The Angel with Lopsided Wings

On the front of the stage in the Maple Street Church
stands an angel with lopsided wings.

He fidgets and wiggles. 
He scratches his nose. 
He rolls up his eyes,
taps the beat with his toes.

Then he sings.
He sings. 
He Sings. 

Though his halo has slipped and his wings are askew,
this freckle faced boy sings with joy that’s brand new.

He sings, Yes, he sings.

Then in come the shepherds, the cattle and sheep. 
The innkeeper is there with a voice low and deep. 
Soon the light shines on Mary holding her child. 
And the golden haired angel stands so still. He’s beguiled.

The congregation is quiet - It is dark and serene -
as they watch once again, that dear Christmas scene.

Then out of the darkness, in a voice sweet and clear, 
filled with tender devotion and love, they would hear
the Angel with lopsided wings - as he sings.

“Away in the manger no crib for his bed,

the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. 

The stars in the sky look down where He lay,

the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” 

The leader is startled. She raises her hand. This solo was never a part of her plan.
Then she stops in midair and with tears in her eyes
she listens, and watches the angel, and sighs.

Then again it is silent, our heads bowed in reverence,
‘cause this song came from deep in the heart of the child. 
It spoke love with abandon.  It was honest and real. 

It was worship,
fresh,
pure,
undefiled. 

May we always remember God’s story. 
May we always remember to sing.  
May we love with the angel’s abandon - the angel with lopsided wings.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

Little Hands

This is just a little something that I wrote one day for my daughter, years ago when she was struggling with the “everydays” of raising her two boys.  I thought it might still be helpful to someone. 

Little hands reach out for mama.
Little hearts reach out for love.
Little voices whisper bedtime prayers
to their Father up above.


When you tiptoe to their bedroom,
and see an angel’s sleeping face,
does your heart fill up with love and fear
cause God has put you in this place?


Little fingers in the kitchen
painting peanut butter scapes.
Little hand prints on the window.
Chocolate mustache on his face.
Playtime noises, children's voices
asking who and what and why.
Lego blocks and puzzle pieces,
on the floor they multiply.


And if sometimes you feel like crying
when there’s so much to do,
being mama to these little ones,
don't forget that God's with you.


Little arms reach out for mama.
Jelly kisses on your chin,
and then you thank your Heavenly Father
for these precious gifts from Him.


Little hands reach out for mama.
Little hearts cry out for Love,
and at night you whisper bed time prayers,
saying, “Thank you God above.”


© Diane Gruchow 2010

Wonder

I saw something wonderful yesterday. There were big, white, doily-like, beautiful, life-giving, water filled cutouts – snowflakes floating gently from the cloud filled skies.

Yes, I know that snowflakes mean that the cold, long winter is on its way. But right now, in these quickly passing minutes, the velvet soft flakes fall, kissing my face and settling down on the thirsty ground. I believe that, whenever your eyes and heart are focused on the beauty of the individual snowflakes, you’ll be filled with an overpowering sense of wonder.

I’ve been reading a book by Ravi Zacharias entitled Recapture the Wonder. It’s a fascinating look at the topic. Although I would never be able to adequately summarize the beauty of Ravi’s writing, or the depth of his knowledge and insight, maybe as I write these words I will be able to tease your appetite, encouraging you to listen some more of this godly man’s thoughts.

Ravi begins the book by talking about the “thrill of wonder and the irresistible urge to share it.” He asks how we can retain that sense of wonder though the ups and downs, the highs and lows of our lives. His beautiful answer is that “we can only do so with the touch of the Master.”

Hope is a part of man’s being. Man wants to hold on to the wonder he had as a child. He lives in the hope that he won’t ever lose that breath-holding awe that comes from seeing, hearing or feeling something way beyond his own ability to describe or sometimes even to understand.

Ravi talks about the song, The Lost Chord, which has been a favorite of mine for many years. He says that,”Deep within every human heart throbs the undying hope that somebody or something will bring both an explanation of what life is all about and a way to retain the wonder.”

In this book Ravi quotes many authors that I have never read, and some that I’ve had a small taste of. Many times he tells us about those people so that we have an idea of where they are coming from in their thoughts. It is broadening to be exposed to the ideas of so many people in one book. He also uses quotations from the scriptures liberally which establishes the credentials that must be there for this or any work to be taken seriously.

A beautiful quote just before Ravi begins to explain wonder is that of the poet John Donne, ”There is nothing that God hath established in the constant course of nature, and which therefore is done every day, but would seem a miracle and exercise our admiration, were it done but once.” Isn’t that true? Look around you, if only one flower ever poked its glorious head out of the ground it would be a cause for bold write-ups in the newspaper, for TV specials, for admiration and awe. If only one tiny baby was born, imagine the unbelievable stir that would cause. The events that God has established are miracles, but since they happen over and over again we cease to feel the wonder of them. Are we even looking?

© Diane Gruchow 2010

Forgiveness

Dear Ones,

This is a hard subject, but it's so important. Forgiving others of little slights isn't too bad, but forgiving others for lifelong damage done to either someone we love or to ourselves is terribly difficult. Maybe these thoughts will help you to see a different perspective and to see the importance of letting go.

Can you forgive a dreadful hurt?
Can you forgive again?
Can you, deep in your heart see love, where hate has been?

Can you have peace deep in your soul,
peace that makes the anger go?
Can you remember something good in the one who hurt you so?

Oh, you may say that it's not hate, but only hurt you feel,
but when you cannot let it go, it's hatred that is real.

Our God commands that we forgive with a forgiveness that's like His.
We may say, “It's not the same.”
God will tell us that it is.

Or we may say, "God, you don't understand the pain this one has caused."

Oh,

think again to whom you speak, and then you'll have to pause,
and remember what he did for you while hanging on the tree;
the pain, the torture and the shame that He bore for all to see.

And yet He cried out "God forgive them", as they caused His agony.
Forgiveness was the reason that He died on Calvary.

Can you forgive the one who hurt you?
Can you begin to love anew?
When we see God's love for us

we begin forgiveness too.

Yes, you can forgive a dreadful hurt and you can live without the pain
of memories that have pierced your heart
and let the hatred reign.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

My God is in Control

Dear ones. I wrote this little poem years ago at a time when my darling husband had been fighting for life in intensive care. We had just moved to this town and didn't know anyone. Our children were in another part of the country and at the start of Ron's struggle I wasn't able to contact them. It was just God and me. But He was there with me in the night and I knew it!

Through the tears of despair, and of sorrow,

and care

that were clouding my eyes and my heart,
through the haze of my pain,

or when worry would reign,

a glimmer of hope seems to start.

Because as I look around I see

mountains majesty calling down to me,

and rolling clouds on high waving as they fly.

I hear the thunder clapping hands

at my Lord's command.

And there's lightning flashing bright

bringing heavenly light.

And then I watch the little ants that build

and find my broken heart is filled.

Because all these wonders show

what my old heart should know.

My God is in Control.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

He's in This Place

In John 14:27 Jesus is saying

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid." You may want to say the following with me.

I'm in this place. My God has put me here.
I'm in His grace, no matter when or where.
He'll walk with me through sorrow and through care.

I'm in this place.
I'm in this time.
I'm not alone.

I'll be content. I'll meet each day with song.
He's always there to wipe a tear or right a wrong,
and when I'm weak, He's by my side to make me strong.

I'm in this place.
I'm in this time.
I'm not alone.

God's in this home. His arms surround me here.
God's in this night. He makes the dawn appear.
God's in my life, in all that I hold dear.

He's in this place.
He's in this time.
I'm not alone.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

© Diane Gruchow 2010

God Showed His Love to me Today

God showed His love to me today
in fluffy clouds and new mown hay,
in mountain's towering peaks that rise
from gentle plains, to ice blue skies.

In flowers

shouting loud and clear -
their colors bright

with dew drops tear,


and tall green trees that wave, and sway
in summer breeze - they boldly say,
"God's showing love to you today."

Glowing coals from evenings fire
Red flames leaping ever higher,
Sparkling snow on winter night
The full moon casting icy light,
Cold clear streams that leap and roar
and soothe a throat that's dry and sore --
in all these thing my heart can say
"God's showing love to me today."

In gentle hands that help and bear
and tears that come from hearts that care,
in family's love and loyalty
God shows his mighty Love to me.

In words that come from deep within
the loving heart of a dear friend,
a pat, a hug, a tender touch
that says, "I love you, oh so much,"
dear ones, in all you do and say
God shows HIS love to me today.

Diane Gruchow

© Diane Gruchow 2010

He is Risen

Gentle footsteps, slowly walking,
stopping not upon the way.

Ere the dawning of the sun
gentle footsteps softly come
to the place where Jesus lay.

Gentle footsteps, walking onward
see the women go their way
toward the garden where the dead
lay wrapped in cloths now stained blood red.
T’was the place where Jesus lay.

Gentle footsteps, gentle ladies
walking to their master's side.
Hard, the task that lay before them
bearing spices to embalm Him
so they walked and sadly cried.

As they trod along they wondered
who would roll away the stone.
With the dawning of the sun
gentle footsteps softly come
to the Christ of flesh and bone.

At a distance footsteps halted -
what is it our eyes betray?
Is the scene that has arisen
just a shadow or a vision?
Has the stone been rolled away?

Gentle footsteps running onward
to the tomb that Joseph gave.
As they stopped and looked within
sitting where their Lord had been
was an angel in the cave.

His appearance was like lightening
and his clothes a snowy hue.
Then he told them "Have no fear."
"He is risen! He's not here.
and in time you'll see it's true."

Gentle footsteps, going nowhere
listen to the angel's plea.
"Quickly go and tell the others.
He has risen, tell his brothers.
He's going on to Galilee."

Gentle footsteps of the women
walk away as in a dream.

Is it true -- what the angel's say
or have they taken him away.
And who will believe what we have seen

But they told! And so should we!
He is Risen!

Separation

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani."
From a bloody Roman cross

came this tearful lonesome cry.

"My God, My God

why have you forsaken me?"

were the woeful words from that cursed tree.

As that cry rang out on Calvary's knoll
the Father heard and it broke His heart
because of His love for that pain wracked soul.

He could have stopped it
He could have eased the suffering.

He could have held that soul in His arms
protecting Him from this terrible harm.

What if Jesus had felt His Father there
easing the burden - the sin he had to bear?
No, 'cause that wouldn't have paid the price that was due,
the price of salvation for me and for you.

The only price
that could save the lost

was the separation of God on the cross
from God in his heaven, the Father and Son,
to be torn from each other - a tearing of one.

That day on the earth
the darkness that reigned
came not from the soldiers
came not from the pain.

It came from God's heart
tearing in two
hurting much more than any should do.

God loved us so much, that He broke His own heart,
tearing the Son on the cross and the Father apart.

Separation,
The price that was due
as God hung on the cross
paying the ransom for you.

© Diane Gruchow 2010