told that there was no way I could always be that up all of the time. To those of you who said that, you were right. The fact that all my poems were up didn't mean I always was. I know I haven't submitted as many poems in the past two years. I aim to do a little better in the days to come. Please know this, there is a little of me in every poem I write. But many time a poem is entirely written for someone I know in something they face. Recently, I haven't written as many new poems, for many reasons.
 
Please do not read my words and worry. If you are led to pray for me, always follow that lead as I do for you. But when you read my poems, read them and listen for what God is saying to you. I fully believe each poem I write is from Him to someone who needs it. That's why I send them out to so many people.
 
Have a blessed week.
In his grip, Chandra
 
 
poems in all times
what happens when the poems don't come
do you just put the pens away?
or do you force yourself to write
and find them anyway?
maybe they didn't really leave
they just changed,
and in the sad places of your heart
the words got rearranged.
but what of people who read
the uplifting things you write?
will they understand some words
come from dark times, not light?
illness, death, betrayals come
at some point in each life,
without the dark of the valleys we face
we'd not enjoy the light.
give the dark places a chance
to work wonders in your heart,
and realize it's in our hard times
some of the best poems start.
some will read these words and
wonder if I'm okay,
others will read them and know
I wrote for them today.
I always write from things in my heart
things I think, feel, or see,
wonder not the source of my words,
just let God use them to help you be free.
 
Chandra Lynn Smith, 10/23/12

Thursday, August 09, 2012

Just For Today . . . in the darkness . . . 8/10/12

Dear Holy friends,
 
Dry spells . . . we all have them. While I have been writing much recently, I have not sent my poetry out. I've been dealing with my own dry spell. The thing is I know some others who are too. A marriage ended, a relationship got nasty, a beloved pet died, a baby died, a pregnancy ended, a prodigal struggled, a lady miscarried, a mother died, a father died . . . and the list goes on. For me, writing the darkness is not an option, it is a necessity. This morning I felt led to share this with you all.
 
 
In The Darkness
 
writing in the darkness is tough
makes it hard to see,
without any light on things
there's no poetry.
the darkness wraps tentacles
around heart and soul,
thoughts and words won't organize
heartache takes its toll,
but writing in the darkness
is the only way,
to make sense of the senseless
and get through the day.
my soul feels the dark right now
and gets weighted down,
and writing in the pain is
crying without sound.
and somewhere in the darkness
is a ray of light.
words written on the pages
help to make it right.
one day darkness will retreat
allowing room for light,
and pages filled with sorrow
helped within the fight.
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 8/9/12~

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Just For Today . . .Living Fog

Dear Holy Friends,
 
Several requests have come to me that I resume my submissions. So, as I get back into the daily mode, I shall send along some of my older ones.
Living Fog
 
the fog is alive
  moving, changing
      almost
  breathing its way
      across
  the field . . .
white fog, peaceful
  but in the back
      shadowed
  black fog hovers
      threatens
  the field . . .
 
looking at the fog
  foreboding, warning
      daring
  me to hope
      of sunshine
to burn it away . . .
sun tops the trees
  lights the field
      dark fog
  dissipates
      white fog
  slowly floats away . . .
 
God's light in me
  moving, changing
      always
  breathing His way
      within
  my heart and soul . . .
Darkness threatens
  within my mind
      taunts
  Spirit reminds
  God's light keeps me whole . . .
 
~Chandra Lynn Smith, 7/30/08~
 
My friends, whether the fog before you is white or dark, it still blocks the light of God. Trust in Him, He will burn the fog away allowing you into His most marvelous light!
 
love, Chandra