Beyond All Human Understanding *

Not our will, but the Father's be
Accomplished for the world to see;
Forbid the shadowy fist to break
This little flock-- for Jesus' sake.

Ofttimes Satan's strength seems dire;

And strange deceptions also, acquire
Power to clench and strangle the world
His evil plot, unfurled.

Lawless laws, and doctors of death
And hate for we who speak with holy breath;
Lovers of darkness despise God's light,
And kings conspire to rule this night.

And now, in horror behold Babylon!
Steering that Beast she lusts upon--

Those merchant men who sell such filthy fruit

Sorceries of the Dragon's prostitute.

The victory of our warfare, then
Is in sweet prayers ever sent--
Sweet fragrance before the Father's throne
That Jesus Christ be proclaimed and known--

That every heart darkened, turn and change--
Dark intentions rearranged--
That each desperate heart find salvation, revealed,
And in the Spirit of Truth thus be sealed.

Our hearts rejoice, we overcome by faith

Knowing what the scripture saith.
We speak that truth-- we ever watch and pray--
And labor in love, while yet there's day.

Time will soon fold up into eternity;
Our Saviour cometh-- all will see!

O Father, not our will, but Thine be done
As we occupy 'til he comes.

 --Abby Elizabeth Charland


And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
                                                                                      -- Philippians 4:7-8

BATTLE ENTIRE

There is nothing new, the burning sun
Twists again, as ever done.
It really just falls down to this:
To whom do you render service?

Do you claim knowledge, or seek the living tree--
To Ba'al  bow, or to Father kneel?
The serpent is subtle; Jesus is pure--
Do you walk Mystery's maze or choose the narrow Door?

Your children sacrificed, or God's righteous Son---
Rituals of control, or freedom won?
Revenge or forgiveness-- truth or lies--
Divine mercy, or a self-righteous disguise?

Satan confuses to ensnare;
He tempts and traps with intriguing fare--
But minds focused on Jesus cannot be deceived
Those who love and follow-- who simply believe.

Demonic babbling or Spirit of Truth--
Lusts of flesh or prophetic proof--
The word of God versus the systems of men:
What was once, ascends again.

Do you accuse or do you pray--
Do you practice what Jesus said--
Does your heart spew hate, and your mouth defame
In self-righteous rage proclaimed?

Do those lofty eyes condemn the poor--
Do prestige and prosperity matter more
Than secret prayers of repentance wept
And God's commandments humbly kept?

Cherry-picked scriptures and twisted truths--
Power grabs and unholy spoofs--
Prophetic words for selfish gain--
All excuses: all profane.

Brother against brother, friend against friend--
But when Jesus returns, all knees shall bend,
When  the King in glorious clouds, arrives
In perfect justice he will judge-- each heart, each mind.

Return your heart to loving light;
Consume God's word for true insight.
Obey Jesus-- the righteous King
And render to him everything.


--Abby Elizabeth Charland

Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

                                                            --Colossians 3:12-13

REFLECTION

A corrupted tree bears poison fruit,
Let me refuse that tainted bid,
For knowledge offers a treacherous way:
Snares in brightness, hid.

Tortuous writhings-- twisted parts,
Oh, help me to ignore--
That I might find the Path instead
That my Shepherd tread, before.

Decline my intents, that I might find the One
Who formed and offered all;
Let me choose the living fount--
Let me heed that call,

For I am but a mortal thing
Of mud my substance-- frail,
Yet Father fills me with bright fountains;
Oh, let his torrential truth prevail!

Heaven's kindness, such holy tears,
Showers of love and light--
Love cascades to fill my brokenness,
And joy dispels my night.

Not the Deceiver's gloom, that Kingdom,
Nor formed by fallen hands--
But lifted from glory unto glory
The Word that ever stands.

This surging passage, yes, sometimes brings pain,
As dross is purged away--
And yet that holy light divine
Helps me to obey--

My filth exchanged for holiness,
My will changed to God's own--
Through Death's shadow, following:
Everlasting mercies, shown.

To bow, yet lift my heart to him,
To submit in the Potter's hand--
To destroy this husk, that light might fill,
To answer the quiet command--

For this heart of flesh made a holy temple,
My will, an offering crucified-- unbound--
For the One who bequeathed forgiveness,
And whose everlasting springs resound.


--Abby Elizabeth Charland

                                   
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 --The Words of Jesus Christ
From the Gospel according to John, verse 14

For an Unbeliever

Just turn a little, forget your mind;
Set all the figured world behind--
Regard the little light, that fluttering spark
(The candle that relieves the dark.)

To what corner was that glimmer cast,
For a folly built that could never last--
For to be a god only Death exalts
Pride of life, the toppling fault.

Oh, haughty eyes, regard the night--
Where stars and comets transverse, so bright
And love so lovely beckons you,
Like a whispering breeze, or cooling dew.

All hearts be cut-- all plans be dashed--
That you might still find God's truth, at last!
Behold your Maker, discard that pride
Beneath his mighty hand, to find

That the point-- ever only-- was to catch your heart
That not one be lost, no forgotten parts,
For the breaking was just to let in light--
The falling just to offer flight.

God made the patterns, the sense-- he bade
That every beauty, each disarray
Was for his pleasure--including you--
Who broke his heart to bring grace through!

Just turn a little, incline your eye;
Let every faltering flicker by--
For the lie was just to swindle you,
That the Evil One might evil do.

But Jesus-- the kindness that founts your tears!
But Jesus--  the storm that evil fears!
Time unspinning, world off course:
Broken to reveal the Source.


--Abby Elizabeth Charland

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
                                                                                                  --Psalm 8:3

.

PEACE

Jesus, save me from mankind's opinions
Who walk in war, deceived--
That I might follow Jesus only
And of his perfect life receive.

My heart falls stunned and trembling
Before the mercy of my King,
Who regards my pain with gentleness,
And listens when I sing.

If no one understands such love--
If no one with this Way agrees--
Forgive them, Father, for the shadow
That seeks to swallow me.

Help me not to fear, this day,
As I walk in a darkened world--
Where terror ascends, to rule and reign:
Bitterness and hatred hurled.

Rather, shed in me your mighty love,
That unimaginable peace--
Your promised light and comfort--
Your Spirit here released.

Keep the gates of my mouth, oh God
That my lips may no more sin,
That my soul only serve righteousness--
That here, your love may live.

Forgive the frantic people
Who before Mammon's alter bow
Touch the divided minds of men
That they might know you, now.

And keep me low, dear Jesus
That I might serve your truth in love;
All glory for my Father
Who watches, from above.



--Abby Elizabeth Charland

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

                                                       --The words of Jesus Christ,
                                                       from the Gospel according to Mathew                                                                                    [Mathew 6:13]

THUNDER

Father, create in me a clean heart--
Each corrupt intent, reveal;
Remove from this soul all secret stains--
My forehead thus, to seal.

For in such bitterness the world twists, ensnared
Deranged by doctrines contrived in hell,
Yet your Son obeyed the bloody cross--
All hope springs from that Well.

No man can construct such perfect love;
Nor attain by force that glorious light;
Oh, wash me in Christ's sacrifice--
The blood that purged my plight.

For of men, I was a chief of sinners--
My heart deformed by sin,
And yet you sent your precious Son
That I might love-- like him.

For there is not one of mankind worthy
Save he that forged the Way--
That stunning Truth and mercy
That bore for me-- my grave.

Double minds burn with dark desire
And deny the blood that Jesus paid--
And thus the Life eternal--
That hope God's mercy gave.

Oh Father, break us of this madness--
Expose the cost of human pride;
For those who scoff at the humble cross
In rebellion Love defy.

Dear Father, catch these tears I shed
For all yet blind and lost;
My prayer, that each heart be broken--
That all might apprehend the Cross.

For fire now trembles Heaven's rim--
Judgement thunders from the throne;
Soon all will behold the Lion of Judah--
And his righteous judgement, know.

So, release saints from bonds of fear and silence,
That the light of Truth be no more constrained--
Let the light bequeathed at Calvary
Shine forth to glorify your name.



--Abby Elizabeth Charland




Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

                                                       
                                                                     --The words of Jesus Christ
                                                                  [From the Gospel according to Mathew]
                                                                                  Mathew 5:14-16
                                                               
                                                                         

PRAYER FOR PROVISION

Shape us for your kingdom,
Oh Yahweh, Father of us all--
Sculpt our hearts to Heaven
That we know the Shepherd's call.

These temporary troubles
That afflict the souls of men
Are purposed for your glory--
That all be new, again.

So, guide us from every treachery,
All delusion and division break--
That we might stand in righteousness
Released from bitterness and hate.

Lend to us your wisdom;
Shed your light upon our hearts--
That we may serve your purposes
And resist Satan's fiery darts.

That your perfect Way be magnified
To the darkened minds of mortal men--
That every stronghold be torn down
As your Son returns, again.

Jesus, cleanse us from Earth's madness
And the tricks of human pride,
Provide truth for every longing heart--
Oh, rend Satan's disguise!

Discipline our flesh, O God,
Lest we forget the pit where we once fell
That we might be a witness
As to the Way you are, for all.

Humble us beneath your mighty hand,
And circumcise our hearts--
That we be gathered up, a spotless bride
And from Babylon, depart.

Father, who can define your righteousness
Or deny your wondrous love--
That eternal oil of gladness
Poured out so, abundant-- from above?

So, Jesus, touch each heart, and clear each mind
That all might know the simple Truth
You stand at the door, inviting --
Make us your living proof.

---Abby Elizabeth Charland

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

                                                                                                --Isaiah 40: 3-5
                                                     

SILENCE

Father, quiet this raging heart
That I might hear your song,
For my heart is just confusion
My ways always are wrong.

I wish that I could convey
Hope to every man,
But without Jesus, I have nothing
Just foolish, shifting sand.

What is it about the darkness,
That tricks and traps the mind--
Why do men prefer corruption
And cast perfect love aside?

This question, the thing that torments,
As I watch men's folly fall--
It once was me; this is so true
But Jesus paid for all.

What joy it is to find him--
Unworthy-- on my knees--
The Father who saw my hidden shame
And sent his Son, to free.

And Jesus bled for every tear--
Bore scourges for each sin--
The word of Truth, the way of Grace,
That brought salvation in.

For despair then, I am grateful
For without it I would have remained
In rebellion, but contented
Unto hell and death a slave.

'Tis beautiful, to honor Christ--
And to turn from easy sin--
To sip that cup of bitterness
Sweet incense, for him.

Only the broken know this;
Only the filthy feel a need--
Thank God, then, for the torments
That brought me to my knees.


---Abby Elizabeth Charland

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
                                                                                --John 3:16 & 17