wandering the caverns

It is a dangerous place to travel, without a guide.
Those deep, dark, distant caverns of our self-pitying hearts.
Those places where sin grows like weeds, prickly, undesirable, engulfing any sprout of love.

Those places in the recesses of our hearts that confuse, confound, conquer us when unawares.

We oughtn't to travel alone there, to those unexplored, unexamined, unknown grounds. It is our responsibility to enlist the Guide.

He will gladly come, with joy, with grace, with Light.
He will come battle-ready, sword gleaming and sharpened, fires blazing.
He will come not only as the Guide, but as Soldier, Slayer, Savior.
He will come in power, prepared to not only wrench the weeds of sin by the root, but to set them ablaze, burning till nothing remains - till it is all consumed.

Do not go alone; go armed with the King Himself, the One equipped to not only empty the caverns, but to replenish them with life, light, truth.

But do go; go swiftly. And when that painful wrenching of sin by the Master is over, we will find He leaves behind His sweet fragrance, His joy, His peace, His Light, His Love.

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
-Psalm 51:6-12

it was scarlet

it hung in silence,
dangling there alone.
shouts rose loud around it,
chaos filled the air.
people scattered, gathered.

it hung alone,
ready to rescue.
it dangled quietly,
waiting to be looked upon for salvation.

it was simple,
it was life for those clinging to it.

there, against the walls of toppling Jericho, Rahab's rope hung as the reminder,
the one thing offering hope,
the one thing that would save her, her family.
and it did.

and it was scarlet.

He hung in silence,
dangling there alone.
shouts rose loud around Him,
chaos filled the air.
people scattered, gathered.

He hung alone,
ready to rescue.
He dangled quietly,
waiting to be looked upon for salvation.

He was simple,
He was life for those clinging to Him.

there, against the walls of sin and darkness, Jesus hung as the Redeemer,
the One offering hope,
the One Who would save those who believed.
and He did.
and He does.

and His blood flowed scarlet.

carpe diem

"The sun rises and sets each day; don't miss it."

~nettie hogan