From my bedroom window, I can see two magpies making a nest high atop a tree. Every branch is neatly put in the right place by the male and female magpie. They work together meticulously.
At some point, one of the magpies throws a branch out of the nest. The branch is not good enough to build the nest.
As I am watching this, I am thinking about the words Jesus spoke in John 15 which says,
“I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.”
How beautiful that God presents His work to me so clearly.
God wants His kingdom to be perfect. Just like the magpies with their nest. A bad nest cannot hold the eggs, and it will not allow the magpies to have chicks in the spring. Only when a nest is well constructed, it can hold the eggs and keep them safe and warm. The chicks can grow up well, and in time become strong enough to leave the nest. So, only when God’s kingdom is strong, it will be able to allow God’s children to grow up, strong in their faith.
What this display of the magpies also showed me is, the importance of strong faith. God prunes us, Jesus said. He takes away the bad in us, and He will leave the good, so that we become strong in our faith. When I leave my faith in the hands of the Gardner, He will prune and take away the bad branches. Meaning, He will take my bad habits and change them for good ones. He will take my heart and make it new. He will create a new spirit within me. That is what He does. Our Heavenly Father makes us new. He makes us better. What a blessing!
It amazes me how God can use nature to teach me. I am mesmerised at the works of His hands. He made this world so beautifully, and meticulously. God is the greatest Artist, and I am so grateful to be His daughter.
What moment in nature taught you something about God? Please share it in the comments below! I cannot wait to hear your stories!
These words and all the poetry and content on this page belong to Gineke van Keulen! Do not use without permission! Thank you!
For the passed few months I tried to be less on my phone. It is only since lent began that I started taking it more seriously. I took on more hobbies. I try to leave my phone in another room, or on the other side of the room, and I try to spend my time more thoughtful.
During my bible study time this morning, as I was reading Psalm 79 verse five which says, “How long, Adonai? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?”
I focused more on that word ‘jealousy.’ I learned that idolatry is the main thing in the bible that causes God to become jealous. It made me aware that all that time on my phone, is time I am not spending with God.
This poem came forth out of that bible study. I am undone by God’s mercy and grace, and I remember the prodigal son returning home. There is always a way home, a way back to God, and for that I am beyond grateful! I can make mistakes, but I am equally able to run back to God and apologise! The Father’s arms are always open, ready to welcome me, and you, home. And that is a blessing I really wanted to share with you this morning!
My Repentance
Awareness hits me, as I realise, how much time, I spend elsewhere.
Hidden in a device, that should not take, so much of my time, I ran away from You.
I cannot turn back time, and prevent my actions, and my behaviour, but I can change today, and come back, into Your presence.
Will You accept me, will You welcome me, back into Your Home?
I know, You will! For You love is endless. Your anger is slow, and you grace, is abounding.
You are waiting for me, at the end of the road, and when You see me, you run to me, and bring me back to You, back to where I belong!
These words and all the poetry and content on this page belong to Gineke van Keulen! Do not use without permission! Thank you!
A season of stillness, is surrounding me. The winter is setting in, the days are darker, and the wind is colder. My instinct tells me, to turn all the way in; to isolate myself, until it is all over. But I am learning, that the best way, to deal with this, season of stillness, is to listen to God, to find His whisper, in the cold air outside, in family and friends, or in the quiet moments, when I am reading inside. The only way through, the stillness surrounding me, is to understand that God, is speaking loudest, when the world becomes, completely silent!
This poem and all the other poetry and content on this page belong to Gineke van Keulen! Do not use without permission! Thank you!
Allow silence, to enter your mind. Capture your thoughts, and make them, obedient to Christ. Grab the hand, of the Shepherd, and allow His staff, to guide your path.
You are a sheep, lost without guidance. Wandering around, you tried to find, your own way, but you got lost. Come back to me, to the Shepherd, who dearly loves you, and let Him guide you, all the way!
This poem and all the other poetry and content on this page belong to Gineke van Keulen! Do not use without permission! Thank you!
The sun shines on the earth, and touches my cheeks, with the warmth of her light. I hear birds singing songs. I see flowers grow, in a million different colors, dancing on the music, of God’s joyful wind. Butterflies are born in my heart, and released on the words, of my poetic prayers. Heaven is a beautiful place, where the light never dims, and humans never fight. Where hunger does not exist, illness has no place to live, and children never grow old, without the love of a parent. I see a world better than my own, where my soul clearly knows, the beatings of my own drum. To see God in a ray of Holy Light, smiling at me in my own dreams, is a delight I never took for granted. But to see it with my own eyes, is a dream I cannot wait to happen.
All the poems and words on this page belong to Gineke van Keulen! Please ask before using or give credit. Thank you!
An autumn rain of yellow leaves, celebrates the season in my soul, and waits for winter to come. I look up at the clouds in the sky, where one lost butterfly passes by. I reach out my hand to Heaven, trying to grasp the hand of God, as in the painting of Michelangelo, but in my case with clothes on. Words can come in many ways, like arrows that pierce your soul, or an uplifting consolation, that makes you happy, but the words of God are both. Two in one, they pierce my soul, and fill my heart with indescribable joy. I wish, I could explain what it is like, to hold the hand of God, but it is an experience to be discovered. It is an adventure to be lived, that can only be felt, by the one brave enough to face Him. My heart pierces with love, and my gratitude rises up like smoke, from a burnt offering I made, in the heart of the Lord’s Temple. The feeling of my bare feet walking, on the golden, glass floor of Heaven,leading me to God’s throne, is an indescribable joy, that still fills my heart and makes it whole. I wish, I could tell you what it’s like, but you have to discover it for yourself, and I challenge you to give it a go. Allow God to walk into your life, so, you can walk into Heaven, with a pure heart and a clear mind, to learn about the love, only God can show.
All poetry and images on this page belong to Gineke van Keulen. Please, ask before using! Thank you!
It is a peaceful Sunday afternoon. Or at least, it should be peaceful! My mind is racing, my heart is pounding, and I cannot breathe.
I know what is happening. I need to run! I need to flee! I need to get out of here! I can tell that my dad is worried, but I do not want to bother him with my feelings. It will only make him worried. My dad does not say anything. He is good at that sort of thing. He just listens and somehow picks up sentences between the lines, I never even said. And yet, this time, he puts a little pressure on me. Enough to make me tell him in an outburst of desperation that I am not ok. I feel alone, afraid, and I have been feeling as if something bad is going to happen for weeks now. I do not know why. I do not know how. And yes, I am probably imagining things, but I do not know what to do anymore. It feels as if my life is at stake, and there is nothing I can do to make things better.
My bike is in the shed. I grab it and start my way to the park. The wind is in my face, and my feeling of not being able to breath intensifies. I feel my chest tighten. My legs are burning, most likely from the fybromyalgia but at the moment I cannot be certain. I am in blind panic. I want to scream. To the Heavens and to myself, but who will listen? I have already said so many prayers, but I am still in the same state of fear that I was in years ago. Life feels hopeless. I keep cycling and when I arrive at the park, I quickly drop my bike at the nearest parking area. Blindly I walk into the park. I do not know where, but I must find a place to breathe!
The trees are changing colors ever so gently. Many trees are still green, but the first yellow leaves are waiting to fall, and the first trees with red leaves proudly show off their colors. I keep walking. I keep breathing. In four counts, out four counts. Until suddenly I hear a voice from deep inside my heart. It is not my own voice or my own thoughts, but a voice independent from mine. A guardian? An Angel? Or even the voice of God? The words pierce through my heart, “Sometimes, all you have to do, is look up!” With tears burning in my eyes, I direct my gaze up. I see branches with green leaves, and behind it, the white clouds like a sea of light. I feel the presence of God inside of me. It is everywhere! My heart takes a slower pace, and the fear and panic disappear. The storm that was raging has calmed down. I find a bench and sit down. For the first time in weeks, I feel calm.
The song from the Casting Crowns, ‘Only Jesus’, starts playing in my head. It does not stop. But it is exactly what I need! Only Jesus. Only Jesus can calm the storm inside of me. Only Jesus can take away the fear, grieve, and pain. Only Jesus can fill me with a love that is lasting and true. Only Jesus can find me when I push away everyone else. Only Jesus! Only Jesus! Only Jesus! On this bench, in this park, with its beautiful colors, it is only Jesus that has been able to calm me down.
In this moment I realize that I should speak up more about how I feel! I should open up to my loved ones more often if I feel like drowning. God places people in our lives to help us on our journey, but during the entire course of my life, I have been trying to do it alone! Me and God against the world! But that is not the way God meant it! I am allowed to open up, and ask people to help me, pray for, and comfort me! I don’t have to do this life alone!
We all need people in our life, and that is the exact reason, I wanted to share this personal story of mine! I want to ask you to look around you. In your own life, community, and circle of friends, there are those who feel like they are drowning! All they need is for someone to see them, to hear them, to comfort them. I know life is busy, but I also know that it does not have to take long. Please let them know that you are there! Do not let them drown in their own feelings and thoughts, but reach out your hand, and hold them tight! We all feel alone from time to time. We all need a friend! Remember that!
This photo was made by, and is property of, Gineke van Keulen Do not use without permission! Thank you!
Gineke van Keulen 