Holland Glen

BE STRONG...

Our youngest daughter was five years old when we got the Michael W. Smith Project album.  Be Strong and Courageous was one of her favorite songs.  She loved to sing along and we encouraged her to do so.  We couldn't help but get the giggles though, as one day we heard her sweet little soprano wafting from the other room, "...be strong and outrageous!"

Foundations of Faith

As bones are the skeletal foundation of the body, upon which everything else hangs, faith in Jesus Christ is foundational to good spiritual health.

Speaking of bones, humor is good for the bones.  Just look at what God said about it in the book of Proverbs:  "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 17:22

Speaking of good foundations, I live in California where beachfront property is a hot commodity.  When He was last here on earth, Jesus spent a lot of time around the Sea of Galilee.  He gave us some very wise words about physical and spiritual property, and how essential a good foundation is to the overall integrity of the building, especially when a strong storm crashes against the foundation. 

When trials come into your life, will your house be left standing?  If you've built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, the answer is YES!

Matthew 7:24-27 relates the story of two builders.  One was wise and built his house on a foundation of solid rock.  When the rains came down, the flood waters rose, and the winds blew "and beat upon the house," it did not fall, "for it was founded upon a rock."  The other builder was a foolish man who built his house  right on the sand.  The same storm that tested the house built on a rock came with great fury on the foolish man's house.  It could not stand up to the storm, because its foundation was on sand, not solid stone.  Matthew 7:27 says of the foolish man's house, "the fall of it was great."

Jesus tells us that everyone who hears His sayings and does them will be likened to the wise man, whose house is safely on a good foundation, but everyone who hears them and does not do them is like the foolish man, whose house is blown away by the storm.

If you choose Jesus and build your life on Him, He is the strong foundation who will keep you safely through the storms, no matter how great they are.  I know.  My life has continued to be one difficult endurance test.  But I know Jesus is able to carry me, keep me, console, comfort, convict, correct and ultimately HEAL me and give me a brand new body in which to live above the storms forever!  I choose a solid foundation.  I choose Jesus!  I choose joy!


 




Faith Lifting Poetry

This poem was written about two years after my diagnosis with MS. The fears were gnawing at me during the night, keeping me anxious and awake.   I cried out to God in my spirit and was reminded of the place in Scripture where He says, "behold I have engraved you in the palms of my hands."  Suddenly the thought came to me that the tools He used to engrave us were the old rugged spikes of his cross.  I turned on the light and jotted that down.  In the morning I looked in the concordance to find the passage and read it thoughtfully, then penned the following poem.  I hope it blesses you. 


Engraved on the Palms of His Hands

Before I was formed in my mother's womb,
God knew how my life would turn out.
He knit me together with great skill and care.
There was never a question or doubt.

He saw all my body parts forming each day.
He counted the hairs on my head.
He forknew all my thoughts from deep pain to great joy.
Then with eyes full of love He just said,

"Dear child, I've engraved you in the palms of my hands.
'Twas for you I endured shame and loss.
And the tools that were used to fix you in place
Were the old rugged spikes of my cross!"

Francine Morrow Keehnel ©2000

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This poem came out of dealing with doubts as to my future with MS.  I determined that I was more than my diagnosis and I would remember who I really am.  I am blessed.  I chose this poem, among others, to revise during a poetry course I took at Fresno City College in the Spring of 2006.  Here is the revised version:

I Know Who I Am

I awaken from a nightmare, breathless.
A palpable fear pushes me into the bed.
No sound is coming from my voice. 

But in my spirit I am invoking the name
of Jesus. Calling, crying out to Him,
I begin singing, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

It is no mantra.  It is THE NAME
above all names.  He is Lord of heaven
and earth, indeed, of all the universe.

I am safe within His presence.  My Refuge
and Strength.  He is the One True God.
Sovereign Lord.  My Strong Tower.
   
I am Jesus’ friend and sister and true love.
He is my Protector, Deliverer, Savior.
Fear must flee at His command.

I am small, but He knows my name.

I belong to Jesus,
And I know who I am.

 Francine Morrow Keehnel ©2006


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We're Blessed

Despite the fact that we're hard pressed,
We're blessed!
We're riding waves and billow tossed;
But we're not lost.

The days are long, the heat's turned up,
The faithful Shepherd fills our cup
With Living Waters from His well
To quench our thirst, to banish hell.

He's on our side, so take that shield,
Be strong, be brave, and do not yield
To doubts and fears and Satan's lies.
God knows our hearts, He hears our sighs.

Jesus intercedes on our behalf.
So take hold of His rod and staff.
He's coming soon to claim His own,
The time is short, we're not alone.

Let's go and spread the gospel news,
And tell the people it's time to choose.
Jesus is the ONLY WAY
To get to God before the day

When time is up, and by their decision
Some will have glory, some God's derision.
Though the fight is real and the battle is heated,
Sweet victory is ours, For Jesus is seated

At the Father's right hand where justice is meted,
Trespasses forgiven, sin's power defeated!
Calvary's hill saw our Lord's precious blood spent,
And mercy still triumphs over judgment!

Francine Morrow Keehnel ©2003

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I Will Trust Him

He gives me breath,
I will trust Him.
I'll not fear death,
I will trust Him.

He calms my heart,
I will trust Him.
Sets me apart,
I will trust Him.

When life seems wrong,
I will trust Him.
When nights are long,
I will trust Him.

Through stormy gale,
I will trust Him.
He will not fail,
I will trust Him.

I'm just a stranger passing through
This world of doubt and pain and fear.
This temporary pilgrim life
Is but a little while here.

On days when skies are dark and gray,
Or breezy sun drenched afternoons,
His voice within my spirit sings...
He gives me sweet and soothing tunes.

He says to me, "Come taste and see!"
I listen for that voice I love ---
He's promised to come back for me
From His home in heaven up above.

   I     will     trust     Him!

Francine Morrow Keehnel ©2004






The Flavors of Life

Life is full flavored,
and must be savored
one morsel at a time.
Sometimes it's silky smooth,
sweet like a summer nectarine.
Other times it surprises us
like a flood of salty, silent
tears pouring down faces,
staining cheeks.
Often, when we least expect it,
things get sticky as when sour
lemon juice dries on hands,
cut with the edges of painful
memories.
No life would be complete
without the taste of bitter
on the back of the tongue,
like horseradish compliments
the clay pot roasted essence
of some slow cooked meat.
 
And once again,
life’s sweet!


Francine Morrow Keehnel ©2006