Get Ready For Mercy

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Inspired by my dad's words during preaching, "Get ready for Mercy."

Get Ready For Mercy

 12/21/14

The angels dance in the sky,

Their pure delight and adoration

Pouring through the night's once stillness.

Oh shepherds, do you hear it?

Watch what no man has ever seen

As the angelic choir sings the news of the Messiah.

Tremble with awe,

Kneeling on the dew-wet ground -

All around you they cry,

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to men

On whom His favor rests.”

Glory, glory, glory -

God has tabernacled among us.

He has come,

He is here...

Get ready for Mercy.

There in the spotlight

As everything else fades -

The signs,

The symbols,

The sacrifices we made -

They all pointed to His coming.

As you gather your lambs

And run to find the Christ child,

Do you feel it?

There is hope.

And then

There He is:

The source of Light

We'd only seen in shadows -

The one we've been waiting for.

There He is...

A child,

Small,

Asleep,

Bundled in rags,

Lying in a feed trough

On this cold night...

There He is -

Oh, get ready for Mercy.

You watch Him now

Still almost surprised -

Oh, and filled with such wonder.

The littlest of your flock clambers close,

Peering at the sleeping child,

Then looking back at you as if to say,

“This is all the fuss?”

He looks so unassuming -

Not a conquering hero

Ready to bring deliverance.

His parents aren't well born,

Nor do they seem even ready

To welcome a child into this world.

We were expecting

Someone high in power

And yet

There He is,

Without strength, a tiny babe,

Here to bring us Salvation.

In that moment you see it -

He is the picture of God's great Mercy.

They said God is not like us

To walk among us

And understand our weakness

And yet

There He is

In a form no one would have expected.

You are the first to greet Him...

In a way, it seems almost fitting

That shepherds would be the first to welcome

This perfect little lamb.

A lamb,

Born to live our sorrows,

To tread the dusty roads beside us

And live in human flesh.

He will walk this earth in perfection,

And honor His Father without wavering

So that we might be given

Mercy...

Oh shepherds, you were not fully aware that night

Of what you saw,

Only that it was more wonderful

Than you ever could have imagined....

He was closer

Than you ever would have dreamed.

Mercy came close enough to touch...

Ah, get ready for this Mercy -

His name is Jesus;

He is going to change the world.

The Night Before Christmas - Brandon Heath

~ZA

In Your Ocean

o.O It's been awhile since I've posted... Here's the most recent poem I've written. :)

*Quiet hum* These words came during a time of blessing in Worship with friends. 

In Your Ocean 

11/8/14

If Your love is an ocean -

Lord, drown me.

Drown me in delight,

Knock me over,

Drag me under -

Don't let me keep my footing

In my own strength -

Toss me,

Tumble me,

In Your wild waters

Until my concern to understand

Is overwhelmed

By Your presence.

Fill my lungs up with Your praises,

Until I can't breathe

Without You

Pouring from my heart -

Until Your Joy

Ripples to those in my life...

If Your love is an ocean -

Teach me to dive for the bottom

And be absorbed in the depths

Of Your glorious,

Life-changing

Truth...

If Your love is an ocean -

I never want to come up for air,

For You are enough for me -

Truly alive in Your waves,

Forever.

~ZA

Please Tell Me So - Song/Poem

I wrote this the other day while cleaning. (I was alone in the house, which tends to inspire loud singing. ;) ) 

If you'd like to hear the tune, the link is at the bottom of the post. 

Please Tell Me So

9/13/14

There's a story that I wish you'd tell,

You think you're hiding, but I know you fell -

But my love for you will never sell,

The pain you hide below.

So raise your head up from the undertow 

Raise your hands and just let go -

I know you wish that you could tell me so,

Oh please, my dear, let go! 

I see you suffer with a silent cry,

You never tell me and I don't know why,

You say it's okay, but that is a lie -

I wish you'd let me know.

So raise your head up from the undertow 

Raise your hands and just let go -

I know you wish that you could tell me so,

Oh please, my dear, let go! 

There are memories still backed by tears,

You are drowning in a thousand fears,

But I have stood by you through all these years,

And I won't let you go!

So raise your head up from the undertow 

Raise your hands and just let go -

I know you wish that you could tell me so,

Oh please, my dear, let go! 

And then you tell me of a weary fight,

Of a blackness that has stole your light,

So I hold you on this weary night -

My friend, I won't let go.

I'll hold your head up from the undertow,

I'll stand beside you and take each blow,

God will be with us, I trust, I know,

My friend, I love you so. 

Song Music On Youtube

~Ophelia - Marie

Help Needed

               

               Hey - readers of my blog! Poetry people! Anybody reading this -

                I am starting the process to self publish again, hopefully within the next several months. This will be a book of all my poems about friendship, from when I started at about 15, to my present age of 19. I have about 70 poems with 16,421 words total at the moment.  Eighteen of them have been previously published in my other two books, but because I want to do a full friendship poetry compilation, they will be republished. 

         Would you consider reading a few poems (*even just one or two*), and giving me your opinion? (Harsh critique is welcome - I'm well aware I have a lot to learn.) I'm especially looking for any confusing vagueness, grammar errors and punctuation mistakes, as well as any comments on meter, flow, and word choices.  Every extra set of eyes is a help, no matter how much you actually have time to read.

Anyone who helps will be given extra entries to the giveaways I will be doing to promote my book. (Signed books by me, clay critters, etc.)

And you'll have my forever gratitude, but yeah, that's a given....

If you would be interested in helping me out, please let me know. :) *Points to my 'Contact Me' tab at the top of the page* Please email me.

*Deadline is October 10th for you to send critique back to me*

~Ophelia - Marie 

Please Don't Judge The Outside

A dear friend of mine posted this on FB:

"Please don't judge people by outward appearances.
The most popular person I knew was the loneliest.
The most jovial person I ever encountered was severely depressed.
The people who I though had it all together were often hurting the worst.
I've been thought arrogant when I was my most insecure.
I've heard people say I was full of energy when I was my most exhausted.
Truly, each heart knows it's own sorrow. You just never know what someone has been through, until you really, intimately get to know them." 

Here is the poem, inspired by her words.

Please Don't Judge The Outside 

8/15/14

It's been a day of weariness -

Expectations take their toll,

As I am told I'm wonderful,

When I feel less than whole.

You say that I am popular -

Oh look how I am loved!

Yet here I am the loneliest,

With dark emotions shoved.

You say that I am respectable -

An example to the young.

But I am fighting battles

That you know nothing of.

You say I flow with tenderness -

There's such love in my stance.

But I keep pulling back away,

At every painful chance.

You say I have found joyfulness -

With smiles on my face.

But there is pain behind my eyes,

With none to fill that space.

You say I show togetherness -

Life looks so figured out!

But I am warring with my past

And cringing in my doubt.

You say I'm almost arrogant -

My words seem backed by pride.

But really I am insecure

And close myself inside.

You say there's boundless energy -

But that is not a fact.

For I am tired of this pace,

And weary of this act.

You speak of really knowing me -

And yet you never do.

You think I'm perfect at arm's length,

But I am broken too.

You speak still, almost glowingly,

Of all you see in me.

And yet I wish I trusted you,

To look and truly see.

~ZA 

I've Got Music

I was looking back through my Twitter  last night and found three verses that caught my eye. After a little thought, I came up with two more verses, and so this poem is completed. :)

I've Got Music 

7/10/14

I've got music in my heart-

Pounds out deeply,

Quivers, starts.

Oh, the words just fall apart

Now.

I've got music in my mind-

Trembles weakly,
First-steps, blind.
Oh, the notes we leave behind

Now.

I've got music in my soul-

Whispers sweetly,

Heartfelt, whole.

Oh, I feel I've found my goal

Now.

I've got music in my chest-

Colors steeply,

Never rests.

Oh, I've finally passed the test

Now.

I've got music in my voice-
Echoes meekly,
Quiet, choice.
Oh, the reasons we rejoice
Now.

~ZA

Looking For Life

Looking For Life 

2/9/14

Looking for love in all the wrong places.

Looking for power in the atmosphere.

Searching for dreams in smiling faces -

Looking away from the painful tears.

Looking for joy to fill up those spaces.

Looking for peace in a raging tide.

Trusting the crowd in all of the races,

Feeling thrills of the crazy ride.

Looking for luck in all of my aces.

Looking for life in the things I'd do.

Thinking strength lay in a stasis

I could find, if I only knew.

Looking for God in all of these cases.

Looking for hope though I was bound.

Thinking He was in the cracked vases,

Trampled small on the cold, black ground.

Looking for good in all of these cases.

Looking for truth in the things we said.

I had failed to cover my bases -

God reached in while I was dead.

Given hope in all the right places.

Give love that can cast out fear.

God showed me the ties of life's laces,

Drawing me so that I could hear.

Given light in all of these graces.

Given peace in the midst of trial.

Now I walk through life's paces,

God stands with me through ever mile.

Given grace on a daily basis.

Given joy that I could not buy.

God reached down in one of my chases,

Showed great love, deep enough to die.

~ZA

This song fits...

Dear Heart - Sanctus Real

To My Internet Friends

Well, I wrote this poem a few years ago, but I decided to share it here since it's fun to have a matching theme on both my blogs.

The theme being: 

Internet friends. <3

 To My Holy Worlds Friends

 10/30/12

I never could have imagined

How much I could love you,

Friend.

I never would have thought

That a love like this could form,

Or that I would so fiercely defend you,

Pray for you,

Cry for you,

And rejoice with you.

I never could have imagined it.

Especially since. . .

This love formed without me ever seeing you face to face.

In the beginning

I never considered

How much you could make me hurt-

How often I would cry for you. . .

I never considered

How hard you could make me laugh-

How often I would gasp for breath at your words. . .

I never considered

How blessed you could make me feel-

How often I would close my eyes and praise God for your friendship. . .

I never thought through the implications

Of how knowing you would change me.

When I hear your happiness

I can't help but rejoice.

When you share a triumph

I'm ready to share it with the world.

You're my friend,

It doesn't really matter that you're thousands of miles away-

Except when I want to take you by the hands

And spin around with excitement.

When I hear your pain

My heart breaks in two.

When you ask me to listen

I cry to God to give me something to say.

You're my friend,

It doesn't really matter that you're thousands of miles way.

Except when I want to wrap my arms around you

And hug your hurts away.

There are ways I'll never be the same

Because you touched my life.

Thank you.

Thank you for

Trusting me with your heartaches and questions,

Blessing me with your contagious excitement,

Reminding me to trust in God's promises,

Being there to pray and listen,

And taking the time to be a true friend.

I never could have imagined

How much I could love you,

Friend. . .

And I think I'm only truly beginning to understand

What that kind of love means.

~ZA

Wounds

This post, "Outcasts" by Sorrowseyes and a talk with a friend were what brought me to write this poem. To tell you the truth, that blog post hurts... it's very... Real. Honest. Powerful. And in the end, it is summed up with important Truth.

          "And to my fellow outcasts, please come. My Abba is there, my Abba is here. I can only reflect Him, for He is too glorious for me to be but His humble servant. You precious soul, you jewel of the sea, and shining rainbow of the skies. Oh how you are loved. I will not say the things that will only hurt you more, for they have been spoken to me. But maybe you can find comfort in but a few words of mine: you are not alone. I am an outcast too. I hope that every day smiles with flowers for you, that the wind sings a joyful song for you, and that the trees dance before your very eyes. I know your agony is torturous, I know you wonder if you will ever be happy again, I know you wonder if you can stop crying. Oh, how I know your pain. My Abba never rejected me for the color of my eyes. Or the way I dressed, or how much I screamed in agony and asked Him why. He never rejected anyone because they had piercings, and tattoos, if they barely wore anything or if you could barely see their face. He does not refuse those who cannot walk, or speak, or see, or who cannot understand all of these things. He does not judge on how long or short your hair is, or if you wear make up or not, if you get up at noon and do exactly as you are told. If He does not, then neither can I, my friend. Neither, can I.

           You are dearly loved. You are wonderful. You are unique, and beautiful. With a fantastically significant life. You have a purpose. And you are not alone."

You are not alone. 

And if you are reading this and have this struggle... Know that I've prayed for you.

This post isn't an accident or a chance.

I'm here to remind you there is someone who cares -

More importantly, God cares. 

Don't give up hope.

<3

Wounds

4/27/14

Ah, friend,

You'd never know, looking at me

How broken I am.

I'm a sliver of glass

Shattered from a mirror.

I reflect what you expect me to be.

I smile now

But tonight I'll scream into my hands,

Silently begging

The pain to go away.

Silently pleading

With God

To ease my sorrow

Or take me Home.

Home with Him

Away from this pain.

Inward pain.

Outward pain.

The pain in my heart

And the pain I bring myself.

For now

I press it all down deep

And tell myself

Everything is really just...

Fine.

I'm fine.

Fine.

Fine.

Fine.

I'm really just fine.

But the darkness presses at my mind

And all my thoughts find focus

In a longing

To dull my pain.

I can dull the pain

With moment of causing more...

You smile at me

Never even guessing

How the wounds in my soul

Are leaking to stain my skin...

My broken skin...

You'd never guess

How often the longing overtakes me

And I'm left to deal with deadening ache

As I break myself

Again.

It started out small

But I found too late

That I'd fed a growing monster.

Now it claws my heart to shreds

As I do what I don't want,

Yet find myself needing to continue,

For fear of

The pressure constricting my mind.

Fear keeps me

From seeking you out

To help me.

Fear

And shame.

I hate myself.

Hate the things I do.

Hate what I see when I see myself...

Wondering for the thousandth time

How far would our friendship stand

If you knew.

Please, I need to know...

Would you love me still,

Even if you knew the truth?

That thought mocks me

A thousand different ways

As I hide.

I long for you to reach me,

Hold me close,

And stay

Even when I try to push you back

By telling you I'm fine.

If you could see

The truth

Would you stay with me?

I need you to know

I'm not okay

But that doesn't mean

I'm beyond hope.

My skin is broken -

So is my heart -

But I am still clinging to God

And begging Him to send me

Someone

To love me

Beyond my weakness.

Can I trust you?

Can I trust you to see

Behind the scars

And to my troubled heart?

If you saw my struggles

Would you...

Still see me?

Please

Don't leave me

Alone. 

~ZA