A new day dawns
A previous year gone
A new year begun
A studious you -will run
A new song sung
An obedience to YOU clung
A new heart and spirit in the SON
A serious vision with more freedom among
A new path to walk along
A mysterious way to belong
How are you? Really!?… I pray for you… I’m here for you!!… Sincerely…
How am I thought of? I wonder. How am I seen? Maybe real and genuine. Maybe off base and peculiar. How do I come across? Maybe human and down to earth. Maybe human and troubled. Maybe human with a spiritual connection to GOD and Heaven… Probably a little of each component that makes up my whole being with much left unexplored and unknown…
My preferred way of communication is poetry. If you have any familiarity with my site, it is engulfed by poems. Some are simple and to the point and you understand where I’m coming from. Some are complicated and confusing and you don’t understand what I’m talking about.
The simple and to the point come from a heightened awareness of GOD, HIS love, and times of peaceful recollection, remembrance, and restoration of HIS work in my life… A tranquil day in the sun… The complicated and confusing come from a darkened depression turned to mental illness in processing the lonely, anxiety ridden, and fearfully prolonged moments of a life trying to manage everything after being suicidal and making an actual attempt. A chaotic storm in the middle of the darkest night.
Maybe I need to write more like this; acquainting with you in paragraph form, thought by thought sequence, conversation style, letting you in more so to know some of my soul, to know me as a fellow human living this life to overcome and be a fighter still pressing on no matter what comes my way; facing it head on with courage and strength -even though I’m weak…
I have tried to convey faith, hope, and love in writing on this here blog to inspire, encourage, and support those struggling with depression, mental illness, abuse, and/or suicidal thoughts… Has it made a difference for anyone? I don’t really know. I hope so… not for my benefit, but for theirs and for yours…
My faith is in JESUS who is my Savior, my Redeemer, my KING of kings and LORD of lords… My hope is in GOD the FATHER for grace and mercy in times of need… My love works in and through me by HIS Spirit… My faith is that you find faith in HIM too… My hope is that you will hope in HIM too… My love for and from HIM is for you to find HIS love too… Faith, hope, and love remain… And most prominently love is greater than all… And most assuredly love never fails… HIS lovingkindness endures forever… HIS mercy endures forever…
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45
Why do I talk so much about JESUS and spiritual things? After what HE’s miraculously done with my fallen and broken life, how can I not speak of HIM who overflows my heart and sustains my life… My life has been radically changed by GOD’s love for me and has made an eternally positive difference all because of JESUS… So I include HIM in all that I say in some way… Maybe there are those who are turned off by this. I don’t know. Maybe there are those who haven’t experienced HIS love and care as of now up to this point, thus being foreign to them and unknown. Maybe there are those who feel let down or abandoned by GOD and blame HIM for all that is wrong in their life. Maybe there are those who just don’t know what to think or feel about all this. Is GOD real? If HE is, will HE help me? Will HE be there for me? Will HE see me through the darkness and hard things in this life? Will HE not abandon me to myself and all that is within that consumes and drowns me?
All of the answers to these questions are “yes” in HIS timing and way… Now will you only trust HIM and believe… If you do, your life will change and you will find new strength and purpose for a future and a hope… If you do, then you open yourself up to HIS help, to HIS forgiveness, to HIS love, and to HIS comfort and care… Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3:20
GOD wants you to come to HIM, to know HIM, to make HIM known, and to love you and through you show love to others; saved and found by JESUS… “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts 17:24-28
These truths you can believe, trust, and build your very life upon… Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1: 15-17
Are you ready to begin a new journey into freedom by HIS grace and mercy at work in your life? HE will be redeeming your past, restoring your present, and replenishing you onward into the future and a hope HE has prepared since the beginning before you were even conceived in your mother’s womb and born to face the challenges and brokenness of life moving forward with faith to believe and trust, with hope as an anchor for your soul, and with love HE pours into you by HIS Spirit to now and forever love HIM and love others too… Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22: 37-39
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
Have you ever wanted someone to be your friend always and forever? To be there in the most dark and difficult times? To be there going through what you’re going through? To never have to be alone? To bring you to a safe and secure place providing for all your needs? JESUS meets that need and desire… I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
How are you? Really!? I pray for you… I am here for you!!… Sincerely…
Jeff Watts
Dreams birthed yesteryear
Still hold dear
Dreams may come true
Because they include You
Dreams keep future alive
May be why I survived
Dreams anew arrive
Guide inner drive
Dreams expand purpose
Vision seen of service
Dreams bigger reach out
Greater love teach about
Dreams beyond imagination
Go forward toward elation
Dreams forged in isolation
Deep within during tribulation
Dreams You will do
Use me in at least a few working through
Dreams of past to present to future connect
All because You take broken pieces to resurrect
Dreams according to Your will select
For those most in need You direct
Dreams of Salvation You will redeem
For anyone’s life who accepts Your dream
Dreams of turning lives around
Ask and you receive that you may abound
Dreams of rescue that will astound
Seek and by HIM you will be found
Dreams of relationship with GOD renown
JESUS knocks with gentle sound
Dreams you will open your heart’s door
Let HIM in and HIS love impart to adore
Dreams to follow HIM upon the waves at sea
Become the person you always wanted to be
Dreams to follow HIM ashore where He will restore
Become the person you always hoped for
Dreams to follow HIM all the more
Become the person HE won’t ignore
Dreams to remember HIM on the cross
You who HE came to die for no longer lost
Dreams do come true in JESUS
All you have to do is believe and trust
Dreams you did not know exist
HE gives what’s missed
Dreams inspired by GOD persists
HE looks for vessels willing to enlist
Salvation believed
Inspiration received
Adoration achieved
Emancipation relieved
Captivation conceived
I may be quiet
Yet
My mind is thinking of You and all that is Thine
I may be silent
Yet
My heart is beating for and with You together to dine
I may be resting
Yet
My body is needing Your touch so kind
I may be calm
Yet
My soul is yearning for You to restore all that is mine
I may be tranquil
Yet
My spirit is awaiting for You to refill within that I may shine
I may be of few words
Yet
I can’t thank You enough from deep inside
I may be very tired
Yet
I come to You for You within to reside
I may not be meditating on Your words often
Yet
I want to hide them in my heart to always abide
I may be depressed
Yet
I continue on in faith, hope, and love so above it again will I rise
I may not have that look of joy
Yet
I have Your peace surpassing all understanding guarding my heart and mind
I may rarely laugh
Yet
I am serious with prayer and fighting for our family and others each night
I may not see You with my eyes
Yet
I believe by faith to please You with hope to no longer deny and love even when life goes awry
I may have questions
Yet
I trust You even if I never get answers to why
I may still have anxiety and fear at times
Yet
I will walk humbly, seek justice, and love mercy laying down pride
I may still await dreams to come true
Yet
I will let the outcomes that from Your hands in Your plans will decide
I may wander some though wiser
Yet
I will learn to walk with You beside
I may not like Your discipline in my life
Yet
I discern You love me and I must die to self as You lead and guide
I may be weak
Yet
You are my strength and in You I find a Refuge in which to hide
I may think too much of past failure
Yet
I will do my best to forget what is behind, press on to run so as to win the prize, continue to fight the good fight with grace and mercy supplied
I may not be where I need to be at midlife
Yet
I will learn to do right with Your Word in me applied
I may not always be pleasing in Your sight
Yet
I have come so far by Your power and love at work in me comprised
I may not have many friends
Yet
I know in You I can always come to confide
I may not have overcome to be more than a conqueror
Yet
I will fix my eyes on You until I have arrived in Your arms open wide
I may not be mature
Yet
I trust You that I will come forth as gold tried and purified
I may not be ready to take on more with ministry
Yet
I wait on You to work within me continually until qualified
I may have stumbled more numerous than I’d like to admit
Yet
I have always turned back to You, called on Your name, and on You alone relied
I may have come close to a tragic end
Yet
I have known Your miracle and healing ways that have surprised
I may have to go through another episode I really don’t want to face
Yet
I have come to know You are faithful to respond to my cries until it will subside
I may have enemies that for my hurt and end have come against
Yet
I know GOD works it all for my good despite how they may undermine
How can
An answer to YOUR call
Turn to pride before a fall
As confidence in YOU
Turns to breaking me in two
With strength and no fear
Turns to fear again so near
Full of the Spirit in sweet release
Turns to anxieties that increase
YOUR armor all around as a protective hedge
Turns to my life teetering on the edge
By faith moving forward
Turns to relapse stepping backward
In YOUR perfect love secure
Turns to depression stuck and insecure
How can
I return to answer YOUR call
Turn and submit to purposely fall
Face down yielding my life to YOU anew
Turn in brokenness to YOU be true
My strength (not my own) rests in YOU to bring breakthrough beyond the fear
Turn to acknowledge (not anything I’ve done) that YOU have brought me this far as I draw near
Refreshed in the Spirit freed from fear; returns (the surpassing all understanding) peace
Turn to give you thanks (Your compassion is beyond understanding) for a renewed life’s lease
Continue to put on YOUR armor as a protective privilege
Turn to surrender all my life to honor, glorify, and praise YOU my pledge
By faith in humility and understanding move forward
Turn to remember HIS grace in my walk and to love HIS mercy when feeling backward
In YOUR perfect love again secure
Turn to YOU daily, deny myself, and carry my cross to be pure
Your Word bring life
Come alive
Never die
My dream of life open wide
Come alive
Never die
Your Salvation bring joy inside
Come alive
Never die
For family and friends to enjoy inside the Light
Come alive
Never die
Your Word to encourage when tried
Come alive
Never die
My dream pure and true confide
Come alive
Never die
Your Salvation to soul and spirit applied
Come alive
Never die
For family and friends to make it through lead and guide
Come alive
Never die
Your Word hidden within to abide
Come alive
Never die
My dream come to fruition as in You I delight
Come alive
Never die
Your Salvation is the mission envision while broken and contrite
Come alive
Never die
For family and friends prayed for to be forgiven and listen aright
Come alive
Never die
Your Word to bring wisdom and insight
Come alive
Never die
My dream to save souls as wise ignite
Come alive
Never die
Your Salvation to be brave and fight the good fight
Come alive
Never die
For family and friends to enter to live in Heaven by Your Spirit not by might
Come alive
Never die
Kept by the Spirit into Your Presence in times of need rush
Adept to be a voice for the orphan, with the poor, to those abused, and voiceless
Rep a change of heart about an unchanging message
Helped to weather the storms and calm what rages
Crept through life’s stages and moon phases
Accept mercy anew each day the sun raises
Slept in green pastures to restore my soul that amazes
Recollect HIS goodness to relate with our praises
Respect the LORD for the times HE carried us where only HIS footsteps traces
Wreck of a past held back to go forward now standing firm on the Rock of Ages
Leapt at chance to share the Truth that to our sin erases
Direct our hearts to share the perfect love that away from all fear encases
Reflect HIS face in this race that grace outpaces
Resurrect life to store up treasure above way beyond measure of souls One embraces
Connect with Your Words inside to taste and see that HE is good on a continual basis
Trekked out of the desert holding HIS Mighty Right Hand led to an oasis
Reconnect by delighting in HIM to be given the desires of your heart rather than what the world chases
Protect soul from unnecessary harm when fix on HIM your eyes gazes
Seek and beseech lost souls left faithless or think it pointless
Meet those with little faith to build up a surplus
Reach out to the weak to strengthen in earnest
Of the enemy, world, or man impervious
Go to the front lines now courageous
Tread the lion and cobra until crushed
Fight the good fight to bring about justice
Shine the Light to scatter wickedness
Live free to freely give a life of service
