Cheryl Lavender

January 02,2003

Dear Father…
Each day I relive the struggle,
...

In some way of every day,
I raise my pencil to sketch a life,
to open my heart,
surrender to passion,
...

Fluffy white, pillowy soft,
The clouds angels joyfully romp upon.
The hand of God, the Artist's touch,
Initiates creation into finite view.
...

At first glance, one would most certainly pass it by,
For it looked as though it has no merit.
The binding is tattered and torn,
worn and weathered, decayed from abuse.
...

June 24,2002

Moving through the imperfections of my life,
I've found a house of shadowed rooms,
...

All alone and coerced at twilight,
I fixed my gaze on the glorious menagerie
known as the Tennessee eventide.
...

In the planting of His purpose
there comes a seed of Holy Truth
when given to His children
kindles His providential harvest.
...

Long I have sought Your loving face, the nector of Your limitless grace.
The fragrance as sweet as Your blooming countenance You give with one look my way.
How could I count Your wonderful works, as myriad as the stars in Your beveled sky?
How can I know Your love for me, for it spans the heavens to encounter me?
...

Souls in conflict, battles rage on,
Peace out of reach, crisis never gone.
How do I live this life for Him?
What must I do to flee this sin?
...

It was heavy, this cross I was effecting. So very, very heavy! As I walked the road to Calvary the weight became too great and I crumbled beneath its' significance. It was not the shear immensity of the Tree that caused my legs to buckle, although I was weary in the carrying. It was the sin that weighed me down. It was the sin I would bear for My people.

A man was ordered to take my place and carry the Cross to Calvary. I felt his heart and My compassion rose to meet him. He set the Cross down and the soldiers laid me upon It. The pain from the Crown of Thorns was running round My head and I knew I must steel myself for what was yet to come.
...