Lonely Little Heart

Lonely Little Heart

A lonely little heart
Dwells inside of me.
She longs for the one
Who will make her seem complete.

She looks up at the stars
And cries alone in the night,
Wishing for someone who
Will always hold her tight.

My lonely little heart
Was once so scarred and torn.
I gave pieces of her away
But she has been reborn.

Her flesh is fresh and new
Cleansed by God's grace.
Yet lonely she remains,
Praying for an embrace.

This lonely little heart
Is sometimes confused.
She always hopes and dreams
But is there any use?

Could a man really love her,
Or vow "until we die"?
Could he cherish her forever?
Would he even try?

My lonely little heart
Is a lonely creature indeed.
But deep down she knows
God will provide what she needs.

She is content to serve the Lord
In all she does and says.
Until the day she finally meets
The one she is to wed.

Pais Charos Creations

Hello blog friends!  This post is to announce my new website, Pais Charos Creations.  I make bookmarks, pillows, and other crafts and offer them for sale on my site.  I even offer to make custom pillows - you chose what type of pillow and what colors, and I'll make it.  From the home page go to Rates and Services to find out about that, and go to Store to see what I have ready to ship out.  I'll keep adding to the store page so make sure to check back every now and than.

If you or someone you know would like a homemade pillow, bookmark, or quilted wall hanging, please check out my site and order something from me!

I Know Why the Angels Dance by Bryan Davis

I Know Why the Angels Dance by Bryan Davis finally has a release date! According to him, the book will be in the warehouse on October 9th, and should be in the stores within about two weeks after that.

I Know Why the Angels Dance will be the best book you read all year, and probably over the next few years. It is filled with tales of faith, sorrow, heartache, and love. Through the life and example of one precious little girl, these emotions overflow from the pages and into the hearts of the its readers, showing them the truth of God's love. Tabitha's harvest will bear fruit, even beyond the limits of this story. While reading this book, you will truly weep with those who weep, and you will rejoice with those who rejoice.

If you know of anyone dealing with grief or loss, this book would make a great gift for them. But don't wait till the release date to buy it; pre-order it from Amazon.com, or from Bryan Davis' website.

Can't get the book yet? Well, enjoy this preview: Chapter 1.

And don't just take my word for it, check out some other reviews:

Levi's Musings
Book Reader's Central
Daysong Reflections

Bryan Davis will be donating all royalties to charities, including World Vision and Voice of the Martyrs, so if you purchase this book, you will be helping to change lives in more ways than you could imagine.

(Warning: You will cry when reading this book. Have some tissues handy.)

A Charge to Young Men by Bryan Davis

A Charge to Young Men
by Bryan Davis

Whether you love books or broadswords, as a young man you are wired for greatness. You want to take a step above the norm and rise high above mediocrity. You desire excellence in all things. From head to heart, you want to be a knight in shining armor.

As a knight, your weapons and armor are many and varied—wisdom from above, unblinking courage, a rock-like steadfastness of spirit, unshakable faith, and swords both physical and spiritual. No matter which weapon you choose, make sure you are battle-ready, trained for the conflicts that lie ahead. This training requires discipline of body, mind, and soul, so that your righteousness through Jesus Christ will shine and never fade.

If you embrace this passion and put it into practice, you will be a bright light in a culture that prefers dimness. Some will be drawn to your light, to your high standards, because they feel within themselves a calling to be more than they are now. Others will be repelled, because they cannot stand the thought that someone is mounting the summit while they have chosen a lower path. These might try to drag you down.

In either case, your example will stand firm. You will lift up those who reach out for help, and you will resist those who try to pull you into their mire. You will be a hero to those needing a champion, and you will be unblemished though detractors hurl invectives.

God is the power behind your steadfastness, and His standards are the code that guides your behavior. Many have marched this path before you. Your foundation has been built with the bricks of men who are unafraid to flex their muscles and is held together by the mortar of masculine courage. With faith in God’s promises, you can follow that code. You can change the world.

How? By living the standard. You will tell the truth in a world of lies, remain loyal in a land of betrayal, and work faithfully in a culture of excuses. Even your friends might think you are overzealous, and in this zeal you might stand alone. Yet your peculiar faithfulness makes you trustworthy, even in the eyes of pretenders. Your loyalty is unquestioned, even among the unfaithful. If a lie of expediency whispers its desire to be told, a horde of lesser men will stampede to tell it. Not you. To speak a falsehood is to spew poison, and you will not allow a drop of venom to leave your tongue, even if offered the treasure of Solomon or threatened with death.

Our culture celebrates the lie. It laughs at the deceptive antics of bumbling fools on television. It elects politicians who tell the most convincing fables. It winks at “white lies” that allow a man to skip an annoying meeting or avoid a tiresome caller by saying, “Oh, I can’t talk to him right now. Tell him I’m out to lunch.”

And with one shady statement, this man falls from being a knight to being a knave. He thinks he’s running with the big dogs, but he’s really wallowing with the pigs.

Although there will always be someone willing to accuse you of wrongdoing, you must be careful never to give your enemies a real reason to question your character. You are called to be a beacon fueled by true purity. You are to reflect to the world what you really are in your heart—holy and pure. Your ability to remain unstained in this culture is the light that will draw other people to the same standard by which you live. Your duty is to keep yourself spotless by abstaining from anything that would soil your reputation. Why? Because the light you shine is easily dimmed in the eyes of others.

Men of lesser nobility fear this standard, yet not because of a specific portion of its grand design or a particular rule of conduct. They fear the specter of a man who actually follows these precepts, for once you prove that such a standard is attainable, those who prefer mediocrity no longer have an excuse for their behavior, and your light exposes them for what they are.

Many of you will choose a young maiden to help you in this quest, someone who will support you with strength of her own, someone who will bind your wounds and whisper words of encouragement as she sends you charging back into battle. Choose carefully—not the woman who attracts with smiles and skin, but rather the woman who proves her heart through service, discernment, and integrity. If she finds joy in worship and hard work, peace in the midst of persecution, and contentment even when her pockets are empty, then she will be the soul mate you need to endure the long and difficult road ahead. Since she embraces the same standard you hold dear, she will lift your arms should they sag in weariness and infuse you with assurance should your confidence falter. Face and form will change through the years, but a saintly woman’s heart will last forever.

So as you go forward as a living example of this standard, pay heed to the counsel of those who have blazed the trail. It is a long journey, filled with potential hazards, but it is one that a young man who lives by the sword of the Spirit will be able to complete, and you will find applause at the end of the road, not only from those who have cheered you along the way, but from God, Himself, who created the code of conduct and fashioned you into the exemplary model He hoped you would be.

Swords of the Six by Scott Appleton

I meant to do this months ago, but never got around to it. But now that Eric Reinhold is doing a contest for a free copy of Swords of the Six on his blog, I felt now was finally the time to post this.

I first met Scott about ... two years ago, I think it was, when he stumbled upon my previous blog through our mutual friendship with Bryan Davis. We instantly became friends. It was at this time that he began writing Swords of the Six, and I was granted a glimpse into the world of Subterran, my first encounter with my favorite character, Dantress, one of the six daughters of Albino, the white dragon.

This is a tale of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Dantress and her sisters were born for a purpose, and that purpose is to bring justice to a world wrought by betrayal. But how are they to carry out this justice, and what must they sacrifice in order to accomplish their task? What will happen when they meet a valiant warrior who's destiny is to aid them in their quest? You will find out within the pages of Swords of the Six, written by my friend, Scott Appleton.

Links for Scott Appleton:

Scott's blog.
Scott's website.
Flaming Pen Press
Amazon.com

And while Eric Reinhold is hosting a contest for Scott's book, Scott is also hosting one for Eric's books, so go to Scott's blog and check it out!

Charge to Young Women by Bryan Davis

A Charge to Young Women by Bryan Davis

She is born with a passion to uplift, empower, and support. She is the mainstay and sail for the captain’s ship. She is the heat in the warrior’s resolve and the salve that heals his wounds. She is the heart that pumps vitality to every joint and sinew. Yes, she is a woman.

Every girl in existence has been lovingly fashioned—from her caring and sensitive brain, to her tender and compassionate hands, to her tireless feet—to be a pillar of strength and resolve. While she might not be a warrior who draws a sword, she is the healer who strengthens the warrior’s hands and heart. Without her, every weapon would drop in futility, every muscular arm would wilt, and every pair of tired legs would shuffle home in defeat, for the heart that drives the warrior forward has stopped beating.

Some young women choose to take up the sword themselves, to step out alone in the midst of darkness to carry a lantern to the lost, to battle oppression and bring relief to the abused and neglected, or to transport life-giving supplies to the destitute wherever they may be. Their partner is the Spirit of Christ, and their sword is His word. They must know Him well if they hope to shine His light and pierce the darkness without the help of an intimate human partner.

Speak the truth. Live the truth. Be the truth. Never let the faithless ones persuade you to abandon any of those three principles. Remember that you are an oracle of fire, as is every faithful follower of our Lord. For all true disciples possess the pure silver, purged of all dross, and the fire of God’s love burns within, an everlasting flame that others, even those who merely give lip-service to the truth, will never comprehend until you are able to pass along that fire from heart to heart.

Many girls will choose to partner with another in this pursuit, hoping to be the light, the energy, and the drive that pulses within the breast of another. Yet, some never discover what it means to be such a heart. They never learn the secret of the captain’s sail or the recipe of the healing salve. Why? Because they listen to a counterfeit call, a trumpet blaring a falsehood—that their beauty is a lure to capture rather than an inspiration to set free. The inner desire to help and support becomes a lust to take and own. The hope to hear words of affirmation that she has been a good and faithful helpmate transforms into a hopeless search for eyes that admire and lips that speak words of appreciation for her outward appearance rather than for the beauty of her soul. And such a search never ends in true satisfaction.

You, however, are listening to your creator’s call, a gentle voice within that whispers reminders of how you were really fashioned, to be a woman of virtue, of inner beauty, of priceless value. The trumpet announces your need to strut, expose, and seduce, while the inner voice sings of ways to dress your soul in virtue—to feed the hungry, cover those laid bare, infuse encouragement into the hearts of the downtrodden, and nurture the victims of poverty, disease, and abandonment.

As a young woman of virtue, you understand what will happen if you heed the trumpet’s call to lure with flesh and flair. You will draw attention, but from whom? Someone who values face and form but not the heart. He will take, use, and abuse. His desire is for his own benefit, because what his eyes perceive is a girl who offers to fulfill the cravings of his body, and he responds, not with love, but with lust for his own satisfaction. And when your flower of youth fades, he will not perceive value in your soul, and you will never achieve the holy union of hearts for which you were created.

If you listen to the creator’s call, you will suffer temporary loss. When you pour out compassion and pity instead of skin and superficiality, you will be considered old-fashioned, out-of-touch, a prude. Yet, within the fair bosom you are saving for a true warrior, you will be nurturing a heart of unspoiled beauty, for it has not been taken at a cheap price. It has not been hardened by a wolf who captures, abuses, and leaves. And with such a heart, you will be able to reach out and be the captain’s sail, the warrior’s reason for drawing his sword, and the soothing salve for hearts less whole than your own.

The heart of a woman is more precious than pearls, and a man of worth sees it as a priceless treasure. He knows that she is the energy that drives his purpose, and without her, the pursuit of his vision for God’s purpose will be sluggish indeed. For the honor of taking that heart to join with him in fulfilling that vision, he will give his life, his heart, and his soul. The woman who has prepared her heart for that adventure will never regret the small price she paid. Scorn fades, and satisfaction blossoms. Contempt crumbles to dust, and contentment rises in its place. Ridicule is forgotten, while refreshment of the soul lives for as long as the heart pumps its life-giving energy.

Whether you take up the sword yourself or choose to unite with a warrior, now is the time to live according to this standard. It might seem that you are walking the path alone, yet, you are never alone. The One who planted the heart within you will never leave your side, and He will continue to sing the song that fashioned you as a woman of virtue. Listen. It is there. You will have to tune out the surrounding noise, but the sounds of love and virtue will never be silenced, if only you know the Singer and His song.

by Bryan Davis

The Journey

This poem is dedicated to Bryan Davis. Three years ago he showed me the truth, and although it's taken me so long to understand, I finally arrived. Thank you, Mr. Davis, for the love that you've shown me, even when it hurt. Thank you and your dear wife for your countless days of prayer for me. I am eternally grateful.

The Journey

The Liar:

Little human I know you well,

All your faults and all your stains,

And here I’ve come, to tell you that

Your God does not see your chains.

God’s Son will love you for all time

No matter what wrong you do.

I’ll make sure you will never see

The chains of sin that still bind you.

The Human:

My chains? I don’t see any chains.

Oh, of course, I do still sin,

But I just ask for forgiveness

And I’m righteous once again.

I will always fall now and then

It is my human lot in life

But Christ’s blood has covered my soul

Indeed, His mercy will suffice.

The Teacher:

Genuine Christians do not sin!

The saints will always obey!

I beg you, forsake the liar;

Turn and drop your wicked ways!

You surely don’t think God is blind?

That He doesn’t see your sin?

I assure you, He is no fool

The Lord God will always win.

The Human:

What do you mean? Are you crazy?

What about King David’s sin?

And Paul spoke of a war in him.

His flesh still reigned deep within.

That’s nonsense! Of course Christians sin!

And I myself am concrete proof!

You, sir, I fear are mistaken.

I pray you’ll see the truth.

The Teacher:

David’s sin was before Christ’s time,

Before the Spirit indwelled,

Paul spoke of his life in bondage

Before his chains were dispelled.

Truth is certainly what I teach,

Not the lies that you still heed

Christ has the strength to break your chains

True, and make you free indeed.

The Liar:

Don’t listen to this heretic!

This vile wolf pretender!

Christ has not the power he claims.

You will be mine forever.

The Human:

But wait… what if the Teacher’s right,

Can I be truly free?

It just seems too good to be true

Will God really rescue me?

The Liar:

You will never measure up to

The standard that God demands,

So accept your eternal fate

And remain in my black hands

The Teacher:

Take my outstretched hand, my dear friend,

And I will show you the way

To meet the Christ I freely love;

Be free of your chains today!

The Human:

But…I am tainted, noble sir.

Stained, and empty and ashamed.

I am sure God does not want me.

I am too bad to be saved.

I now know I’m still a sinner

Hopeless and far from God’s grace

Holiness just seems too lofty,

For I’ll always hide my face

The Teacher:

I weep for you, oh dearest friend

For the state of your red soul

There’s nothing more that I can do,

The step of faith must be yours.

The Liar:

This step of faith you’ll never take

As long as I am in charge

God can not wash away your sins

Your long list is just too large

Keep on living your sinful life

Falling each and ev’ry day

Your neighbors are content with this.

And they seem fairly okay.

It doesn’t matter what you say

Nor what good you try to do

You will never be good enough

For God to truly love you.

Forget this talk of salvation,

A foolish notion indeed.

God can not save a wretch like you.

I am all you’ll ever need.

The Redeemed:

Friend, listen to our evidence,

Of God’s great power and truth

Christ does have the power to save

And yes, you can be free, too.

All of us were once just like you

So blinded, deeply deceived

But God’s pure love broke through our veil

And now our eyes really see.

We now attest to, and can live

A life free from all blemish.

Forsake your pride, and come to God!

And your bleak bonds will perish.

There’s nothing you alone can do

To purge your own weak soul

Just claim the victory in Christ

And Jesus will make you whole!

The Liar:

Do not listen to those liars!

Do not heed their foolish words!

You can never be made holy!

To sin you'll always return!

The Human:

But they live holy spotless lives!

Surely, oh, it must be true!

Could it really be possible?

Lord, my God, what do I do?!

The Liar:

They say that they don't ever sin

But their hearts are full of pride

They don’t care about your spirit

I’ll always be at your side.

The Human:

Never, Satan! Flee from me now!

Cease your lies and your deceit.

Never again will I listen

No longer will I lie or cheat.

I’m taking my big step of faith

Christ’s love is all I will need.

He died for me on calvary;

I am now made free indeed.

The Liar has been defeated

Although he makes daily tries,

Whispering his lies and deceit

But now I'm guarded and wise.

I take the hand of the Teacher

My holy friend and my guide

Who showed me the beautiful way,

To Christ Jesus’ blessed side.

Together we will shine God’s truth

To a lost world full of lies

Along with our set apart friends;

God will change more broken lives.