Sitting in my well of pain
deep and dark
broken
walls so steep
pressing down -
my hurt, my past
my faithful companion
Standing in my well of pain
fear and sorrow
guilty
feelings so strong
chaining down -
my strength, my pride
my faithful companion
Kneeling in my well of pain
forgiveness and joy
salvation
reaching down
lifting me up
setting me free -
my Lord
my faithful Companion
Jonie 2009
Opening rusty shutters
creaking slowly then
gold sunbeams
rest on dirty windowpanes
surprising me with joy
Opening muddy windows
creaking slowly then
warm breezes
move on dusty surfaces
surprising me with joy
Opening long locked doors
creaking slowly then
gentle smiles
alight on frozen walls
surprising me with joy
Jonie 2009
Little grey mouse
too angry
to hide in
terror of past
voices of hate
voices so cruel
harsh battleground
to fight
Little grey mouse
now choosing
to trust in
the words of Truth
words of the psalms
words of deep prayer
gentle safe haven
from God
Little grey mouse
victorious
rejecting
feelings and lies
but holding on
to the hand of the Son
the battle for now
is won
Jonie 2009
Contentment
how to find it
our world is full
of noise
of stress and fear
we struggle and fight
searching for relief
Not your way, but mine
God’s voice unheard
by millions rushing around
pills and drink and fun and games
trying to heal the hurt
Contentment
God will give us
His kingdom full
of peace
His mercy and grace
He longs for us
if only we’d believe
Jonie 2009
My child, my love
the Father’s call
who…me?
Incredulous Delight -
and yet I turn away
in shame
hiding behind my pride
My child, my love
the Father’s call
yes…you!
Amazing Grace -
He paid the price
He washed you clean
He died and took your place
My child, my love
the Father’s call
yes… me!
Tearful Surrender -
And so I run to you
with joy
my God, my Lord, my Saviour.
Jonie 2009
Soft sand
hallowed ground
walking with my Lord
gentle waves
easy day
temptation great
to go my way
alone
crashing waves
stormy day
temptation great
to turn away
in pain
Stony sand
hallowed ground
carried by my Lord
Jonie 2009
Gideon threshing
in the winepress
hiding from the foe
oppressed
stolen years of ravaged land
Mighty warrior!
the Lord calls him
I am sending you
to fight
gift of freedom in my hand
Amazement, broken spirit
belief so hard to find
Gideon puts out fleece for God
tears down altars
in the night
The Lord takes His
timid warrior
flooding courage in
his heart
Gideon now a new man
boldly marching out
Jonie 2009
Words – so powerful
trampling, battering, leaving
anguish in their wake
shattered lives
building stone walls
of black silence
protective fortress
surrounded by rough winter sea
Words – so powerful
gentle butterfly wings
settling on shoulders
cloaked with fear
brushing trembling walls
with whispers of love
cautious fortress
surrounded by white melting snow
Jonie 2009
Dawn’s light a pink glow
resting on the mountain peaks
slow awakening
Sun’s rays a gold fire
dancing on the breaking waves
Spirit exulting
Dusk’s warm purple glow
casting shadows on the beach
softly departing
Jonie 2009
Samuel, Samuel!
God’s call in the night
I’m here, the reply from the child
speak, Lord, I’m listening
I do want to hear
the child’s voice
the Lord’s voice
entwined
Through the ages God’s call
to our fallen world
echoing again and again
His warning of judgement
His yearning to save
His voice
Prophet’s voice
entwined
Your name He is calling
I Am at your birth
I Am at your death
all the years of your life
I Am
I give
You have
the dignity of your choice
Jonie 2009
seeking God
longing for God
running to God
crying out to God
but stop
God has first loved us!
seeking us
longing for us
running to us
crying out to us
so turn
Father has first loved us!
Jonie 2009
Cold winter streets
barefoot and in rags
shivering so alone
looking in through the windows
aglow with warm lights
music and laughter so clear
beckoning calling insistently
Not for me, not for me
my heavy heart sobs
for how to get close to the
Lord of the dance?
how to enter the loving embrace?
beckoning calling insistently
Standing and longing
head low in despair
footsteps I suddenly hear
a door opens wide
I turn to the light and
- love leaps -
Father!
Jonie 2009
Sleepless summer night
agitated thoughts
burning
pillow wet with tears
Tormented summer night
past so present
gleefully
sheets crumpled with fear
Quiet summer night
cool breezes calming
nightmares
God’s Spirit – I’m here.
Jonie 2009
Summer heat shimmering hazy
painting pictures on the sand
fata morganas of hope
desired illusion
now receding
leaving
parched ground
Walking here this day our Lord
painting pictures in the sand
promise of grace and love
offering forgiveness
arms outstretched
healing
parched ground
Jonie 2009
Child of sorrow
living in pain
longing
searching
Child of sorrow
yearning
on the sidelines
gazing
from afar
Hound of heaven
ever closer
Voice of love
Voice so near
Child of God
in the Father’s will
rejoicing
Jonie 2009
Child so happy
laughing, gurgling
legs kicking
with delight
little hands grab
toys everywhere
all colours
all sizes
all sounds
But then wails of
distress rend the fun
toys falling
legs kicking
arms flailing
shrieks of fear
and of pain
heart breaking
Footsteps come running
strong arms clutch
holding so tight
My child!
I’m here, I’m here
Father shouts
Faces pressed close
hot tears mingling in
voiceless oceans of pain
healing
strong scarred hands
little hands grasping
racing hearts calmed
in whispers of warmth
embraced
Jonie 2009
Run grey mouse run
don’t turn to the past
tentacles clutching
grasping
darkness descending
quenching
Little grey mouse
a tug-of-war
spinning and spinning
twisting and turning
silenced by fear
Dance grey mouse dance
look to the stars
eyes sparkling
feet flying
dare
Jonie 2009
Girls and boys
come out and play
put on your smiles
- don’t stay away
the world’s a circus
you’re in the cast
the orchestra’s playing
now choose your mask
are you a clown ?
a diva ?
a jester ?
say your lines to please!
don’t read the wrong script
don’t ruin the play
don’t spoil the fun
ringmaster obey
- applause guaranteed!
Jonie 2009
Alone in the desert
silence a cloak
faint whispers
of promise divine
Listen
silence a balm
heavy, pregnant
with distant song
Listen
Alone in the desert
drawing closer
footsteps in my heart
desert sands
flowing through scars
of loving hands
Jonie 2009
Obey God, preacher shouts out loud
how?
whispers little grey mouse
jump through the hoop
hear the whip crack
welcome to my house
Love’s Spirit calls
run grey mouse run
that’s not God’s way
Freedom beckons
Come
Jonie 2009
Glorious Creator
painting moon’s pathway with joy
caressing His world
boats sailing so still
entering, leaving the light
Artist’s work unseen
Spirit of Heaven
whispering creation to life
stars twinkling delight
Jonie 2009
Out in the storm
in the world’s loud lights
sounds and music and fun
laughter and guns
side by side
Oh God – what have we done?
Enthroning Ourselves
Dethroning You
Our values, our actions speak
of greed and hatred so grim
of power and war
of tarnished delights the
unspeakable horrors of sin.
Enthroning Ourselves
Dethroning You
Careering down a one-way road of
history towards our doom
stop us, stop us
we’re destroying ourselves
Oh God – do you hear our groan?
Enthroning Ourselves
Dethroning You
An answer whispers from so near
Oh children of sorrow, see
look up at the Cross
fall down on your knees
I will set you free.
Jonie 2009
Deep calls to deep
in the silence of sorrow
hearts yearning
not finding
turning away from the void
Not in running
not in dancing
will we find what we seek
but in Him who is longing as
Deep calls to deep
Jonie 2009
Cocooned in your hand
night’s gentle dreams whispering by
stars singing of joy
Cocooned in your palm
night’s gentle breeze flowing by
hearts beating in love
Cocooned in your care
night’s gentle words speak of peace
first rays of soft dawn
Jonie 2009
Oh Revelation -
to be raptured or not
is the question of course
what length the tail
what colour the horse
before, in between or now you discuss
in holy huddles set apart
on times and signs you ponder.
And while you are thinking so high and so low
Don’t you see what your neighbour is going through?
Don’t you see the despair, the pain, the hunger?
Don’t you see the lonely growing in number?
hearing only the drums of your own tune
oh rapture are you coming soon?
do you not see, do you not hear
the call of the Father’s heart to you?
the Son of God is very near
walking the streets … alone
Jonie 2009
