Warming
Swelling
Alarming
Compelling
Defining
Revealing
Clarifying
Concealing
Agitating
Saturating
Satisfying
Maturating
Dappling
Resistant
Present
Consistent
Baffling
Fleeting
Leading
Meeting
Instructing
Illuminating
Marinating
Consummating
Fascinating
Persistent
Elaborating
Infinite
Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton
In the garden
On the wall
Christ, The Ruler
Overall
In the meadow
By the sea
By His Name
He strengthens me.
Over field
In forest, vale
He loves me
Keeping me from Hell.
Through city streets
On country lane
He visits me
And bears my pain.
He seeks me
Where my feet do stand
He plants me upright
In the land.
He grows me
By his precious Truth
Sets me free
Observes the proof:
A soul in chains
By choice enslaved
To rule with Him
Beyond the grave.
Copyright 2014 L.L. Shelton
Awake, I see.
You’ve captivated me.
Awake, I’m free.
You have imprisoned me.
Awake, I’ll be.
You have envisioned me.
Awake, as yours,
Throughout eternity.
Copyright 2014 L.L. Shelton
Liquid pools of chocolate
Beckon me inside
Describing the infirmary
Wherein her soul resides.
She tells me of the shadows,
How she knows she’s one of them.
No one sees her fully
Though in brightest light be rimmed.
Then she speaks of trivialities
Common to the mortal set:
The door that won’t close properly
The dog that won’t forget
The birthday tea she hopes will be
A thrill to all attending
The door, again, she hopes to know
Her father will be mending…
I hugged her to my breast
Before I turned to go,
I felt a catch within my heart
That she spoke of shadows so…
Earthly circumstances bind her
To a chair and to a stage
Others passed through long ago,
With little effort turned the page.
Later as I walked toward home
Under darkening skies,
I glimpsed the Revelation
And it took me by surprise!
Amongst the heavenly choir
Was Julia and beside her
Were the lunatics and liars
And no hand had need to guide her.
Copyright, L.L. Shelton, 2011
Slender ivory limbs glisten
Amid the warm velvet softness that
Once surrounded the instrument of my father’s passion.
Glints of light are reflecting from
Cold, stiff, stainless steel surgical tools,
Once held in the firm grip of he who meanly wrought my death.
My blood has mingled here with hers,
Staining the harsh hands of the executioner,
As this unrelenting memory now stains my mother’s mind.
No comfort to one another,
No solace to be found within the other’s arms;
A lonely wail is all that is left to she I might have loved.
I wonder, have I been relieved
Of the imposition of an existential dilemma,
Or have I been most expertly robbed of uniquely earth-bound joy?
Note to Little One:
Never, did I mean to witness your murder, Little One. I only desired to support your cause. And so I clicked. And there you were. At least, there were the parts of you that were left behind to eventually become dust. I admit to being stunned in your presence. I could not decide which would be the more insulting to you; for me to quickly turn from the horrific scene of your death, curtly dismissing it from my mind, or for me to remain and to stare, wide-eyed and appalled at our lack of love… and then I knew, I would give you a voice.
©L.L. Shelton, 2011
Today, our pastor, Cole Huffman, spoke to us utilizing Psalm 61 as his text.
A response:
Hear me. Amidst the cacophony within and without, I cannot always hear myself. Sometimes, I simply do not know what to say. My thoughts are jumbled, my mind distracted. My heart is aching. My body is wracked with pain. I am undone. But I believe that you will hear me.
Lead me. Apart from Your Power, I cannot lead myself. Though I am a peaceful shepherd, I am made to continually engage in Holy War, and I am called to lead others to Holy War in Your Name; yet I find it is not always easy to discern where it is that you wish for me to go, and worse, especially when I am fatigued, I am tempted to step where you have expressly forbidden me to place my foot. Yet I believe that you will lead me.
Let me. Allow me to be bathed in Your Presence. Permit me to be overwhelmed by Your Spirit. Grant that I be overcome by The Reality that is You. Allow me to believe that you will let me. And I believe that you will let me.
Increase Yourself. By the power of Your Spirit, Increase in me Your Self as you decrease my self in me. Through this chosen and surrendered vessel, remind others of the rich heritage we have in The Son. Yes! I believe you will increase Your Self in me.
I will. Then, I will tell others of the wondrous things that you have done. Then, I will share The Blessing that is You. Then, I will sing praises to you, and will continue in faithfulness. I believe that I will.
I believe that you will.
Copyright 2011, L.L. Shelton
Earth, water, wind, and fire,
Lift us from the muck, the mire!
Our hearts make quake, our spirits tire,
Arresting by your mighty power!
From GOD alone do you descend,
Wrestle with our hearts to mend,
Our souls to Him to whom you bend,
Attesting as He speaks the hour.
© L.L. Shelton 3/13/2011
Into the rabbit hole she fell
Searching for heaven- reaching hell;
Entangled then in his embrace,
Destined to die there in that place.
“Save me,” He heard her strangled plea,
“Where is The One to rescue me?”
Into her soul He poured just then,
Himself to triumph over sin.
He marked her with His Holy Seal.
He loved her with unending zeal.
No longer did she lie confused,
But rather stood; with Him bemused.
Said He, “Your cause has been my own,
And now I’ve come to take you home.”
In garment bright and clean arrayed,
She by His side forever stayed.
©2011, L.L. Shelton
Be not discouraged, Royal Bride!
The Prince of Peace is at your side.
The Wind within you chant and chide,
Throughout eternity you’ll ride!
Mine, forever! My grace abounds!
Saints stand with you gathered ’round.
No harm beset you while I’m found,
Be glad you stand on 
holy ground!
My angels with you through the night,
Dispatched to aid you in my sight!
I will turn all that’s wrong to right,
Just as the day that swallows night.
©2011, L.L. Shelton 1/28/2011
For Emily, Donald, Anna, Jonathan, Alexander, Jaxon, and Little Madelyn, with great and genuine affection
Man began before the ages,
Thought within Eternal Pages.
By stirrings of His mind was wrought,
A lover for Himself He sought…
My Love be mine, by me fashioned,
Will be brought to know my passion.
She, placed in Paradise to rule
Will meet The Serpent, come to woo.
The choice be hers to honor me,
She’ll fall into her destiny.
Convinced she is not truly free,
In selfishness she’ll flee from me.
Into her nature she’ll descend,
Still I to hers my soul will mend.
From dust to dawn I will transcend,
Myself in Christ will recommend,
Restoration through salvation,
Genesis to Revelation,
And though it cost me all, I Am.
I’ll be for her The Spotless Lamb.
I will buy back what once was mine,
Will burn away the dross- refine.
I will most purposefully die
Restoring luster to her eye.
In Hell I’ll stand to take her place
To earn for her redeeming grace.
Her true identity once lost,
She’ll find once more nailed to the cross.
Now in mine be One, gentle, wise,
Truth full, who sees with my own eyes;
Who’ll convict and comfort ever,
Who’ll from grace be severed-never!
Once lover of the world made wise
Will come her nature to despise.
My nature now she’ll learn to crave.
She will be mine beyond the grave!
Thus she will wander lost no more.
She will be with me as before.
All be mine by my own power-
Redemption be our finest hour!
©2011, L.L. Shelton