Eyes of My Soul

O eyes of my soul,
Eyes of my spirit,
Eyes of my heart,
See!

See the glory revealed
In all creation.
See the Son
Hidden in the least
To the greatest.

Recognize the Christ,
Lord of all.
Lord over the earth
Lord over the sea
Lord raised above the heavens.

Enthrone Him, King,
King of your soul,
King of your spirit,
King of your heart.

As light illuminates,
See that you are a new creation.
See Christ, in this moment,
As in the breaking of the Bread.

Copyright 2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved

Who is the Poorest of the Poor?

Who is the poorest of the Poor?
Is it not the one deprived of womb?
Is it not the one gone unnamed?
Given a frame
But denied rightful claim,
Stripped bear of place,
No space to grow,
Deprived of a proper birth?
Is it not the one evicted,
Before drawing it’s first breath,
Whose beating heart is silenced,
With the sanction of the Court!?
With privacy,
Lest the whole world hear it’s cry?

Though a mother forget her child,
The Father of all fathers
Will not, no never, forget.
He has a place,
And a name,
For all the poor,
For the poorest
Of the poor,
Called “Beloved”
And “Poor No More”.

©2012 Joann Nelander

All rights reserved

Come, O Creator

Depravity now has its day,
The festering city
Erupts to spew abuse,
First on its children,
And then on those
Who come to its aid.

Perversity mocks virtue,
Opening it’s robes,
To welcome strangers for a night,
No home, no family, no love.

Let Sin not reign,
Call out again.
Seek liberty of spirit,
Spurn license,
And licentiousness.

Love the enemy
Within and without.
All men have sinned,
All suffer,
Abused and abuser.

Come, O Creator of Man.
Come holy plan.
Fight the battle
With heavenly hosts.
Build on these ruins,
A nation that is pure and just.

Copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

I See You Through Tears

I see You through tears,
Cascading as a cleansing waterfall,
Washing away,
And carrying away,
The deeds and impurities
Of the Old Man.

Virginal flesh as gift,
Are my arraignment.
Looking in the mirror,
I see me with my eyes,
But in faith,
I see You.

The taint and stain of Sin,
The mocking of the Accuser,
Can not touch me.
Here in Your arms,
Under Your Mantle.
I find rest.

Tent with me.
Cover me.
Grace me,
And transform me,
As a land restored
And fertile .

Let me hear the roar
Of the cleansing waterfall.
Drown out
With a holy whisper,
The remembrance of Egypt,
And the shame of slavery.

My tears remind me
Of the interior bath,
And healing balm,
The gracious gift of Your work
By Your Presence,
And Your ministries.

River of Life,
I have eyes only for You.
You carry me,
And sweep along with me,
Making holy,
All those I hold dear.

Copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

Entombment

Mortal life of substance,
And ethereal,
As the matter of soul,
You are far spent,
In this night of human life,
That passes in a blink
Of the eye of God.

I have pulled you,
Limb from limb,
Not as the Savior’s travail
Upon the Cross,
But by sinning,
Brought death to my members.

I am dislocated,
In body and Time,
Knowing neither peace,
Nor the plenty
Of sweet communion,

The passages of Death
And the Lies,
Rising from the Pit,
And told to Man,
Threaten the life
Of God in me,

You, O mind and body,
Have been taken prisoner,
By the gods
I chose to serve.

Mercy speaks
Light to my darkness
And Grace
To my repentant will,
Love never ceases
Watching and waiting.

Mercy, I call to You,
You, Who call me forth,
And deliver me.
I turn my thoughts and pray
To the Fount of my being.

As a babe,
I return,
And from New Womb,
By faith believing,
I choose rebirth,
And am reborn.

My grave is a baptism
That reconnects my spirit
To my God..
Breath, bones and sinews
Sing a new song
Born of my Savior’s Grave.

Copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

Joann Nelander
lionessblog.com

Tears’ Request

Tears and holy desire,
These are my gift,
Your gift to me,
And my gift to You.

The night passes peacefully,
Knowing Your Heart
Is pressed to my heart,
With a listening ear.

How near You are
To the broken hearted,
And I allow
My heart To break,
Allowing You entrance.

Stake Your claim,
For I abandon
The land within,
And without
To Your good pleasure.

You are now
Lord of my every love.
Extend Your rule
To every corner
Of my being.

Enter the dark places
Shedding Light,
Drawing back the veil,
Hollowing this temple,
This consecrated,
And baptized ground
Of my eternal existence.

Set Your throne
Here in the center
Where once
I thought to reign,
But in reality
Served the “no gods”,
Deceptive counterfeits and usurpers.

Stretch me
From the inside out
And fill emptiness
Mending the shattered
That I may be the vessel made holy
The water jar
Filled to the brim
And overflowing.

Turn tears and holy desire
To those” torrents in the southern desert”,
Watering the parched
And giving drink to the thirsty
And glory
To My Thrice Holy God.

Copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

All rights reserved