In the Stillness
poetry, praise and promise for the spirit
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Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Whispers of Peace by Regina McIntosh while darkness colors my thoughts in shadows, sapphire whispers blessed by the reflections of stars, moonlight glistening through the heavens, rhythmic tales of heartfelt praise, prayers stories of what it must mean to feel the beautiful that comes during the evening, twilight’s still breath rising to taunt the easy flow of midnight breaking easy against the distant ridges a music in blue, mountains like stories, poetry confused by the satiny silence, immersed in the tempting songs of gentle grace fills the night with its shiver inhaling light, the stars who tremble exhaling hope, the beauty of knowing just beyond the forest, beckoning pine coated floors and mossy stones, suffering clinging ivy, felt ferns and blackest dirt distant dreams stir the sounds of summer a soft call from the cricket, blinking thoughts from the fireflies and a rhythmic story unfolding on the lips of those who see Him in this kiss from the still, cradled in the hills leaving only the faded moon to speak words expressing the uncertainty night’s rising breath, epiphanies written in the hearts who believe… beyond this moment, beyond these hills past the edges of darkness where the peace sends its still there comes a promise a moment in time, when yesterday remembers – He is with me despite the darkness, despite the night even during the moon’s waltz from nocturnal blues to a distant hue muted, colored prayers, in the heavens I can see the music blessing it is love that is beyond our expressions He is light that never denies the night He is light that has no reason to hide He is light that sings grace through the skies wherever I meet Him, in the night on the busy street, among the song’s flames amid the hesitant prayers I know what it is to be astonished I know what it means to be startled I know how it feels to meet with the twinkle in a star, the beautiful in a heart, the miracle of love that is alive, love that became a sacrifice for you and I, so we could decide to live with the One who abides inside, the One who created the stars, this night the One who was raised so that we can hope the One who is love beyond expression He is the One who makes life worth living He is the One who brings light to my spirit He is the One who decides I’m forgiven He is the One who will always be with me He is the One and I will hold on – forever!
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Whether performed during Easter or Christmas, Messiah, with its powerful “Hallelujah Chorus,” has unquestionably been used as a means to evangelize and spread the gospel to a wide audience. Moreover, the message of Messiah has served as a source of inspiration for millions of people, compelling them to donate to those in need, all in the name of Christ. Most composers from that era never expected their music would endure beyond their lifetime. Handel’s Messiah is certainly the outlier, being perhaps the oldest continuously performed composition from any composer. Yet George Frideric Handel refused to take the credit. In a beautiful gesture, at the end of Messiah, Handel paid homage to his faith by including the letters “SDG” for Soli Deo Gloria, which means “To God Alone the Glory.”
Vermilye, Alan. The Hymns of Easter: Daily Lent and Easter Devotions on Classic Hymns (40 Daily Devotions for Lent and Easter) (The Devotional Hymn Series) (pp. 18-19). Brown Chair Books. Kindle Edition.
When Angels Sing by Regina McIntosh Angels listened, still in the skies Heeding each breath, waiting for the word… “come quickly, save me, I have had enough!” Words never spoken by the Son of God, Who hung between heaven and earth, On a splintered cross where He was tormented By pain so desperate, the blackest of sins, The despair of those moments in between Life and death, light and darkness, love and fear… Because God had left Him hanging… Angels listened, hoping to hear His prayer Never wanting their Master to be tortured this way… “come quickly,” they had expected Him to pray… But, He quietly accepted His dark fate, Death on a cross meant for the worst sinner, Death on a cross – where He was surrendered His light, His life, His glory… Then, comes the angel’s gentle story… As they pulled away the stone, Leaving room for their Master to come forth, Out of the darkness, the death, Some thought was the ending – As others celebrated the best beginning! When He arose from that tomb, even the angels knew… There on that cross, where it all seemed lost, He said “it is finished” – as the real story was just beginning. He had the final word, and that word shall be heard… Throughout eternity, as the angels sing and sing… Praising the King of Kings, Praising the One who died to see… The story go on for you and me, The story that will provide the greatest victory! As the angels just sing and sing, And heaven remembers the day The man on the cross didn’t pray For the angels to take His pain away! Instead, He stayed and saved – Giving our souls a new light, a new day! And, the angels just sing and sing, As we praise the King of Kings!
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Trials are not meant to defeat us but to refine us, drawing us closer to God and building our faith. They remind us of our dependence on Him and His ability to sustain us through every storm.
Ediger, D.J.. Verses of Hope: Poems of Faith and Empowerment : Inspirations from Scripture to Uplift the Soul (p. 43). Independent. Kindle Edition.
In the Stillness of My Spirit (couplet) by Regina McIntosh Every heartbeat reminds me, He is the life When I feel dark, blind – He heals all my strife. Every breath prompts me to know He is love Creator, Savior, the Son, sent by God above. Every thought retells of a light that never dims Though my dreams fade, I still sing hymns. Every silence stirs my heart to listen to His word Even when I’m lonely, His love can still be heard. Every prayer that I pray is filled with awe of Him, the One who always fills my heart to the brim. Every beautiful thing I see echoes His amazing grace While He lives in heaven, I still feel Him in this place. Every mourning tells me that He’s always near to me, Though I don’t see Him, His love’s bigger than the sea. Every death that brings a tear, every doubt that remains, Assures me that He’s taking me through all life’s pains. Every joy that trembles so soft against my thoughts, Reveals a love that tells me He’s connecting all the dots. Every burden that weighs on my soul, wilting my light, Is lifted by the One who came to destroy all my fright. Every song that colors my dreams with His gentle peace, Shows me that I must decrease so He can increase. Every quiet twilight brings me such abundance of love That I know He came to us to bring heaven above… Answering the prayers for a Savior, a Redeemer, a Rescuer, Who is forever the way to change the wrongdoer, Who is forever the answer to silence the darkness of death, Because His Holy Spirit brings grace with every breath. He is the One whose light ignited the world with a hope That never lets a heart linger, unable to cope. He is the One whose blood bought everyone who will believe A second chance, a new beginning, a love that will never leave!
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Grant us Thy truth to make us free, And kindling hearts that burn for Thee, Till all Thy living altars claim One holy light, one heavenly flame. Oliver Wendell Holmes 1809-1894
Tozer, AW. The Christian Book of Mystical Verse (AW Tozer Series) (p. 29). GENERAL PRESS. Kindle Edition.
Steadfast Soul by Regina McIntosh Sometimes, I need some time alone without the echoes of another voice, the shadows, the silhouettes, the mist crashing against the night, breaking through the easy blue of summer skies Wind drifts in, like a gentle whisper healing me from the past, the quiet ache yesterday’s memory growing dimmer inside, I hear the music of time pouring out the broken waves, soundless and full of faith – the legend of a heart who never falters, always follows wherever I am, there is the hope, the blessing one part friend and the other part wisdom, the chance to love without conditions the casual colors of light, glistening restoring the music of a heart who believes, a feeling that lasts beyond the grief darkness ebbs, flows through the heat of a silent prayer and a sensation, a belief the silky breath of a crisp story, the peace that comes from knowing this is poetry broken into colors, shards of glassy scenes joy unfolding on the heart who believes in the sun, there is a lingering grace in the night, there is a breathless praise in the summer, while the heart aches there is a beautiful that comes from the soul who knows about love that has no risk, love that is always, forever still breaking through the darkness to stir up the sound of joy that flows in the soul who knows… the wonder of love this alive love that never lets the heart cry love that is worth all the memories who try to silence the wind with the faded sighs, the shadows who ache to fill the light, the feelings who remind me why I will never let go of the pictures in my soul, pictures of a friend who decides to follow me, even when I cry following quietly, even when I’m erupting with the fury of a heart who’s so alone, a heart who knows, without this love there is only the still night to see me through only the stars to see when I’m blue only the moon to whisper to… this is a love that sees me through this is a love that is forever true this is a love that is completely pure this is a love that I’ll always value from the best friend who is wiser than the moon, and never lets me down by moving behind the clouds…. Never lets me down, loves me despite my sorrows love this alive is love that restores my dark so that I feel the light of love’s breath moving across my heart, freely offering the silence a sigh that can’t be borrowed as the prayers of my heart are poured out, longings to never hear the last breathless gasp from this friend who holds my heart within his grasp.
Pearls of Hope reminds readers that, despite the shadows, there is always that lingering warmth, abiding peace, and forever stirring of joy which remembers we are children of the King. While hopelessness tries to discourage our spirit, hope rises from the forlorn moments and tells us that we’re strong because we have ONE who can overcome whatever darkness reaches out for use. We have hope of the light that silences every storm because we are chosen by the light who shines so that every heart will know hope that is eternal, hope that is indescribable, hope that is God’s gift to those who simply believe he is who he says he is!
Regina McIntosh hopes that readers will discover the inklings of truth beyond the despair. She hopes that they know hope that comes from believing in the light who leaves no shadow at all. He is the light who is nestled inside those whose hope lights up the spirit and the world, the hope that amazes because it’s alive and jumping for joy at the wonders it sees in those who believe!
