Wurds & Pics

Ode to a Short-lived Day of Snow

Marie Hollibaugh — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:42:47 +0000

Why do you come so sweetly
But with the rain you leave so quickly?

Oh, that for awhile you would stay,
That in your beautiful whiteness we can play.
Such would be the perfect day.

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 18, 2012

Standing on the Promises

Marie Hollibaugh — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:56:09 +0000

I will turn my eyes to Him
In this moment of my struggle
For I know in whose hands
My life is held
I will put my trust
In the promises He spoke over me
When He first breathed life into me

From the beginning He knew
Where I would be today
And from that day forward
He began to prepare me
For this day

In that promise
I can claim my victory
And know I will still be standing tomorrow
On the strength of His love

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 12, 2012

For Mary

The Last Struggle

Marie Hollibaugh — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:30:33 +0000

Each labored step toward home, though wrought with pain
Is still a step closer to the finish line
Each labored breath struggling to escape my lungs
Is still a song of praise for He who gave me life

My work, though not yet done
I will do with every ounce of strength I have left
For I know what fight remains in me
Is the strength someone else needs
To reach the finish line
Of the race they were called to run

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 12, 2012

For Mario

In Defiance of the Cold Wind Blowing

Marie Hollibaugh — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:01 +0000

Cold blows the wind
In angry howls of winter’s rage
To steal the flame of hope
Cradled in my hands
Throw your tantrums
Scream your threats
You shall not take
What God has given me

Cast your breath of despair
On the fire that burns within me
Watch it grow and spread
Till it has consumed you
For infinitely greater is He Who is in me
Than you and all your weapons
All your armies of destruction
Who are in the world

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 12, 2012

Not A Sad Morning

Marie Hollibaugh — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:41:38 +0000

It will not be a sad morning
When I fly away home
For it is into the presence
Of my beloved King
That I have long desired to go
The riches offered in this earthly realm
Are nothing to what awaits me
What moths and rust destroy
Are but dull stones lacking brilliance
When compared to heaven’s streets of gold.
I shall not be sorry to say good bye
To what I leave behind
For we shall soon all meet again
To dance in a far better place

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 7, 2012

What Hope Can I Offer the Dying?

Marie Hollibaugh — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:30:10 +0000

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Gordon Grose

“If I die,” my friend said in a whispered voice, “will you do the memorial service?”

“I will,” I said. I felt honored he asked me, someone who had attended and at times taught his adult Sunday School class. Now he lay in a hospital room, barely able to breathe, let alone speak. He had just transferred out of ICU. We both knew life could be short.

“What Scriptures would you like?” I asked. “I Corinthians,” he responded. I knew the passage–I thought. ”Chapter 13?” I offered. “No,” he said, “Fifteen.” “Let me read it,” I said.

I quickly scanned the passage I hadn’t prepared. It begins with the good news of Jesus’ death for our sins, his resurrection, and his appearances to the Twelve and to 500 others. I read Paul’s teaching about the resurrection body: ”sown perishable, raised imperishable; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.” I then read the Christian’s victory over death: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Finally, I read him the chapter’s conclusion: Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

“Powerful,” he said, “powerful.” My friend died night before last.

The Hope We Possess

Marie Hollibaugh — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:27:35 +0000

One day
One step
Live in the moment
The Lord will take care of the rest

One breath
One prayer
Believe in the moment
The Father knows what’s best

His strength
His power
Trust in the moment
As you endure this test

His glory
His praise
Give in the moment
That others will be blessed

Your reward
Your crown
When the moment has gone
And in new clothes you’ll be dressed

A new home
An incorruptible body
Such a glorious day
Is the hope we possess

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 5, 2012

My Romance

Marie Hollibaugh — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:01:23 +0000

My romance
Does not need the affections of a man
To make me feel complete
The praise of a man
To make me feel beautiful
The touch of a man
To make me feel loved

Jesus completes me
His words of praise transforms me
His touch wraps my soul with love

He is my romance
The passion that fulfills my life
With purpose, with hope
With all that I need and want

Marie L.. Hollibaugh
January 1, 2012

Project Soccer Ball

Marie Hollibaugh — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:05:08 +0000

The old is gone
Cast aside for something new
What need is there
To carry a soccer ball
Everywhere

Such a useless thing
An utter waste of time
A needless weight
On an uphill climb

The old is gone
In it’s place is something new
This feels right
What I carry inside
Love’s pure light

Such a blessed thing
In what letting go has done
The weight and damage of
Of useless thought and emotion
In the form of a soccer ball
Replaced by the forgiveness of the Son

Marie L. Hollibaugh
January 1, 2012

At last night’s HCC Singles Group New Year’s Eve celebration, someone shared an illustration about having to carry around a soccer ball for three days to demonstrate how useless and an utter waste of time it is to hold on to bad thoughts and emotions- how much holding on to those things interferes with daily life. That illustration is what inspired this poem. Thank you “J” for sharing.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Marie Hollibaugh — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:30:23 +0000

Random acts, random recipients
Kindness given without expectation
Of kindness returned
Blessings bestowed on unsuspecting people
Brings the warmth of a smile
On a cold winter’s day
Set in motion a miracle
When you practice
Random acts of kindness

Marie L. Hollibaugh
December 22, 2011