Mother's Day 2014

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mudder!

Dedicated to my mother, Dolores May Fitzgerald, a woman of uncommon faith, amazing strength, and a lightness of heart I continually strive for. She inspires me daily, loves me unconditionally, supports me unquestioningly, and always, always has my back.

I love you, mom, and I still hope that I turn out just like you when I grow up. You have always been my biggest fan, most faithful cheerleader, proudest of my smallest accomplishments, a guiding light for me in the dark days, a trusted confidant, a mighty prayer warrior, and my most precious spiritual partner. There is none like you, and I am so thankful God gave me you for the ups and downs. Because of your love and believing in me, even the lowest of the lows have been bearable, and the highs have been sweeter because I got there with your help, whether directly or indirectly, and shared them with you. You are the best, mama. 

MY MOTHER'S LAMP

As I gaze upon my mother’s lamp
Casting its steady flame
I’m reminded of my mother’s love
And its power to sustain

Throughout the years it’s never failed
Never flickered or gone out
Though winds of change
And the storms of life
Have oft tossed it about

My mother’s love shines brightly
With its own special light
Guiding me safely homeward
Through many a friendless night

As I sit and gaze at my mother’s lamp
With its warm, steady glow
I know in my heart
What I’ve always known
And I want the world to know

Though they travel the whole world over
And search forevermore
From the tip of the tallest mountaintop
To the depths of the ocean floor

They’ll not find a love more faithful
Nor a woman more warmly thought of
They’ll not find a flame more steady
Than the light of my mother’s love

Chere Poole
Copyright © 2014
All rights reserved

UNSPOKEN

So much behind those eyes, unspoken

So many deep heart cries, unspoken

Your Father hears them, every one

Because you are His son, and

His love is there for you

So much beauty all around you

Yet the pain seems to surround you

Give it to Him, let it go

Because He wants you to know

His love is there for you

You may think that there is no one

Who understands what is unspoken

No one who sees the pain inside you

No one to stand faithful beside you, but

His love is there for you

He gave His son, who gave his life

You’ve got an ally in the fight

Someone to pick you up when you fall

Someone who willingly gave his all

A faithful love that’s there for you

Your Father knows your thoughts, unspoken

His heart breaks when yours is broken

Give it to Him, let it go

Love Him with your heart and soul

Let Him mend you, make you whole

With His love

He’s there for you

By Chere Poole

Copyright © March 23, 2014. All rights reserved.

What Dream is Impossible?

by Chere Poole

My Father gives me lots of gifts

He does it every day
He speaks to me with words of Love
In big and little ways

Sometimes it is plain as can be

On a cloudy, rain soaked day
When a multi-colored promise
Says all there is to say

Sometimes He greets me early
As I hurry to and fro
With a morning sunbeam on my cheek
As on my way I go

At other times He speaks His Love
Quite spectacularly
Painting the sky from a palette of colors
He’s chosen just for me

My Father tells me of His Love
In big ways and in small
But the words that sound the sweetest,
Those that speak loudest of all,

Are written in His matchless Word
Promises great and true
Telling of His great abundance
Available for me and you

For what dream is impossible?
With El Shaddai, no dream at all!
When as His child I simply believe
And answer my Father’s call


Copyright April 2010
All rights reserved

On the Verge of Victory

A new friend shared a quote with me this week that I found particularly appropos. 

“I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.”~ Mother Teresa

If I'm honest, that's how I've been feeling this week. I've been pushing so hard for so long, it seems, to take the steps God wants me to take to lay hold of the things He's prepared for me. This week, it's felt like one step forward, two steps back in every area of life in which I tried to make progress. And I did make some progress...it was just extremely hard won. You might say, most days it was a big ol' hairy fight! And it's not over.

There have been financial challenges, physical challenges, mental challenges, emotional challenges and yes, spiritual challenges. Usually I can handle the challenges that come my way. But then again, they usually don't all gang up on me at one time until I feel like my head is being swallowed by some unseen monster, and I may never see the light of day again.

I keep telling myself I'm on the verge of victory, that it's right there, just around the corner, and if I stretch just a little farther, hold on a little longer, push just a little harder, I can grab hold. The fight will be worth it. I can picture the victory, I know what it will feel like, I just have to hang in there. I just have to never, ever quit.

I looked up the quote my new friend mentioned, and I found another I liked even better.

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”

and another...

“May today there be peace within.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.
May you use the gifts you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”


And so I continue to reach high for the stars hidden in my soul. I continue to dream deep. I trust God when I don't trust myself. I know He has not endowed me with the gifts, strengths, talents, abilities and insight He has for these things to lie fallow, unused, uncultivated, inactive, producing nothing. He wants my dreams to come true even more than I do. Because He loves me.

Because I know He loves me, and because I love Him, I push. I reach. I dream. I may cry, I may falter, but I won't quit. I won't give up. No matter what anyone says. No matter who understands, or doesn't. No matter who is in my corner, or if that corner contains only me. I will trust that I am exactly where I am meant to be. I will be content with myself just the way I am. I will remember that without Him, I can do nothing.

I will sing. I will dance. I will praise, and above all...I will love. What I won't do is give up.

Victory will be mine. Because with God, all things are possible.

Jeremiah 32:27~I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Luke 1:37~ For nothing is impossible with God.

Fullness of Joy

Here's a poem I wrote back in 2004. I thought it was time to dust it off and bring it out again. I still feel the way I did the day I wrote it. God is good and life as His child is the best. Thank you, Father, for your tender care.

FULLNESS OF JOY

Thank You For The Blue Sky Above
And All Your Works, In Every Place
Thank You For Your Banner Of Love
That Covers Me Every Day

Thank You For Fullness Of Joy
You Give Us When We’re Born Again
The Light That Shines On The Path Of Life
Shows Us How To Walk So We Win

Thank You For Your Son Jesus Christ
My Big Brother, My Savior And Lord
Seated At Your Own Right Hand
Our Example Of Living Your Word

Fullness Of Joy, Fullness Of Joy
My Heart Rejoices At Your Word
Sweeter Than Anything Else On Earth
The Joy Of Every Believer

Thank You For The Strength To Endure
Every Day, As We Run The Race
Looking To Our Lord Jesus Christ
Author And Finisher Of Our Faith

Thank You For Never Turning Away
When I Come To You Asking For Help
Faithful To Keep All Your Promises
Your Love Delivers Me And Lifts Me Up

Fullness Of Joy, Fullness Of Joy
My Heart Rejoices At Your Word
Sweeter Than Anything Else On Earth
The Joy Of Every Believer

Unshakeable, Unmoveable Joy
Confounding The Enemy All Around
Renewing My Mind And Standing Strong
Your Love Causes Me To Abound

Walking In Fellowship With You
Makes My Joy Overflow
Helping Others To See The Light
There’s No Greater Joy I Know

Fullness Of Joy, Fullness Of Joy
My Heart Rejoices At Your Word
Sweeter Than Anything Else On Earth
It’s The Joy Of Every Believer

Copyright ©2004 All rights reserved

These words ring loudly in my ears today:

'We have to learn to be patient, and keep up our vigil over our dreams. You say "What is that vigil?"...sow a seed of faith...sow the Word of God...sow financially as God tells you to...be good to other people, keep a good, positive confession, stay patient, sweet and nice while you wait and...there's no way the devil can keep you from having what God wants you to have...those things just work; they absolutely work.' Joyce Meyer

Keeping my vigil today, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those that are ahead, looking forward with eager anticipation to the joys that lay before me. I'm so glad I am a child of God!

Tiny Babe

Though these days are behind me now, I was inspired recently to pull out a poem I wrote while pregnant with my second child. I wrote this poem mere days before her unexpectedly premature birth. My niece, whom I've never met, is now pregnant with her first child and experiencing the flutters, kicks and punches that signify steady growth of her much-anticipated bundle of joy. I am able to share these milestones with her through the wonder of Facebook, something unheard of just 12 short years ago when this poem was written for my beautiful, limitless Lizzie.

TINY BABE

Tiny babe alive inside me
each new day I feel your dance
Gently moving, stretching, turning
tiny fluttering feet and hands

What part of me will I see in you?
I sit and ponder as you grow
What potential lies within you?
only God in heaven knows

Oh, the joys that here await you
though the sorrows, too, will come
With my love I'll shield and guide you
my sweet, precious little one

Soon the day will come when I will
hold you gently in my arms
And you'll capture hearts of many
with your own peculiar charms

Tiny babe alive inside me
so much lies ahead for you
In this wide, wide world of wonders
The path you travel is up to you

I'll do my best to instruct you
in the wisest course to choose
But in the end I'll have to trust you
And promise to love you, win or lose

Such a rare and wondrous thing
this tiny life inside of me
I thank God daily for the joy
and love
and light
Your life will bring

by: Chere Poole
All rights reserved

Open Doors

by

Chere Poole

Father

as I walk along my path

unsure of what to do

I promise that

if You open a door

I will walk on through

Observing your wonders around me

moments of beauty

before me unfold

As your woman

I want to honor You

to walk with love

to be bold

I want to

hit the sweet spot

in the center of

Your will

to bring Your peace

to others

and help their hearts

be still

I want to love

with fierceness

and see Your story unfold

as I walk

where You would

have me walk

and tell the story

You want told

My heart burns

with a deep desire

to fulfill Your master plan

to hold forth the Truth

of Your matchless Word

and on that rock

to stand

You promise me

abundance

a life of peace

and joy

As I cast my cares

upon You

Your serenity

I employ

I know that You will

work it out

as I take one step

at a time

And when I'm

holding hands with You 

there's no mountain

I can't climb

You see into my heart

Dear God

and smile at what you find

A woman with a will

to love,

Your spirit

and Christ's mind

I put my trust in You

O Lord

I know you'll see me through

and as I love

You'll open doors

and I will walk on through



SO LOVED!

Life is full of powerful reminders of all we have to be thankful for, and all God has done for us. If we keep our eyes open, we will see them.

This morning on the way back from dropping my daughter off at school, I stopped at the post office to check my mail. As I was leaving, I noticed a man digging a new grave at the pretty little cemetery across the street, and my heart hurt for the people who would say goodbye to a loved one today.

As I pulled away, the song playing on KLOVE Christian radio reached a point where the singer said "I'm alive..." and I thought, "I sure am thankful I'm alive at least one more day. Thank you, God, for my life".

As if that wasn't enough, when I pulled to a stop at the traffic light I noticed the personalized license plate of the SUV in front of me said...(are you ready for this?)...."SOLOVED". Wow! My first thought was "Yes, I am! Thank you Father for loving me so much, and I'm thankful for all the love in my life."

The light turned green and I followed the SUV through the intersection, still looking at that bold message. Tears began to flow from my eyes as I recalled one of the first Bible verses I learned and memorized in my childhood; John 3:16~For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I considered following the driver of the SUV just to say "thank you" for reminding me of God's love, but I didn't. I was afraid I might scare the person if I pulled up to their home or place of business, got out of my car and approached with tears streaming down my face.

Instead, I turned the corner onto my street and pulled into my parking spot. The tears continued to flow as I sat in my car for a few moments, listening to another song on the radio about how close our savior is. The lyrics were simple, yet powerful; 'If you're looking for a savior, all you gotta do is turn around'.

I grew even more thankful for my life; not just this one, that has so much love in it already, but for my everlasting life, which holds everlasting love from my Heavenly Father. It was incredible how much my heart was moved in just 5 short minutes, while running a morning errand.

Take time to look around you today, and notice how God is communicating to you. Take note of all the good in your life. And if all you can see is what's missing, if you're looking for a savior....all you gotta do is turn around. God is always there, waiting for you to open your heart.

God bless you.

Don't wait until you die

I read something very motivating today. In an article titled the "Top Five Regrets of The Dying" author Bronnie Ware (who worked in palliative care for years) stated 'People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again.' Listed below are the five most common regrets:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
Source: http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html

Ware noted many people didn't realize until the end of their lives that happiness is a choice, but had 'stayed stuck in old patterns and habits'. 'The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content.'

The fear of change kept these men and women from achieving true happiness. The desire to live up to the expectations of others rather than fulfill their own hearts' desires led to the number one deathbed regret. When it was too late to do anything about it. When the time for pursuing dreams had passed. Their dreams never became reality because they were too afraid to let themselves be happy, being more concerned with what others thought. How very sad.

We cannot control what others think of us, and we should not let their opinions determine our actions. No one else is going to pursue your dreams for you. It's up to you. You may not have control over your every circumstance, but as an extremely insightful friend of mine stated recently, we have more control than we realize. In her post "Focus on What You Can Control", Jacey Verdicchio states:

We will never be able to control everyone and everything around us, and we don't need to. We have control of one thing at all times - our minds. We don't have to wait for our families, friends, employer, government, and economy to change. If we take hold of this most valuable tool, we can diminish the effects of the uncontrollable aspects of our lives.
Source: http://jaceyverdicchio.com/my-full-thoughts/focus-on-what-you-can-control/

Are you living your life simply pretending to be content, secretly afraid to change because you fear what your friends and family will think if you do? Are you letting their opinions determine your thoughts and therefore your actions? Are your decisions based on their approval or disapproval? Don't let your dreams wait until it's too late. Don't wait until you're too tired to pursue them to give yourself permission to do so.

Make the choices that will make YOU happy. I would like to echo wholeheartedly the words used at the end of Ware's article, and urge you not to underestimate your own capacity for growth, and not to wait until your deathbed to follow this sound advice:

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

God bless you