BEACH WALKER

I LONG TO PET THE LION...

I long to pet the LION,

To touch His velvet mane.

The one thing I desire,

Is to praise His Holy Name.

I long to run beside Him,

To race in fields of grass.

To sing with choirs of angels,

And watch His GLORY pass.

I long to leap throughout the pasture,

Dancing in the Sun,

Basking in this light supreme 

From the Holy One.

Roar sweet Jesus.

My ears echo with this sound!
This tingling sensation spreads.

My God, it is profound.

Cascades of pure melody seep from your tongue.

I am overtaken by this power.  

Burning words pervade my lungs.

I cling to your Words like a vine to a gate,

They are beautiful promises.

Holy God, it’s you I await.

Standing on a canyon,

I feel you near to me.

You are the unseen authority

 To whom I bow my knee.

Teeth of such fear,

Yet coated in kindness,

You, my Lord, restore blindness.

Three-fold features,

You are in one.

I bow to you, Jesus—

God’s only son.

-Kimberly Willingham

1 Chronicles 29:11 

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
       and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
       for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
       Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
       you are exalted as head over all.

In the shadow of my prayer…

Prayer: we sometimes underestimate the power of cries from a heart where God is the sovereign ruler! Prayer can at times be seen as an act of submission or weakness. However, just the opposite is true. From prayer comes strength, honor, and vision. God longs to hear our deepest desires, dreams, wants, and needs. His ears are always open. As we fall to our faces or to our knees, God’s presence is right beside our weeping hearts. Can you feel him when you pray?

God does not require words of eloquence in prayer. He longs for a genuine heart to speak to him like a father. Speak to him, dear child, as a friend. Don’t you know he is the friend that sticks closer than a bother!?

The Lord has written love letters to his children in his book, The Bible. The most beautiful thing to him is when his children study, memorize, and then repeat these powerful words back to him in a heartfelt prayer. Speak out loud sweet child these blessings and words that were written in red!

-Kimberly Willingham

I pray Lord, may I always mediate on your precepts. I want to delight myself in your statues. I do not want to forget your word. It is precious to me! May you abundantly bless me for walking, living, and keeping your word! Open my eyes Jesus. I want to see wondrous things.  I am a stranger here. May I always find your commandments! Do not hide them from me Lord God!

-Psalm 119: 15-19

(formatted to a personal prayer)

Healing Power

How can I justly accept your grace Majestic Maker?

I was not born a giver, but birthed as a taker.

How can I clothe myself in linen divine when flesh is all I see?

You remind me, Sweet Child of Mine, you were reborn in me.

You brush my face gently with the palm of your hands,

My eyes like flowers in the sun—bloom. The irises expand.

Wind swirling around my form, your body touches mine.

You hold me in the violent weather; your fingers shine.

Out of them comes healing. I feel that power run.

I’m lifted on the heights. You reveal your healing has begun.

Compassionate eyes, you look down from the mountain.

I reach for your hand, tears from your face flow like a fountain.

My love, you say, extends farther than the east from the west.

My curative power outweighs the most stringent medicinal test.

I long to release healing on my children,

and touch the faces of my loves.

I tell you the truth;

unexpected healing rain will fly to them like doves.

Helplessly gazing, my heart felt love beyond detection.

This holy man’s sacrificial provision offset mere affection.

Speechless—

to feel a heart that beats with warm-blooded tenderness—

Unfathomable—

to breathe in the aroma of an atmosphere of gentleness!

What grace is this? What selfless devotion?

His waves of emotion flow like the ocean.

Like a flash of lightning, his power released;

And all the cries, sickness, and dying deceased.

You are Holy, I cried from the depths of my soul.

He kissed my forehead, as the thunder rolled.

May we always seek his face and sing in esteem.

God is brilliant, a Miracle Maker, Supplier, and Supreme.

Kimberly Willingham

Psalm 68:13 

"Even while you sleep among the campfires, 
       the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
       its feathers with shining gold."

It was a dreary day, wet and cold. As I dressed myself in the icebox I call my “room,” I could not help but sigh and dread the brisk air that would hit my face as soon as I opened the front door. One after the other, I pulled up my furry boots over my shins. The fur lining seemed to serve as a velvet covering for my toes from the extreme temperature drop outside.

It took me a while, but after a short mental talk, I opened the front door and walked out onto the street, soaking wet, from the ice-cold rain. I pulled the hood on my charcoal pea coat over my head, already decorated with a white wooly cap, for extra protection from the freezing rain.

It is on days like this I ask myself just why I am doing this…living in a foreign city, working sometimes an impossible job, and walking from location to location. Why trade comfort for insecurity and complexity? But, isn’t it the trials that make us stronger? With this fact parading in my thoughts…I trudge on.

Just as I was feeling utterly sorry for myself and somewhat furious because my bus had come ten minutes early—causing me to miss the first bus, a TRUTH struck me like lightning falling from the thunder-laden sky as I sat on the following bus.  

As I sat, in my comfy warm clothes with umbrella in hand, provided for and looked after. I eyed the man in front of me snoring and covered in a very light, paint-spotted windbreaker, I could not help but gut up my emotions. Here I was, saying “woe is me,” and, this man, had most likely always lived the life of hardship. And, I, have always known ease and security.

His hands were chaffed and he clutched onto a Ziploc bag of half-eaten chocolate-chip cookies. Could this be his lunch/dinner I thought? He, used to catching the bus each morning, slept with red eyes and a beard unkempt.

In life, so many people are dealt a FULL cookie bag. The cookies are fresh, hot, and stuffed with thousands of chocolate chips, while others are given half-eaten stale ones. It is our choice what we will do with the cookies. Will we contain them in a Ziploc bag like the man on the bus? Will we hand out our fresh cookies to others? Or, will we just continue to make more cookies…dozens and dozens of them for ourselves!?

Choice…it’s mine, like my attitude. So, today, I walked off the bus with a smile on my face. If, I am not happy, then my heart will lack ambition and passion to use my cookies!

If you are living and breathing count yourself blessed. God has given us cookies meaning we have gifts and talents to be used. He wants us to be the entrepreneurs of these gifts and talents!

I am elated. Dressed in fine linen and crimson jewels, I dance on your arm Father. I look into your eyes and focus on the man who is leading me. My body shakes. I quiver at the sensation of your glowing skin touching mine. I feel devotion. I feel peace. I feel passion.

 

The wind blows. My hair, tousled by the turbulence of the violent weather, softly lands on my lips. You speak, and my mouth parts. I hang on your words—the Master of the dance. We spin in circles as you whisper in my ear sweet promises. They smell and run smoothly from your lips like sweet honey.

 

I am dressed Prince of Peace in fine lace. It drapes across my fragile shoulders. Your crown shimmers in the light of the elegant chandelier. Spots of light jump from your skin to mine. We are twirling under the same light source. I look into your eyes, which cannot be defined by a restricted color. I see shades of compassion, harmony, and grace. Your significance, Royal Ruler, outweighs the gold crown that adorns your head.

 

A shiver shocks me. In a puff of smoke, my breath lingers in the brisk air. Your kindness has heated my body and made me whole. In the distance, I see a bright mirror. I see your reflection, but it cannot define your features because you shine, my Lord, so brightly. I am dancing with the Son. It is you that makes me beautiful. In your presence, I can barely recognize myself. You have clothed me in majesty.

 

Walking hand in hand, I gaze into the mirror in astonishment. My hair is now brassy and golden in appearance, and my eyes like oceans of turquoise. You turn my body, and I face you.

 

 Lovely One, you say. You are my treasure, my prized possession. I have created you to walk in dignity and strength. You are a banner for all generations. My words flow from your lips like water from a basin. I have anointed your feet Dear One. Dance on in grace and truth. Tread barefoot on the sand surface of my blessings. Do not wash your feet. Continue on the path with my truth fixed to your flesh. You should never question my devotion for I will always love my beautiful creation. You please me daughter.

 

With winds now raging and rain pouring from the sky, you kiss my forehead. I am enraptured. I am captured by your love. You have overtaken my being. I am yours—mind, body, and soul. In the dance of life, I will never let go of your hand.

 

-Kimberly Willingham

 

Jer. 2:2

 

Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: 
       I remember the devotion of your youth,
       how as a bride you loved me
       and followed me through the desert,
       through a land not sown.

 

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.

There is no such thing.
-C.S. Lewis

Blank eyes, pupils absent from the body, searching, searching for the light to see…

Have you ever noticed it is the eyes that give a face personality? Sure, one can smile the brightest, toothy smile, but it is the eyes that frame a beautiful face. Stories can be read through eyes. Emotions can be felt and discouragement can be seen. The eyes speak volumes about our well-being.

This stone face, though beautifully crafted and shaped, lacks life. It lacks personality. Its eyes are blank—no emotion is felt or seen in its features. We cannot look into the face of this sculpture and feel deep emotion. We will never know what made this persons heart beat passionately. We cannot envision tears flowing freely or flecks of a honey colored irises.

Being Christians, our faces were sculpted by the Master Creator. With chisel in hand, he created beauty from a lump of clay. He not only carefully formed dominant features in our faces; he touched our eyes and gave them life! He awakened us from a deep sleep. Our eyelids were lifted and beautiful lights, in various colors, were called out to shine and give hope to the nations.  

Do not close your eyes sweet child and workmanship of the most Majestic Artist! He has carefully, like most artists, painted light into our eyes for a reason. Remain awakened children of the Risen Lord! We do not want to miss out on the abundant miracles of our Lover. Let others see the personality that God has so cleverly painted upon your soul! In your eyes Jesus has encased the light of life. Shine on. Open your eyes and let your emotion be felt and seen across thousands of miles. Live passionately. Set your twilight gaze on His holy face.

-Kimberly Willingham

Revelation 15:4:
"Who will not fear you, O Lord,
      and bring glory to your name?
   For you alone are holy.
   All nations will come
      and worship before you,
   for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Devotion: Written in Red

My heart is weary. My soul is weeping—

To see the faces uncertain and broken hearts seeking.

They cry, “We need hope.” Yet they look to a man  

Don’t they see You, Jesus? You are where it all began.

How mistaken, to think flesh and mortal blood can save lives,

From this outwardly, frail body, sin derives.

What change do we want, other than to walk in the truth!?

Let us detach the blindfolds that hinder us in youth.

Marching onward, not for mortal man,

But a purpose with a calling for God’s mighty plan. .

Would Jesus love the upheaval of the sanctity of life?

God is direct, he is clear. He’s concise.

Though t-shirts with logos can show support from the population,

These tangible rags can do nothing for the nation.

Although the historic Jesus is pictured with halo on head,

His love and devotion was written in rich red.

I will stand for the truth and will not let deception blind me.

Forever I will stand in the forefront and look closely to see.

I want to bow in the presence of what’s right,

And follow the white lamb of light.

Celebrity and fame are things I desire not—

Because I realize that my life has been bought.

I was purchased with a price, and I stand in great debt—

To my Savior, the God of all morals, whom my soul has met!

Walking in truth, I will shout from the rooftops—

Esteem is not purchased through rhetoric, but by blood drops.

-Kimberly Willingham

Daniel 10: 18-19

Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

Ashes Turn to Embers

Ashes turn to embers in the heat of your majesty.

Sparks dance above the fire of your brilliant jubilee.

I feel the heat. It laps like waves against my face.

Eyes, like diamonds, sparkle bright. I gaze upon this place.

Rose checks emerge as my ceramic complexion disappears.

My heart is imbued with fervor. Your glory hovers here.

You give me vitality. You give me gleaming light.

I burn in the furnace of your grace. My life ignites.  

Like an old man searching for trinkets, I look for your will.

I hobble in the vastness until my hunger is fulfilled.

Your presence fills my cup to the point of overflowing.

It spills out on my skin—such blessings brightly glowing!

Treasure chest bursting with the priceless reward,

How could I ask for more, I am dancing with the Lord!

In need I am never. His provision guides my feet.

I walk on this journey. In Him I feel complete.

Tangible, fleeting riches are overrated;

By the hands of our God, the world was created.

I embrace mercy. I embrace peace.

I am wrapped in a love that will forever increase.

The red blood in my veins will never fear of drought.

My heartbeat strengthens with every promise carried out.

You are good. Your provision coats our lives.

May we look to you as a Father--not just a way to survive!

Kimberly Willingham

The dry wind whipped around her hair. It blew the long strands across her weathered face. Lips, wet with tears, formed an expression of sheer devotion. Singing softly, her voice was carried throughout the dark distance. She sat in sand. Her legs were covered in the coarse granules of this desert place. Bold colors of a tapestry hung loosely on her petite figure. She had learned from birth to celebrate in her despair, to praise in her weakness, to hope when life seemed hopeless. She had been taught that the refining process of God’s children creates the most beautiful nugget of gold.

“I desire,” she sang.

“The one thing I desire is to be this gold bracelet--the gold thread that hems your robe Father!”

Her voice seemed desperate. She cried with her whole being. Her body convulsed, and her soft hands quivered in utmost elevation. She was in need. She was in need of her Savior.

We are all in need of the One that makes us whole. We are all searching for that person who fills the void inside our powerfully pumping hearts. He is the treasure that we devote our lives to searching for. He is the incalculable diamond that decorates the shelves of museums. He is the colors that grace artists hands. He is the crown that frames kings and queens heads. God is priceless.

Though life is hard, brutal, and sometimes, uncaring, God is solid, gracious, and always compassionate. We must remember in the heat of hardship that Jesus was pierced so that we might have life. He endured enormous suffering on our behalf. He was mocked and wounded—but not defeated.

God has placed in us a spirit to overcome—a spirit to overcome the obstacles life throws at us. It’s funny, just when we think the road is easygoing, another trial is placed in our faces. We must learn to smile in the presence of difficulty. It is through distress that our character is tried, molded, and, yes, shaped.

I pray we all come through this refining process shining like the brightest star! How beautiful to be shaped into a delicate, intricate vessel that can, not only, be used for practical purposes; but can also be placed on display as a decorative piece of art!

                                                                         -Kimberly Willingham

“Pure gold does not fear furnace.”

-Chinese Proverb

 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…”

-1 Peter 1:6-8

“Tragedy is like strong acid -- it dissolves away all but the very gold of truth.”

-D.H. Lawrence