Joann Nelander Studio

Advent Contemplation – The First Heartbeat

In praise and thanksgiving for the first beat
Of the Sacred Heart of Him
Who was born,
Savior and King.

As today, new life is conceived,
And secreted away in a woman’s womb,
Known only to God in darkness,
As its rhythms begin a song of praise
Ever so silent.

Then, the moment of joyous awakening,
A singular throb sends a resounding shiver
Through amniotic waters,
Alerting angels of one more heart
Ready to join their chorus of hosannas.

Sounds full of thankfulness,
A eucharist of being and becoming,
Ever so sacred,
To the glory of God.

copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

Joann Nelander
lionessblog.com

Just a Pebble

On an ordinary day in Paradise,
Into a world created to glorify God and Man,
Adam introduced just a smidgen of sin.
Merely, a peddle, Adam thought,
Hardly enough to weigh on a cosmic scale.

In the grand scheme of Time, and Space,
The cosmic sea quaked.
In ever increasing concentric circles,
Shock waves carried an echo,
Reverberating, through all that is matter,
Shouting, “Me”.

On an ordinary day, dreaming of Paradise,
In a world created to glorify God and Man,
Man hides in the evening stillness.
Mercy walks about offering forgiveness.

I smile in my “niceness”.
Still in denial,
I make a show of all the good things I have done,
While all Creation simply waits on tiptoe
Praying for the revelation of the sons of God.

Loving You

I am with you,

As One Who has always loved you,

Loving you as you began your life’s journey

To the kingdom of Heaven,

Your true home,

Loving you all the days I have appointed you.

Loving you unto dying and your death,

Loving you as the breath of life.

I have played upon the strings of your heart,

So that you would hear My music,

Even midst dissimilitude and dissonance.

Let not the unbelieving of the world,

Let not discordance and strife of flesh,

Let not the deceiver of Men,

Draw a curtain before your eyes.

Fix the gaze of your soul upon Me,

Here in your heart,

I reign, holy and at rest,

Upon the throne

At the center of your being.

Do Me homage

As you arise at the break of day.

Bow before Me

With the rising of each sun.

Dance with Me,

Following My lead.

Cry with Me in the sorrowing.

Plead for sinners in their fall.

Lend the hand of prayer

To uphold the weak and weary.

You journey as one

In the One Who is All Love.

Peace, My child.

Peace and refreshment,

Here at my altar.

I polish and perfect you,

That you may be

A monstrance of humility,

Fading from prominence,

As I send out my splendor

As grace and blessing.

All is gift to the one

Who receives with the seasons,

Yielding to the winds that blow upon the soul,

Welcoming the water of spring rains,

And the summer torrents,

Allowing blankets of snow

To still you in repose,

Awaiting new life, My Life.

© 2015 Joann Nelander

Looking for the Sunshine

What roads have you traveled,
Looking for the sunshine?
Golden’s days always,
Just over the hill.

One more detour,
Another tomorrow,
Sunny days escape you,
Just like clouds,
You’re drifting still.

To others, you’re the sunshine,
Their warmth’ along the way,
A winning grin,
A joke with morning coffee,
Shared moments everyday.

No matter the byways,
Flights of fancy,
And farewells,
Above those clouds
The sun”s been smiling,
Loving the look of you.

© 2016 Joann Nelander

Wake the Heavens

Peoples of the Earth,
This hour beseeches you.
Rise from your slumber,
Shake off the demons of sloth.
Open your eyes,
Lift the veil that hides your sin.

Peoples of the Earth,
The dead beseech you.
The living call out.
The blind place their hands upon your arm.
Truth is at the door.
Open and receive.

Peoples of the Earth,
Hope for the good,
The holy, and the hallowed.
Take off your rags,
Don a wedding garment.
That you may feast and dance.

Peoples of the Earth,
Seek the Kingdom of the Great King.
He rains down blessing from above,
He calls saints,
And angels to your side,
For Victory in His Name.

Peoples of the Earth.
A New Day beckons you.
Gather the lame, and the hungry,
Those that hope for Victory beseech you.
Jesus awaits your plaintive cries
To wake the heavens.

© 2016 Joann Nelander

Hope’s Longing

I find you in tears.
I find you in longing.
I find you covered in the news of the day,
Lying in the cold,
Under the blanket of the night,
Under heaven’s gaze.

Who wipes your tears?
Who comforts and consoles?
Who sees you in your many disguises,
Crying in the child,
Laughing with young,
Smiling down from Heaven?

Give me eyes to see through the tears.
Give me a heart to feel hope beyond sorrow.
Give me the shelter of your company.
Here in the Now,
I find You sweet within me
Promising Forever.

©2015 Joann Nelander

Sun Upon a Meadow

Sitting in the sunshine of Your Love,
I lift my heart,
That elevated by caring Angels,
As the arms of Moses by Aaron and Hur,
The battle for my soul,
May be won by grace.

Bathed in the perpetual rays of Mercy,
Streaming from Your Sacred Heart,
Held aloft in holy prayer,
With the memory,
And succor of Mother Mary,
I radiate all that I receive.

Source and summit of my being,
Deem to vouchsafe,
In gracious condescension,
The Image of Your Jesus,
Here to hallow, hold and share,
As Sun upon a meadow.

© 2016 Joann Nelander