From Clouds to Rain

The sermon I listened to last Sunday (6.30 pm, 11 Jan 2009) was about how God provides us with the grace that we need when we need it. In other words it is not in our own strength that we make it through our trials but, in allowing ourselves to lean on Him, God's power becomes perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12: 7-10). He won't necessarily lift us out of our troubles but will be with us through them, often using the troubles themselves to transform us into the people he wants us to be (Hosea 2: 14-15).

Below is a poem that I wrote when I was watching some dark clouds in the sky, which were symbolic at the time, and realised that if we can just bear to sit still (it's a rocky road at times!) and take what comes our way we will become stronger as we are sustained by God's love for us. In fact the bigger the clouds the more God pours out his love and grace to us! By working through it we emerge triumphant the other end. The context in which I wrote it may be different from yours now, but the rain still falls from the clouds, whatever the context. So for those who need encouragement...

From Clouds to Rain

I love it when the pictures you give me
Come alive and true.
For here I am with stretched open arms
Singing my praise to you.

It’s raining outside,
There are clouds above,
But peace they bring
Like your willing dove.

For the darker the clouds,
The heavier the rain
To cleanse me with
Your love again.

I shall rejoice when I see them,
The dark clouds in the sky,
For although trouble comes
Your love shall also pass by,

To visit me
And sustain me within,
To shine a light
On any remaining sin,

To cleanse me of dirt,
To make me as white as snow,
To come again and again,
This truth I now know.

So come on then dark clouds,
Do your greatest will.
For triumph will follow
If I have the courage to sit still.

Copyright EH 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Time Out...

Having just returned from a day at the Clothed With Joy women's conference at St.Barnabas Church, north London I feel like I've had a breath of fresh air blown into my life again. These kind of days are so important to put aside time for in order to recharge batteries, reassess your direction and to be reminded, again, of how much we are loved by God, just as we are!

The women speakers were bold with their honesty, (thank you to Helen Shannon), and the worship was true to how wonderful, amazing and fabulous God is on so many levels (reliable, strong, forgiving, accepting... and endlessly loving). I was especially taken by the song that Jo Dore wrote especially for the event. Its words were so simple, yet together were so moving and true. The beautiful melody that accompanied these words created a worship song that was a delight to sing.

Carrie Grant (Fame Academy, CBeebies, "Carrie and David's Popshop!"), was again honest in her singing. It was a gift so humbly presented to deliver God's loving face in times of great struggle. The words "I'm falling..." comforted by the following song's image of God carrying us was powerful. Thank you for sharing.

So as well as the lyrics spoken of above, where did my love of words and communicating come in? Helen Shannon spoke of the power of words. Those that hurt and those that are spoken by God (when He speaks - change happens!). Anne Coles spoke of women's intuition and choosing the right moment to deliver the right words, and finally I am so grateful to Jo Dore for hosting the "Writing a Psalm" workshop. It was so exciting to listen to someone deliver their research into the various Psalms, exposing an enthusiasm akin to my own! However her research also took her into how Psalms are written. I've never looked at writing poetry or Psalms with a particular framework in mind before, and have often avoided doing so, so not to "box" my creativity as such. However I arrived at the workshop with anticipation and excitement at having the chance to do what I love most - communicate with God, and give him the time and space to communicate with me, either via words or pictures in my mind. The workshop was an interesting and effective one in that people who had never written a Psalm or poetry before were given the space, time and know-how needed to create a Psalm which communicated their own lament or worship to God. The women present were so brave and honest in sharing what they had created and it was an honour to hear their words.

I won't post the Psalm that I wrote in the workshop here for the moment (it is a long one!), however here is a poem that I wrote later in the day based on the same picture that came to my mind during the prayer at the beginning of the workshop (thank you Jo for providing the space which allowed God to give it to me):

Your face that I draw
On this page with these words
Comes to me in my mind
As they flow to me in herds.

It is your face that I see
As I write on this page.
Your colours of brown and gold
So clear, without haze.

Do my words do you justice?
Are my words to you true?
True to all the glory
That I see in you?

For I hope that they do
As I sit here with you,
As you absorb the pain
That I see is true.

True to this world
That exists
Without knowledge
Of you.

Copyright EH 2008. All rights reserved.