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Poems

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Sister to Sister: Polishing the Pulpit 2013

Posted on August 26, 2013

(Don’t forget the live stream from PTP. Tuesday at 2:30 EST)

Cups are overflowing in Sevierville, TN this week as Polishing the Pulpit is well underway. I sat on the front row of a ginormous auditorium tonight and sang “I am Resolved” after hearing a wonderful lesson entitled “Why I Love the Church of Christ.” It’s true. I am resolved. I am resolved to seek more holiness through my days, to win more souls for Him, to be closer to my sisters in Jesus and to be more like Him in my home. I am resolved. Being with over 3000 people who are strengthening their resolves to walk in His ways is the foretaste of heaven that makes the final destination more real and more motivating than it has ever been before. I really want to go there. Sitting there on the front row flanked by my children on each side, my son-in-law and nieces on down the row and listening to my husband preach, I felt like I was almost there. “Almost heaven” is really not West Virginia at all. It’s PTP!

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I really want to have the devil firmly and finally banished from my world on one glad morning. Spending some time with members of my family in the Lord who are suffering great pain, remorse, fear and sorrow this week has made my hatred for the devil increase. I just want to be done with Him. The excruciating and debilitating emotional pain that sin brings in the lives of people is a second great motivator for me to keep living and teaching His will every day and in every venue afforded.

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One lady I spoke with tonight is from Michigan. She expressed this: “I have never been in a place where there was so much needed teaching on such a variety of subjects. I feel kind of like my spirit is just in shock. I feel kind of spiritually overwhelmed in a good way. My emotions are just brimming!”

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On Tuesday at 2:30 EST/1:30 CST, the Digging Deep Podcast will be brought to you live from Polishing the Pulpit. I hope you can join us! We will congratulate those who are here live with us and have completed the Sanctification study in its entirety. We will introduce the new study for 2013-2014 and show you where to find it online, so that you may begin the new study with us in September. I am more than a little excited about this. I hope you can join us! His providence in this fellowship and study continues to bless so many. To Him be all the glory.

Here are the words on a bookmark that was distributed in our ladies session today. The session was called “Blockbuster Passages about Sanctification.”

Sometimes Sanctification Means…

Refusing popularity…
Choosing persecution…like Elijah.
Refusing peace…
Choosing confrontation…like Joshua.
Refusing riches…
Choosing less…like Moses.
Refusing rest…
Choosing struggle…like Caleb.
Refusing acclimation…
Choosing anonymity…like the woman of Shunem.
Refusing anonymity…
Choosing leadership…like the three Hebrews.
Refusing leadership…
Choosing submission…like Sarah.
Refusing exaltation…
Choosing humility…like Paul.
Refusing the best…
Choosing what’s left…like Abraham.
Refusing to fight…
Choosing to lie down…like Isaac.
Refusing to break…
Choosing to build…like Jochebed.
Refusing to obey…
Choosing to pray…like Daniel.
Refusing to remain…
Choosing to change…like Zaccheus.
Refusing the devil…
Choosing the Lord..like Job.
Refusing ruin…
Choosing restoration…like Ezra.
Refusing security…
Choosing risk…like Esther.
Refusing discouragement…
Choosing perseverance…like Nehemiah.
Refusing to stay silent
Choosing to speak…like Peter.
Refusing the easy way out…
Choosing the cross…like Jesus.
C. Colley

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

SISTERS!

Posted on October 9, 2012

This past weekend I spoke in Florida on the subject of the unity of the sisterhood. It was a blessing to study this topic, a needed one in many of our churches. As I reflected, the evening before speaking, on what this wonderful sisterhood has meant in my life, I jotted down a few words that, when trailed together made this poem.

Sisters

I could have lost my cool. He deserved a piece of my mind.
But instead I turned to a sister, for there I knew I’d find
A buffer for the hurt I felt…a quiet place to weep.
I knew she’d offer sound advice. My confidence she’d keep.
I almost did a worldly thing that I knew I’d regret.
That thing would still be haunting me, the thing I’d not forget.
But a sister took me aside that day and said, “Just think this through.
I know the pressure’s on, dear girl, but God is watching you.
The One who gave His son for you gives true security.”
It was a sister so protective of my purity.
A sister was there for my children when I was ill or grieving.
Another sister cried with me when a loved one stopped believing.

Sisters brought pies and fresh loaves of bread.
Sisters brought casseroles for crowds to be fed.
Sisters were watching my children in church.
Sisters to the rescue when I was in the lurch.
Sisters shared secrets and sisters sent cards.
Sisters sent flowers from out of their yards.

In all ways and all places, all ears and all heart;
For all curtain calls, they showed up for the part.
They eased all my ‘stressings’, helped clean up my ‘messings’.
They listened intently to all my ‘confessings.’
When I had no focus, they showed me a plan.
They gave me a purpose and helped me to stand.
But a sister’s a blessing that brings pain when she leaves.
The channels of comfort run dry. My heart grieves.
But new sisters are born again the day sisters go.
And new sisters need old sisters who love them and show
Them their worth to the kingdom, their purpose to be.
Sisters need sisters. Perhaps they need me.
cc

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Runner

Posted on May 24, 2012

There’s only one chance at the wreath that awaits
Only one lifetime to strive.
Only one finish that counts in this world.
And only the time you’re alive.
Only one manual, one trainer, one chance.
Just time between you and the goal.
Only one foe to disqualify you
But this enemy runs for your soul.
This race is for brave-hearted, die hard achievers
For buffeting, disciplined focused believers.
For those who can throw off the weights that would slow them
For those who have studied the rules and who know them
For those who lean heartily on practice and skills,
But also on faith and an undeterred will.
So run, undistracted. Run fast toward the goal.
Keep steady, breathe deeply, and run for your soul.
The world is now small in the distance diminished.
The wreath soon you’ll wear..You’re approaching the finish!
The glory of this wreath dies not with applause.
This glory’s forever, for it’s in the cross!

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (I Corinthians 9:25)

Keepers

The Blessing of Keeping

Posted on February 26, 2012

Keeping scrapbooks and photos and memories,
Keeping late hours as seamstress and maid,
Keeping up with appointments, schoolwork and chores,
Keeping guard when someone is afraid.

Keeping food in the pantry and gas in the car,
Keeping warranties, coupons, receipts,
Keeping bouquets of dandelions, locks of blonde hair,
Keeping score when the children compete.

Keeping tabs on where everyone’s going,
Being sure that my cell phone is near.
Keeping sleeping bags stashed in my closet
For those friends who always end up here.

But mostly just keeping on keeping on,
For life’s about sowing and reaping,
When one day my home finds a place at His throne
I’ll praise Him for blessings of keeping.

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Poem: From Mom on Your Wedding Night

Posted on July 18, 2011
Dear Hannah, 
When you were three years old, you called me from your bed. You said, “Mommy, will you lay with me and sing me a song? Because maybe a dream will come if you sing me a song…because last night when you ‘sing-ed,’ a dream came.”
I guess someone else can sing to you now, because I did…and your dream has come. I love you. 

You caught frogs and turtles and each one had a name.
Pretend friends were enough for your imagining game.
You’d dizzy yourself with June bugs on a string.
Lightning bugs were your lantern when crickets would sing.
You saved shells and pebbles and clover-all sorts.
Old sheets and sticks were your tee-pees and forts.
Poking in morning glories grown “all by yourself.” 
You were giving directions to your personal elf. 
Gnomes lived in your sandbox. ‘Neath your bridge, there were trolls.
You sent them far away to rescue desperate souls.
But that was long ago and reflection years hence.
Reminds you that “far away” is just over the fence.
Your closet was a fairy room transported by dreams
In that tin foil wand there were magical schemes.
Appointments with fairies were important to keep 
There you’d be… in that closet, wand-in-hand, fast asleep.
A world of sweet dreams; that fun place of pretend.
But dreams didn’t really come true…before Ben.

But Father Time chased Mother Goose one sad day. 
Big shoes stepped in your closet and chased out the play,
Fairy rooms turned dressing rooms, and gnomes danced along.
More wistful their memories and fainter their song.
Little blond curls were pulled back into locks 
Heels became higher and skirts replaced frocks.
For time is unrelenting and days swiftly passed
We, reluctantly watched you, and you did it so fast. 
That transition from pigtails to “up-dos” flew by
And your questions changed from “What’s that?” to “Why?”
And somewhere in that passage you became my best friend.
I treasured each moment, for I knew you’d find… Ben.

A thousand times we’d prayed for him, A thousand for his dad
A thousand for his mother and the kind of home they had.
We prayed that you would find the one who’d keep your hand in His
We prayed for someone just like him and for a night like this.
But I wasn’t ready…really, on that crowded sidewalk when
This man beside you stuck his hand out saying, “Hey, I’m Ben.” 

So here you are, you Hannah-girl. Just look at you tonight.
You eyes are sparkling in the shades of dancing candlelight. 
You’ve brought the gift you promised would belong to Ben alone,
You kept it safe for Him and so he, too, has brought His own.
Life doesn’t get much sweeter than to marry your best friend. 
Tonight your God has smiled on us. He’s given us…your Ben.
Please visit Cindy’s Blog at cindycolley.blogspot.com/
Uncategorized

The Mountain

Posted on March 3, 2011
A mountain was before me;
A rugged rocky climb.
So I began the upward path
That steepened all the time.


My burdens were so heavy.
With great pain I faced the test.
I longed to turn back and descend;
To lay them down and rest.


“Don’t look back,” I heard His voice say.
“Yesterday is but a dream.
Lay its burdens at the water’s brink
And ford this mountain stream.”


And so the load was lighter.
I was given strength anew.
The mountain would be mine now,
For my purpose still was true.


But the sun bore down in torrents
Blinding me.  I couldn’t tell
Where the jagged rocks ahead lay.
I stumbled, then, and fell.


The everlasting arms were there
To catch me once again,
And a reassuring voice said,
“I understand the pain.”


“Do not fear the rugged path ahead
Or shirk from the unknown;
For I will give you blessings
Where my sparkling sun has shone.”


So the burden of tomorrow
I left lying in the sun;
And the prospect of what was ahead
Became a hopeful one.


The mountain just got steeper.
The sun ne’er failed to shine.
But with each step my soul soared higher
And the mountain…it was mine!
My worries still remind me
From that rocky mountain side.
That burdens of another day
Are carried by my Guide.


He weaves mistakes of yesterday
Into tomorrow’s plan;
And I am not afraid to climb
When my Lord holds my hand!


“Give me this mountain…”  Joshua 14:12
Please visit Cindy’s Blog at cindycolley.blogspot.com/