The Diet of Obedience

The diet of obedience
Is a discipline that nourishes,
A wisdom that grows,
Faith that flourishes.
That diet of obedience
Can be harsh to bear,
The ingredients bitter
With no mercy to spare.
The recipe often includes
Shame, grief, and sorrow.
Pains with no end in sight,
Yet hope for tomorrow.
Digesting the instructions,
We follow every word.
We eat the roll,
And swallow the sword.
We wait in dungeons,
In prisons, and pits.
We wait in captivity,
And learn to appreciate it.
Sovereign Lord, we kneel
To gain the strength to stand.
We humbly seek Your will.
We honor Your command.

10.8.2021 Friday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Ezekiel 4

Good Captivity

Captivity can be good, Lord?
I never would have thought.
By reading in Your Holy Word,
I am wonderfully taught.
You have provided shelter
In the midst of correction.
Though we wandered away,
You have given direction.
Despite our human tendencies
To turn our back on You,
You are faithful to your people.
You are faithful to pursue.
You make a place of refuge
In the hands of our enemies.
You take away our freedom
To bring us to our knees.
We thought we were right
In our own eyes,
Yet You are loving and merciful
To teach us to be wise.
Captivity can be good for us,
And allow You to restore
If we will just trust
The sovereignty of our Lord.

10.7.2021 Thursday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Jeremiah 24:5-7 and Ezekiel 1

Thoughtless Oaths

Oh the careless things we say
Out of hurt and bitterness.
When we want to retaliate,
We could care less.
We open our mouth,
And let the words fly,
Carrying weapons to wound
Anyone standing by.
But our omniscient God
Hears every word,
And does not give permission
To pass on our hurt.
He is not to be used
In a thoughtless oath.
We cannot use our circumstances
As a scapegoat.
We must cry out to God,
And desperately repent,
Take a step of faith
That He just might relent.
But if there is
A price to be paid,
It is ourselves on the altar
That must be laid.

9.7.2021 Tuesday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Jephthah and his only daughter (Judges 11)

Your Walking Museum

Whew! Lord, what a walking museum
You have written down through the ages.
There is so much bewilderment
Within Your Holy pages.

gaillovesgodspoetry

Whew! Lord, what a walking museum
You have written down through the ages.
There is so much bewilderment
Within Your Holy pages.
Slavery, incest, slaughters,
Complete disobedience of Your law.
Though I read typed and printed paper,
I cringe at what I saw.
Bloody battles, family fights, land wars.
It’s amazing we exist.
The evidence of sin runs rampant
Without You in the midst.
Yet many of those battles are You,
Clearly fighting for us.
You take down Your enemies
And fight for the just.
And then there are times You
Test, discipline, and cleanse.
You help our feeble minds to learn,
And see life through Your lens.
Help me, Lord, to trust You with
My life and Your plans.
Thank You for Your Holy Word,
To help me understand.

9.6.2021 Monday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: God’s Holy Word

View original post

Weeping With Jeremiah

gaillovesgodspoetry

A pen so devastated, it’s hard to lift
To write the depth of such a godless drift.
How can one ever turn away
From a God who loves us every day?
The gore, the violence, throwing children into fire.
Worshipping other gods, the soul for hire.
Selling one’s souls for idols or self.
Though God plea with His children Himself,
The eye will not see, and the ear will not hear.
Though warned of desolation, they have no fear.
God gave their fathers land on which they stand,
But they trust more in their own hands.
Now God has given Jeremiah a vision.
He’s to warn the people of God’s just decision.
There will be wrath, destruction, and desolation.
God will punish this Godless nation.
A tear from Jeremiah, a tear from God,
A tear from me to see the almond tree rod.
Turn, People, turn! Return to Him!
Take…

View original post 41 more words

Psalm 23 Keeps Your Promise

gaillovesgodspoetry

Oh how I love Your Psalm 23
And the visual it takes me on.
Just the first 5 lines,
And I’m completely gone.
To know You are Lord,
And that You are mine,
Let’s me know You Shepherd me,
And gives me peace of mind.
I may desire many things,
But I shall not want for needs.
You lay me down in green pastures.
My mind and body are both at ease.
You lead me beside still waters,
So that I am not disturbed by them.
With this gift of beauty and peace,
I am restored again.
Now I can see Your paths for me,
And walk them in Your name.
Though death or evil come my way,
You will lead me just the same.
You fight my battles and my enemies,
And pour favor on my life.
Goodness and mercy follow me,
And Your house becomes my new site.

View original post 31 more words