How to describe life in all its fullness? There is too much to easily encompass in a snappy line or two, such is the breadth and depth of human existence. Though Scripture reminds us that our lives here are short, but a breath, mist in the ether, dissipating vapour disappearing fast like sand in an hourglass.
And though we are all destined for dusty death, during our earthy, clay-cracked days we can become enlivened on the inside by God’s amazing grace. Then we begin to discover there is so much more to this life than we ever knew before.
In the magnetic poetry below, I am seeing life as fresh, green, joyful, ultimately transitory but full of bright potential, especially when our hearts have been warmed by the love of God. We each leave a legacy, a mark on the world, an ache in another’s heart. Even if family didn’t welcome our arrival, our existence counts for something, part of an eternal plan before we ever began.
We are here to know and love God, find fulfilment in His will for us and seek our best joy in being united with Him. We are here to love and support one another, become soul companions on the journey we are all making toward wholeness and healing.
Life’s like…
Life’s like a shady green stone which murmurs
Listen to it falling, blanketed soft by earth
A soul must feel wild sun-love, thrive and breathe,
grow light, dawn-bright—but soon become moss-cold
as sweet river harmony gives long rest stroll
©joylenton2017
A sacred sky embrace
I wake to the joy of a wild-fire dance,
devour warm rhythm of flowers on grass,
picture an eternity with God-breathed poetry
surrounding me like a sacred sky embrace
and words melting in cloud-kissed breeze
©joylenton2017
There is a dark shadow hanging over all our days, and a bright white Light guiding us Home to our heavenly Father’s throne. We can look forward to a time when sorrow, sickness and pain are but a distant memory, tears will spring from a joyful, thankful heart and our problems are in the past.
We will sing, laugh, dance, and live more exuberantly than ever before when we’re finally experiencing the fullness of the Kingdom of God, where we were always meant to belong. It is where the poetic promises of Scripture will be lived out to the full, and what gives us Hope in the here and now, while we struggle and suffer under life’s dark clouds.
How do you view your life here? What gives you hope for the future? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. 🙂
Poetry Joy 
Dear Joy,
What beautiful thoughts that inspire me to keep my hope for eternity fresh! It’s so easy to let the dark, dreary days cover up that hope, isn’t it? I loved both of your poems, so it’s hard to choose which is my favorite, but these lines in the second poem brought tears to my eyes today:
“I wake to the joy of a wild-fire dance,
devour warm rhythm of flowers on grass,”
When I let Jesus meet me in my mornings, He truly does awaken a longing for more of His fire and rhythm in my days. Thank you Dear Friend for sharing through your words the way that God touches your heart! I am so grateful for the encouragement I always find here! Blessings, Love, and Hugs to you! xoxo
Dear Bettie, it can be so hard to keep our daily hopes alive, never mind our “hope for eternity fresh”, can’t it? Yes, those dark, dreary days do tend to conceal the hope hidden within them, if only our spiritual eyes are sharp enough to see it. I’m quite happy for you to love both poems! Playing favourites isn’t necessary whatsoever.. 🙂 It’s a joy to me to hear how God touches your heart in the things you read, and I’m so thankful to have been given words to share that have blessed and encouraged you here. Sometimes the topics can be a little heavy, deep, dark or difficult, but I hope and pray there is always a thread of God’s goodness and grace woven through them. Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo
What you have written about here gives me hope for the future, Joy. I especially love these lines:
“picture an eternity with God-breathed poetry
surrounding me like a sacred sky embrace
and words melting in cloud-kissed breeze”
Yesterday I was thinking how I long for that perfect, uninterrupted communion we will have with God someday. Won’t that be a glorious day?! Love and hugs to you!
Trudy, having just read your post and seen how unwell you have been recently, I’m not surprised if you’re discovering the lines that speak most to you here are about our future hope. Thoughts of heaven are such an encouragement when this life is offering us so much pain and sickness! And the best thing of all will be that “perfect, uninterrupted communion we will have with God someday”, as you say. Amen! It’s a glorious thought, my friend! Love and hugs to you too. Praying you get well soon! 🙂 xox
My Dear Sister…it seems we have said the same thing today; each in our own way, but the Spirit is most certainly conveying the same message to us both. I am thankful for the sweet confirmation I have found in your words tonight. Love and Gentlest Blessings to you. ❤
Cheryl Anne, having read your lovely prayerful post, I can’t help but agree with you. It does seem that Holy Spirit has filled our minds and hearts with similar thoughts. Don’t you just love it when that sort of confirmation happens?! Blessings and love to you, sweet friend. ❤
THiS: “There is a dark shadow hanging over all our days, and a bright white Light guiding us Home to our heavenly Father’s throne. We can look forward to a time when sorrow, sickness and pain are but a distant memory, tears will spring from a joyful, thankful heart and our problems are in the past.” And you can never go wrong with Casting Crowns.
Tara, I am grateful for you choosing the words which have found a home in your heart, and for letting me know what has spoken to you. Bless you, friend! xo
Reblogged this on Pastor Michael Moore's Blog and commented:
Food for the soul from my dear Sister, Joy
Dear Michael, you bring the soul food meat and drink of encouragement with you each time you stop by! Thank you so much for sharing my words with your readers. Bless you, Brother! x
Joy, your words here paint such an inspiring picture – “wild-fire dance” “God-breathed poetry surrounding me like a sacred sky embrace…” Both poems are beautiful.
“We are here to love and support one another, become soul companions on the journey we are all making toward wholeness and healing.” Yes, to this and you do this beautifully. I am always encouraged by your words.
Many blessings to you, dear Joy, my sister/poet/friend! xoxo
Gayl, I’m so pleased you enjoyed reading my poetry. Thank you for your kind encouragement! I value the close soul companionship we share, especially the mutual love of being creative with words and images. Abundant blessings to you, sweet friend! xoxo
I value our soul companionship, too. We are definitely “kindred spirits.”
Amen, my friend! Kindred spirits and sisters in Christ. 😊💜
I love your sense of joy in life and in your relationship to God. You are an inspiration.
Deborah, I love how you can see the joy being expressed here! I may not always feel joyful but God seems to give me grace enough to share in such a way that it comes across to those who read my words. Thank you so much for your inspiring posts on life, poetry and art. I am always blessed by reading them! xo ❤
For me, this ardent phrase resonates: “… seek our best joy in being united with Him.” Not just joy, but “our best joy.” Now that stirs longing within. Thanks for breathing beauty in my direction, Joy. Taking it in. Taking it all in.
Thank you, Laurie. I was grateful for those lines. Keep on being stirred and taking it in, my friend! I always appreciate you “breathing beauty in my direction”, just as you have done with your latest post. So soul beautiful..aahh.. xo ❤
Beautiful and encouraging poetry and words. The video was also lovely. Reading your blog inspires a great day. ❤ xx
Dear Vashti, it warms my heart to think that these thoughts and video have inspired your day. Have a great one, my friend! xo ❤
Dearest Joy, your poetry is so full of hope and promise! Always such a joy and encouragement to visit you here, my friend. How do I view my life here? Fleeting is the word that comes to mind. I try to view it through the lens of His love and His purpose, but the glass is so dark sometimes. But my hope is in Him and I know one day we shall be like Him and see clearly. Blessings on your week, dear one!
Dearest June, I think “fleeting” is a perfect way to describe our life, our days on earth. They pass so swiftly, don’t they? What is key is this: “I try to view it through the lens of His love and purpose”, even though “the glass is so dark sometimes.” Amen, my friend, me too. And you have such an acuity of vision which is always seeking to capture the living beauty and grace markers around you. It will stand you in good stead to reflect on them during those darker days. Our hope is rooted in Christ and one glorious Day we definitely will see Him like He is and (mind-boggling thought) be like Him as well. May this Hope lift our souls heavenwards when the enemy seeks to entrap us in pain, darkness and despair. Have a blessed week, sweet friend! xo ❤