BY FAITH

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, 

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

Joshua 1:9

Google Image

                                BY FAITH

Ghostly apparitions hover over burnt orange grasses
Gray skies accentuated with billowed clouds
Gone is a sun playing more hide than seek
Trenches of tears streak down a windshield
Blurring the lines of reality and make-believe
Still a glimmer of hope where faith only sees.
Darkness invades where light should be
Haunting a soul filled of sorrow and grief
Road curves and twists through the screams.
So many see only what they want to
Asking, “Where is God?” around them
Can’t, or, won’t see the forest for the trees
Becomes the loneliest place to be
Like a poet in the midst of a dream
Looking for the song in the melody.
The Son never ever disappeared
Trust that He really, truly is there
Even when the foggiest of nights appear
Dreariest of days fill the pillow with tears.
One day the mask will be removed
Clear skies will once more bloom
And the haze that shadowed the land
Will transform in a most vibrant hue.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©12 October 2014

© Bridgescreations, 2014

 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105

 “Why can’t I see God?”

“Why can’t I feel God?”

“How do I even know He is really there? I can’t see Him.”

When the sun hides behind the clouds, it is still there.  The clouds may be hiding it, but we know and trust that the sun is still there…by faith.

Just like the sun that is blocked by the clouds, by faith, we know in our hearts that God is there. We can sense Him in the weather, we can see Him in others, we can find Him in nature.

Where is God?  

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

He is the lamp for your feet, the light for your darkness, the shepherd to lead you, the hand to guide you.

Do not be afraid. Do not worry. Do not be dismayed.  

For the Lord your God is with you everywhere you go.

For You are my lamp, O Lord;
The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.  2 Samuel 22:29

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/FS1LAc5DSCU&source=uds

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

FEARFULLY, WONDERFULLY MADE

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. . .

Then God saw everything that He had made,

and indeed it was very good.” Genesis 1:27, 31a

 

© Bridgescreations, 2014

TO MY DAUGHTER

ON YOUR BIRTHDAY

Sunny and bright
not a cloud in the sky
you emerged
from your dark cocoon
beautiful in pink
you are so lovely to me
and now
you are already fifteen.

Love,
Mommy

~Marcell Warner Bridges
® ©4 October 2014

 

 

©Bridgescreations, 2014  

When did you grow up on me? It was just yesterday you were born…right?! You were so little, so fragile, so wonderfully, perfectly made.

And now, here we are, fifteen years later. No. It can’t be.

Your older sister is just months away from breaking her momma’s heart. She doesn’t understand yet. Those college catalogs flying in faster than my brain can process it. She too, came into this world pretty in pink, wonderfully, fearfully, perfectly made.

And that’s what I want you to know. Not just you, my sweet daughters, but everyone. Yes, YOU were fearfully, wonderfully made. And the God of this vast, expanding, dynamic, all encompassing universe made you unique. There is no one like you. Nope. Not one.

Each star in the sky cannot compare to what God created when He created you. *You are worth more than the birds of the air and beast in the field. You are HIS creation made in the image of HIM!

So dear soul. Why are you putting yourself down? Why are saying things inwardly and outwardly about yourself that are lies? My husband has a thing he says to us three girls when we put ourselves down. “Why are you putting someone I love very much down?”

I would submit: Why are you putting someone God loves very much down?

He loves you simply because He created you. He loves me simply because He created me.

So here we are. Fifteen years later and that beauty you were born with, it shines so bright. And when God created you in my womb, He knew exactly what He was doing.

Dearest Daughters,

Remember the Psalmist’s words:

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”  

Psalm 139:13-16

This first video amazes me and brings me to tears. Very worth a watch, or two, or ten...

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/umeA6Elp7Qc&source=uds 

 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/UT0DIhYUeMY&source=uds 

*Matthew 6:25-27

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

BREAKING DOWN THE WALL

“Then the veil of the temple was torn in two

 from top to bottom” Mark 15:38

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

FIVE FEET TALL

It was five feet tall
and totally square
but in the center
it was not bare.
Massively strong
and yet, so weak
it held up tightly
then crumbled away.
No one saw through it
all, except one,
the one that was inside it
she was the only one.
Who knew all about this
‘cause she built the square
all around her soul.
A wall to protect her
from stones thrown
a way to feel secure
to be someone complete
to find hold of relief.
So she made it
five feet tall
and totally square
so that her whole being
could fit in there.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
(Originally penned under Marcie Warner)
©5, August 1991

Google image

Walls are made for keeping things in and keeping them out. Some are made of stone, some of brick, and some of wood. Most of the time these walls are made to protect and to keep us safe.

There are also walls that should be torn down. Walls that keep us from opening up to others like in the poem above.

I was 19 years young. I was hurting and sad and mad. But I didn’t want to tell anyone. I just wanted to sit in my room, be by myself and keep the world out. Surely this would make me feel better. Surely this would keep me from being hurt anymore than I already was. But it also kept me from giving or receiving love.

We tape up a box around our hearts. We strive to keep everyone from knowing who we are. Don’t let anyone get close.

Including God.

God – The One Who created us. The One Who breathes life into us. The One Who gave His One and Only Son to be our sacrifice.

And He beckons us:

“COME TO ME AND LISTEN! Attune yourself to My voice, and receive My richest blessings.” – Jesus Calling, p. 281

Come and listen. How do we listen when we’ve built a wall between ourselves and God? How do we listen to obey His voice when we’ve hardened our hearts? We don’t. We can’t.

It’s time to tear down the walls. Open our hearts, our minds, our eyes and lives to The One who has saved us and The One who wants to commune with us because He loves us. The One who ripped the veil of the temple in two so we could come boldly to Him. With anything. Everything. Our WHOLE lives.

It’s time to quit shutting Him out and starting living a life worthy of our Christian walk.

It’s time to stomp the box to pieces. Crush it under our feet and let God in. Stop running from God. Stop running in fear.

Google image

 

Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you
Isaiah 55:3

 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/KA7JKjw7EGU&source=uds

 

 

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

WAITING FOR YOU

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.  Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)

 

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

LADY IN WAITING
I waited
I called you and we talked
I waited
I texted you and you texted back
I waited
I asked you how you are doing
I waited
and waited
and waited…

My phone is silent
My messages blank
My email empty
Day
after day
after day…

And I can’t
I can’t keep on like this
I can’t
Keep hearing you tell me I’m your friend
I can’t
Keep playing your words in my head
I can’t
Be in this one sided friendship
I can’t….

I waited
For you to be MY friend
I’m still waiting
To hear from you
Because being the one to always
pick up the phone, start the conversation
has gotten
old.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©11 January 2014

 

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

Have you ever felt this way? Doesn’t feel very nice does it? Let’s turn this upside down.

How do you think GOD feels when WE treat HIM this way? Is your relationship with Him one-sided? Day after day after day He is waiting…

He waits and waits for us to come to Him.  He is so patient. So loving. He delights in our time with Him.

An Excerpt from Sarah Young, Jesus Lives:

          “…  Although many of your prayers remain unanswered, you can trust in My great faithfulness: I keep all My promises in My perfect way and timing. Among other things, I have promised to give you Peace that displaces the trouble and fear in your heart.

            If you become weary of waiting for answers to your prayers, remember that I also wait: so that I may be gracious to you and have mercy on you. I wait till you are ready to receive the things I have lovingly prepared for you. Blessed are all those who wait for Me—expectantly, longingly, trustingly.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

—Lamentations 3:22–24″

(Jesus Lives, Sarah Young)

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/devotionals-daily-a-year-with-jesus/devotionals-daily-a-year-with-jesus-december-20.html

It is just as much a blessing and glory to God to wait for us to come to Him as it is for us when we DO go to Him. He’s waiting for your friendship. He’s waiting for you to come, just as you are, to receive His blessings. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling you. Can you hear Him? Will you go to Him today? He’s waiting for you with open arms. COME.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/QI6ozUjrwgk&source=uds

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV)

 

A RAVAGED MIND
A mind ravaged by unimaginable circumstance
Overwhelmed, overworked, overwrought
Time stands still amid the destruction
Pain has become the norm instead of exception.

How can I escape these thoughts?
How can I believe my Lord?
Where do I go from here?
Who will help me contend?

My head lays down tears soaking my pillow
Sleep will not come amidst the agony
Then love floats down in a soft, soft whisper
My heart settles in a new, sweet peace.

A mind tormented by unimaginable circumstance
Enters into Heavens open glorious gates
Breathing Jesus through thanksgiving
Believing, taking Jesus at His Word.

Sweet, sweet peace descends upon me
I no longer struggle now
Leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus
I rest my burdens down.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©17 August 2014

© Tee-Tee’s Photos 2014

The past few weeks have been wrought with heartache and turmoil. It has felt like living through a hurricane. There have been days when you could have knocked me over with a feather. To say it has been rough is the understatement of the year.

Sleepless nights have been a constant, my thoughts consumed with doubts and worry, days filled with migraines and vertigo attacks. Extremely hard decisions have had to be made that have cost me dearly. 

~ BUT GOD ~

God has also been my constant companion. Leaning into Him, nestled in His arms have become my comfort. My strength lies in reading His Word and prayers abundant flowing from my lips. Breathing Jesus has become a must. It should always be the thing I do, but in times of need I’ve learned it is my peace. Verses such as John 14:27 and Isaiah 26:3 echo through the turmoil in my brain to finally release tension and fill me with God’s presence. His peace. Knowing God is with me and will never forsake me, I trust in His grace to pull me through and strengthen me for the day ahead and the days to come.

Are you in a situation where your thoughts are consumed with indecision and the problems you are facing? Are you struggling through a painful situation that causes you worry, wearing you down and causing you to have sleepless nights?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look fully into His face. And the things of this world will grow ever so dim.  Turn your thoughts to Jesus. Listen to His Words of love, peace and goodness. The things you are struggling through won’t be quite as hard. Jesus loves you this I know. Let Him love you through it all. 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/UZ6v-i-TwMk&source=uds

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges 2014

NEW EVERY MORNING

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 

 Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

 

NEW EVERY MORNING

Though mountains around me shake
the earth beneath me quakes
my foundations crack and crumble,
You, O LORD, keep me from stumbling
directing my paths unfailingly
You keep me from troubles consuming
even when emotions are overwhelming.
In the night You hold me tight
In the morning Your mercies unfold
Never forsaking, never moving
Your faithfulness is new every morning.
When the rain pours and the winds blow
I don’t know which fork to take in the road
You, O LORD, bring healing to my parched soul
Mercies tears unceasingly overflow
As Your faithfulness immerses steadfastly
Thoroughly, completely making me whole.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©10 August 2014

 

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

 

Dear Father God, Thank You for Your faithfulness to us. When we are not faithful You continue to draw us toward You. And in our times of need, You stay right beside us, holding us, comforting us, cradling us to keep us from drowning. Thank You for the mercies with which You steadfastly keep us and give us a new way each and every day to walk with You. Father, forgive us when we stray. May we seek to honor You with our lives in every word and deed.  Thank You Lord, for being our safe place. Our hiding place. May we rest in You and praise You even in our times of trouble. Father, thank You that with and through You we will never be consumed by anything but that You are faithful to bring new mercies upon us each morning. Lord, we glorify You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen. 

 

WILL YOU SING ALONG AND WORSHIP WITH ME TODAY? LET’S GATHER TOGETHER AND PRAISE GOD FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE, UNENDING MERCY AND HIS GREAT FAITHFULNESS TO US! I LOVE THIS SONG!

 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/r-4_6QgYIbA&source=uds

  

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

WALKING WITH MY SAVIOR

The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.  Isaiah 58:11 (NKJV)

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

WALKING WITH MY SAVIOR

There are times in life when we must make the hard decisions
The ones we knew were coming but tried to forget them
These decisions don’t come easily but their outcome
is born from silence
Not the distraction of the world, not talking, not shouting
Just walking quietly hand – in – hand with the Savior
Through the garden, through the sand
Through the rain, through the pain
Listening as He speaks only the wisdom He can give
Silent
No words necessary but the words from His lips.
And when the final choice has resolutely been made
There in the silence – tears on our face –
Glorious peace descends in the rough place.

© BridgesCreations, 2014

 
Savior, our Shepherd, lead me today
Guide me, move me, speak to me I pray.
Whisper Your love in the secret-est place
Draw me to You and Your grace I embrace.
There is a way that seems so right
Take hold of my every thought, every care
I trust You Lord, in Your shadow I stand.
May what I find in Your Word this day
Be the answer I seek from this fetal place.
Thank You for not ever abandoning me
Thank You, Lord, for setting me free.

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©31, July 2014

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014

Psalm 23 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/kCdSYls5riU&source=uds

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014  

IT IS WELL

A PARAPHRASE OF THE CLASSIC HYMN: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

By Marcie Bridges

 

© Tee-Tee Barnes Photography, 2014

^“And he said:“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there.

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 (NKJV)

**When peace, like a river, attendeth my way – – When everything is going well and right

When sorrows like sea billows roll; – – When life has taken its heaviest toll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say – –
                   No matter what is going on in my life You have taught me this one thing

It is well, it is well, with my soul! – – All is alright, With You by my side, 
                                                                                                    My soul is at peace.

©Tee-Tee Barnes Photography, 2014

It is well – – Thank You Lord!

With my soul – – With my whole being

It is well, It is well – – I rest in You, I trust in You,

With my soul! – – With my whole heart, soul and mind

                             With all I am, all I have

                              My inmost being.

 

© Karen Murphy Photography, 2014  

Thank You LORD that no matter what has come into our lives, whether because of something we have done, or someone else has thrown us into a pit, we can rest in You and we can find peace in our inmost being. I praise You LORD that one day the clouds will part, and You will call us home and we will have no more sorrow, no more pain, no more sin. Until then LORD, may we find within us the words to say, BLESSED BE YOUR NAME IT – IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.  

The Gaither’s Sing It is Well With My Soul with David Phelps soloing:

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/0nJ6wQpLmuo&source=uds

** Lyrics “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford, Circa 1873, Public Domain

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

WHOM OR WHAT SHALL I FEAR?

 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.   
Psalm 56:3(KJV)

 

©Tee-Tee Barnes Photography, 2014

FEAR

Sudden and without provocation
grips you with its talons deep and strong.
There doesn’t even have to be a reason.
It’s just there.
Lurking.
Waiting.
The moment will come and when it does
it will make you stop dead in your tracks.
No going back.
Whispering into your ear.
Heart beats in an unnatural rhythm
and hands begin to shake.
And then,
it snatches you up.
Eats into your mind.
Claws into your gut.
The world spins out of control
a merry-go-round
going faster and faster
stomach gets queasy
head begins to pound.
And just when you think
you can’t take it anymore
it stops.
You get off. Stagger a bit.
Confused for a moment.
Then walk away.
Everything is normal.
Or,
is it?

©Marcell Warner Bridges
29, March 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ever gone through an experience that was so horrible it almost paralyzed you? This last week I went through an ordeal that even now has me feeling kind of squeamish. It was one of those episodes in life you are sure you’ll never ever forget and you wonder if you’ll ever be able to do things the same ever again.

And I’m NOT going to tell you about it!  (I’ve told enough people and I don’t care to relive the memories right before bed time.)

But sometimes life can get pretty scary. Sometimes it scares us so much we can’t put one foot in front of the other. Or maybe we can’t even get out of bed. But I’ve learned something really important this week.

So when we feel like we can’t handle it, this is the time to give it to God and when we trust Him with it, we are strengthened and we are able to move forward. We are able to calm down and to rest in Him.

This last week was hard when it came to sleeping. I feared closing my eyes so I wouldn’t encounter the memories that come with nothing else to think about.  But last week my friend **Nan just happened to do a blog post entitled Be Still and with it she posted a video of Alan Jackson singing the old hymn, “In the Garden”. Every time I tried to close my eyes to sleep I found myself singing that hymn and many others. I found singing hymns specifically with the name of Jesus so soothing that I eventually drifted off to sleep and each morning waking up thanking Jesus that I did not have any nightmares.

LIVING IN FEAR IS NOT LIVING AT ALL. Give your fears to Jesus and see what He will rescue you from.

I made this video for some friends about a year ago, some of my favorite hymns. 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/I3ocBqh9uLI&source=uds

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  

**Nan Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. Her devotional blog, Morning Glory, has become a place of community for Christians to find encouragement in God’s Word and comfort in His Presence. You may visit Nan at her website: www.NanJones.com or her blog, Morning Glory: http://morningglorylights.blogspot.com/. For personal communication you may email Nan at nan@jubilantlight.com.

 

  © Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges, 2014

 

 

 

COMING UP FOR AIR

“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  Job 33:4 (NKJV)

Tuesday morning 10:00 couldn’t come soon enough. The end of another chapter in a long book that I’m not sure how it will end…or when.  The endless hours of studying, reading, writing, and typing all coming to an end giving me a breather for a few short months until it will begin all over again. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to the end of the semester this time.

If you’ve read my blog for very long, you know that I am in college studying for a Bachelor’s of English Degree with the goal of going into the editing/publishing field.  This has been my Junior year. A year in a new university, new professors, new concepts I am still not quite sure I understand all of but, with God’s wisdom, I will eventually have that “lightbulb” moment once again that I’ve had so many other times in life.

I have felt very absent in life lately though. As you can see, this is my first blog post in what? At least a month? I found myself drowning in homework. In the last 4 weeks of this semester I was challenged with 8 term papers. Two of them were redo’s. As deadlines loomed and I felt myself wondering once again what in the world I am doing in college. I often think this during the hardest times; the most stressful times each semester. Then finals came and I genuinely thought I was going to “lose it” for sure. My sense of humor was fading fast.

BUT…I persevered.  So HELLO AGAIN WORLD! I’m coming up for air and I sure do like what I’m breathing now. Looking forward to a summer filled with adventures with my family and friends (and being as creative as possible!)  Thank you all for your prayers and support through this difficult time for me. Thank you for reading my blog postings even while I’ve been away. You all are the bestest!

 

If this sounds like previous posts, I do apologize for that. I just wanted to let you know that I am still here. It is summer break and I am sooooo ready to get back into creative writing and sharing more poetry with you! I tried to take notes along the way during my captivity to remember ideas and thoughts I want to share with you. Creativity has seemed quite elusive lately but here’s a short Facebook status I meant to share with my friends while putting boundaries around myself during these last few weeks in order to get my work done on time. I forgot to share it then but, maybe it will make you smile.

I might have worn this shirt yesterday
and maybe even these jeans.
I think I’m standing up straight
but, I might be on my head.
Can’t really tell you if I’m alive or dead
one thing I know for sure:
I turned my homework in on time.
I think?

No matter how suffocated you feel right now. No matter how much you have to do and just looking at the mess takes your breath away, come up for air with me for just a minute. **Breathe in Jesus. And remember that He is using every thing we go through to bless us and to help us bless others. Cause just as Francesca Battistelli sings: “In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I’m blessed… Might not be what I would choose, But this the stuff You use”. Hope you enjoy her song!

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Xe4SckesWLE&source=uds 

**http://marcieheartthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/01/breathing-god.html

© Heart Thoughts, Marcie Bridges 2014