Falling and Rising

Welcome. This is my latest (and very late contribution) to Five Minute Friday. Life hasn't been quite going to plan recently and things are still adjusting as I seek to recover from a particularly long M.E relapse. Though not as mentally switched on as I would like to be, I offer my best, poetic 5 minutes on the prompt:'Fall'.

START...

Falling and Rising

Kaleidoscope colours

fall to the ground

with crackle

 and crunch

they make 

a fine sound.

Leaves have 

a season

a reason 

to fall. 

As we watch

they're a tumbling

swirling, twirling

grace-dancing

golden haul.

Reminders of life

delicate 

flesh-bound

resilient and full

with promise

 potential

once lost

never found.

Then caught 

in Love's arms

scooped up

and saved

given new hope

we'll rise

redeemed

from the grave.

Season of grace

Season of light

fully dependent 

on God's insight.

His keeping 

and holding

His tender embrace

unfolding our future

where new dreams 

can take place.

No longer subject

to eternal decay

no longer held

in sin 

or death's sway.

We fall 

into His arms

Forever

to stay.

©JoyLenton2013

STOP

ImageCourtesyofphotosforsouls.com

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him" ~ Psalm 92:12 - 15

In this Autumn of my life, it has been a season of stepping back a little for me, not one of obvious fruitfulness. Falling and rising describe pretty well life with M.E and the Christian life in general. 

But a lot of our growth takes place in the dark, quiet nights of the soul, in the secret place where God does His work. It will eventually come forth as He gives grace to reveal what was hidden. 

Linking (in a better-late-than-never fashion) with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. You are very welcome to join in. It's still open for entries!

To stay in touch with my poetry and prose you can link up by Google Friend Connect, following on Twitter, or by liking my Facebook page.

A letter to the God-sized Dreamers

"Dreams are the seeds of creative reality" ~ Anon

Dreams

It began...

with vague ideas swimming through clouded, crowded thoughts

misted heavy with scepticism and soft-whisper in our hearts that we hear, 
though we hesitate: This? Me? Now? Really?

Until it pulses strong, a throb in tune with every beat
 of our being that we can no longer ignore.

Circulating in mind, soul and spirit, this germinating seed 

wants to take root in fertile soil of faith and hope.

This fragile, tiny speck teeming with life and potential 
now captured and held, watered and fed with encouragement,

supported and staked round by Sisterly Sharing,

a calling out of dreams as confidence swells and seeds take root.

Surrounded by voices of faith who cajole and carry 

these tender shoots nurtured in hearts united in purpose.

Watch them grow with grace-filled words

with leaves of love, stems of gratitude, hope-filled centres

unfurling and blooming before our very eyes

as we marvel at what we are creating...

Together.

It continues...

as winds of adversity blow and threaten, weeds surround to choke and stifle, waves of weariness and ditches of discouragement seek to drown out 
the very life of what has already come and appeared to be thriving.

Storms pass and we cling on, secure in knowing we hold each other firm, pushing out strong canes of confidence to stabilise one another, plant leaning against plant - our dreams survive for another day.

Finally...

It is God Himself who gave this seed to us.

He will protect it with all His might.

We have no need of fear 

when drought sucks us dry 

or we flail in overwhelming floods. 

For dreams are meant to be fulfilled 

and they will be

one tiny inch at a time,

one shoot,

one bud,

one flower

one petal,

one leaf.

Bit by bit a plant grows 

and so will your dreams...

Just keep trusting.

*******

This is written to encourage and support my fellow travellers on the God-sized Dream journey as a way of showing why we all need one another and our dreams, especially through the hard times which stretch and challenge us.

Your dreams matter. You matter. Be brave in the telling. Sharing is caring.

"It takes a lot of courage to show your dream to somebody else" ~ Erma Bombeck

Each one of us brings a fresh vision of God's purposes. Each one of us brings a gift of grace to help and encourage others.

"Friends...They cherish one another's hopes. They are kind to one another's dreams" ~ Henry David Thoreau

And for all fellow travellers on this journey of life and faith,  this is true, particularly in the tough times: Together we are Stronger

I am linking here with Holley Gerth and the rest of the God-sized Dream Team. 

Find out more about how God gifts us with dreams and how to pursue them in this great new resource -

 Holley's latest book:'You're made for a God-sized Dream' is available from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

All of us can have a God-sized Dream. It starts with surrender to God's will and His way for our lives. As we learn to listen to His voice speaking to us, He implants His desires in our hearts:

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart" ~ Psalm 37:4

We would love you to join us in exploring the dream God has laid on your heart. Do feel free to leave a comment and let me know how your journey is going.

To stay in touch you can sign up for e-mail or like my page on Facebook