Poetry Of Faith

The Advent Of Love
By La Belle Rouge

It was the presence of sin
that required a means of redemption.
Sins scarlet and nefarious
too evil for angels to mention.

God being much too holy
to condone its dark reign...
He sent love into the world
and Jesus was his name.

A teacher of eternal tuths
the immovable, uchanging rock,
the sinless, sacrificial lamb
shepherd of the wandering flock

Jesus the lowly, Jesus the king
who decended with humility
from his glory above
Only love could defeat sin
and God is love

4-11-2005 La Belle Rouge








Resurrection ( Easter Poem)
By La Belle Rouge

JESUS

there is never a distance so far
that your love doesn’t reach

no heart so sorrowful or broken
that your compassion fails

there is no sin too black
to be washed white in your blood

no atom of creation that does not
vibrate in celebration your resurrection


©3-25-2005 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Soul Whispers”




Angels Watching
By La Belle Rouge

Angels watching over
The innocent and meek
Sheltering, protecting
The little ones so sweet
Sheltered by soft wings
Carried in strong arms
At sleep and at play
Protected from all harm


Angels watching over
A world knowing not
The untold measure
The value of her children
Priceless, precious treasure
Of baby smiles and tears
And gifts of young love
Through growing up years


Angels watching over
The innocent and meek
The abused and the dying
The suffering and weak
Sheltered by soft feathers
Carried in strong arms
To a happier place where
They’ll be safe from harm


© 4-2-03 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Whispers Of The Soul”




The Force
By La Belle Rouge


Have you heard it in the wind
whisper of ancient truth?
On the breast of a flowing river
has its murmur been borne to you?
Do you see it in the wingspan
of an eagle soaring high?
Have you apprehended timelessness
while years are fleeing by?

Do you sense it in the aura
of an old soul, familiar and wise
or in crimson sunrise, sunset
bursting in your eyes?
Do you hear it in chanting prayer
or a newborn baby’s cries?
Has your spirit progressed beyond
temporal unreality and lies?

Do you know how to embrace
a brother much different than you?
With the hate and strife around you
have you discovered what to do?
Are you ready to fight the war
but not with bombs and tanks?
Have you learned the priceless lesson
Of long suffering and giving thanks?

Are you intimate with the greatest force
accessible in the world today?
Do you know that love will live on
and goodness will find a way
to overcome the black darkness
that threatens to end it forever?
Do you know that God is love
and love is defeated never?


© 7-11-2003 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Glimpses Of Immortality”






Love Is By
La Belle Rouge

Love is

A mother’s lullaby and tenderness

A father’s protection and pride

Someone who thinks you’re wonderful
and tells you so, everyday

It’s brave enough to promise, “Forever”
and strong enough to keep the promise

Love is passionate touch, contented sigh
and blended laughter at midnight

Love is work-calloused hands and
tired body caring for your family

It’s holding someone’s hand when they’re
frightened or sick

Love is facing death and asking the
doctor to “Save my baby instead of me”

It’s the feel of a tiny hand in yours and
the sound of a child’s voice saying “I love you”

Love is gladly sharing what you have
with those who have little or nothing

Love is staying when you want to go and
drawing more compassion from a well
you thought had long ago gone dry

It’s encouraging someone not to give up
and to be the very best they can become

It’s honesty, even when it hurts
and tact when you know it will

Love is praising the best
and forgiving the worst

Love is sacrificial and eternal

Love is God and God is love

© 11-14-2003 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Soul Whispers”




My Tiny Grain Of Truth
By
La Belle Rouge

I am only the plain person I really am.
I pretend no prophetic, religious status
but even someone like me can discern
that the greatest evil done upon this Earth
has been perpetrated in the name of God
and in the cause of his Son or Prophets.
It doesn’t take a seer to witness that much of
man’s inhumanity to man often springs from
religious zeal and misguided determination
that for someone to be worthy of God’s mercy
and enter his Heaven, they must see things
YOUR way and interpret Holy Texts totally
with YOUR understanding. Oppression wears
many faces, from the determined religious zealot
who must conquer other’s wills in the name of
his “God” shouting fearful scriptures, filled
with holy indignation and unwise zeal to the point
of taking lives of those he considers “Infidels”
to the unreasonable and profane preacher of “Holiness”
who tells an abused woman she must continue
to honor her abuser as her “Lord upon the Earth”
become a shell of a person trying to “Honor”
a man who is undeserving of her allegience
and live in hell until she dies from grief.
Wonder what happened to that scripture about
“Husbands love your wives as Christ loved
The church and gave himself for her?”
Where is God’s glory in this unbalanced situation?
You place heavy burdens upon the backs of others
that you have not lifted a finger to move.
Lives are laid waste and hearts shredded
by that which should be giving more joy,
more purpose and satisfaction in life
than any other relationship, that of a person
to divinity. Religion is a farce, a joke.
You who think you understand all mysteries
and truth, you are the biggest fools of all
for at worst there is deception and at best
only a tiny grain of truth you actually understand.
Religion is man’s vain attempt to be acceptable
enough to reach God, salvation is something
altogether different, even opposite of religion
It is God reaching down to lift man to his heart
when man can never deserve it, it is grace
it is mercy, it is what the heart of both
God and mankind long for to find completion.
It is a love relationship, not a fear one.
So scream your scriptures and make your
Hell threatening demands, those who shout
scripture the loudest generally understand it lest
and may stand to be the most surprised in eternity.

©11-17-2003 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Reflections Of Life”

Hand Of The Master
By La Belle Rouge

Scratched and faded
stored too long in a dark, damp place
the portrait was ruined forever
Deep scars upon its subject's face
Of little use anymore to anyone
No one remembered who she could be
Not a picture to hang in honor
for all the world to see

There hidden in the corner
was scribed the artist’s signature
Master of impeccable artistry
known for colors vibrant and pure
Even his name was faded
and of his image little remained
Why the portrait had been discarded
no one knew who to blame

Found among the rubbish
and finally thrown away
No one knew how to repair it
or salvage the portrait that day
Lovingly a hand reached down
and lifted it from the garbage heap
The Hand of The Master restored it
and it became His forever to keep

(c) 3-8-2004 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Soul Whispers”





JESUS
By
La Belle Rouge

Jesus
By
La Belle Rouge

I don’t talk about Him much
and quit frankly, people who do
are such a tremendous turn off to me,
I’ve never been nor liked a name-dropper it's true
And I’m sure many would look at me and see
Hypocrite Of The Century if I mention His name
as an erotica writer with a naughty image
Think I'm un-Christian seeing spirituality as a game
But I cringe when someone uses His name
in any way other than reverence or prayer
I sometimes have been known to utter a curse
but His Name, no, I won’t be going there

He is as true and close as the breath I take
as real as blood coursing through my veins
And when I hurt and need a friend
I usually end up calling His name
Not that I think I even deserve
to have the name “Jesus” on my tongue
But I think he wants me to call on him
when with heartache and pain I’m numb
in life’s silence, thoughts often will turn to Him
the mercy He has given throughout a lifetime
and I pause to thank Him again

He is mercy, enduring forever and
love without measure or reason
With us in our times of great joy
and in our unbearable mourning seasons
I’m not here to police the world
and I’m glad “prophet” is not my job title
I’m just here to try my honest best
to help myself and others toward survival
I’ll leave the judging to the one who knows
the pitfalls of life, the secrets of every heart
If I had to direct someone else’s life
I wouldn’t even know where to start

I don’t talk about Him much
nor claim to be the manifestation His voice
I won’t scream at you about hellfire judgment
try to take away your right to free choice
I will be who I am, for otherwise I cannot be
and love others for what and who they are
I refuse to take titles or other’s choices on me
But today, someway I just wanted to say
That in Jesus I do honestly believe
He has given me His love and mercy
and not what I deserve to receive
I don’t talk much about Him, not for
shame of Him but the unworthiness of me
And the next time you hear the word “Jesus”
the beauty of His reality I hope you’ll see

© 11-21-2003 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Love Whispers”



Whitewater
By
La Belle Rouge

If ripples with the reverberating impact
of a stone thrown in a placid pond
circling, rotating, gyrating
to a rhythm we feel deeply, but never
seem to slightly comprehend

Life is a river, sometimes gentle
or crashing wildly against boulders like
an unplanned whitewater raft ride
we are ill prepared to endure
and intensely desirous to end

It comes full circle at times
We meet our self on the way back
from the mysterious, faraway location
to which we felt we must travel
in order to find the self we never found

And where is “The Creator” of and in
the spinning, dizzy design of life?
Some claim him as “Best Friend”
Some view him/her as “Universal Force”
others deny such an entity altogether

Is God too far removed, above, beyond
our pitiful struggles at the oars to notice
or care that we’re slowly drowning
Or is his delight, intimate companionship
close as breath and holding us in his palm?

Whatever our conceptions of “God”
all his power, perfection, control
If he is judgment devoid of pure “Love”
then he stands on feet of clay , let him fall
into this damnable, whitewater whirlpool with us

"God Is Love" Holy Bible*

© 10-2-2003 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Soul Whispers”




Hope
By
La Belle Rouge

Hope is a pure dulcet song of an angel
Rising above all the darkness
And pain

Hope is the hand of God extended
Beyond all our failures
Our gain

Hope is eternal along with true faith
And unselfish charity… ours
To claim

Hope goes beyond despair or justice
Not taking into account
Any blame

Hope, faith and love surround our steps
In darkness and light
The same

© 9-5-2003 La Belle Rouge

“Poetry, Soul Whispers”




Jesus, Can We Talk?
By
La Belle Rouge

I'm no angel, Lord
You know that better
than anyone else could
But I still like to
talk to you sometimes
because I know you are
the only one who will
never stop loving me
even when I'm unworthy of
your love or attention
I have some questions
Can we talk a while?

Jesus, are you watching
all the pain and injustice
being inflicted on so many
that have no way to even
begin to defend themselves?
Do you shake your head in
sorrow and disgust at the
stupid little intrigues
hateful jealous vendettas
and misunderstandings between
those who should be friends?
Does it hurt you too, Lord?

Why did you give some of us
such sensitive souls that ache
at each crushing wound
and are angered at every
blatant display of injustice?
And since you did make us
so sensitive, could you please
give us more powerful ways
to end the pain instead of retreating
into our bruised hearts to weep?
If the pen is indeed mightier
than the sword, and able to topple
kingdoms, strengthen mine, Oh Lord

© 3-4-03 La Belle Rouge

Lily Of The Valley
By
La Belle Rouge

Lily of the valley
Pure white of petals soft
speak of pristine purity
prayers raised to Heaven oft
Gold within each fragrant fold
story of his divine royalty told
Verdant leaves each blossom surround
sincerity of purpose to be found
Gentle Jesus, Lamb Of God
dressed in humble flesh
He walked the common sod
of Earth that failed to know His worth
and crucified Him from His birth
For God His Father He paid the price
for sinful ignorant man
to enter Heaven’s paradise
Laid on Him the sins of all
He drew not back from
cruel destiny’s harsh call
And though He prayed let this cup pass
He embraced the Father’s will at last
Fairest flower ever to bloom
Death could not hold Him in the tomb
© 4-15-2003 La Belle Rouge



Raining Again
By
La Belle Rouge

Raining again today
It rains too much
In my world
In my soul

Grief so strong today
Feels like my heart
Will explode

Confusion all around
Within and without
God, I’m tired

Could I just lie down
In the pouring rain
And sleep?

It’s cold again today
Outside my window
Inside my heart

It’s never warm enough
To chase the chill away
From my thoughts

Demands I can’t meet
Hearts I can’t mend
God, I’m so tired

Can I just lie down in a
Blanket of your love and
Sleep until Spring?
© 2-4-03 La Belle Rouge




Reaching Down
By
La Belle Rouge

It was dark and growing darker still
He was weary with struggling
To climb a rocky steep hill
Crying out in cloying fear
Into the blackness of his night
Stripped of all his strength
Depleted of all might
Knowing that certain death
Was lurking all around
Reaching out his hand
But no savior could be found

Suddenly he felt the touch
Of mighty hand divine
Reaching down from heaven
To clasp his just in time
It pulled him up to safety
And began to unfold a plan
From God’s heart of perfect love
To a struggling life torn man
The darkness still is stalking
But now he has the light
Since the hand of God grasped his
One hopeless fearful night
© 2-4-03 La Belle Rouge



The Seasons of Our Life
By
La Belle Rouge

In the Summer of our life,
The world’s a bouncing ball.
We want to taste, see, hear, smell and touch it all.
Simple things like a butterfly or the wag of a puppy’s tail,
Can send us into fits of giggles
Or make us cry and wail.
We bring love and joy to everyone
Who stops long enough to talk to us and have a little fun.

In the Springtime of our life
We gain our independence.
We cut the tender ties with those who kept us close once.
Two or three or four times we fall in love
Then we find the one we want for life, sent from up above.
We watch our little ones at our table
And playing at our feet.
We rejoice in the youth and strength of life.
Everything seems complete.

In the Autumn of our life
Our family has all scattered.
We finally realize the things that really mattered.
We start to notice how old all our friends seem to be,
Then one day we look in the mirror and say, “Oh God, is that really me?”
Those who are dear to us become dearer still.
If we haven’t yet known loneliness, very soon we will,
When our children like little birds have all flown away
And we try to find enough to do to fill up our days.
But then children’s children sit upon our knee.
We’re still so blessed and rich in love you see.

In the Winter of our life
We remember days gone by.
We think about the joy and forget about the strife.
The remembrance always with us of the strength we had in youth,
The beauty that has faded, and the search we made for truth.
We dream of those we’ve loved and lost who’re waiting for us there,
Where we’ll be forever young, free from pain and care.
In the Winter of our life we long for sun-filled days,
To walk closer to our God and understand His ways.
And He will walk beside us through the cold and snow,
Until we see Him face to face and know as we are known.

Copyright 2001 La Belle Rouge
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Crossroads
By
La Belle Rouge

At a crossroads of life with decisions to make
Do we take the path of giving
Or continue to take?
Does God owe us something
Or do we owe Him?
Do we take the path of lest resistance
Or do we begin
To forge a way on a different road?
Will we think of our self
Or lift another’s load?

Another crossroads, a few more years
Will we bring others joy
Or add to their tears?
Will we grope along in the dark another year
Or at last discover why we are here?
We’ve faced many crossroads
In the course of our life
This time will we choose darkness
Or walk in the light?

Another doorway, another time
Will we walk in circles
Or finally find
A way to become who we really are?
Will we stagnate here
Or run swiftly and go far?
The crossroads is here
Are we ready to choose?
Will we finally win
Or continue to lose?
Will we leave something of value in our wake
Or will we just continue to take?

Copyright 2002 La Belle Rouge
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God, I Am Thankful
By
La Belle Rouge

God I am thankful for new shoes on my feet.
I remember a time I had nothing to eat.
I still have my sanity
And I still have my teeth.
I’m reasonably healthy
And although not monetarily wealthy,
I’m rich in the love
You send from above.
Those I hold dear
I can still see, touch and hear.

I have a job I can go to each day
And I’m glad to be able to work and draw pay.
My table is loaded with good things to eat.
Your love and my family make my life sweet.
I have a home I can call my own
A TV, computer and telephone.
My little Jack Russells play at my feet
And on my bed I have clean, soft sheets.

I’m thankful God for all that you give,
Things both great and small that help me to live
A life that’s worth living.
Help me to be forgiving
Of all the little irritations of life.
Help me to walk away from strife.
Open my eyes and heart to those in need.
God deliver me from greed.
Help me to be more like you
So others will be thankful they know me too.

Copyright 2001 La Belle Rouge
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Another Year With You
By
La Belle Rouge

A