A Mother's Prayer

A mother- to- be admires the roundness of her body
As the movements have stopped her in her tracks
She prays to the Lord for rest and sound sleep
She can't remember the last time she relaxed

Moans and cries filled the birthing room,
As a mother pushes with all her might.
"Lord, please give me strength
To push this baby out tonight"

No sounds, hushed tones, rushed moments
Why must I leave while my baby stays?
"I am not finished with him yet, my child
Stay connected with me and pray."

Lord , thank you for my child
Please protect him from these mean streets
Send your Comforter to fill her cup
And provide a safe place to retreat

A Grandmother sings songs of praises
Raising her grandchildren on one accord.
On bended knees she yells to the heavens
"You are the source of my strength, Lord."

The Lord hears the foster mom,
As she soothes the tears of the abused.
Many have turned their backs.
She laments, "I refuse! I refuse! I refuse!

Street lights on and the evening's come
Everyone is not in for the night
Lord, bring her in safe and sound
No date rape, no date drug, no fight.

Gangs , violence and drugs
Trying to take my son away!
Don't want to bury him, Lord
Please keep the bangers at bay!

Mother's all over walk the halls
Trying desperately not to embrace the pain
With a collective voice and collective spirits
Mother's Pray, "Lord, Break Every Chain!"


Rejoicing, shouting, praising and singing,
Just How Great Thou Art
The Lord is always near
We dedicate our kids and our hearts.


©Yolanda Grier 2013

Metamorphosis......So I Could Live

Metamorphosis

Isaiah 40:31


King James Version (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.



“A wonderful change has come over me!” Those lyrics seem to ring in my mind like  birds greeting in early Spring time. It’s wonderful! It’s glorious!

Last year, I made a decision to do things differently. I had to confront some issues in my life that appeared to have me bound, stuck. Anytime you are stuck, you can’t move! You can’t grow. You can’t help others grow. You can't seem to move out of the way of the stuff. Just stuck!

I imagine my life as a flowing stream of water…crisp, clear, on purpose, with a mission. I imagine me meandering down mountains, through valleys and eventually overflowing in the ocean of life. Yet, I couldn’t  move.

I often thought about the life cycle of the butterfly…egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly

Eggs are laid on plants which become the food for the caterpillar.

My heart had to be planted on a real desire for the Word, a real desire to trust and have faith. I desired to be more purposeful in my prayer life. After constantly moving and going nowhere fast, I made the decision to lay down the burdens in my life and to give all of them to the Lord...again.

Caterpillar: The only job of the larva is to eat

Now that I had emptied myself before the Lord, I made room in my heart.

• A new way of thinking.
• A new way of feeling.
• A new way of experiencing life.
• A new way to love myself.

Chrysalis or Coccon- Transition stage (protected)

The transition was the most challenging. There is a reason this stage needed to be protected. Everyone around me wasn’t happy about my change. Everyone was not happy that I was being freed from past hurts. And because these relationships strained the Lord’s work, the Lord was strategic in how he changed my relationships. I was moved by the Spirit to leave some relationships behind while the Lord sent other people in my life. Remarkably, others helped protect my cocoon by praying for me and offering sincere encouragement. Others gave me space. I called people less and my phone didn’t ring as much. My walk and talk became more confident.

If you find yourself in a cocoon, stay in position until the Lord says move. Anxiety, other people’s expectation and impatience will make you leave before you are ready. I can truthfully say, “I had that testimony before!”

At last…..Butterfly- Reproduce for a short time

I know I have experienced real change…..I have a real peace inside of me. My purpose is a little clearer. I am in position and ready to proceed with what the Lord has for my life. I have certainly been humbled by the lessons learned. I know what it is to abide in Christ. I trusted the process…..I trusted my God…..The state of readiness is only for a short time…..Soon I'll fly!

I made the art quilt in the above picture as a symbol of journey.....



Prayer: Lord, it’s me, giving you honor and praise for what you have done in my life. I am thankful for the tears. I am thankful for the moments it hurt to deal with past issues. I praise you for teaching me to forgive and to bless others. Thank you , Lord for removing this burden from me and allowing your light to shine ever so brightly in my life. In Jesus name. Amen

I Found Comfort....In Him

John 15:7King James Version (KJV)

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 



 

I am so excited about 2013! This new year promises to be about welcomed changes and challenges that will continue to allow me to grow. My desire is to increase my level of writing and to challenge myself more. I want to be closer to the Lord, and I desire my writings to reflect that.

Recently, I have written complete blog posts in my head and when I sat to pen them, the words would literally disappear! At first I thought I had so much on my mind, it was hard to concentrate. But when this phenomenon wouldn't past, I knew in my Spirit something else was going on. Something had to change....but what?

The year 2012 began with a class titled, "Luke 1:38" facilitated by my Pastor and First Lady. This class challenged me to identify and conquer any situations, experiences and strongholds that kept me from deepening my relationship with God. Through a willing spirit, even when the process was invasive and confrontational, I allowed the Lord to remove the "stuff".

I wrote and cried, while in the tunnel.

I wrote and prayed, while in the tunnel.

I wrote and rejoiced, while in the tunnel.

I wrote and worshipped , while in the tunnel.

The Lord kept me while I was in the tunnel.

My first post in 2010 I wrote I stated, "It is not intended that we remain in the tunnel." Solace In The Tunnel

Those words were fitting when I realized that my spirit was restless because I was no longer in the tunnel. I knew I had to change the title, but I had no idea to what. Several names floated in my head as I tried to give the blog a completely different name.

While at work, it hit me like a ton of bricks...Solace.....and then the word " comfort" kept storming in my head. My heart was racing with excitement! The Lord simply required me to remove the word tunnel and to acknowledge that I am abiding in Him now. I am finding comfort in Him now. Praise God!

On Sunday, I had the priviledge of introducing a first time visitor to the congregation. I asked, "Your name please?"...She responded, "Comfort"

Confirmation...