Through the Windows of God

Trafford Publishing

Contents

Through The Windows of God ... I define me.....................1A Farmer's Prayer..............................................2If I were a Butterfly..........................................4Time's Whisper.................................................6Ann............................................................8As The Butterflies Dance.......................................10Forgive Yourself...............................................12Gina...........................................................14Gossips........................................................16Grace..........................................................18Just a Thought Away............................................20Lewisport......................................................22Lucille........................................................24Unconditional Love.............................................26What they say..................................................28Paul...........................................................30Alcoholism.....................................................32Angels Everywhere..............................................34My Angels......................................................36No Expiration..................................................38What Death Means to Me.........................................40The Many Faces of You..........................................42Absolute Constant Time......................................47Circular Thinking..............................................48Consider What is...............................................50Destiny's Light................................................51Doubt..........................................................52Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8............................................53Eternity.......................................................54Expectations...................................................55Heaven's Race..................................................57How High, Firefly..............................................58His Whisper....................................................60If We Would Change Our World...................................61Lost...........................................................63Love...........................................................64My thoughts on Our Differences.................................65Never Alone....................................................66One Breath Away................................................67Personal Evolution.............................................68Sometimes......................................................69Tears..........................................................70Time...........................................................71Tomorrow.......................................................72Treasures of the Heart.........................................74True Friendship................................................75What is Forgiveness to Me......................................76Patience.......................................................77What is Peacefulness...........................................78What Life Means to Me..........................................79Where God is...................................................80Who Took the Yellow from Me?...................................81A Collector be.................................................82Angel's Songs..................................................83Corinthians 13: 1-13...........................................84Psalm 116: 1-10................................................85Romans 15: 1-5.................................................86What is Hope...................................................88What is the Light..............................................89Seeds of life..................................................90Ecclesiastes 5: 18-20..........................................91What does today mean to me.....................................92Freedom's Will.................................................93Timeless Butterfly.............................................95Proverbs 15: 13-23.............................................96Treasures of the Heart.........................................97Romans 12: 9-18................................................98Psalm 51.......................................................99Corinthians 2: 7-16............................................100Aging..........................................................101Balance........................................................102Change.........................................................103Defined by Jesus...............................................105Experiencing...................................................106Flowers........................................................107Flutter by Butterfly...........................................108Grieving.......................................................109Have You Ever..................................................110Heaven.........................................................111I Did Not See..................................................112A Little Butterfly.............................................113Love is........................................................114Messages Without Words.........................................115More Than We Can Be............................................116My Heart Called to You Today...................................118My True Love...................................................119Our Motives....................................................120The Angel's Called Today.......................................121Try Imagine....................................................122What is Meekness to Me.........................................124What is a True Friend..........................................125What is Faith to Me............................................126You are His Signature..........................................128Your Reflection................................................129

Chapter One

I, a single, solitary being, moving with awe-struck curiosity along my journey's path of uncertainty ... this path I must ultimately walk alone, for this is each one's reality. Each one must stand alone before God. Not one thing, not one place, not one person great can change this, for we are absolute and singular before our God. Each one is defined through the all knowing windows of God ... there an open awareness of His majestic power ... there through His wisdom loaned ... I define me. Alone standing before the windows of God, I search for all of tomorrow's, hopes and destinies ... visions of my own honesty beckons me to come hither, to open spaces beyond imagination's celestial doors, I bow to heaven's promises and there ... Truth defines me.

In this stillness of solidarity, this place I go to contemplate, to contemplate God and me, to contemplate the molding of me and who I am supposed to be. In this silent place He waits for me, bathed in His infinite, all consuming power 'tis His light of love, this love His offerings to me. In this silence I call out to me and He. I seek answers to tests complete and tests, yet to be won. This, a time I ask of His mystery's revelations and His loving purposes for me. He breathed my name ... behold, then came the proclamation of my future's destiny. His miracle became me ... through the windows of God; I stand before a reflection of me from He.

How do I thank Thee, how do I give thanks to One who breathed life into this existence and I, He lovingly entrusted in Angel's hands came to be, I became me. I wish to thank Thee through wisdom's gifts He has given me. I work to be all He has hoped that I will be, I work with wisdom's absolute sincerity. This path I walk with heart of humbled gratitude, gratitude for lending my hungry soul the light of His Heavenly Spirit's mastery ... He that breathed and I became me, this miracle of life He gifted is me.

How do I define me? Do I look to troubles unfair, do I praise all efforts I have won, do I caress to my heart's purest places the cruelness of the world's citizens forlorn, truly bent on crushing the hopes of this miracle God gave to me ... this miracle that is me? Do I compare my lesser endowments to those blessed differently than me? Yes, this is how I define me, yes I learn from all that has touched me and take the good of it, only the good I allow is the defining of me. The cruelness I hear not, for that is not about me. I am better when I am delivered up to this one's unrelenting agony, for I pray for this troubled one's rescue. I ask God for mercies and deliverance from this one's prison of cruelty. I pray for forgiveness only God can bestow, to heal this one's heart so burdened and low, then blessings I win to the betterment of me, now greater is beauty's definition of me.

Through the windows of God ... I define me, for I am born a part of He, as He breathed His breath into me. This once lifeless form of dust, then became the living soul of me. Each time I look into the windows of God, there I see ... I see His reflection looking back at me ... His reflection feeding all needs be ... this is the me I wish for you to see ... rewards of His reflection looking back at me, for there you will ever see me ... through the windows of God.

      A Farmer's Prayer

    Yonder glows the morning sun,
    As the world in silent slumber sleeps.
    'tis toil to get a days work done,
    His work awaits and will not keep.

    He gazes past the ground below,
    He looks beyond what surface shows.
    A prayerful glance to the sky,
    A heart filled with pleading hope.

    His life he gives to tend the soil,
    His heart, his sweat and anguish bear.
    His tears, his time, his promise made,
    As life goes on, so unaware.

    Each new day he knows the truth,
    In every seed he sees God's hand.
    Awe `n wonder awaken his soul,
    He sees His work in all the land.

    Yonder glows the morning sun,
    The world in silent slumber sleeps.
    A farmer's prayer lifts up at dawn,
    His work awaits and will not keep.

A Farmer's Prayer ... was inspired by a dear friend of mine. He was an elderly, very interesting and intelligent man. He was an Attorney, retired from his private practice. He became a Real Estate Attorney for a major Southern Indiana college, which is where I met him, while I was attending classes there and we became golfing buddies. He was an excellent golfer and we enjoyed many afternoons hitting the ball around several different courses all over southern Indiana.

Will was interested in my writing and enjoyed sharing his thoughts about a new topic that I had written. Will asked me to write a poem about farmers. He went on to tell me, in his opinion, farmers are a much ignored profession and that society rarely gives farmers and what they do much thought. Farmers are taken for granted, according to Will and I think in many ways, I agree with Will. Think about it, what would we do with-out our farmers?

I sat down and with-in a few minutes at my key board, A Farmer's Prayer came to be. To this day, it is one of my favorite poems. Will loved the poem and I dedicate this poem to Will and all of the hard working farmers out there. Thank you for all you do! I appreciate you!

      If I were a Butterfly

    ... what would I feel ...
    I would fly all around
    with such grace and zeal.

    I would find each flower,
    I'd choose one by one,
    not caring the color,
    'tis nectar, taste `n fun.

    If I were a butterfly
    what would I feel ...
    the damp morning dew,
    the afternoon sun.

    I'd dance through the air
    'til darkness come.
    I'd hide `n folded wings
    when day is done.

    If I were a butterfly
    ... what would I feel ...
    as I dip and soar,
    I'd fly so high
    'til I was no more!!

If I Were a Butterfly ... this poem seems to be a favorite with most people. The inspiration for this poem came to me while I was watching a lone butterfly, busily flying from flower to flower, then flying high in the sky, just to come down again to another flower. I sat down at my key board, thinking about this butterfly and this poem came to be ...

Time's Whisper

My time has passed for earth's good joy, for earth's great toil and lessons ... now finally done. I tried and failed and tried and gained, the best and worst of all life's challenges, to pass my journey's course. I faced and fought distain while embracing my life's work, a work most times well done.

My time on earth so quickly spent, I with youthful eyes did not see, for many days what was becoming so evident. My body worn and tired by time's unrelenting call, I turned to see me, yet this reflection looking back is one of frailty ... this frailty is a gift time has made of me. Yes, it is a gift time has given me. In this face, time's messages I see.

Grieve not for me, for we knew some day this would be my welcoming destiny. I did not want to leave you, for I know your heart will be heavy and sad. Oh, but I, so wanted to go where God's promised hope is my reality. Weariness has spoken to my spirit's fading will ... weariness has readied me ...

My time has passed for earth's good joy, for earth's great toil and lessons ... now finally done ... Time's whisper has been longingly beckoning me, Time's whisper has now proclaimed the all of me ... I am forever your precious memory.

Time's Whisper ... This grievance poem is inspired by those that are ready to pass on, yet have concerns about leaving loved ones behind or causing their loved ones pain ... I have written several grievance poems, to speak to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Each grievance poem was inspired by the hurting and loss of the living. I think many folks just need to know that their loved one is safe and with God and really are in a better place.

Thoughts of my own mother and her passing helped inspire this writing. She was ready to be with God and in her special, most loving way, told us all good-bye, then quietly, peacefully slipped away.

Ann

Ann, each whispering note caresses my imagination's visions, then carries me to where all innocence is awakened from beneath the rubble of now and yesterday's callings. I drift hypnotically away, as you touch each note, while possessing all good, which is sleeping within me ... this yearning sleeps, patiently inside me. With each gentle stroke of your piano keys, Ann, Angels joyfully dance, as your fingers glide each key, whispering an undeniable beckoning to the deepest part of me. Ann, you awaken my day-dream's smoldering tranquility, as though your Angels choreographed each chord with echoes of Heaven's exhilaration, such awe and fervor only expressed by the passion of you ... only by the passion of your gift, Ann.

Ann, each whispering note caresses imagination's visions, then carries me to where all innocence is awakened, as my enlightened spirit surrenders, each chord manifests visions of a wilderness song, bath in unsung wonder ... there ... engaged in anticipations hidden places of my soul, your magical notes and chords claim the very essence of me. Ann, this ... as each key answers to the passion of your methodical touch ... a proclamation that only God can orchestrate, this impassioned gift ... this infinite, burning brilliance from the soul of you ... this defining flow of Heaven's inspiration, so wondrously exudes only from the soul of you ... only from the soul of you, Ann.

Ann, A Place in the Sun ... Ann is an amazing pianist!! If I am having a not so good day, I can listen to her music and it brings me back into balance. I honestly get lost in her music. I was listening to her music, as I wrote this writing titled, Ann. I am so impressed, as to how she plays the piano with such gracefulness and a heavenly sound.

When I listen to Ann's music on a day that is a good day for me, the sounds of her piano make it a great day. Ann has an exceptional and amazing gift, surely from the very heart of God.

As The Butterflies Dance

I wind the road, through trees and hills. A heavy heart with saddened will. No light to feel, to see, no light of day to brighten the darkness of me ..., then magic, as magic will, that moment my world stood still, as I turn the last bend I see, a wonderment awaiting me, a wonderment to erase all cares, a heavenly sight awaiting there.

My soul felt joy with the welcoming sight of the butterflies dancing in luminous sunlight. Flowers reaching to sunlight's call, embracing each butterfly, as they glide by. Surely Angels and rainbows orchestrated this colorful gift. I stand in awe at this sight, the butterflies skip and sour to nature's harmony, this greeting I know was meant just for me. A loveliness that only God could make, ah, a butterfly dance, just for my sake.

Butterflies moving with silent grace to compositions of Angel's songs. I stand in awe, as my soul can hear beyond the silence, the cords and notes, as the butterflies dance. Each note an awareness comes to say, I have been away too long. With each breath of wind, the butterflies glide in performance surely Angels guide. The butterflies dance a language of softened strength, spoken with each dip and sour, a message I will always hold dear, I have been away too long, I have been away too long, this I hear, I feel and know, as the butterflies dance a welcome for me ..., I have been away too long, too long ... in awe is my stance ... as the butterflies dance.

As The Butterflies Dance ... this was inspired by what I am sharing with you in this writing. I had been away from home for quite some time and during that time, I had a heart rendering event happen. My drive-way was ¼ mile long and wound through the woods. My heart was feeling very heavy, as I drove up the drive, through the woods to my home. As I rounded the last bend and stopped my car in front of my house, this writing describes exactly what I saw and felt, as I watched the butterflies. I felt the most incredible calm come over me, as I watched at least 30 butterflies, flying, so gracefully all about the butterfly bushes. I got out of my car and stood for the longest time, watching the butterflies dance all about the blossoms. I stood there in a spell-bound awe of this sight. God is so kind to provide us with just what we need when we need Him most. This is the gift that He gave to me that day.

Forgive Yourself

To forgive yourself allows you to grow and be open to realize God's peace. Perfection is not a quality that we will ever master, therefore one must expect and accept that we will, at times be at fault. God's forgiveness allows one the freedom to grow beyond our faults.

Think on this, if you will not forgive self for the wrongs of yesterday, then are you not frozen in that negative vault of time? There can be no other conclusion, but that you are. Ask yourself, is this a place that can bring wisdom, joy and peace? God's will is that you not be cemented in time by your feelings of guilt. There can be no positive growth in a place of torment. God created you to be happy.

God offers, by grace, a safe route for all things in your life. To forgive your self can be a release from the bondage of guilt. You cannot be open to God's truths and grow with wisdom if you are blocked by your self made walls of shame. Think on this ... can you grow if you carry the weight of guilt? To hold onto the wrongs of yesterday is to diminish your opportunity for a peaceful tomorrow.

The forgiveness that I speak of is from God. He is waiting with love and wants to take away your bonds. He is waiting to set your heart free. The given ability to forgive your self is a gift of love from God. With a heart that is free, God's love can grow within you. You can see and experience the beauty of life when burdens are lifted. You can know God and His ever-growing peace if you will give God the wrongs of yesterday and have faith that you are free ... Follow His ensample ... set yourself free, then go in peace and be.

Forgive Yourself ... this writing was inspired by knowing folks that have made mistakes, as well, as myself and being unable to move on from whatever the event was/is. This writing is a message to all of us ... we are to learn from and let go of our mistakes. Folks seem to isolate themselves, as if they are the only person to ever make mistakes or the kind of mistakes they may have made. This is not so, we are all guilty from time to time, this is a part of our journey and learning experiences. It is wrong to never let go of your wrongs and to keep beating yourself up. If we can't forgive ourselves and go on, then we can never have a full and peaceful life of learning.

Gina

She walks in a silence only Angels know. Gentle breezes whisper a welcome, as her delicate, silhouette, quietly commands the radiance of her garden flowers just by her presence.

Ah, she comes to tend to her beloved blossoms with an eager heart of care. She bends to touch each one, not for another course, but to let each one know she is there. Her essence is, as a breath of life, as she graces the midst of a solitary moment. Her pause is, but a message of all answers to her garden's place. With a sense of her, each flower gently sways in wait.

Even butterflies dance, as she purposely goes about with labor of love. Tending to the flowers, she understands the very birth of each magnificent blossom is a gift, a first birth sent from above.

Her soul feels a mirror reflection of self at peace, as she skillfully, lovingly nurtures her flowers in her garden place and need. As the world turns in trouble and with unsettled unrest ... she shares only a loveliness, a place where flowers grow, the boundaries of her garden where only love is manifest.

As day light dims and the sun slowly fades behind a distant hill, she turns to leave her garden, yet relentlessly she goes ... with pleading thoughts of time's impatience. Her presence will ever grace this garden, for her essence is etched in moment's collected eternity. Her spirit touching this moment in time ... her place in her garden will always be ... as she walks in a silence only Angles know ... her place nary dim ... as Gina walks with silent footsteps, where only Garden Angels surely go.

Gina ... this is inspired by Gina. Gina is a beautiful person. So intelligent, so full of life and she loved flower gardening and she was very good at it. Gina and I worked together and our working relationship was a very good one. I loved to watch Gina make flower baskets for people, because it seemed she had a gift that none other shared.

Gina was funny, interesting and very talented with whatever she set her mind to do. Gina was loved and respected by many. Gina was very well known for her work in the Arts Dept. at a major southern Indiana College. She held a Master's degree from that same college, as well, as many other accomplishments.

Gina became very ill. I wrote this writing about Gina when I learned of her illness. Not long after I wrote this, she passed away. The loss was great for all that knew Gina. That was a very sad day.

At her memorial service, this poem, Gina was read ... to this day, I feel honored that Gina's family chose to share this poem, my vision of Gina. I think that all who really knew her, had this same vision of this uniquely, special lady ... Gina.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Through the Windows of Godby Shari Ka Copyright © 2012 by Shari Ka. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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