Joann Nelander Studio

Communion

Come, my Lord, to this poor dwelling,
You are Lord of all, and heaven is at hand as You approach.
Come in Spirit to my humble abode.
At your coming, the angels make ready.
They spread their wings over Your Mercy Seat.

Come be enthroned here in my heart.
Allow the splendor of heaven
To scatter flowers along Your Way,
As You incline, Your Heart
To one in misery for want of You.

I rejoice for You are here,
And in my embrace.
Your are Now.
You are mine,
O my Beloved.

Heaven finds a home in my soul,
As You reign in my heart.
A river of Life pours forth,
As You water this garden,
And provide rich food and fruit,
For all who will partake.

copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

In Time,

Yet above it,

Beholding Past, Present and Future,

Christ, look upon my fore-bearers,

Still alive by virtue of an immortal soul.

Look upon my world, spinning in Space,

Held in its journey through Time,

By Your Father’s Almighty Word,

Destined for Judgement,

Bequeathed Mercy.

Look upon me,

In my time,

In my place,

On my journey.

My Jesus, Mercy.

© 2016 Joann Nelander

In Humble Expectation

My Jesus, I wait in humble expectation,
For the fulfillment of Your desires for me.

The Father wills,
That You be all in all in me

What will I look like,
When You fully reign in my heart?

How have I distorted Your Image?
How do I hold You at bay?

The most beautiful monstrance,
Without You at its center, is empty.

Shine out of me.
Be the heart of me.

Be Lord of this manor.
Be heart, hearth and home.

Draw the world to Your Table.
Feed the world with your Holy Bread.

Flesh and Blood, You,
Penetrate the Gift of Life.

With ever new hope in me,
You wait to fulfill all You Promise.

You are my Sweet Salvation
Given as unmerited and undeserved gift.

Believing and bowing low,
I am lifted!

Touching the hem of Your garment
My faith finds Your favor.

Holiness of the forgiven sinner,
Live the fullness of Your Life in me.

© 2016 Joann Nelander

compliments of flickr
by Molly Sheckler
Imposition of Ashes – Brent Rollings

A Votive Heart

Sweet Savior, I give to Thee my heart.
Make it as your own,
That it may love those in the world,
And those, having past from its bounds,
Not ready to see the Father’s glory.

With my every breath,
I wait on Thee,
Pleading the perfection of my cherished loves.
Pray, lift the veils persisting to obscure Your Beauty.

Let me be a living prayer,
A votive candle,
Burning on the altar of Your Cross,
Whose smoke rises as incense
With Your Resurrection from the dead.
I am a captive to Your call upon my heart.

I draw each breath,
For those You have give me in this life,
As friend, foe, neighbor or passing stranger,
And those still alien to Your love,
All, whom the Father desires
For life in You and in glory.

© 2017 Joann Nelander

THE CROSS AND THE FURNACE

I want to spend my day loving You
And embracing life as You send It to me.
Nothing comes but by Your Will,.

Not that I haven’t thwarted Your Will.
I have!
I know I have,
But even as this moment
Bears the imprint of the hammer,
That struck the nails impaling You on Your Cross,
The Cross remained Yours,
And Your All Holy, All Chosen Will,
All of Your choosing
From the beginning of Time.

You are above Sin,
Above my sin and error,
The New Adam,
Obedient to the Father,
A Trinity of Union,
In Love.

By the Will of God ,
And the hand of man,
All infraction of the Divine Will
Was nailed to Your Holy Cross.
In You, I die to Sin,
And rise to live Your Dying
In my day.

In You,
Given for Men
Given for me,
I live God’s permissive Will,
Fashioned for me,
In the purifying furnace
Of His Perfect Will.

In this new day,
I choose the Cross and the Furnace,
I choose You,
Who are forging a union of hearts,
Perfect Love loving Man,
Desiring the perfection of every man,
Loving and perfecting me.

(C) 2016 Joann Nelander

Moments before Dawn

In these precious moments before dawn
Prepare my waking body and soul
to serve You,
As You served our heavenly Father,
In Your Incarnation.

Dawning in the Virgin’s
Womb,
Hidden Divinity,
Secret, sacred, Savior,
Announced and served by Angels,
Alive in hallowed Love,
Glorifying Man in Your Mortal Garb,
You are hidden now in me.

Manifest Your glory,
In all humility,
As, yet again,
You dawn anew,
In this heart that longs for You.

copyright 2015 Joann Nelander

In Faith

Pillar of Fire,
Pillar of Cloud
Pillar of protection.

You advance,
Always onward,
No retreat.

Faith leads.
Obedient, we follow,
Abandoned to Your Will.

Holy Light,
Though dark the night,
Secure respite.

Heavenward,
Hallowed rest,
Safely home.

© 2016 Joann Nelander

What the world needs now is Truth. Christians, you know Who, that is. Tell someone today! Your faith is contagious, exercise it, for the world is full of counterfeits and the world, the flesh and the devil are vigorously preaching relativism under the guise of tolerance and false compassion.They want a gag order on you. Remember the call and power of your Baptism.

“Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the Lord, being firm in the faith and immovable, in love of the brotherhood kindly having affection for one to another, partners with the truth, forestalling one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no man.” St. Polycarp pf Smyrna (Today is his feast day.)

“Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the Lord, being firm in the faith and immovable, in love of the brotherhood kindly having affection for one to another, partners with the truth, forestalling one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no man.” St. Polycarp pf Smyrna (Today is his feast day.)