Proctor Poetry

Cleansing Fires
by Adelaide Anne Proctor
1825 ~ 1864

Let thy gold be cast in the furnace,
The red gold, precious and bright,
Do not fear the hungry fire,
With its caverns of burning light
And thy gold shall return more precious,
Free from every spot and stain;
For gold must be tried by fire,
As a heart must be tried by pain!

In the cruel fire of sorrow,
Cast thy heart, do not faint or wail;
Let thy hand be firm and steady,
Do not let thy spirit quail;
But wait till the trial is over,
And take thy heart again;
For as gold is tried by fire,
So a heart must be tried by pain!

I shall know by the gleam and the glitter
Of the golden chain you wear,
By your heart's calm strength in loving,
Of the fire they have had to bear.
Beat on, true heart, forever;
Shine bright, strong golden chain;
And bless the cleansing fire,
And the furnace of living pain!

Buried

And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
[Dt 34:5-6]

I have a question for you today.

Has anyone ever found the body of Moses?

The answer, of course, is NO!

Our lesson?

When God buries something, no one will ever find it! It's gone...for good.

Our forgiven sins should come to mind. They were buried in Christ. God has cast them far and wide.

Don't go looking for them ~ digging them up. Don't let satan mark the spot or frequently bring them to mind.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is that our sins were (past tense) buried in that baptismal grave, we have been saved and set free. We need not live in the shadow of the buried but the shadow of the Cross.

as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
[Ps 103:12]

My Lord and God; Thank You for forgiving my sins and removing them from me. Help me to live shackle-free, the forgiven life you bought for me. Amen.

Dealing with the Difficult

The scoundrel's methods are wicked,
he makes up evil schemes
to destroy the poor with lies,
even when the plea of the needy is just.
[Is 32:7]

Having just crossed path's with one speaking utter foolishness against me, I find it remarkable timing to read this verse on its heels.

As this man sputtered threats and pushed buttons stirring up fear, I fought to remain calm. Unmoved externally. All the while, my insides knotted in anxiety.

For a couple hours after the confrontation I battled ensuing attempts of assaulting dread and fear. Determining not to be shaken by the intended harmful schemes of another, I wrestled with angst and God won the victory for me. It did not come easily, but come it did.

God knows full well the evil in this world and the challenges we face with people that live outside His will. He encourages us in our faith with His word and as I read this passage, the next verse revealed the response He expected from me:

But the noble man makes noble plans,
and by noble deeds he stands.
[Is 32:8]

I pray your path does not cross a disgruntled and angry person today. Should it, run to the Rock and allow Him to build Your faith. In the safe shadow of His love He will lead you on in victorious nobility ~ giving you grace to stand strong and act like a child of His.

Thank You for the calm that washes over us when we come to You. Drive out all fear and dread of any plans against us. Give us grace to forgive and to act according to Your ways for the sake of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Conditional Surrender

The form letter read; "There is a finding on your digital screening mammogram that requires further evaluation...."

"Not until my kids are grown, Lord. Please wait. Give me 10 more years until I have to fight this one. You can have it all then."

"That's laughable;" I chuckled aloud. "That's conditional surrender!" God's gotta love that one. Sure hope He has a sense of humor!

How comically preposterous!

Who am I kidding? Who do I think I am?!

Do I really think I can negotiate with God? Dictate my own timing, my own terms, my own desired results? I read past the words on the page as my imagination kicked into overdrive. I inserted my own outcome then proceeded to have a ridiculous dialogue with God ~ all in a matter of seconds!

So, I aligned a proper perspective. The first wave of initial, temporary insanity passed, I was ready to be somewhat rational to make a second attempt. "Give me a do-over, God;" I plead.

I read the letter again. The real words actually typed on paper this time; not what I imagine.

The shield of faith comes out; I draw out the sword of truth to deliver an appropriate word:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

[Php 4:8-9]

I instantly put this battle to rest.

I'm standing my ground (referring to mental resolve here) ~ firmly planted in this verse.

I'm choosing not to beg, borrow, or steal worry ~ today.

It may come in time, but for today, I'm not seeking out borrowed trouble.

It would be easy to do. Let that guard-gate down a crack and it might slip a half-mile.

God blesses my mind with peace.

When the potential for bad news comes our way, we don't need to dive right in and assume the worst. It may never grow into full-blown, worst-case scenario, so don't needlessly go borrow trouble. Discipline your mind to God's Word of truth to think on only those things that are true.

I'm speaking to myself here ~ as I pen this for my own benefit.

As I wait until the next appointment, I choose to set my mind on the things I do know, I can believe. Until the awaited answers are forthcoming, I will rest in God.

I remember what Jerry Bridges has written; "Confidence in God's sovereignty in all that affects us is crucial to our trusting Him." I remember Whom I have believed and to Whom I am entrusted. Whatever happens, it is under the sovereign will of God.

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

[Rm 8:26]

I trust the effective prayer of the Holy Spirit. I surrender this to Him to know what to pray for me and walk away.

The Spirit intercedes.

The Lord carries the yoke.

And God grants me peace.

I praise You, my El~ Shaddai, for You are my peace. You are a safe place of rest as I wait for answers. In Your sovereign will I trust. I know not what to pray for and surrender this to You, Holy Spirit, in the Name of Christ.

Prayers of the Saints

O God, fill my soul with so entire a love of Thee

that I may love nothing but for Thy sake

and in subordination to Thy love.

Give me grace to study Thy knowledge daily

that the more I know Thee,

the more I may love Thee.

Create in me a zealous obedience to all Thy commands,

a cheerful patience under all Thy chastisements,

and a thankful resignation to all Thy disposals.

Let it be the one business of my life to glorify Thee

by every word of my tongue, by every work of my hand,

by professing Thy truth, and by engaging all men,

so far as in me lies, to glorify and love Thee.

~ John Wesley

A Series of Prayer Quotes

A String of Hosannas

It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name,
O Most High, [Ps 92:1]

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.

[Ps 96:11-13]

I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known

through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
[Ps 89:1-2]

A Weekly Post of Praise from Scripture

Deuteronomy Revisited

Great national leaders often deliver a farewell address at the close of their leadership. Deuteronomy is the record of Moses' three final sermons at the end of his tenure and prior to God's pronounced exchange of leadership to Joshua.

Moses states the blessings of walking with God in the Promised Land. He also warns of the temptation to idolatry and the curses of falling away from the one true God. Moses repeated the Law so that the Israelites would not repeat their same mistakes. He reminded the assembly of God's covenant, love relationship and revealed that it was very much a heart relationship God called them to.

As my eyes wandered through the Book of Deuteronomy recently I gleaned several insights. I thought I might share a few points that poked me during this revisitation.


Then we turned back and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

Then the LORD said to me, "You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north. [Dt 2:1-3]

God knows our threshold
He knows when enough is enough. His timing is perfect. He knows exactly how much we can bear and will not push us beyond a point of no return.


The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. [Dt 2ff]

We are to live assured lives
God want us to be assured of His Presence ~ past, present, and future. The Bible is His "Do Not Forget" memo to us. He wants us to remain assured of our relationship with Him, of His sovereignty, and His providence.


Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you. [Dt 4ff]

God demands obedience
Period. It is for my own good.


Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. [Dt 9ff]

It has nothing to do with me
I will have the humility God desires when I have the awareness and understanding that only Jesus is righteous. "It's not about me" for I have no righteousness of my own. The perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ has been credited to me and His sacrifice completely assuaged God's wrath.

And the LORD said to me, "I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they."

I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me [Dt 9:13-14, 19]

God's wrath and the power of intercessory prayer
God's anger toward idolatry is unparallelled. He knows full-well of our enticements. He has rescued us, displayed His power, stated His requirements, and expects reverence. He is receptive to the influential act of intercessory prayer to save those that rebel against him. He has proven this through His servants Abraham, Moses, and others.


If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. Destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock. [Dt 13ff]

Appreciation for our Savior
Doesn't reading Old Testament Books help you to appreciate Jesus even more? I am so grateful for what my Savior has done to save me! I would not have been able to uphold the demands of the Law. I would have incurred the curses and wrath of God due to my rebellious nature. Because of Christ I am a recipient of God's grace. In Him I have opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness, mercy, and compassion.

When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, "I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way." This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. [Dt 29:19ff]

The ripple effect
Should I fall away from the Lord, others will be affected.


And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. [Dt 29:25ff]

I'm the wanderer
Incurred consequences are because I have abandoned God ~ not the other way around.


When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. [Dt 30ff]

Promise of Restoration
The Lord will restore us when we return to Him.


And the LORD said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. [Dt 31:14ff]

Jehovah is a God of integrity
Even though God knows our disposition and future disobedience, He will faithfully uphold His word and act according to His infallible character.


"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens to help you
and on the clouds in his majesty.

The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms." [Dt 33ff]

God is a poet
God presents His blessings through the masterpiece Song of Moses and poetically breathes life into my very soul.

Almighty God; As we tarry, waiting to cross into Your Land of Promise, remind us daily of our covenant relationship with our Lord and Savior. Give us a spirit of obedience to His commands. May we set our hearts to worship You alone and live our lives fixed in Your Word.

The Coat of Salvation

And he made him a robe of many colors.

[Gn 37:3 ESV]

So great are the gifts the Father has lavished upon us!

As Jacob adorned Joseph with a coat of many colors, so has God adorned us with Christ. The "coat" of our salvation covers us with the multiple gifts of being in Christ Jesus.

When we accepted His salvation, we received the costly robes of justification, sanctification, righteousness, gifts of the Blessed Holy Spirit, sonship, and our new creation.

Before you make the selection of what you will wear today, put on Christ. Walk out into the world consciously and visibly wearing that which He has given for you -- to you. May these be fully realized and utilized in your life today.

Thank You, Lord Jesus! May I walk as one clothed by the King of Glory -- robed in Your salvation, displaying Your attitudes. Amen.

Revelation Song ~ Kari Jobe

In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
[Rev 5:12]

"Lord God Almighty, Who Was and Is, and Is To Come

You are my everything

And I will adore You"

Join in the worship of the King of Kings, the Song of the Redeemed:

Holy, Holy

is the Lamb who was slain

Click Pause Button

on Side Bar Music Player

to silence background music

Christian Camoflauge

Exploring the features on my new AT&T E-mail, I discovered a button labeled; "Invisibility". This new feature allows me the capability to choose to be seen by those in my address book that are also online. How handy is that? Of course I always select "Invisible." Not because I have anything to hide but because I dont' want to be seen. Makes me kinda wish I had one of those built into the Master's design. I must say there were a few times last week I wanted to be hidden. Hidden in Christ, that is. I purposed to be dead to my flesh, that He would reign in the given situation. That thought brought verses I had memorized long ago to mind and reminded me that I am, indeed, hidden with Christ.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
[Col 3:3]

The provenance of such a gracious salvation is the Cross of Christ where I, too, have been crucified with Christ. When I set my mind on the things of God I become dead to this world. My heart and mind are no longer divided. The wrestling match in my mind having been decided I cease striving to express my view, prove my errant point, or air my grievance or hurts.

I am moved to relate an abiding fellowship with Christ to the burning bush of Moses in this regard. The bush was hidden by the flames of the Lord ~ consumed ~ as are we when we have complete abandonment of self and are totally yielded to God.

Crucified One; Oh, to be kept in the incubator of Christ. Growing, developing, being nurtured, and protected in Him for safekeeping until His return. Hide me in You. Utterly conceal me that only His impeccable beauty may shine forth, bringing His gift of light to those in my path.

And he died for all,

that those who live

should no longer live
for themselves

but for him

who died for them

and was raised again.
[2 Cor 5:15]

A String of Hosannas

You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
[Ps 118:28]

O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. [Ps 89:8]

Your arm is endued with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.

For you are their glory and strength, [Ps 89:13-17a]

You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations. [Ps 102:12 adapted]

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength. [Ps 93:1a]

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. [Ps 45:6]


A Weekly Posting of Praise from Scripture

Worship of Lament

Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
[Ps 5:1-2]

Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
[Ps 64:1]

I pour out my complaint before him;
before him I tell my trouble.
[Ps 142:2]

Add to David's title as King of Israel Worship Master and Lamenter Extraordinaire.

Several samples of his work published in the Bible give us a look into this particular style of His worship of our Jehoveh-God. There is a unique beauty in his honest pain.

A good portion of the Psalms share expressions of genuine human suffering and anguish poured out to the Father and was used as worship for centuries.

I have been asking God to transform my cries and complaints into worship, of late. My apprentice method of lamenting is recognizing my pain, owning it, then giving it up in praise.

Essential to our faith is acknowledging God in our circumstances. Turning our fretful worries into faith. Expressing our concerns to Him only to discover His love. It soothes the pain and stills the restless mind. It does not change the circumstances but invites God into them. It is to share the burden with one you love, deepening and enriching the relationship.

Sharing our real life experiences ~ our vulnerabilities ~ with our Father gives God access to our private feelings. Isn't it better than silence? Apathy? Sealed lips, muffled hearts, or pretentious words build callouses and walls, separating relationship. One with my God I'm not willing to, nor can afford to, compromise.

What differentiates a complaint from a lament?
* Exaltation of God
* Spirit of gratitude
* Hope
I am of the opinion that a lament is a hallowed and humble conversation of reverence that includes God in the mix.

Complaining comes all too naturally for me, I'm afraid. Does the negative fount flow from a longing to express our ache from separation of our original created state? Internally we mourn the loss of the eternity God intended us to have with Him now? Subconsciously we cry out over our fallen world ~ our fallen state ~ and cannot suppress this from spilling forth in other areas.

Now, O women, hear the word of the LORD;
open your ears to the words of his mouth.
Teach your daughters how to wail;
teach one another a lament.
[Jer 9:20]

Dare we lament? God instructed the Israelites through prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos to lament over sin. In that regard I ask; "Dare we not?" But I'm not speaking of lament as confession and repentance but of personal worship.

Life is filled with overwhelming obligations, health concerns (or even crises), broken relationships, financial woes, disappointments, sin and strife, and the list goes on. Created to walk with God, aren't any one of these times precisely the moment we need more of God? He is our Oasis.

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
[Ps 57:1b]

I cry to you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.
[Ps 142:5]

We lift our eyes and remember our infallible, trustworthy, ever-present God. Our hope and faith is restored. In the remembering we become infused with those things we are most grateful for. The Spirit nudges forth the reminder to "give thanks in all circumstances"

Framed as foremeost reference in my mind is my Lord agonizing in the Garden on the eve of His death. He poured Himself out to God to the point of sweating blood. He bared the full weight of His emotions before His Father in that dark and lonely place and God heard His wounded cry. The tremendous grief He cried out from the cross did not fall on deaf ears. He remained respectful, loving, and obedient in His lament. Giving His life as the ultimate act of worship.

We are the bleating sheep of His pasture. In worship of the Good Shepherd we verbally express our cares that He may respond in kind.

In our sacrifice of worship shall we not also sacrifice our pain? Lay it out there - fully disclosed and exposed - on an altar of worship? Allow Him into our mess? Cast at His scarred feet our very selves. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Allow Him to turn it into something beautiful. Transforming lament to a hope-filled psalm of praise.


Intimate God; Hear my pain ~ the cry of my heart. Teach me to pour out my lament as pleasing worship as your servant David. To magnify Your grace in the midst of mounting difficulties. Help me to embrace the bitter with a grateful heart, always believing in Your goodness. In Christ Holy Name, Amen.

"Therefore I will not keep silent;
I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul."
[Jb 7:11]

Just a few Psalms of lament to note:

Ps 3
Ps 4
Ps 5
Ps 6

Ps 12
Ps 56
Ps 57

Ps 88
Ps 142
Ps 143

Re-Gifting God's Word

I bow my head daily over Holy Pages – a feast for my eyes that satisfies my hungry soul. God, in His goodness, nourishes me by leading me, almost deliberately it seems, to text that can be applied to current circumstances. He strings together verses from different parts of The Book with a common thread that build my faith. I bask in His whisper and feel His touch mend a world-battered reserve. Throughout the day I often find myself reciting these words, drawing strength, comfort, and peace from His provision.

In my attempts to prepare my daughter for her first day of high school and alleviate her building stress, I found myself repeating familiar words of encouragement received from my loving Heavenly Father. I desperately wanted to give her assurance and encourage her to be confident and courageous. I was reminded that His words of encouragement were gifted that they might be re-gifted - given that they might be given.

May your find encouragement from these same Jewels, also.

Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in
the LORD.
[Ps 31:24]

"Take heart" is recorded five times in the NIV. Three times spoken by Jesus. This idiom encourages us to keep hope, to gain courage, to feel confident. Perfectly needed for a particular day (or two) of mine last week; I found them suited to re-gift to my daughter for this occasion.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God;

he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love

to a thousand generations of those

who love him and keep his commands.
[Dt 7:9]

Know ~ with certainty! He is The Sovereign I AM. He is faithful. His covenant is one of love. She is His. Yes, this one she definitely needed. As did I! Don't you?

Do not be terrified by them,

for the LORD your God,

who is among you,

is a great and awesome God.
[Dt 7:21]

God is among us. He is present and active. He is great and awesome. They are not to be feared. The Israelites were entering enemy territory of nations larger and with more battle experience. They faced the unknown with looming challenges and God encouraged them with these words through Moses. This seemed well-suited and under-girding for her, as well.

Three little ~ yet powerful ~ verses. I've seen other verses quoted more often and used popularly for encouragement but these seemed apropos. I passed the loaf. I broke off from the same bread God used to feed me and passed it along to the next need that crossed my path.

I now pass the basket to you and offer a slice of His Bread. Allow God to encourage, convict, change, strengthen, and heal you in your circumstance today.

Your glory, Lord, is found in the Bible's pages. Thank You for Your powerful, living Word of Truth that builds faith and hope. Thank You for the encouragement we receive as a gift from such grace. You are our praise!

"So take heart, men,
for I have faith in God
that it will be exactly as I have been told."
[Ac 27:25 ESV]

A String of Hosannas

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men find refuge

in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light. [Ps 36:5-9]

Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.

All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name." [Ps 66:1-4]

I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise. [Ps 101:1]


A Weekly Post of Praise from Scripture

Object Lesson Full Moon

Oh, to be like a moon

Reflecting another's light

Guiding onlookers through dark of night

Stirring the senses in awe and wonder

Redirecting a distant, passing gaze

To move the heart to speak God's praise

Scars form a tranquil, heavenly face

Warmly listening without end

A spacial companion, neighbor, friend

A String of Hosannas

O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.
[Is 25:1]

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts.
[Is 26:8]

Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
[Is 26:4]

Praise be to the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.
[Ps 89:52]

A Weekly Posting of Praise from Scripture