Marbles in the Sand

Marbles in the Sand
by: R.A. Slater
Sound Bites Series #15
4/18/2012

Dirt and grime
Sand dune against the door
Driven by the winds of change
Ever shifting, ever blowing
A glimmer in the sunshine
Reveals a hidden gem
Marbles in the sand
Thought lost all this time
Hidden just beneath the surface
Pieces of treasure from long ago
Regathering them takes but a moment
Wondering what will be uncovered
During the next storm

Jigsaw

Jigsaw
by: R.A. Slater
4/15/2012

A tiny thoudand pieces
Floating in my head
They fit together somehow
Like a convoluted jigsaw puzzle
Scrambling my brain with its smooth edges
I know that if I just relax
The pieces will click together with ease
But jigsaws have always been my bane
Unless they were the easy ones
Edges and corners blurring into one
Colors and patterns swirling
Until I can see nothing
And walk away in frustration
Only to be consumed by obsession
Returning once again
To turn the puzzle pieces over
To examine them anew
Waiting for them to come together
As I know they will

Living Characters

Living Characters
by: R.A. Slater
04/14/2012

Living characters in God's play
We frolic and romp
Across God's green earth
Running to and fro
Wreaking havoc and mayhem
Sowing love and joy
In a never ending battle
Between good and evil
With heaven as our audience
Angels and demons amongst the throng
And the Son our referee
He the master of detail
We cannot see it all
Plot lines run here
And then take off there
Splits and merges defying logic
The flaw in the weave
That holds it all together
Humans' free will
Free to chose their own side
Free to chose their own role
Destiny teases at the edges
A faint scent on the breeze
Some will chase it down
Hound dog on the run
Others will let it linger in the air
Wrapped up in their comforts
Our choice to make
Before the clock runs downs
And the curtain call sounds
Will there be applause?
Will they yell for an encore?
Or will silence be our due...

Memories of You

Memories of You
by: R.A. Slater
4/13/12

How thin this image
Seemingly inconsequential
These simple lines and colors
That coalesce into a you I never knew
A single moment captured
Before I was ever born
And yet I can still see
The you of my memories
In the gentleness of your smile
I can even hear the bubbles of your laugh
Memories of times spent together
Words fail me even now
For they cannot express
The depth of your effect
On the lives touched by you
How deeply we feel your absence
Though we are at peace
Knowing you are in heaven
Until we can meet again in that place
And dance together at Jesus' feet
Our memories of you will be treasured

In memory of Audrey A. (Isabell) Allen
1/21/1952-4/3/2012

Silent No More

Silent No More
By R.A. Slater
4/12/12

I remember the day, deep in June
When the flare went up, and the watch resumed
How loud the death knell sounded, reverberating the earth
As the living gathered the wounded, we watched the river burn
Birds of prey circled in the air, feasting where the dead did lay
---Or the living stood too still
In momentary shock we gazed, as prophecy unfurled
Though victory assured, battles remained to be fought
For the silent war raged on, silent no more

The Star

The Star
by: R.A. Slater
11/29/11

She traverses the horizon
Moving with a rhythm unknown
Sometimes she is the evening star
Giving light and guidance to the weary traveler
Other times she is the morning star
Greeting the early riser
Her brightness outshines all
Blazing long before night has fallen
Lingering in the dawn

No story

No story
by: R.A. Slater
11/28/11

I sit with the paper
Snow white on the table before me
The pen I hold in my hand
Poised and ready
But nothing comes
There is only silence
Where words once flowed
Like water from the sky
But now there is not even a mist
The characters that once crowded my head
Are now frozen mid frame
Awaiting their next action, next sentence, next heartbeat
And I cannot give it to them
Their stories halted until a time I cannot see
How I long to tell stories again

I.D.I.C

I.D.I.C
by: R.A. Slater

The Vulcan raised his eyebrow
To hear his captain's comment
About the good old days
When firing phasers at Klingons
Was the order of the day
No one questioned his decision
Or thought asking questions first
Would have been wiser
Let the fists fly
And let the blood flow
The price of peace in the good old days
Is not diplomacy better?
Asked the logical first officer
Peace without war, without blood?
They may be different from us
That does not make them the enemy
The tired old captain sighed
And said 'I suppose'
The Vulcan then realized
His friend was just tired
Of not being able to tell at a glance
Who the enemy really was
How could one be sure
When friends became foes
When the enemy wore the familiar uniform
Quietly the Vulcan put forth his argument
That it was not people that were the enemy
But hatred, fear, and insecurities
Instead of seeing Infinite Diversity
In Infinite Combinations
These insecure people saw only differences
And not the similarities
The common bond that knit all of life together
But the tired old captain could only agree
To hold his fire through the truce
Embrace them he could not
The Vulcan let it go
Seeing the beginning of the end
A small victory to be sure
But an avalanche could tip
At a snowflakes landing

Do You Remember?

Do You Remember?
by: R.A. Slater
11/26/11

It seems just like yesterday
Gas was only $3.49 a gallon
And milk was not far off
Chocolate was only 75 cents
How prices have gone up!
They pay us less and less each year
And make the work harder
And longer!
Do you remember?
It seems just like yesterday
When you only had to wait an hour
To get from one side of town
To the other
Traffic has gotten so bad these days!
Do you remember?
It seems just like yesterday
Things were so easy
The grass was greener
Everything was cheaper
At least that is how
Our children of today
Will look back on these days
When our age they reach
And we in grayer caps
Will chuckle as history repeats
As the good old days are recalled

Blazing Glance

Blazing Glance
by: R.A. Slater
11/25/11

God just glanced at me
Burning blazing fire
Racing across my bones
Searing my flesh
Hair standing on end
Just a look, just a touch
And all that I am
Known to Him
No hidden flaw
Secrets revealed
Yet there is no shame
Liquid gold coursing my veins
As He speaks my name
So similiar to my lover
The thrill, the warmth, the love
Passion and comfort

The Funeral

The Funeral
by: R.A. Slater
11/24/11

We gather together
After so long apart
Scattered across the globe like confetti
Drawn together this day
For reasons we do not want
Bearing unspeakable pain
We hold our chins high
And link our arms together
Knowing that we are only a strong
As our weakest link
Whom we will not leave behind
Because family sticks together
Through thick and thin
Each taking a moment alone
We say goodbye
To a brother lost to us
Gone ahead on life’s next journey
But then we gather back together
Stronger together than alone

Hunted

Hunted
by: R.A. Slater
11/19/11

Hard to be watched
No freedom to be had
When nothing wrong have I done
An hour of innocent fun
Misunderstood by his jealous heart
Love him I do, does he not know?
My heart is his and his alone!
Hunted I am, by his jealous eye
Haunted I am, by my need to be free
How long can I live this way?
When can I fly, free from his chains?
Only I can know,
Only I can set myself free,
When I have had enough,
And finally realize his love is not real.


written as a response to a Poetry a Day challenge

Bittersweet the Memories

Bittersweet the Memories
by: R.A. Slater
11/19/11

Oh, brother of mine...
where did you go?
How can it be...
that you are gone from us?
There are no words...
to describe the pain inside...
it is too new and sharp.
Tears still flow from the shock...
from the gaping hole in our lives.
But memory remains...
as I hold the picture of you.

Ten of us gathered around our sire...
memories from a lifetime ago.
All the love, laughter, tears and drama...
that goes along with “Family”.
Each set of memories unique...
As the one who holds them.

How you were there when needed...
A strong arm in times of crisis.
Of winter holidays of cheer...
And summer picnics and slower days.
Always ready to lend a helping hand...
Rain, sleet, snow or shine.
How deeply you are missed already...
A treasure unredeemed.
How bittersweet the memories...
for they are all we have left.
How the good outweighs the bad...
to shine through this dark night.

Author's note: This poem is dedicated to the memory of my brother Glenn R. Slater who passed from this world into the next on October 31, 2011. I have a feeling there will be more to follow, because as the poem above states, it is all too new still. Indeed, almost a month later it still doesn't feel 'real'.

In the Night

In the Night
by: R.A. Slater
Sound Bites Series
08/28/11

I still look for You in the night
In the silent stillness
Though it is dark now
In that place where Your face used to be
Though Your voice no longer calls to me
And Your sweet touch is but a memory
Still Your fragrance lingers on the edges
So I know You're not far
How long will You make me wait?
How long till You touch me again?
How long before Your voice is heard again?
In that place where You used to be?
My watch, my search, my longing continues

The Whisperings and the Thunderings

The Whisperings and the Thunderings
by: R. A. Slater
06/25/11
Sound Bites Series #14

I hear a Voice in the stillness
And what You say to me leaves me in awe
Reminding me of promises of old
Of hearing Your Voice as thunder
But You tell me
The Whisperings and the Thunderings are the same
It is not You raising Your Voice that is different
It is my perception that changes
The clarity of my hearing
Becoming sharper as I listen in the silence

Vain Imaginations

Vain Imaginations
By: R. A. Slater
06/16/11

The promises of God are “yes and amen”
But unless they are written in His Word
The whispers you think you hear
Are most likely vain imaginations
God never promised me home and hearth
Children playing at my feet
He never promised me fame or world acclaim
Or publishers clamoring for my next book
He never promised me a beautiful life
Free of thorn and thistle
They were vain assumptions I made
Thinking I heard His voice
When they were only my wants and desires
Hearing only what I wanted
Surely He has more important matters
Than one woman's broken heart over lost dreams
Fates of nations and leaders
The lost, the hungry, the ill
The broken, the abandoned and abused
Surely He is mad enough for adding to that number
As am I for wishing such a thing
Even though I believe a good mother I would be
He must think differently
For my womb is barren
As is my heart, empty and cold
Perhaps He has a grander plan
Or perhaps it's been delayed
But I cannot see it
Though I squint and strain
I cannot bare to hope anymore
For it only brings more pain
To keep hearing heaven's “No”
We can't all have our prayers answered “yes”
What a mess that would be
We can't all be Hannah
Some must walk the harder path
Though we stumble and fall
Sometimes becoming lost in the briars
One thing he HAS promised
In this we must trust
He promised never to leave nor forsake us
Even when we wander off
He remains by our side even then
Refusing to pick up a stone when we fall
Helping us to our feet instead
And giving us strength to go on

In Every Wretched Heartbeat

In Every Wretched Heartbeat
by: R.A. Slater
06/10/11

Oh, wretched woman that I am
That such innocent beauty
Should cause me pain and heartache
Instead of the joy and wonder
She was meant to bestow
A tiny bundle sent into the world
But she is not mine
Another holds her
Tiny fingers curled tight
Dainty eyes closed in sleep
At peace with the world
Though it rages around her
I cannot help but long
For a bundle of my own
But I have long ago given up hope
It is not mine to have
It is not mine to hold
So I look on at others' joy
Trying not to show the pain
Making myself numb
Needing to be numb
I cannot feel this pain
Though it is all encompassing
In every breathe I draw
In every wretched heartbeat

Time Stands Still

Time Stands Still
by: R.A. Slater
08/09/11

The clock hits 2pm
And time stands still
Dragging and drawing each moment out
As every man and woman “on the clock”
Waits for the tick to tock
Till they can punch the time card
And run out the door to blessed freedom
Free for a few hours
To play and to chore
Until the morning doth reappear
And once more they drag themselves
Kicking, screaming, resigned
Back into the den of servitude
For bills to pay
Families to feed
And toys to buy
An endless cycle
As sure as death and taxes

Hidden Prayer

Hidden Prayer
by: R.A. Slater
06/09/11

Hide the bruises, ignore the pain
Pray it never happens again
They say I'm foolish to forgive
And naive to hope against the odds
But I pray on anyways
Ever wondering why
Why him, why me
Why the viscious circle
Had to cycle down to our generation
Let it die, let it end
Let it never happen again
Oh, Changer of hearts
Renew our spirits
Let Your grace and mercy flow in
Your blood was not shed for nothing
But for problems like these
Work Your "magic" in us
So all might see
And marvel at Your changing power
I pray on, in the hidden dark
Trusting that You can do all things
Like Your Word says

Perpetual Night

Perpetual Night
by: R.A. Slater
06/02/2011

It took me by surprise
This dark night of the soul
There was no warning
It was just there
Day turned into night
Upon the horizon a faint light
Waxes and wanes
As the Full Moon darkens to New
Perpetual night never turning to day
You have set me here for a purpose
Of this my heart is sure
Though others mock and deride
For my failures here in this dark place
I trust in You alone
To forgive and understand
To shower Your grace and Your mercy
Strengthen me, I pray
And let this night once again turn to day

Crimson Stain

Crimson Stain
by: R.A. Slater
06/02/2011

Another month passes
Crimson stains mar my vision
Another hope dashed
Another dream unraveled
My heart withers within
As the darkness deepens
No tears fall
They were spent
On this rocky shore long ago
And there is nothing left
Except ever increasing sorrow

In a Heartbeat

In a Heartbeat
by: R.A. Slater
01/29/11
Sounds Bites Series #13

"Please Jesus"
In a heartbeat
No time for more
Danger too great
Pain too deep
Trusting You to see
Exactly what it is I need

Choices

Choices
by: R.A. Slater
01/21/11

Do I follow?
This man I do not know
What might lay
On the path he takes?
Should I stay where I'm at?
Wander back the way I've come?
So many choices
Life has to offer
Risks and rewards
Which is greater
I must decide
And quickly too
Before the chance to follow
Is too late to take
As he gets farther and farther away
I must make my choice...

See pic at this post

Through the Window

Through the Window
by: R.A. Slater
01/16/10

I open the shades to let light in
To look out and enjoy the view
Breathing in fresh air
Well aware that strangers come to peep
And peer through the window
That seems fair to me
Because they let me peep
Through their windows as well
Seeing so many things
Their hopes
My dreams
My trials
Their tribulations
The ups and downs of daily life
Shared by a family of strangers
Connected by a little web
Strengths and weaknesses
Balance each other out
Some more talented then others
But nothing held against another
Deep thoughts here
Poems there
Histroical trivia here
Mundane ventings there
So many ideas and thoughts
Myriad of subjects
All wrapped together
Weaving a story too big
For one person to tell
All are needed

Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue
by: R.A. Slater
01/21/11

I was sitting on the side
Trying my best to be invisible
Ignored and forgotten
Feeling so sad and down
And then there You were
A ray of sunshine
Out of the blue
To shine happiness on me
You remembered me
And You wanted me to know
Just how much You thought of me
And just how much You loved me
You have not fogotten
And wanted me to know!

Distorted

Distorted
by: R.A. Slater
01/16/11

I stand before the jagged mirror
Staring at the image it gives me
Looking through the lense
Of a different perspective
How can I ever be me
When all I see are other views
Distorted beyond recognition
Not as You see me
Which is crystal clear
Sharp clear lines and curves
Nothing highlighted
Niether flaw nor perfection
The whole picture
Of who I am
Help me gaze on You
To see myself clear
For all else is distorted
And self obsession

Picture here

Broken Silence 2

Broken Silence
by: R.A. Slater
01/15/11

How quiet it was
This golden silence
That spoke magnitudes
If I had the ear to hear
But that is nearing its end
As you have promised
To break this spell
I've been under
That mortals call Writer's Block
Many do not understand
The terror of this
Faced with blank page
Equally blank mind
I could not have written
Anything but drivel
Though I did try
In vain it was
But the silence is ending
Thoughts and words and pictures
Flow through my mind without end
What sweet relief
As we meet again
This wonderful creativity
Some mortals do not understand
Because they have not had the joy
Of the broken silence
Because they never had the Voice
Whispering in their ear
In the first place

Geode

Geode
by: R.A. Slater
01/12/11

It's all I have to give
A single beating heart
Full of hopes and dreams
Innocent in spite of it all

As You had created me
A spark in Your imagination
Not just another cog in Your design
But a rare and sparkling gem

Hidden beneath a scarred surface
Scorned and mocked by the world
For its lack of apparent beauty
It is a rare treasure

For this heart that beats within
Was formed in the secret place
Weaved together at Your delight
Beats for You above all else

My heart has been Yours
From the very beginning
Every dream and every hope
Putty in Your hands

Beautiful is what I am
Not because of what is outside
This beauty shines from within
Facets polished by Your hand

How I delight You!
In ways others can't see
I am Your daughter
And Oh, how You love me!

Who You Are

Who You Are
by: R.A. Slater
01/06/11

You are great
In all You do
I need Your strength
To see me through
You are awesome
In Your power
The waves toss high
Knocking me down
But You lift me up again
You are the lifter
Of all the downtrodden
Of which I know I am
Ground down to dust
You shine Your light
Across my path
For I need Your help
To stay the course
There is none that compare
To the splendor of Your glory
You are God and none can compare
It is Your help that stays my course
Because that is Who You are

Dark Hour

Dark Hour
by: R.A. Slater
07/30/00

In this dark hour
When light begins to fade
When friend turns to foe
And your every breath hurts
Remember the Lord God your Savior
For He bought you with his blood.

When all around you is as the unknown
Strangers are your only ally
On the long and arduous trip
Through the fire of refining
Remember the Lord God your Savior
For He also made a long and lonely trip.

When the walls of Jericho remain standing
With not even Rahab's scarlet rope hanging in the breeze
When the enemy gathers 'round
And flexes his imagined muscles
Praise the Lord God your Savior
And those walls will come tumbling don
The darkness will part, the light will shine
Praise Him with every breath and the pain will ease
And you will have the strength to go on.

When your hope dims and your heart withers within
When your strength fails and your faith is tested
When your dreams turn to dust that blows away with the wind
Or is stolen and derailed by the enemy
Do NOT despair, for your Restorer is near
The Lord God your Savior is your hope and your salvation
In Him is your hope, your strength, your joy
It is He who holds your dreams in the palm of His hand
It is His to decide whether to rid you of them for something else
Or to give them back once you've surrendered to Him
It is He who will enable your heart and your faith
To withstand the fires of trial
And to emerge victorious, stronger, bolder
Emblazoned with His glory
To shine in this dark hour
As a testimony to His goodness and mercy
To shine as a blazing torch to show the True Way
For all who are in darkness

Presbyter Experience

Presbyter Experience
by: R.A. Slater
early 2001

Where are my words of triumph?
Where is my word of revelation?
Is there no confirmation of words past?
Do I not likewise have a vision,
And a future in this place?
Am I not also going to reach nations?
And not my books going to minister to millions?
Are not my hands and voice anointed as well?
Was my words lost in the shuffle?
Or just laid aside until a later time?
Does not God speak to me as well?
Does not His Holy Spirit bear witness to me?
Is not my heart His dwelling place?
The Word is my confirmation and comfort,
All else is secondary, though nice.
I will not doubt despair, too much,
When humans fail me.
For the Lord my God is here to stay.
Though I do not understand,
And will cry due to unmet expectations.
Yet I will trust Him, an expect Him
To have something better in store for me.

authors note: a Presbyter is when a church brings in a group of seasoned prophets for the express purpose of prophecying to the individuals in that church. Obviously, they ran out of time before they got to me his time and I was feeling somewhat discouraged.

O Lord, O God

O Lord, O God
by: R.A. Slater
date unknown, early FB years.

How it did please You
When I broke forth from my pew
Though to man I did look absurd
You shook Your head at my human embarrassment
Knowing I could not see
Just how You did view me
The pureness of heart, the absolute glee
The freedom to dance, the courage to sing
All of heaven did cheer
As I Your child did discover
That I too could draw near
And dance into Your heart
Where forever I do belong
My hands did wave, and my heart did soar
O Lord, O God - how can this be?
How is it that this freedom has departed from me?
When did their standard come in
To be first above Yours?
As though others are my judge and jury
And You the referee!
How prideful can I be
To worry how my equals judge me
When You alone hold eternity?
How foolish I know I am
To look back on that moment, and all that have followed
And see the flaws, and the mistakes - through the eyes of Man
When none of that did You see
But the beauty of eyes fixed on You
And a heart that at that moment did feel
Every drop of love that You did shed for me
If only I could never forget
The pit that You did draw me out of
And the prison You set me free from
O Lord, O God, can I ever get back
The joy and the innocence that I have so foolishly lost?
Will I ever be so carefree
As that day when it was
That I first did break free?
Please create in me a newness of life
A newness of joy and peace
And renew the Spirit that You have placed within me
Mold me and make me
A woman after Your heart alone
Knowing that no matter what
You will always love me
Even as You convict and make new
This heart that had once forsaken You
I hear in my heart Your gentle voice
Telling me of the sureness of Your forgiveness
And of promises yet to be seen
Whispers of faith untold
And of greater promises to unfold
More dances to be danced, more songs to be sung
Greater joy to be had, a deeper peace to be known
Heaven's heights will become known
And Jesus, Your face I will see
Smiling and laughing with me
O Lord, O God, my heart does leap!

Let the Storm Rage

Let the Storm Rage
by: R.A. Slater
date unknown, but it's from the same batch I just found, so it's old.

Let the storm rage
I am planted on a firm foundation.
Let the lightning strike and the thunder crash
For I know my Shelter will protect.
Let the waves wash over me
I shall not drown.
Let the winds blow
They may knock me down, but they will not blow me away.
Though I may quake and fail
His promises will endure.
He has promised to pick me up
When I fall down.
Though my heart shall fail and my soul faint
He has promised never to leave nor forsake.
Though my steps falter and wander
He is still there.
Though I cannot see Him
I know He holds me through the storm.
And when the tempest is through
I shall see things anew.
My eyes He will dry
And my heart He will revive.
He shall straighten my path
And light my way.
And when tomorrow brings a new storm
I will not fear.
I will trust Him
For I know no other way.

The Staircase

The Staircase
by: R.A. Slater
early 2000's after the New Years Eve Church service/party

On and on it seems to stretch
*This staircase in my life
Of trials and tribulations, of challenges and growth
*That I alone can climb, must climb
Though the trip is wearying
*It is not in vain
For He is a promise-keeper
*His promises are 'yes and amen'
And He has promised great things
*Though I do not see them except in my mind's eye
From where I now stand
*The staircase appears to have no end
Though I know that this is an illusion
*Cast by my perspective
Could I look down and see my life
*From heaven's higher view
I would see things quite differently
*From what I see them to be while here on earth
Though granted revelations
*Of God and of my self
That often gives reprieve of my emotions
*I often live mment by moment
Often forgetting to even ask
*For those revelations
I grow so eary of this constant climbing
*This constant battle to be who I am meant to be
In such moments God will sometimes give
*A moment to rest, a moment to breathe, a moment to reflect
Sometimes we will sit in silence together
*Grateful for each other's presence
Sometimes I will weep for the emotion of the moment
*And His loving arms hold me in a tender embrace
That strenthens me and draws me nearer to Him
*And keeps me from falling off this staircase that grows ever steeper
Sometimes I will look back down the staircase
*And wonder at what I see
Although the memory of the past steps have been emblazoned in my heart and mind
*I see only a gradual incline behind me
Littered with gemstones of tears
*Made beautiful by His compassion
Littered with the torn down alters of my life
*Now an altar to Him and Him alone
Littered with cast aside burdens
*Burdens that ever prowl, awaiting a chance to reattach themselves
How I did fight, sometimes kicking and screaming
*To give up those things that stained my worship
And when I surrendered my will to His
*How I did wonder why I fought so hard
The path before me is steep
*As it always has been
And He alone knows how many times
*I have paused in moments of despair to gaze over the side of these stairs
And into the dark abyss
*Pondering dark thoughts of giving up
But as I listen to the quiet voice within and without
*I am filled with comfort and peace
For the voice of God does not condemn me for my weakness
*No, He reminds me that He is God, and He is good
That He has given we abundant life
*If I am willing to walk in it
That I am His child
*And nothing will ever take me from Him
That the heart of the cross did beat with love for me
*With all my foibles and follies, sin burdened and alone
And so, knowing beyond feeling, that hope remains
*I rise to my feet, repositioin my armor and continue the climb
Knowing that I do not climb alone
*For He often carries me
And that the heart of the cross
*Beats for me still

Reflections

Reflections
by: R.A. Slater
12/31/00

Another year is gone, vanished like vapor
And another year is knocking at my door
As I try to decide how to greet this new year
I think on the past one and wonder -
What have I to show?
For this past year has had its share of joy,
And more than its share of sorrow.
There have been far more failures than I would like,
And too few successes.
Friends have been lost, some to the grave
And some friends are now enemies.
There are more gray hairs,
From too much stress, and too much worry,
Though there are some who say I have "the" life.
No spouse, no children or the bills that go with them,
Which translates as "You have no worries!"
How little they know! How little they suspect the truth of my life!
There are more scars to account for,
Both on my body and on my heart.
The left over marks on my hands either say I am not afraid of hard work,
Or that I am accident prone, or dare I say - clumsy.
The ones on my heart I'd rather ignore, for many of them still hurt and bleed.
But they are a part of who I am, and of who I am being molded into.
Yes, I am tender of heart and spirit
And I pray that I never become too hard.
For each of these scars are evident of God strengthening me
Through these strange and hurtful things.
He has tried me to my limit this past year,
And then asked me to stretch even further.
I thought that I would break into a thousand pieces.
With this in mind, I wonder if it is possible
To bar the door and fend off the new year?
I would that it could be possible to stop time in its track,
But then there would be no new mercies,
No new discoveries of the awesomeness of this God
Who allows me to call Him friend.
Even though He is the One who holds the entire universe
In the palm of one hand.
I would be safe if time were to stall, with nothing to hurt me,
But there would be no joy - only boring mundanity.
So come on in year 2001, have a seat and get comfy.
We'll drink some coffee and have a good Ol' time.
Bring on your trials and tribulations,
For God is in the fire with me
And I am determined to find joy amongst the thorns and the blood.
I will bear my sword and fight the good fight,
And if I should lose a battle,
Then I will heal to fight another day!
We will dance our dance and live our life and when we are through -
I will say goodbye to you as well, and welcome another new year.
Regrets I will wash away and the good I will cherish.
Bring on the good, the bad, and the ugly,
And the incidents that are curiously somewhere inbetween.
My response will be to bring out the big guns,
Verses like Jeremiah 29:11 and Deuteronomy 31:6
And not to forget Hewbrews 11:1 and 1 John 4:4
Psalm 150 has always been a good one,
So has Philippians 4:4-7
I will fling every verse above
And all the others that have been written
Into your face.
And, so, in the mean time - 2001 - bring it on!
The word says that I am armed and dangerous,
Therefore - of whom shall I be afraid?
Certainly not of you!
Perhaps, instead - you should tremble in fear of me.

Imagination

Imagination
by: R.A. Slater
12/30/10

Out of my imagination flows
Vivid pictures of uncertainty
Lightning, hail, and rain
Fierce gales of the terrible tempest
Thunder crashing and rolling
Earth exploding and shaking
Chaos overthrowing order
Insanity reigning anew
Terror walking freely in the streets

Is this real, I wonder
Or the prodect of a bored imagination?
Could it be that I've watched too much rv?
Am I taking the bible too seriously
When it talks of wars-
And the rumors of wars
Marking the end days?
Regardless of the reality
They make for good poetry

I know not from whence they come
It really doesn't matter
So long as I can write them down
These crazy things I see and dream
For that is the best that I can do
Time will tell the truth of such things
It is not for me to judge
Only to relay the messages
Without censor or varnish

A Blessing For You

A Blessing For You
by: R.A. Slater
sometime in 1997-1998, written for a friend when I heard he'd had a baby

May the God up above
Bless you hre down below
May He hear your prayers
And grant your requests.
May He grant you love and joy
That never fades with time.
May He embrace you with His love
And hold you close your whole life long.
May He fill you with happiness
And take away your sadness.
May the God up above
Be the One that lives in your heart.
May He forgive you your sins
So that you may be found Holy in His sight.
May He someday take you in His arms
And lift you up to live with Him on High.
May He guide you on your path
And may He stay at your side forever and always.
Amen.

Whose Vision Is This?

Whose Vision Is This?
by: R.A. Slater
01/15/02
Written specifically for First Baptist Church, how differently I would write this poem today.

Is this my vision too?
Though it was first given
When I was but a child,
Only 4 or 5 years old
And no where near this church.
Can it be, that even then
My part in this church
Was somehow seen?
Am I willing to take part,
To make this my vision -
And not just the "church's" vision?
Am I willing to sacrifice
My time, my sweat, my prayers, my money
In order to see this vision come to be?
For we are not called to this church
Merely to be a spectator filling a spot in the pew
But to take our God-ordained place and do our part
For we are called here for a purpose!
Oh yes, many are called but few are chosen
But whose fault is that?
Are we willing to lay down our lives
To let the Holy Spirit work in our lives
In order to make us one of those "choice" individuals?
We must choose to answer the call
I know my answers to these questions,
"Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord Amen."
Do you know yours?

The Heart of Christmas

The Heart of Christmas
by: R.A. Slater
date unknown, maybe Christmas 2002...I forget which Christmas poem I wrote for FB first.

The sound reverberated throughout heaven...
Such a small sound, so simple and quiet...
Yet the sound of mankind's first act of rebellion,
Was the sound of their doom.

Heaven whispered...
"What will He do now?"
"Will He destroy them and start over?"
"What is their fate now?"

But His heart could not be changed.
These were His creation
Made by His hands, by His breath they lived...
He could not destroy them - they were His own.

He had given them the ability to make their own decisions
For what kind of worship is it, if it is forced and mindless?
They had chosen the wrong way, sin had crept in and been given room
But now He would offer them another choice.

Into the Garden He went
At His regular time
And Man's absence was keeny felt as He cried out,
"Where are you?"

His heart continued to break
He gave them chances to confess their wrong
Instead they passed the blaim
And never took responsibility for their own actions

Judgment came and the curse was pronounced
But not before the unexpected Promise was spoken - the promise of a Savior
Another choice that if they took
Would reconcile them to His presence

It was the longing ache of God's heart
That gave us the Virgin Birth
Christ born in a manger
The long awaited promise became flesh

Jesus lived His life upon this earth
He walked among us and He was one of us
Fully Man and fully God
And it was His love that led Him to the Cross

His love for a wayward people
Many who wandered aimlessly through this life
Some who had no names and were invisible
Many who were the worthless scum of society

People whom the manifest presence of God
Was just a story told of the past from time out of mind
All of these He died for...to show them their great worth
That the God who created them wanted them back

The heart of Christmas
Is the heart of the Cross
It is the heart of the Creator
Desperate for His creation

For it is the name of Jesus, the name above all names
That reconciles us to His presence
He is the One who gives us life and hope
Where before there was death and despair

Do not turn away from the reason for this season
Do not hide yourselves in fear or pride
Do not attempt heaven on your own power
Do not look askance as if there were strings attached

We are the created, and we rebelled against our Creator
And instead of destroying us absolutely
He has given us a second choice
To accept the Christmas gift of the Cross

His only desire is to have us restored!
To be back in His presence, never to leave!
He longs for us with a passion
Far greater than we long for Him

Can't you hear Him calling?
"Where are you?" He cries out...
He knows our names as surely as He knew Adam's
"Where are you...I love you..."

The Christmas Miracle

The Christmas Miracle
by: R.A. Slater
Christmas 2001

Our God is a God of miracles
From the opening words of the Bible, He makes this very clear
He spoke - and the universe came into existence
He spoke - and the world was formed
He spoke - and this world was filled with plants and animals
With His hands He formed the first man
And the first breath that was breathed was the breath of God.

He could have stopped after that last day of creation - but He didn't
He could have stuck with the small everyday miracles
The ones of keeping the world in its orbit and the rising of the sun
But our God does not do that
With only 100 years warning, the earth was covered with flood waters
An act of judgement, yes - but no small miracle
With a thought our one language became many languages
Fire fell on Sodom and Gomorrah and a woman was turned into a pillar of salt
The miracle of Isaac is well known
Israel saw miracle after miracle in the desert - and still they turned away
Water parting and enemies defeated and the sun standing still
All this and more to show the mighty hand of God

And yet the thought of the Christmas Miracle
Far exceeds anything He'd done before
How could God pour Himself into a human shell?
Our bodies are so fragile, so unprotected from accident - a baby more so
Prone to illness and infirmity
Muddy clay was expected to hold the Son of God
The most amazing part of the Christ Child being born
Is that He was born to die

Some would like to seperate Christmas and Easter as two different miracles
They happened on opposite ends of His life here on Earth
And even happened at different times of the year
But aren't they one and the same?
A miracle spanning 33 years?
The effects of which we are still seeing today?
For His purpose even at birth was the cross
He walked this earth as one of us
He spoke to us, taught us, tried to reach our stubborn hearts
There was no other way to bring us home
Than for Him to hang on the cross

Upon this One that was born outside of sin and was sinless in every way
Was poured every manner of sin and foulness that did not belong to Him
So that you and I could be free from sin and live in victory
Heaven's glory He left for us
And the One who was blameless
Upon Him the Father could not look
So that upon us He could look - and see no sin
My freedom and yours was bought at a price
Blood that poured down from hands and feet and side
Was actually poured out from Christ's own love
And all this started in manger
With a baby born from above
This salvation I have received
Heaven's own bright, morning star
Is the Christmas miracle

A Love Letter To God

A Love Letter To God
by: R.A. Slater
06/11/01

My love is not enough, it is not deep enough nor real enough
When compared to the love of My God, my Jesus who died for me

It is no longer enough to say the words, "I love you."
And only mean it on the surface level
For I mean to love You with all that I am,
With a true love that runs to the deepest, most secret hidden part of me
I want to love You with an all encompassing love
That far exeeds anything I've ever experienced.
I want to love You far deeper than any love
I've ever claimed to have.
I want to fall in love with You, My God and King
Head over heals, helplessly in love with You.
I want to wake up eagerly, looking for Your smile
Anticipating Your presence in my day.
I want to fall asleep reluctantly, still immersed in Your presence
Immersed in the glory and the power of my God.
I want to dance with You, not only in wild delight
At the joyful remembrance of Your deliverance of me.
But also the slow intimante dance,
That belongs to lovers.
Where there is no shame or hindrances,
Only the sure acceptance of unconditional love.
Where there is no fear of abandonment,
Only the security that comes from promises kept.
I want You in every part of my life,
For You are the One that gave life to me.
I want to come to know You,
As deeply as You know me.
I want to swim deeper in the love You have for me,
And abandon my fear of drowning...
To lose myself along the way,
And be completely one with You,
Where words are no longer necessary,
And the only song there is -
- Is our hearts beating as one...

Limbo

Limbo
by: R.A. Slater
sometime in 1999 or 2000

I'm stuck in the middle
Too old to be young
Too young to be old
Too young to be a leader
Too old to be taught forever
I'm not sure how to act
Someone always tells me I don't behave
Or that I'm not appropriate or behooving
My wrongs are highlighted before my rights
My accomplishments are too small for anyone to care
Who I am meant to be is clear to me
As impossible as it may seem, though mankind is opposed

"Dress this way, Don't wear that,
Your hair is too long, It is too short,
Walk this way, go that way, Stay out of my way,
Stand over here, Sit down and be quiet,
I love you, I hate you
Come talk to me, Don't talk to me!
March to the beat of your own drummer, Be like me!
Don't address the assembly, Come and testify!
Shoot for the stars, Don't dare to dream!
Your dreams are foolish, You'll never succeed,
You'll never be anything different from what you've been,
Change, change, change! You are no good!
You expect to little, You expect too much."
There is no inbetween, but that is where I'm stuck
I'm stuck in non-existance, told to leave, told to stay




God tells me something different, so I will not doubt
He tells me I am holy, and righteous
Set apart and chosen by Him
He tells me I am precious, special and unique
He tells me He is going to raise me up as a testimony to others,
Though I do not know how He means to do so, or truly what it means
I want so much for my dreams to come true
I want so much for them not to be vain imaginations
Who am I to lead? I am not qualified or worthy,
They will see only me, and not the One who sent me
But who am I to doubt my Savior's word?
I am only to obey
There is a saying,
"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualified the called."
In that I qualify, for I have heard His voice calling me

He will lead me out, He will be my qualification, He won't confuse me
He will set me free from this limbo so I might be who I was meant to be
He doesn't ignore, condemn, or turn away
His words are trustworthy and true
He will never leave me nor forsake me, never hang me out to dry
He will not fail me or ever tell me a lie
Though in this life I am stuck inbetween,
There is no doubt of eternity
He will see me through and I will break through
Break through the soapscum of sinful humanity
Break through the misgivings of saved humanity
Break through the mistreatment of them all
I will not doubt, I will not give up
Because my Savior has faith in me
He never has, nor ever will, give up on me.

Every Breath

Every Breath
by: R.A. Slater
07/11/01

When every breath hurts
When evert thought stabs
He shared your pain
When the pain is beyond words
When your can't form the prayer
He still hears you
Your thoughts are no secret
Your emotions no surprise
He knows them all
Your troubles are not too big for Him
Your burdens are not to heavy for Him to carry
He holds the universe in His hand
Your troubles are not to small for Him to notice
Your burdens are not to trivial for Him to care
He loves you too much not to notice or care

Every breath counts and words are not necessary
He knows your heart - - He created you
Troubles and burdens are His specialty
He wants you to give them to Him
He will carry you
He wants you to lean on Him
He will be your strength when you have no other
He just wants you
And He will be your God.

Between Me and Thee

Between Me and Thee
by: R.A. Slater
07/11/01

The spectators of this 'sport' look on and laugh
All they see is a spectacle of a woman
The super spiritual look sown their noses in keen disapproval
They declare it is nothing but an expression of the flesh by just one look
Still others look on in wonder
As they cannot see why I dance
They do not hear the song in the silence
And they do not hear the beat of the angels' wings
They cannot feel my joy at His very presence
They do not share in my jubilee
They do not realize the price that has been paid for my freedom
They do not know of my recent victories
They are content to sit and wonder as others laugh
Unwilling to listen to the testimonies I tell
"Crazy!" They all claim. "Foolishness!"
"It is the flesh!" They do declare. "She is delirious!"
"Why dance when there is no music?"

If only they were to walk a mile in my shoes
They would wonder no more
If only they could hear the music
Then they would dance with the angels
If only they knew the pain they unwittingly inflict
For they do not know who overhears their whispers
Let the mockers mock, let the pharisees scold
Let the wonderers wonder, let the watchers watch
For one day they too shall be judged
And they will learn what I already know
That Man's opinion is jaded
And not important in Eternity's eyes
That worship is between the worshipper and the One worshipped
Between the Father and me, between them and Him
For in the Last Day we will stand on our own
We are accountable for our actions alone
No longer can we claim that another distracted us
Or held us back from this treasure or that
For in the end, we are our own distraction
And we hold ourselves back

Books!

Books!
by: R.A. Slater
12/04/10

What treasure!
What joy!
Pure elation!
Wealth hidden between two covers
Waiting for me to discover
The depths within
In the pages of books
Some old friends to be visited
Memories of last time
New nuggets to be found
Each a brave new world
Meant to be explored

What Secrets Lay

What Secrets Lay
by: R.A. Slater
12/02/10

Behind dead eyes
What secrets lay
Stories untold
Of innocence betrayed
And love denied
Hopes shattered
Dreams unraveled
Freedoms stolen
Joy placed in a cage
Battered and beaten
Bruises on the heart
Easier to hide
Harder to prove
Greater shame
Over such silliness

City On A Hill

City On A Hill
by: R.A. Slater
11/27/10
Sounds Bites Series #12

Darkness gathers 'round
Snowy clouds of fury
Bearing down with heavy gloom
Until a shaft of light
Shows a briliant center
A shining city on a hill
Mighty bulwark against the storm
Refuge of hope in desperate times


authors note: this was written after driving around a bend in the highway and seeing the shining city of Syracuse, NY against the dark backdrop of storm clouds.

Ripples

Ripples
by: R.A. Slater
11/27/10
Sound Bites Series #11

Like a pebble in a pond
A raindrop in a puddle
So are Your words to me
They might be small
These little poems
But their ripple effects
Rip all the way through
A mushroom cloud to consume me
Most likely meaningless to strangers
To me they are precious gems
I share them anyway
Knowing Your ripples
Stretch far beyond me

Pearls and Pebbles

Pearls and Pebbles
by R.A. SLater
11/20/10
Sound Bites Series #10

Pearls and pebbles
Such are these poems
Tiny, but not insignifigant
Your Words to me
Are precious to me
Like the pebbles I gathered as a child
Unique and beautiful
Kept in a jar
For safe keeping
Displayed here for the world to see
Praises strung together
Like pearls on a string
For Your adornmant
So that all might know
The wonder of You

Shelter

Shelter
by: R.A. Slater
11/17/10
Sound Bites series #9

Not all storms are from You
Not all are showers of blessings
Happiness and joy
Some are ordinary storms of life
Fraught with surprise
Pain and despair
But You see me through them all
My refuge and shelter
In the pouring rain

Blaze

Blaze
by: R.A. Slater
11/17/10
Sound Bites Series #8

Your glory flashes before my eyes
As a star blazes through the heavens
Quickly and teasingly
You tantalize me
Delighted and delirious
I look for more
I long for more
So I keep looking
Knowing that You'll be there
As much in the waiting

Torrent

Torrent
by: R.A. Slater
11-06-10

The tap was dry
Crusted over with rust
Where once life flowed freely
I tried many times
To turn the flow back on
Not the barest hint of a drop
Could be seen
Even on a rainy day
I sat patiently
I paced back and forth
Then finally lay down to die
The You spoke through the rain
And the tap began to drip
I sat up and paid attention
As one drip led to another
Then there was a steady stream to drink from
Slowly saturating all that could be seen
Long had I been awaiting this day
You promised me more
Not a whisper, a thundering
Soon there would be a torrent
A rush from heaven that no bucket could hold
I could not contain
But not a drop would not be lost
What wonders I anticipate!

Cotton Ball

Cotton ball
by: R.A. Slater
11-05-10
Sound Bites Series #7

Such a little simple thing
This fluffy ball of cotton
Yet what memories it holds
A picture of sweet innocence
Gluing cotton to paper
To make a little lamb
Standing at Jesus' feet
Pure belief at His love
Peace in a little girl's sadness
However fleeting, however eternal
Shaping an entire life
Beyond what her little eyes can see
For her life is just beginning
Her faith newly planted
Seeded by a simple cotton ball
Given to her by faithful servants
What will blossom in time
Was foreseen long ago

Swarm

Swarm
by R.A. Slater
11-4-10

There was no warning
No sounds of an advancing fleet
Not even a whisper on the wind
One moment the sky was clear
The sun was shining
Through fluffy white clouds
And then they were there
Buzzing, hovering, weaving
Swarming the earth like locusts
Invoking fear and awe
Causing much trembling
Wondering and confusion
A breath taking moment
Where time was suspended
Such beauty in the terror
The orchestration of the enemy
How they weaved in and out of each other
Never once colliding
But it did not change the fact
That we were under attack
As time resumed
And they rained fire from the sky
Showing no mercy or remorse
Seeking only death and destruction