Hymn of the day

Yarbrough, Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry (MI­DI, score)

I went for a lit­tle vi­sit of five days (to Are­ley House). There were ten per­sons in the house, some un­con­vert­ed and long prayed for, some con­vert­ed, but not re­joic­ing Christ­ians. He gave me the pra­yer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He justdid. Be­fore I left the house ev­ery one had got a bless­ing. The last night of my vis­it af­ter I had re­tired, the gov­ern­ess asked me to go to the two daugh­ters. They were cry­ing, &c.; then and there both of them trust­ed and re­joiced; it was near­ly mid­night. I was too hap­py to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and re­new­al of my own con­se­cra­tion; and these lit­tle coup­lets formed them­selves, and chimed in my heart one af­ter ano­ther till they fin­ished with “Ever, On­ly, ALL for Thee!”

Havergal Manuscripts

---

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

---

Yorùbá

Then I ran from you now I run to you

When I pictured you


I pictured knotted strings

And caved in hills that formed dark cages in the middle of nowhere



I saw in you blacked out chimneys with no room for air

Fenced surroundings isolated from intimacy, fun or laughter

I saw dry lands and un-watered gardens, dying, panting for life



In picturing you I pictured deep dark hidden secret places

Types of places brave adventurers would explore but even the most bold doubted before

I pictured shadows of what was and saw what is overshadowed by the pains and secrecy of yesterday



Now I see open buds in your eyes

I see deserts damped by rain from the skies

I see fields ready for harvest

Eagles about to leave their nest ready to take flight for the very first time

I see horizons of golden landscape

Landmarks of hope and restoration

I see secret places longing to be discovered because the beauty they posses are yet to be explored

I hear rivers of joy in every speech and word that flows from your tongue

All this I now see because I am finally free from the darkness that bounded me and I am free to see past the mess and see the beauty that's been inside you all along

hmmmmm

Giving up your right to be angry or be the victim all in the sake of love...what a challenge

support moi check my flow on check my flow loool

So my most vulnerable piece is being featured on this site: http://www.checkmyflow.co.uk/feature-artist-poem/
Do check it out and support me my people.
Loves

Is 'nothing'

So here's what I want to write about tonight. You know when tears are falling down your eyes, or when you're feeling upset and someone comes up to you and asks you "what's wrong" and you reply "is nothing", yea that's what I want to write about tonight. Why do we do that? Why is it that we find it so hard to be honest with people? Is it that we don't want people to know the thoughts that truly make us vulnerable or are we just people that don’t like to make a fuss? Ok, let’s make this a bit more personal, if this is something that you do, why do you do it? Is it a case of trust? Or do you feel like your problems will only burden people; hey don’t say that’s crazy, some people think that way. Some people feel like their problems are burdens to others so they rather keep things to themselves than share it, and for these people, when something is wrong with them, no matter how obvious it is, they will always tell you, ‘is nothing’. Are you one of those people? If so where do you think that mind-set stems from? I'm just asking questions, REMEMBER THIS IS TO WHOEVER, it could be to the person that reads this in 2015 lol!, let’s just chat, why not? Let me sketch a poem about this, will be a scenario piece

"Is nothing, I'm fine"

“I said is nothing so leave it yea!".

She sighed, her head lowered as though she was uttering a silent prayer to heaven for me.

She's never been good with obscurity, she's always been a say everything or nothing kind of person. "Well ok" she says, "if you say you're fine then I guess you are fi-"

"FINE"! I didn't let her complete her sentence, the words sort of skipped out my mouth, excited to shut her up.



Her legs hung loosely from our chairs,

Why did I ask her to seat with me if I was going to withhold information? Why did I ask for this attention if I didn't want to have this conversation?

Something in me wants to weep in her arms, let her know what's wrong

Something in me wants to hold her hand, explain I don't need to hear a sound, just want her to understand my silence

Something in me wants to open up but I'm scared, confused, anxious; wondering if opening up will lead to regrets

Lost in my thoughts I hear her voice gently question:

"Are you sure nothing is wrong?"

"Yep, nothing is wrong, I’m fine, don't mind me I'm always fine"

A small smile spreads across her face, she didn’t believe the lie but she got the message

There was no way I was going to open up and spill

Here’s to hoping my 'i'm fines' were prophetic  

Hmmm

Tonight I'm feeling quite emotional, you know when your emotions are telling you to do one thing but your mind, self respect and common sense are telling you to do another! Help Jesus! Need to have scripture sieve through these thoughts of mine. The Philippians scripture is a good sieve for our minds in it, ladies when the emotions cry let the Word cry louder man, got to stand FIRM in this joint looool!

Submission

I wish I know what I am trying to say in this poem but I don’t. So will put it up now and fix it tomorrow hehehhehehe, best to put it up now than never loool. So this is the last for tonight. Now I can go to bed, hey at least I've tried!

Submission tastes wonderful

Tastes sweet

Taste bitter indeed


Submission feels wonderful

Takes will

Takes self-control indeed


Submitting is powerful

It's meek

It's humble

Is discipline

It's easy

It’s hard

It’s a decision

A command

It's an action of love


Submissions for the weak

The strong

The helpless

The courageous

The ones that know

The ones that don’t

Really is for all

Sleeping dogs lie

You whispered hello

Yet your silent whisper sent loud echoes into my mind awakening memories that ought to have died

Clearly you don’t want to let sleeping dogs lie

ONION WORDS LEADS TO LAYERS OF THOUGHTS

Ok so now I'm having fun. I understand these are not my best piecies but I love writing short things that are fun for me to do! This one is called: ONION WORDS, I had fun writing this lool



I guess I'm an onion thinker

Layers of thoughts to get through

I believe his every sentence carries more than he makes it out too

So I find myself peeling away

at every little thing he says

Only to find my peeling and digging leaves me wet eyed again and again

It's simply fascinating the way I interpret every thought

Every misconception gradually builds up

Till I get to the point where I can't take it anymore

And tears start flowing down my eyes when I reach an assumed core

ANGEL?

Ok so here's the deal, in all honesty I lost it towards the end so that’s why the poem is like this. I will fix it when I can. Is hard to write when you are making the situation up loool, but I had a good go...I watched 'The preachers wife' (by now you can tell I love movies), and the fact that it had an angel in it (whom I thought was doggy lol but that’s another story lol) led me to write this, in a weird twisted way lool.

Had you been the angel I thought you were,

Your words would have been truth

You would have been sent, so your words would have birthed fruit that’s good

You would have brought comfort instead of pain

And when I was afraid

You would have said those four words angels say: ‘do not be afraid'

Your 'do not be afraid' would have brought sweet solace to me

But you weren’t the angel I thought you were

You spoke lies, words designed to shatter

Words designed to breed fear

You had a mission

To deliver a painful lesson

That being stubborn

Will lead to heartburn

Well mission well done

See had you been the angel I thought you were

You would have had a plan

No not your own

You would have been schooled in his

You would have known the path that leaded to righteousness and so be eager for it

But you loved the world more than me

You became my excuse

“the boy made me do it” clearly became easy for me to say

Suppose the “serpent” made you did what you did but that’s another story lool

Anyways had you been the angel I thought you were you would have been perfect

But seeing that you are human like I am

You, me, we have grace to repent

Like ordinary humans with an extraordinary bail out and a call to repentance

So I'll think on the great human privilege, forgiveness, forgive you because you, me, we are only human

To Whoever!

To whoever!



I haven’t blogged in a WHILLLE. Anyways I stopped connecting with things I did for a while (like poetry) so I stopped blogging. Things are much better when you put your heart into it. So I’m going to use this blog as something like an online diary and see what happens. That means I'll write all sorts on here, good, bad, ugly. I don’t care lol. Just going to allow myself to be me on here and if anyone can relate that will be great. All I know is whatever I do on here I want my heart to be connected to it.



So what’s fun to write about today.......?



I'm FINALLY OUT OF RETAIL! WHOOOP WHOOOP!


Whilst working in retail I've met some lovely people and some not so lovely people, but heck the experience was worth it.


Anyways I'm out of retail and about to venture into the wonderful world of charity work. Hope it all works out, either way guess whoever is reading my blog will be finding out.



I like to write in the night, good fun.



Going to share some poems I wrote today then I will be off to bed.



PS: I just watched TYLER PERRY'S MOVIE 'I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF' and I LOVE IT! A must see!



Night, night.

Dear Love

Dear Love

I understand why you’re taking your time

Please take your time

Twas only a while ago that I was in pain

Only a while ago I thought I’d fallen in love again

So love it’s clear that I’ve got a lot to learn

Oh love

Do take your time

Let me see that the long and short hand will always land on you

Let me trust that you are indefinite

Let me trust the work that you do

Twas only a while ago I misunderstood you

A while ago I realised I need to know you more

Draw me closer

Let me drink from your river bank of grace

Consume and eradiate all negative past memories

Wash out past experiences that’s polluted my perspective

As I learn to embrace you in all your fullness and truth

Give me grace to let you do in me what you have to do

Mike 'OPENS' up

MIKE ‘OPENs’ UP

An interview with the poet Open Mike

Poetic Release caught up with one of the featured acts Open Mike after the show and asked him a few questions about his set.

Your performance was great, what was the inspiration behind your poem?

The inspiration for my poem was life experiences, being in a relationship where everyone else realises that that person isn’t good for you except you, and relating that to how it is being saved and understanding that before you get saved you might believe that people are good for you when actually they are not.

How do you think your performance of the poem went today?

I enjoyed performing it, I personally though I was a bit rusty, but I still really enjoyed it. The crowd was warm and receptive so it was good.

So how long have you been writing poetry?

Since 2007, so for five years.

And how long have you been on the poetry scene?

Literally 5 years, my friend Denis told me to come and perform at a show he was performing at and that started my poetry career.

And finally if people want to find out more about you where can they go?

I’m fairly underground, about as underground as you can be, but I will be working on getting some of my work out there either on visual or audio format in the future. For now though you can find some of my poetry mainly on my blog which is www.openmikeonline.tumblr.com. It’s an organic site, whenever something interesting pops into my mind I put it on there. It’s a cute little site, it’s like an open rhyme book that has scribbles that probably wouldn’t make full poems but just gives you something to think about.

Poetic Release review

Poetic Release Review – Impact 27/05/2012

Impact, the sophomore show of Poetic Release lived up to its promise by delivering an impactful night of spectacular performances. Founded by the wonderfully talented Lena Norman an aspiring writer and poet, and hosted by the ever-exuberant Aj Taylor, the show has shown tremendous growth since its debut back in February. In case you missed it – and shame on you if you did – here’s a quick recap of the night’s standout acts:   

Denis

Playfully dubbed the “resident poet” of Poetic Release, Denis delivered a set of profound pieces about his relationship with God.  It was the perfect opening for the show, setting the tone for what would be a night of deeply personal poetry with a heavy spiritual influence.  

Rebecca

Rebecca performed two poems one of which was a deeply moving piece about the late Shakilus Townsend, the victim of the infamous honeytrap murder in 2008. She recounted his last words of “mum” and speculated upon why this was. It had a thought-provoking message, examining how an absence of a father figure can lead to a pursuit of the ultimate Father.

Open Mike

By far one of the most memorable and captivating performers of the night, Mike gave a personal testimonial piece about intimacy and his relationship with God. He sauntered casually on stage, possessing an unassuming presence which made the profoundness of his poem a pleasant surprise. Peppered with humour and anecdotal insight, Mike’s poem was a refreshingly candid and relatable account about his struggle with his desire for intimacy. Outstanding.

Mamilen (Lena Norman)

The mother of the show, Mamilen, took to the stage to preform two new pieces, The Substitute, a poignant tale about unrequited love, and Turn to Me, an inspirational piece about the difficulty of rejecting your old life and turning to God. They were both deeply personal pieces which tackled issues that relate to many modern Christians today.

Kat Deal

Kat’s bubbliness and warmth made her instantly likeable when she graced the Poetic Release stage. But it was the poignancy of her poem that held the stunned audience’s attention. Kat delivered a thought-provoking piece about her disability. Kat received a well-deserved standing ovation and rapturous applause. Original, stirring and inspirational; an unforgettable act.

                         

Karmie Karmz

Closing the show was the dynamic Karmie Karmz who enchanted the audience with three of her poems. Karmie quickly endeared herself to the audience with her down-to-earth persona and the realness of her words. Her sassiness, humour and rhythmic flow made for captivating listening.

Karmie provided a memorable and satisfying end to a brilliant show.    

Other acts of the night included spoken word performer Leticia, poet Alfred, singer Anderson, poet Azairah, poet Ian and singer Michelle who dazzled the audience with her stunning vocals.

Overall Poetic Release’s second show was a resounding success showcasing an eclectic mix of creative and talented individuals.  If this show is anything to go by, undoubtedly the next Poetic Release show will be even bigger and better and the group will keep going from strength to strength. 

By Junette Norman

Journalist

OUR NEXT EVENT FOR POETIC RELEASE IS GOING TO BE IMPACT.

IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL, DO COME AND SPEND THIS TIME WITH US

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE POETS, SINGERS, RAPPERS. DO COME AND SHARE THIS TIME WITH US, IT'S A FREEEEEEE EVENT!!

The Sub

She doesn’t really know when she became ‘the substitute ’
Heartache had sent her down this lane
Her heart is now an inn to broken men
Is funny because brokenness brought her to this business she now thrives in

He doesn’t love her
She knows it
He just loves the fact that she listens
His girlfriend Dianne seems to never have time
SHE on the other hand is always available on the other end of the phone
She provides the little thing he misses at home
Someone who gives him utter attention
So I guess that’s how she became his substitute

For three years now he’s been a regular customer at her inn clinic
Of course ‘it is just really close friendship’
They are 'just friends'
But he knows she gives him more than just what friends give
And he certainly gives her something
He keeps her from thinking about her pain or remembering the mistakes she made when she thought she was inlove
He keeps her from thinking about many things
Loneliness strikes just that bit less because he is around

You see is not like these men she takes in love her
They don’t
She knows
At the end of every conversion they will drop their phone and once again she'll be all alone
Every stroll in the park will end with an “I’ve got to go home”
She’s just the substitute to the girlfriend that don’t understand
She is the one that understands The one that support not so smart plans
The one called on when relationships are going wrong

She is the substitute
And oh how she hates it
Argues with others that all she has are close friendships
But she knows is more what she makes out it is

She is the substitute to many
But the truth is
They are hers as well
She uses them to fulfil everything the one she loved couldn’t give her
She compensates for his rejection by knowing they all want her
Yet no matter how much she is desired, called, business booms and she is loved by them

She always remembers they are not her own
She is not theirs
She is just a person that provides emotional comforts
She rents out her heart like a pimp will a prostitute

She knows
She is just the substituteWaiting,
Hoping that one day someone will see that she is worth more than just being the temporary
She is worth jumping into eternity with
If she could just get out this game and start over again
After all, this game is all about the blind leading blind
One day she’ll break up these 'friendships'…….one day
One day she is going to do something and stop all of this
She will experience what real love is
Someone will want her and she will feel the same
There will be no substituting again
Well maybe not on her path
Maybe from the one that finally wins her heart
Well there you go, Karma sucks
Well no matter, the sooner she gets out the better
This is a sick business and is killing her
So yea
One day she’ll tell her 'friends' is all over
One day,
Just not today
The night is coming and she needs company
She needs to feel someone loves her
Her phone rings
And with little hesitation she answers
Knowing exactly what she is doing, she answers
After all, she can't let loneliness creep in
Guilty, frightened, ashamed
She answers

To the not so modern girl

Sister girl

You’ve beaten the statistics

You’ve missed the bench mark of the critics

We can say you’ve made it

Held yourself down with self-control and perseverance

Peer pressure you didn’t take it

You refused to conform to the norm

Or submit to the form of un-codified teenage laws that makes teenagers feel they have to, got to do it to be coo, to be loved, to be know

Well done

You have a strong head on your shoulders

In it the wisdom that guard you to guard your heart

The common sense that taught you that love is more than the desires of the heart

The courage that kept you and your focus on the books and your work

Now you may see not having experience as sadness

I see greatness

Admire the resistance

The power to say no to temptation and go the distance as you are is powerful

Not depending on any boy to tell you what you are

And that is beautiful

Not allowing friends to create your persona

No you just did, you do you

And I

I admire that

I admire the fact that you have a heart so full of love yet you kept it

I admire the fact that you had and have a chance yet you reject it

I admire the fact that you know you deserve better than one night stands or anyone

You deserve the bestest

So sister girl wait for that

Someone in the same league as you’re at

Having the experience don’t mean jack if all they thought you were good for was the sack and not a ring to match

So wait

Like you patiently do already

Wait

It will take continuous patience

But wait

Don’t let them powerful feelings of wanting to be loved

Make you choose the love of anyone

That special someone is out there so wait for him

See I

I get lonely too

Wondering eyes and hopeful mind thinking when is cupid going to come through

Imaginations wondering when I could be more than one but two

See I

I get lonely too

And you’re right, there’s no feminist movement that can drive out the desire for a man inside of you

We were created to feel that desire of having a man

It’s in our nature to crave someone

So understand that many even the most powerful women feel the same

Even if they don’t say  

Who doesn’t want a man to come home too?

Someone to love and love you

To be chosen yet to choose

See I understand what you want, I want it, and many women do

And the weight of waiting to meet that person can sometimes beat heavily on you

But let me tell you

You’ve come this far now, what’s a year or two lol

Wait for him

Let him find you

He’s coming

Let me assure you

Like the diamond that you are you are worth his search

Like the gold that you are you are worth the hunt

Sometimes it takes the longest time to get to the gold mines

But when you do, you’ll appreciate every time and effort you took to find the treasure you’ll find

And sister girl

You are that treasure

And he will be that treasure for you

And all the pre-marital groans will the lost when he finds you

And every bruise loneliness left you on the road to finding the one you want will be worth it when you know, that you know, he’s the one for you

Till then just know

That we, we get lonely too

There are many wo/men like you

Hymn of the WEEK! Well been hymn of the year so far

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSpYz-Y6gq4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSpYz-Y6gq4

What a poem!

I had walked life’s way with an easy tread,
Had followed where comfort and pleasures led,
Until one day in a quiet place
I met the Master face to face.

With station and rank and wealth for my goal,
Much thought for my body, but none for my soul,
I had entered to win in life’s mad race,
When I met the Master face to face.

I met Him, and knew Him and blushed to see
That His eyes full of sorrow, were fixed on me;
And I faltered and fell at His feet that day,
While my castles melted and vanished away.

Melted and vanished and in their place
Naught else did I see but the Masters face.
And I cried aloud, “Oh, make me meet
To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet.”

My thought is now for the souls of men,
I have lost my life to find it again,
E’er since one day in a quite place
I met the Master face to face.

Author: Unknown

“The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers which, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, "Fill us with thy beams!" but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, they close their cups and droop their heads”. Spurgeon

The son’s flower

Your light strengthens me

Your rain helps me to grow

You know just how to feed me

Make me as beautiful as you

In your presence I flourish

You make me the beauty for eyes to see

And oh how wonderful it is when people see beyond me

And glorify you, the reason of my existence

 Oh fill me with your beams

For when behind the clouds you hide

My head drops, your presence I need