Good morning, Jesus.
Here we are again,
At the beginning of a new day.
Can you feel me?
Here I am in Your Great Heart,
Reaching for You with my heart.
I feel Your eyes upon me.
You are perfume to my senses.
You are the touch of sweetness
I taste wafting on the breeze of Spirit.
You sound in my heart
With the beating of Yours.
Ever near, ever dear, everlasting,
Song of my soul.
Good morning, my Jesus.
Hold me here,
On the brink of eternity.
©2014 Joann Nelander
The Church Militant
“Behold the Lamb of God,
Behold Him Who takes away
The sins of the world.”
A priest holds aloft,
The consecrated Host.
“Behold…”
One by one.
Standing in adoration,
Each receives.
They pass before me.
I hear, “Behold, My army,
Each, a living monstrance.”
©2016 Joann Nelander
What have I, My Lord,
But my beating heart,
My pulsing blood,
My seemingly useless toil,
The tears and sweat,
That mark my life?
Yet, I persevere,
I fight,
I cry,
I shout through the Night.
Though in the tumult,
And the rancor of holocaust,
My screams scarcely rise above a whisper.
I make of my heart a sanctuary,
A resting place for my God.
I long to comfort You,
For my wounds pierce Your Heart,
And tear Your Most Innocent Flesh.
It is You Who are rejected
In the womb of the world,
Women crying,
“Get out you untimely thing.”
Men forsaking love once declared.
Come here to me.
I will cry with You.
I will tend Your wounds,
Hold Your Hallowed Hand.
Each morn anew
I will embrace my lot.
My thoughts will meet ridicule,
But the stripes,
Fall anew on You.
Soldiers of the heart
Swell Your growing ranks,
As mere men take arms
Against Legion.
Each a knight born of a Revelation,
Your Love,
Your Faithfulness,
Your Victory.
© 2016 Joann Nelander
Hidden in the cleft of the Rock
All storms pass me by.
In silent repose,
Your whisper reaches my ear,
Touches my heart.
From my hiding place
Here in Your Heart,
I am witness,
As peace descends
O’er the Dark Valley.
© 2016 Joann Nelander
I find you in tears.
I find you in longing.
I find you covered in the news of the day,
Lying in the cold,
Under the blanket of the night,
Under heaven’s gaze.
Who wipes your tears?
Who comforts and consoles?
Who sees you in your many disguises,
Crying in the child,
Laughing with young,
Smiling down from Heaven?
Give me eyes to see through the tears.
Give me a heart to feel hope beyond sorrow.
Give me the shelter of your company.
Here in the Now,
I find You sweet within me
Promising Forever.
©2015 Joann Nelander
Covenant by Margaret Halaska O.S.F
God
knocks at my door
seeking a home for his son.Rent is cheap, I say.
I don’t want to rent. I want to buy, says God.
I’m not sure I want to sell,
but you might come in and look around.I think I will, says God.
I might let you have a room or two.
I like it, says God. I’ll take the two. You might decide to give me more some day.
I can wait, says God.I’d like to give you more,
but it’s a bit difficult. I need some space for me.I know, says God, but I’ll wait. I like what I see.
Hm, maybe I can let you have another room.
I really don’t need that much.Thanks, says God, I’ll take it. I like what I see.
I’d like to give you the whole house
but I’m not sure …Think on it, says God. I wouldn’t put you out.
Your house would be mine and my son would live in it.
You’d have more space than you’d ever had before.I don’t understand at all.
I know, says God, but I can’t tell you about that.
You’ll have to discover it for yourself.
That can only happen if you let me have the whole house.A bit risky, I say.
Yes, says God, but try me.
I’m not sure –
I’ll let you know.I can wait, says God, I like what I see.
by Margaret Halaska …O.S.F.
Be Holy! 