A Captive Set Free

A Captive Set Free

Securely bound in shackles and chains,
too blind to see beyond the pain,
on sinking sand I chose to stand,
in a prison constructed by my own two hands.

Seeking deliverance through worldly means,
trusting in self-made hopes and dreams,
I lived each day in my comfort zone,
determined to make it on my own.

For way too long I resided there,
with the stench of defeat permeating the air,
feeling only hopeless and beyond repair,
tossed about on a sea of depression and despair.

I often prayed for God to intervene,
and lift me out of that dark ravine,
but I wanted a quick fix, an easy release,
hoping for comfort, longing for peace.

Desperately wanting to be set free,
yet choosing not to surrender or bend my knee,
I continued to dwell in that darkened place,
A land filled with sorrow, pain, and disgrace.

Then one day I could stand the pain no more,
and humbly I fell on my knees to the floor,
I cried out to God, acknowledged my struggles within,
confessed all the turmoil, heartbreak, and sin.

Then He heard my cry, he released the chains!
A captive set free, I praise His name!
Now, He's my hope and my joy, He's my song in the night!
He's my reason for rising at dawn's first light!

Now a bride filled with longing, my eyes fixed above,
I wait for my bridegroom, my only true love.

In Awe of Him

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. Psalm 33: 8-9

Our Romantic God

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. Song of Songs 2: 5

I used to cringe when Valentines day came each year. Being married to a man who is not into romance made it the most dreaded day of the year. I would smile through clenched teeth as every woman I knew recounted the latest romantic thing her husband or boyfriend did for her on Valentines day. I pretended to be happy for them while underneath I was filled with jealousy and envy. I dreamed of sweet-scented bouquets of flowers, mushy cards, hearts filled with chocolates, and candlelight dinners. Usually, as Valentines day drew to a close, I was once again left disappointed and glad that the day was finally over.

Later, when I became a Christian, I knew I was to trust in God to meet all my needs, but for years I still continued to struggle with the whole romance thing. I believed God would supply all my needs, but I often wondered how in the world He could supply my need for romance! Often I prayed about my need for romance, and while I felt content with my life, I still found myself filled with longing. Why couldn't my husband be more romantic? Why couldn't he be like all those other men?

I was walking through the woods one spring thinking about the lack of romance in my life. I was feeling sorry for myself and feeling unloved and uncared about. I remember praying out loud in desperation, "Lord, how can you ever meet my need for romance? I want to trust in You and serve You, but what about these longings in my heart? How do I deal with them?"

What happened next was one of those moments when you feel as if someone whacks you over the head and wakes you up. I stumbled across a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. Expensive designer perfume couldn't compete with the sweet aroma that filled the air around me. Lovely shades of lavender, yellow, and blue commanded my attention. I found myself laughing out loud filled with joy. As I picked the flowers, I thought, “Wow! God is so romantic!” The beauty of the wildflowers nearly swept me off my feet. Then I looked across the pond below me and the sun glinting off the water looked like millions of diamonds that seemed to shout, “You asked for romance. How is this for romance?” Again, I felt swept away by the beauty of God’s creation. The sweet melody of the finches’ song resounding from the treetops above me became a love song from my Heavenly Father. The original creator of romance opened my eyes to the beauty all around me. I thought of how the Bible is like a beautifully written letter filled with poems of love. I've never been the same since that day! God gave me a new perspective on things and a new attitude about what true romance really is. I had been so busy dwelling on what I didn't have all those years that I missed the romance all around me. I was doing exactly what the old country music song lyrics said, I was looking for love in all the wrong places!

I no longer dread Valentines day. It's a day when I celebrate the ultimate romance! It's a day I reflect a little more on how much my Heavenly Father loves me and how much more I've grown to love Him over the years. I wouldn't trade the intimacy I have with Him for anything, and I'm thrilled with the romance He brings to my life every single day. Reading His word each morning is like opening a personal love letter, and I'm reminded of how much He loves me. Since I'm allowing Him to meet my need for romance, I can with all honesty say I am happy for the women in my life who share with me the romantic things their husbands and boyfriends do for them and I feel it's a wonderful thing. After all, God did create romance. If you have any doubts, just read Song of Songs in your Bible.

Today, as we celebrate Valentines day my mind once again swirls with romantic thoughts. My heart thrills and I'm filled with joy as I recall the miracle of a springtime walk through the woods many years ago; a walk that would forever change my life; a walk where the creator of romance was revealed to my desperate and longing heart.

Winter Sunset

...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61: 3


Ice storms kept us hunkered down in the nest last week making it difficult to walk outside without falling, but I won't complain since it did make for some ideal birding from my kitchen window. I enjoyed watching the colorful birds as they scurried about on the ice-topped snow.Though winter can be rather drab and dreary at times, it also holds a beauty of its own. While driving back from the grocery store the other evening, I grew distracted by the countryside all dressed up in it's finest snowy attire. I took the scenic route home intent on capturing some great winter photos. I wasn't disappointed, as I was treated to a beautiful winter sunset complete with pink and lavender clouds that were mirrored in the glistening white snow; just one more confirmation of how awesome God's creation truly is.


I'm thankful we live in an area that experiences the changing seasons. While winter is my least favorite season, I know that eventually it will usher in spring with its abundance of colorful flowers and colorful birds. Our spiritual life is often like that. We go through dreary seasons of hardships and difficulties, but eventually a season of renewal and beauty follows. God brings beauty from ashes, just like he frosts the dreary winter landscape with an icy crust of pure white snow and the brilliance of a pink and lavender sunset.