If there were a life with no trials,
there would be no mountain to climb.
My life would be meaningless,
just an existence in time.
My faith could not grow,
for I could not see,
that it is Jesus who is carrying me.
With every step, leaning on Him, He makes the burden light,
He carries me through the valley, reminding me
that the end is just in sight.
He is my Strength, my Rock, my Friend,
He is always on my mind, and in my heart and I dream
of meeting Him in the end.
Heaven is waiting, His face is the first I want to see,
Because He died for me, rose again...and I know
He carried me.
12/21/11
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
"Cold Skies" a poem by Leslie Pressley
Cold Skies
creamy, feathery veil hangs above
swirls of silk, milky frost, white as a dove
Wintry sky, numbing, chilled, arctic firmament
like a heart...empty, void of a love sent
where birds cannot fly, nor the love of you and I
cold space, stillness of hope to soar
away from the gloom of gray
on to the brighter day.
creamy, feathery veil hangs above
swirls of silk, milky frost, white as a dove
Wintry sky, numbing, chilled, arctic firmament
like a heart...empty, void of a love sent
where birds cannot fly, nor the love of you and I
cold space, stillness of hope to soar
away from the gloom of gray
on to the brighter day.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
"September Morning" a poem by Leslie Pressley
Awake and rise to the serenade
outside beyond my window sill,
morning awaits with hints of Autumn falling near.
Crisp air awakens the senses
sweeping over me like a refreshing mountain stream,
the burnt leaves of Summer soon falling
onto the sleeping soil,
it waits for September to bring relief,
just as we also wait, we look up in anticipation,
Are we asleep?
Signs everywhere, the air drifts about with alarm,
like the chilled Autumn air about us, it warns of what's to come.
Our freedoms being burnt up in the heat of the enemy,
while the leaves of Summer fall,
look up, do not fall asleep...
outside beyond my window sill,
morning awaits with hints of Autumn falling near.
Crisp air awakens the senses
sweeping over me like a refreshing mountain stream,
the burnt leaves of Summer soon falling
onto the sleeping soil,
it waits for September to bring relief,
just as we also wait, we look up in anticipation,
Are we asleep?
Signs everywhere, the air drifts about with alarm,
like the chilled Autumn air about us, it warns of what's to come.
Our freedoms being burnt up in the heat of the enemy,
while the leaves of Summer fall,
look up, do not fall asleep...
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Silence in the Shadow
Gray, broken, contrite am I,
as I follow your life so close behind.
Wrapped in a darkness,
engulfing my form.
A shadow of mystery out of the light born.
Always a step behind you,
I try to keep up...
tracing your steps, I chase you,
it's you that I love.
My condition keeps me trapped,
a distance apart,
longing to reach you,
needing your heart.
Silence in this shadow,
I hide and wait...
never knowing why my existence
and what becomes my fate.
I want to walk with you,
in the light of the day.
As long as I am a shadow,
I cannot find my way.
as I follow your life so close behind.
Wrapped in a darkness,
engulfing my form.
A shadow of mystery out of the light born.
Always a step behind you,
I try to keep up...
tracing your steps, I chase you,
it's you that I love.
My condition keeps me trapped,
a distance apart,
longing to reach you,
needing your heart.
Silence in this shadow,
I hide and wait...
never knowing why my existence
and what becomes my fate.
I want to walk with you,
in the light of the day.
As long as I am a shadow,
I cannot find my way.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
"Soft Sunlight" a poem by Leslie Pressley
A daisy bends down to touch the ground
and then stretches forth to reach the sun,
soft sunlight brushes the tiny leaves
and warms the petals that adorn.
To be as the flower, to reach to my Maker
for His praise I would extend my ivory blades.
A drop of sunshine feeds the center,
as morning breaks melts the milky dew.
Nurture me with soft sunrays,
fill my foundation with tears from above
and as I incline for the dark of night,
I will rest in the comfort of Your love.
~a poem to my Jesus before I fall asleep tonight~
and then stretches forth to reach the sun,
soft sunlight brushes the tiny leaves
and warms the petals that adorn.
To be as the flower, to reach to my Maker
for His praise I would extend my ivory blades.
A drop of sunshine feeds the center,
as morning breaks melts the milky dew.
Nurture me with soft sunrays,
fill my foundation with tears from above
and as I incline for the dark of night,
I will rest in the comfort of Your love.
~a poem to my Jesus before I fall asleep tonight~
Saturday, July 9, 2011
"Twilight" a poem by Leslie Pressley
The hue of the expansion of the aloft
indigo bliss, where even the fowl fly too low
for fear of surrender to the boundless infinity,
they retreat to the trees as they bend to the wind
and rest on limbs as arms of strength
for comfort and their serenity.
As the composure of the land lies at twilight's final breath
and eventide flows and harmony is heard,
a rhythm of obscurity moves through the draft,
somnolence drifts among the growth
and a solemn hush lingers through the petals.
The frondescence, flourishing by the Maker's hand
the allurement of a flower, who could fabricate this design?
Artistry in your words, lucid to you my Lord,
confounded am I, perplexed and astonished by your works
to convey creation and it is done by Your word.
Gazing upward, the horizon merges with vibrancy,
yellows blend fluently with sapphire stratosphere
swirling into the distance, endless sea of sky
where heaven meets this celestial sphere.
Delicacy in your details, brilliance in even the tiniest leaf,
painted with your thought, spoken to be,
such careful ponder over such beauty,
such care that I would see.
You, my Creator, Master of all, will care for the tiny bird
who glides in Your painting above,
who makes the fowl free to soar into the vastness,
who makes me free with His love.
indigo bliss, where even the fowl fly too low
for fear of surrender to the boundless infinity,
they retreat to the trees as they bend to the wind
and rest on limbs as arms of strength
for comfort and their serenity.
As the composure of the land lies at twilight's final breath
and eventide flows and harmony is heard,
a rhythm of obscurity moves through the draft,
somnolence drifts among the growth
and a solemn hush lingers through the petals.
The frondescence, flourishing by the Maker's hand
the allurement of a flower, who could fabricate this design?
Artistry in your words, lucid to you my Lord,
confounded am I, perplexed and astonished by your works
to convey creation and it is done by Your word.
Gazing upward, the horizon merges with vibrancy,
yellows blend fluently with sapphire stratosphere
swirling into the distance, endless sea of sky
where heaven meets this celestial sphere.
Delicacy in your details, brilliance in even the tiniest leaf,
painted with your thought, spoken to be,
such careful ponder over such beauty,
such care that I would see.
You, my Creator, Master of all, will care for the tiny bird
who glides in Your painting above,
who makes the fowl free to soar into the vastness,
who makes me free with His love.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
"Watermark" a poem by Leslie Pressley
Barefeet in the lake, a touch with my toe to test the cold,
a ripple glides and rolls outward from the start,
taking in the reflections of the sky, where does the sky and water end?
On the horizon, a line of perfection stretches where there are no two parts.
Leaves rustle in the breeze, as an applause for the Maker,
God the Father rules over all of nature and it sings for Him each day,
Praises from the formation of His hands exude through the zephyr,
upward through the bliss above, at His feet they lay.
A Virtuoso, my Father is, His capacity overtakes me,
mere words aren't enough for my appreciation of His brilliance,
He requires all of genesis to praise Him in everyway,
to be still in acknowledgement of who He is, His praise is in the silence.
Looking down against the dock, man-made, worn board,
noticing a line of cessation, where the water has risen and subsided,
an ever distinguished permanent stain, where the waters have pushed too hard,
reminds me of my Savior, and for my life He died.
As life pushes so hard against the worn boards,
life is exerted and pushed and leaves with it a dark stain.
A mark of testing, but just enough, for too much would overtake,
a reminder is there, as our Savior looks on our pain.
A watermark, a definitive end of the violence of trials.
My Jesus was the final end to sin and death,
our Hope, He is, for life eternal,
may my Maker, in me, see a watermark when I take my final breath.
The watermark shows Him that endurance has occurred,
He sees perserverance in the flow of the current,
and a finish is certain and eminent to know,
that I will see Him one day in the firmament.
a ripple glides and rolls outward from the start,
taking in the reflections of the sky, where does the sky and water end?
On the horizon, a line of perfection stretches where there are no two parts.
Leaves rustle in the breeze, as an applause for the Maker,
God the Father rules over all of nature and it sings for Him each day,
Praises from the formation of His hands exude through the zephyr,
upward through the bliss above, at His feet they lay.
A Virtuoso, my Father is, His capacity overtakes me,
mere words aren't enough for my appreciation of His brilliance,
He requires all of genesis to praise Him in everyway,
to be still in acknowledgement of who He is, His praise is in the silence.
Looking down against the dock, man-made, worn board,
noticing a line of cessation, where the water has risen and subsided,
an ever distinguished permanent stain, where the waters have pushed too hard,
reminds me of my Savior, and for my life He died.
As life pushes so hard against the worn boards,
life is exerted and pushed and leaves with it a dark stain.
A mark of testing, but just enough, for too much would overtake,
a reminder is there, as our Savior looks on our pain.
A watermark, a definitive end of the violence of trials.
My Jesus was the final end to sin and death,
our Hope, He is, for life eternal,
may my Maker, in me, see a watermark when I take my final breath.
The watermark shows Him that endurance has occurred,
He sees perserverance in the flow of the current,
and a finish is certain and eminent to know,
that I will see Him one day in the firmament.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
"A Day in June" a poem by Leslie Pressley
Sunshine pierces through the blue, on this day in June.
Azure abyss of vast atmosphere...
where birds go so high and you can see that it is noon,
a sky so deep as an ocean and clear.
Warmth all around as I lie on the ground,
a meadow of verdant growth.
colors so vibrant and soft nature sounds,
a place that only I can know.
A peace falls over me like a rolling breeze,
I am aware of the mastery around me.
A Genius, an Artist made this with ease,
and He made it, just for my eyes to see.
My heart is full with Joy abounding,
how could I ever repay?
This brilliant Creator, whose love is all around me,
love that I see in this fair June Day.
Azure abyss of vast atmosphere...
where birds go so high and you can see that it is noon,
a sky so deep as an ocean and clear.
Warmth all around as I lie on the ground,
a meadow of verdant growth.
colors so vibrant and soft nature sounds,
a place that only I can know.
A peace falls over me like a rolling breeze,
I am aware of the mastery around me.
A Genius, an Artist made this with ease,
and He made it, just for my eyes to see.
My heart is full with Joy abounding,
how could I ever repay?
This brilliant Creator, whose love is all around me,
love that I see in this fair June Day.
Friday, June 10, 2011
"When God is Silent"
Today has been a still day. My mind has been clouded with thoughts of this life and the trials that come with it. When you choose to follow Jesus Christ, life for you begins. But when you choose to follow Him, you must prepare yourself for a relentless attack from the enemy. People often confuse salvation with escaping the difficulties in this life. Salvation saves you from an eternity apart from God, but it does not save you from the problems of life. Only through times of testing, can there be growth in your spiritual walk with the Lord. Without knowing the pains of trials, one would never experience God's power in His delieverence...and witness the Glory of God being lived out in a person's life. Without being put into the refining fire, our faith wouldn't mature...and God wants to see His reflection in us when He pulls us out of the fire. Testing builds your character, your perserverance...it shows what you are made of...but it isn't about you at all. God must get glory through every situation, it is all about Him.
I was witnessing to a friend once and when coming to my testimony of faith on accepting the Lord as my Savior, she interrupted and said, "and then your life got better right?" and immediately I responded with a profound, "No", it most definitely got harder. Once a person decides to live for Jesus, Satan hates it...he wants to attack you, rob you, discourage your walk, weaken your faith, break up relationships, tear families apart, attack your health, attack your mind...work through people who aren't right with the Lord, who aren't even aware that they have just been used to get to you. That's why Jesus said to put on the whole armour of God. We must go to battle each day. And we must realize that we are in battle with darkness and principalities that hate us....why do they hate us? Because we are made in the image of God, because we now bear His name, because of Jesus who saved us.
When God seems to be silent through the valley of tears that we walk through...He is only trusting you with a deeper intimacy with Him. He knows what lies ahead on your walk. Your loyalty to follow Him must never be divided, because He knows the way through the valley. Trust is what He wants. If we keep laying our burdens down at His feet, and immediately get up and pick it up again, we never trusted Him with it in the first place. We must leave it there, and never pick it up again. Jesus said, "Do not worry". When Jesus speaks we must understand, if He is Lord of your life, when He speaks, it is a command. Do not worry, simply said to all who believe.
As many of my friends know, I battle daily with Multiple Sclerosis. A disease that is painful and disabling. I've been in this constant battle for 12 years now. I should be in a wheelchair, I should be as the doctors said, "a vegetable", but I am not. Paralyzed in the onset for 6 months, but delivered by God's grace and mercy from where they say I should be. It is no less a struggle, a battle. Disease robs you of life, of so many things that you love. But I have learned through this "thorn in my side", that God wants my constant dependence on Him. He reminds me through times of sickness to have empathy and compassion on others, where if I didn't have this, I couldn't relate to the struggle of pain and illness of others. He has given me so many opportunities to share my testimony and give Him the glory that only He deserves for carrying me through.
When I am alone, crying in pain, no one seems to understand or is able to help. God is silent...but He is present with me. I consider those times precious, intimate moments with my Healer who understands, has compassion, has mercy...He fills me with His peace that this world cannot give and is ever present in the valley of tears where I find rest.
Abiding in Him is rest for the weary soul...no one can escape the difficulties of life. But we have Jesus who cares, who says "for my yoke is easy and my burden is light", (Matthew 11:30)
My prayer for anyone who reads this would be that you seek Him who can save you...and follow Him with your whole heart, not a divided heart. When God is silent...understand that He never leaves you or forsakes you...He is just quiet because He already knows the outcome, and He wants your whole trust, your total surrender to Christ. He is our Hope, our Deliverer, our Redeemer, our Healer, our King of Kings, our ever present help in time of trouble, He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Shield, our Portion, our Prince of Peace, He is the Lifter of our head...He is our Everything. I can never describe Him enough, but I am so glad that He knows my name.
In the silence of God...find rest and peace, KNOWING that He is God..He is Sovereign and He loves you...
I was witnessing to a friend once and when coming to my testimony of faith on accepting the Lord as my Savior, she interrupted and said, "and then your life got better right?" and immediately I responded with a profound, "No", it most definitely got harder. Once a person decides to live for Jesus, Satan hates it...he wants to attack you, rob you, discourage your walk, weaken your faith, break up relationships, tear families apart, attack your health, attack your mind...work through people who aren't right with the Lord, who aren't even aware that they have just been used to get to you. That's why Jesus said to put on the whole armour of God. We must go to battle each day. And we must realize that we are in battle with darkness and principalities that hate us....why do they hate us? Because we are made in the image of God, because we now bear His name, because of Jesus who saved us.
When God seems to be silent through the valley of tears that we walk through...He is only trusting you with a deeper intimacy with Him. He knows what lies ahead on your walk. Your loyalty to follow Him must never be divided, because He knows the way through the valley. Trust is what He wants. If we keep laying our burdens down at His feet, and immediately get up and pick it up again, we never trusted Him with it in the first place. We must leave it there, and never pick it up again. Jesus said, "Do not worry". When Jesus speaks we must understand, if He is Lord of your life, when He speaks, it is a command. Do not worry, simply said to all who believe.
As many of my friends know, I battle daily with Multiple Sclerosis. A disease that is painful and disabling. I've been in this constant battle for 12 years now. I should be in a wheelchair, I should be as the doctors said, "a vegetable", but I am not. Paralyzed in the onset for 6 months, but delivered by God's grace and mercy from where they say I should be. It is no less a struggle, a battle. Disease robs you of life, of so many things that you love. But I have learned through this "thorn in my side", that God wants my constant dependence on Him. He reminds me through times of sickness to have empathy and compassion on others, where if I didn't have this, I couldn't relate to the struggle of pain and illness of others. He has given me so many opportunities to share my testimony and give Him the glory that only He deserves for carrying me through.
When I am alone, crying in pain, no one seems to understand or is able to help. God is silent...but He is present with me. I consider those times precious, intimate moments with my Healer who understands, has compassion, has mercy...He fills me with His peace that this world cannot give and is ever present in the valley of tears where I find rest.
Abiding in Him is rest for the weary soul...no one can escape the difficulties of life. But we have Jesus who cares, who says "for my yoke is easy and my burden is light", (Matthew 11:30)
My prayer for anyone who reads this would be that you seek Him who can save you...and follow Him with your whole heart, not a divided heart. When God is silent...understand that He never leaves you or forsakes you...He is just quiet because He already knows the outcome, and He wants your whole trust, your total surrender to Christ. He is our Hope, our Deliverer, our Redeemer, our Healer, our King of Kings, our ever present help in time of trouble, He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Shield, our Portion, our Prince of Peace, He is the Lifter of our head...He is our Everything. I can never describe Him enough, but I am so glad that He knows my name.
In the silence of God...find rest and peace, KNOWING that He is God..He is Sovereign and He loves you...
Sunday, June 5, 2011
"The Maestro" a poem by Leslie Pressley
Blazing forth, it so comes, the sun, bringing with it the day
rays of light dance and reflect against the emerald backdrop,
the stage set for the performance to begin with silence in the air,
soft heat melts away the crystal dew drops.
The Conductor of the Concerto raises His mighty hand,
with one movement, He guides the breezes to blow,
lifting His baton once again the trees gently bend as if to bow
to the Mighty Composer of the Theme of the Day, the One who makes it so.
Again, He points high, as on a note at the top of a scale,
the birds wake up singing, perfect pitch, the harmonious chords
they echo through the forest, He is pleased at His hand
they greet Him in the morning, as if to sing, Good morning Lord.
Take flight, with the swope of His arms, they instinctively know,
The Maestro leads them away to fly through the skies,
He watches with delight as they watch His direction,
with measure after measure they sing on high.
Life comes to life when The Maestro raises His mighty hands,
a stream can be heard, a sweet melody,
tumbling along, rolling with ease, clear and serene
sweet inspiration flows peacefully down, liquid serenity.
The Composer brings in the silent rhythm of the grass,
and the delicate flowers, each handmade by the brilliant artist.
All together they sing through the day, glorious, harmonious praise.
A symphony of praise lifted up to the One who composed it.
As the day closes, the night approaches, dusk is nearing on the horizon.
Our Leader takes His baton, brings it down slowly,
with His other hand, bringing it up, the moon rises to shine,
the earth is now a soft lullaby, meek and lowly.
The Maestro stretches His arms outward as nightime has come,
bows His head and lovingly looks on His creation.
Stretching His arms out, baton in position poised for the next piece,
outstretched arms, full of His love, just like His glorious Son.
~A poem by Leslie Pressley...inspired by our Maestro (Master), our Creator, our Almighty God..all praise and glory be the Him!!
rays of light dance and reflect against the emerald backdrop,
the stage set for the performance to begin with silence in the air,
soft heat melts away the crystal dew drops.
The Conductor of the Concerto raises His mighty hand,
with one movement, He guides the breezes to blow,
lifting His baton once again the trees gently bend as if to bow
to the Mighty Composer of the Theme of the Day, the One who makes it so.
Again, He points high, as on a note at the top of a scale,
the birds wake up singing, perfect pitch, the harmonious chords
they echo through the forest, He is pleased at His hand
they greet Him in the morning, as if to sing, Good morning Lord.
Take flight, with the swope of His arms, they instinctively know,
The Maestro leads them away to fly through the skies,
He watches with delight as they watch His direction,
with measure after measure they sing on high.
Life comes to life when The Maestro raises His mighty hands,
a stream can be heard, a sweet melody,
tumbling along, rolling with ease, clear and serene
sweet inspiration flows peacefully down, liquid serenity.
The Composer brings in the silent rhythm of the grass,
and the delicate flowers, each handmade by the brilliant artist.
All together they sing through the day, glorious, harmonious praise.
A symphony of praise lifted up to the One who composed it.
As the day closes, the night approaches, dusk is nearing on the horizon.
Our Leader takes His baton, brings it down slowly,
with His other hand, bringing it up, the moon rises to shine,
the earth is now a soft lullaby, meek and lowly.
The Maestro stretches His arms outward as nightime has come,
bows His head and lovingly looks on His creation.
Stretching His arms out, baton in position poised for the next piece,
outstretched arms, full of His love, just like His glorious Son.
~A poem by Leslie Pressley...inspired by our Maestro (Master), our Creator, our Almighty God..all praise and glory be the Him!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
"Daydreaming and Daisies"
When reading the title of this...one might think, "what is she talking about?" I spent many hours trying to come up with a name for my new blog. This name really describes alot of my inner thoughts and dreams and conveys the peace in my soul that can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
As a child, I was a daydreamer. I found myself drifting off dreaming about another time, another place where everything would someday be better. I now know that God made a way through the daydreams for me to escape and be at peace. It was a way of His divine protection for me as a child. A place where there would always be hope. Through daydreaming, I would dream of the life that Jesus said could be mine through Him. I would dream of the simple things in life that many people overlook. Simple and pure dreams that gave me great comfort. I rested in Him, in that place, in my daydreams.
During times of great distress and trials, I would dream of my Jesus...I would close my eyes and see Him gently holding me in His strong arms and wiping away my tears. Then, and only then would I be comforted and believed that everything was going to be alright.
The daisies that I mention in the name of my blog are from the field of daisies that I would run to as a child. My hiding place, my secret place. I would learn to abide there with my Lord. There were many times when the child in me felt so free from the world that I would stop daydreaming and get up and just run....running through the daisies. Free from the troubles of this life. I would take time to acknowledge the beauty of the vastness of it all...the beauty of the flowers and the beauty of my God who made it all.
Now that I am an adult, my perception on daydreaming and the field of daisies, all have a deeper meaning. I have learned that it is alright to stop and dream, to dream of your heart's desire, but mostly, when trials come in this life, stop and pray to our Lord Jesus and dream about our Saviour, who thinks about you all of the time, He loves you so much that He died for you on a cross, a cruel death for our sins so that we might be saved and be free. He rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) And then, just as I remember when I was a child, getting up from where I was daydreaming, in that quiet place, I would get up and just run into that field of daisies...free. We should be so free...we should be as children with our faith. With no thought of any worries, I ran...KNOWING that Jesus would take care of everything and I could just run and pick the beautiful flowers and enjoy the day.
I pray that whoever reads this will find rest in Our Lord. Abide in Him, our safe place, our hiding place with Our Almighty God, lay down your worries, leave them with Jesus....and just run into the field for Him.
As a child, I was a daydreamer. I found myself drifting off dreaming about another time, another place where everything would someday be better. I now know that God made a way through the daydreams for me to escape and be at peace. It was a way of His divine protection for me as a child. A place where there would always be hope. Through daydreaming, I would dream of the life that Jesus said could be mine through Him. I would dream of the simple things in life that many people overlook. Simple and pure dreams that gave me great comfort. I rested in Him, in that place, in my daydreams.
During times of great distress and trials, I would dream of my Jesus...I would close my eyes and see Him gently holding me in His strong arms and wiping away my tears. Then, and only then would I be comforted and believed that everything was going to be alright.
The daisies that I mention in the name of my blog are from the field of daisies that I would run to as a child. My hiding place, my secret place. I would learn to abide there with my Lord. There were many times when the child in me felt so free from the world that I would stop daydreaming and get up and just run....running through the daisies. Free from the troubles of this life. I would take time to acknowledge the beauty of the vastness of it all...the beauty of the flowers and the beauty of my God who made it all.
Now that I am an adult, my perception on daydreaming and the field of daisies, all have a deeper meaning. I have learned that it is alright to stop and dream, to dream of your heart's desire, but mostly, when trials come in this life, stop and pray to our Lord Jesus and dream about our Saviour, who thinks about you all of the time, He loves you so much that He died for you on a cross, a cruel death for our sins so that we might be saved and be free. He rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) And then, just as I remember when I was a child, getting up from where I was daydreaming, in that quiet place, I would get up and just run into that field of daisies...free. We should be so free...we should be as children with our faith. With no thought of any worries, I ran...KNOWING that Jesus would take care of everything and I could just run and pick the beautiful flowers and enjoy the day.
I pray that whoever reads this will find rest in Our Lord. Abide in Him, our safe place, our hiding place with Our Almighty God, lay down your worries, leave them with Jesus....and just run into the field for Him.
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