I Have My Father's Love

When I take off runnin to flee my hurtin heart

His love follows my passing, Flowin near, forever, far

Behind, before, no distance, going over and above

If I am or am not asking, I have my Father’s love.

Danette

Spring 2022

I survived the first Christmas...

 Everybody journeys the road of loss uniquely.  It is impacted, influenced, yanked about by their relationship with the person they've lost, the circumstances of the death, the age, the role of the deceased in their life, whether it was traumatic, sudden, or the end of a long life or a long sickness...and the list goes on.

I lost Megan within a year of the end of our family unit of 26 years.  We grief-speaking people call this compounded grief.  Divorce is painful at any time and all the humans impacted in that family unit deal with their hurt, anger, or sorrow differently.  My family unit reeled and we were trying to steady ourselves to go forward in the new normal after split families.  

Megan left us in the middle of the reeling and rocking.  If God had not given me a specific vision, my story may have gone differently.  It is such a profoundly God given word and vision in my heart and mind that I can not explain it with clarity.  I can tell you that within about a day of her passing I had a loving and positive confirmation that all was well.  I call it a vision because I honestly can't remember if it was a dream from sleep or if it became part of my subconcious like a vision.  I can tell you what she said and where we were walking and were about to enter.  It wasn't creepy like she "came" to me.  It was a gift of my viewing a visit with her as it viewing a dream or vision.  As I watched or saw the visit between us, immediate peace and comfort came to me.  

I have held this close to my heart and shared with very few people.  Yet,  at 11 plus years from Megan's passing, I want to share more of the inner road of grief.  I understand that many questions remain for most of us grievers and most especially for those who lose someone earlier in life than is expected.  And, questions do remain for me.  Those will be delved into with other posts.  But, I believe that God will bring us unique comfort if we are willing to see it or feel it.  

Prayers in this season as you celebrate and cry.  Remember, it is okay to enjoy some love and find a little happy when possible.  It makes the darkness not so dark.  And, begins your feet down the path to survival and eventually healing.  I share love with someone that is far away and I can't express it to them now.  So, I share my heart and offer you love from My Father.  He came for the suffering.  Christmas is for us.

Lay it Down

 

 Ch:   Come and lay it down

At my feet, Just turn around

Will you surrender and follow me?

Come and lay it down.

 

V.1   Dark shadows of shame

Let me take your blame

No weight is too great

It’s never too late to...

 

Ch:   Come and lay it down

At my feet, Just turn around

Will you surrender and follow me?

Come and lay it down.

 

V.2   Sad disasters, mistakes

Shattered heart aches

No loss is too great

So why do you wait to...

 

Ch.   Come and lay it down

At my feet, Just turn around

Will you surrender and follow me?

Come and lay it down.

Aug 2021

Danette Hollingsworth

Raw

Cold reigns with no thaw

Wounds ache in the raw

The breath that I need

Comes thin as a reed

No sound comes out

While my insides shout

Left alone too long

 Now weak once strong

Pushed into the air

Care falls to despair

Thoughts too hard to think

A cup I can't drink

Where are you I cried

I'm too empty inside

This doubt is too full

Fear begins its dark pull

This need I can't fill

The empty's too real

Bring shade til I'm done

With these trips 'round the sun

We Are Here

 We are here

Where His kingdom’s come down

We are His

The lost He has found

It’s our joy to be in His presence

We’re his desired and He has led us 

Here!

Repeat chorus:  We are here

Verse:

If You’re weary, He’s your rest

Come to His table   You will be blessed

He’ll walk beside you (Let Him) be your shade

Our Father’s faithful    Don’t be afraid

Verse:

We’re the reason    He came down

Took on our sorrow     That thorny crown

 Made us His people   (His blood) cleansed our sin

Our God is dwelling    With us ‘til the end

New Life Experience

                    New Life Experience

Had a new life experience at the graveyard

I prayed and was set free from death

Had a new life experience at the graveyard

The grave clothes fell off as I wept

Only dead people live in the graveyard

The living should never homestead

April 24, 2021 posted

Verse1 

I cried to the One who gave life to me

My heart is too broken There isn’t a beat

I can’t see my way out of this place

Lord, breathe on me or just dig me a grave!

Written in 2021

Verse 2

Shake off the rattle, Knock off the sting

Kneel in surrender to life with the King

He’ll throw a party, Angels will dance

He has you a new robe, A new circumstance!

Written 3/23/22

The Red Brick Church Built Me

The Red Brick Church that Built Me

If pianos can play, surely there’s a choir to sing

Jesus Hold My hand ‘til Heaven’s Jubilee

 When we can all meet up yonder

Cause some of us have folks to see!

Sunday School and Children’s church with

Sword drills, Specials, Lessons

And Sister Lucy on grand piano

For the Penny March procession

Sister Garsee sang of the Goodness of Jesus

And Bro. CJ strolled over heaven

Bro. Mac and the youth in the upper room

Brought the fire down right about seven.

From rapture drills to victory marches 

Waving flags around  Felix’s recorder

From Jerusalem To Judea and the Uttermost

We’d send up praises over and over

Bro. Bennett trending from his chair 

Off-side for Bible Study Wednesday

Led us to worship, sing, and testify

In the Spirit on Saturday AND Sunday.

Bro. Otis’ orchestra and Sister Catherine’s choir

Were part of every dream

Pick your instrument, Sing your part

And, join the street-service team

We all got saved, and slept on pews

Some with curlers in their hair 

We sang first solos, Walked through prayer lines,

Learned to bend our knees in prayer

A changing of the guard, Bro.Hennigan came

This old church of Higher Ground

Still housed our children, Welcomed us home

When fire sent us back around

The pictures may fade but the Spirit lives on

Binding our hearts as one

Until one day it won’t be a drill 

And we’re finally all gathered home