Thoughts and reflections on us as people with much in common.
What has happened in this world
And what is now to come?
God’s prophets told of things to come
When the time was right… it came to pass
Jesus spoke such words of truth
When the task was finished… it came to pass
Goodness came to fill the void
Where humankind tried to strive alone
We rest assured that as we follow
With God, great things will come to pass.
Charlotte-Anne Allen
God who has made us gave us life
Son created in love, surrendered in strife
Believing in Him; open heart to see
He gives us faith; shows the way to be
Entrusted with a special task
He welcomes any questions we ask
What is our purpose, our way, the plan?
Love God. Love others… I know you can!
When one turns to earthly greed
To selfish thought and hurtful deed
The mark is missed; we’ve gone astray
All’s dark as night, no light of day
To serve Him with all our might
With heart and soul, now that is right!
So hard some days, when we are down
Now feel God’s arms as they surround
Holding us with a love so true
Go as salt and light in all you do
Precious, valued, He waits for us
Our reason to be… For all have purpose!
Charlotte-Anne Allen
When the Hebrew people were in the land of exile, home of the Babylonians, God first spoke to the Jewish priest named Ezekiel. He was only thirty years old! … God had allowed the people to be taken into exile because they had turned from Him, worshiping idols, offering their children as sacrifices, living immorally, violently, and selfishly.
God gave words to his new prophet Ezekiel to call them back to Himself, hard words and difficult messages. There were some really weird visions!
In one vision, there was a valley full of dry bones!
“Ezekiel, can these bones live?!”
“Only You know sovereign God!”
“Prophesy, speak to these bones. I will restore them and put breath back into them.”
And so, Ezekiel obeyed, and God did as He said He would.
Wow! Dry bones. Dead. Without life. Unable to stand. To walk.
God spoke, breathed on those dry bones, and restored life.
Sinews. Flesh. Bones knitting together.
I’ve had times, and perhaps you have too, when I felt like those dry bones. Like the Hebrew people, we can be drawn away from the true source of life, God eternal. Life experiences, disappointments, unfulfilled expectations, tragedy, and pain shape us and can skew our perspective and understanding.
Yet, like those dry bones, the breath of God’s Spirit will fill us. He raises His children to stand in that dark valley of dry bones. God’s breath! Within us! Ezekiel’s story is an amazing one, one of promise and of hope for us all, isn’t it?! The breath of His Spirit moves within us when we follow God. We begin to take on more of His character, not perfect but striving to serve Him and to care for others. Examining the areas we need to grow in or change is a lifelong process.
We are redeemed. We are restored. We are given new life.
Edited and re-posted
Happy and cheerful
Brightens your day
Shines in warm sunshine
With good things to say
Brimming with such energy
Canaries singing or buzzing bees
Drawing attention inspiring hope
Finding the positive in what it sees
Cautions to proceed with care
Head uplifted to solve a problem
Yet creative optimistic inspiring
Not defeated or overcome by them
A touch of light to cheer you on
As a butterfly floating… is joyful yellow
From “On Colors”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Elijah! I love Elijah. Mighty prophet of God. Strong. Assured. Obedient to God’s commands. Through Elijah, God displayed His authority and great power to the people of Israel who had turned away! Fire from heaven burned up the soaking wet sacrifice… after futile attempts by the priests of Baal, god of fertility and nature, were unsuccessful. “Your god is no god!” … and 450 prophets of Baal perished.
Through Elijah, God withheld rain and a great drought resulted.
Through Elijah, God ended this drought with wind and abundant water… and Elijah miraculously ran before the chariot of King Ahab to a town fourteen miles away.
…Then a vengeful Queen Jezebel declared death to Elijah and he ran away in fear… and ran… and ran… until he ended up in a faraway cave in which to hide.
There God spoke to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?
And Elijah replied, I have given you my all God! Haven’t I obeyed you as best I can? I’ve been very busy doing all these things for You. Now look at these hard-headed, self-centered, angry people! They have rejected you and killed all your other prophets and now I’m the only one left! It’s useless. I might as well die too!”
I love Elijah! Doesn’t his story express the fear and discouragement we all feel at times?!
So, God passed by before that cave. There came a great wind, earthquake, and fire… but God was not in them. He who had spoken so forcefully and powerfully previously so that all would know His authority, did not speak through them this time… God had Elijah’s full attention! But where was God?!
Then there came a still small voice, a quiet calm. Elijah heard the voice of God asking the same question He had asked before, “What are you doing here Elijah?” …and, still focused on himself, Elijah gave the same answer!
But in the quiet of that moment, came assurance that God was with him. “Go back Elijah. I have a job for you. There will be others to help you, kings to anoint and a prophet to succeed you. Why, there are 7000 prophets who will rise up to serve me!”
I love Elijah! His story gives us all hope and assurance. “Go back. I’m with you. You are not alone,” God says. And so, He speaks in that still small voice, in quiet calm amidst our storms. God had not given up on them. He hadn’t given up on Elijah and He hasn’t given up on us! He is mighty. He is faithful.
May we find rest and courage in Him, giving thanks for His promise and faithful presence. Amen.
*Elijah’s story – 1 Kings Chapters 17-19 & 2 Kings Chapter 2
Charlotte-Anne Allen, 5/7/2017
Revised 1/28/2023
“Sit with me! Stay with me just a little longer, please!” Similar plaints of a sleepy child at bedtime speak of need and trust… and a hope of delaying sleep and reluctance to acknowledge the day’s end.
While we often treasure quiet time alone, there is also within us an appreciation and a need of another’s comforting presence, isn’t there?!
“Come on in. Stay a while,” others may say. Spending time with family, friends, and new acquaintances can have many benefits. Shared experiences and interests often bring us together, whether through enjoyment or trials. Spending time together can bring a sense of security, unity, and mutual understanding… especially when we face changes or prepare for a different future than that expected or hoped for.
There is a bonding and strengthening, both in times of loss and of celebration, when someone thinks of us and shares their time and presence. It cheers the heart and turns our eyes toward our Creator God.
All this and more seems to open my heart and understanding to God Himself, to realize His great love and the sacrifice He made to come among us, His children. God offered us His very presence, a Light among us, and invited us to join Him!… How wonderfully amazing is that?!
Through the simple willingness of Mary, Jesus Christ (God’s Son) entered the word to live among us and with us… and to bring us hope and new life.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel”
(which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23
As God came to be with us, didn’t He also open the door for us to come to Him? In coming to God, as we believe in Him, we receive the promise that He will be with us always. I love that we were not left as lonely lost children when earthly Jesus moved back to His heavenly quarters. God’s full presence continued through the Holy Spirit, and He is still with us. *
Wherever we are in life today, may we find comfort and joy in God’s presence. May we come as a little child, remembering the gift of the child and resting with the One who understands and loves us. God be with us.
*John 14
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Carols, cantatas, and choirs… Oh, my!
It’s that special time of year
The sound of music fills the air
Of voices and brass and string
Candlelight now softly shining
Red bows and green wreaths displayed
Stories recited and children excited
Games to play and words to sing
Rest from work, busy preparation
Traditions make the season special
Quiet moments for thought and prayer
Love offered and gifts to bring
Times to treasure and remember
Uplift, renew, be of goodwill
In community we worship God
May peace, hope, and joy now ring
– Charlotte-Anne Allen
Purple both inspires and calms
Bringing warmth and thought
A vibrant hue and pleasing blend
…Of blue and red companions wrought
Riches and honor it may imply
Of royalty and favor
But of vain arrogance be warned
Be uplifting and do not waver
Creative insightful encouraging too
Brave of heart and valued worth
Of majesty so rich and true
And one small child of manger birth
Our heavenly King who came to us
To give Himself …now robed in purple
From “On Colors”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Warm and rich
Glowing in light’s embrace
Sweetness for tea
And expression of face
Bright rising for day’s awakening
Splendid banner of night’s approach
Let not vanity arrogance creep in
Be true to others and above reproach
Generosity speaks most loudly
Of caring together beneath earth’s dome
Of royalty and kingdoms see
Holy Child and heavenly home
What now this radiance reaching out
Uplifting inspiring our true gold
From “On Colors”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Feathery spikes of numbing embrace
Drawn from that unseen, yet touched
Transforming changing cooling
Gathering under night’s covering
Or written by fog’s chill greeting
Air heavy with enfolding moisture
Growing delicate dainty arrays
Splendid intricate formations
Look closely in simple wonder
Upon its quiet arrival
Shining upon leaf and blade
Season’s brush raised in salute
Rising from earth’s frozen womb
Signpost of Jack’s dark days
Pointed touch banishing leaf and bud
To bide their time for warmer days
…Now crushed beneath heavy trod
Or vanishing upon warm touch and light
To await once more its rising
The Still Small Voice 