Elevation

Now is the time for elevation

Moving on to another station

A new assignment

And greater alignment

With the destination of your elevation

Moving forward

Closer and closer toward

The destiny of fulfilled purpose

The intention beneath the surface

Down in the depths

Where wonder is still fresh

Through rebirth

And indescribable worth

Liberty and Glory

Are soaring

To new heights

No need to ask, “Why?”

Because of your faithfulness

His faithfulness

In you and through you

Legacy birthed through you

And Christ’s visitation to you

As you go where He sends

And refuse to relent

Till promise is fulfilled

Till intention is fulfilled

And peace be still

Cause now is the time for elevation

Moving on to another station

Yet, you remain with us

As you gift us

With your presence in our hearts

So that we may never truly be apart.

You’re moving forward

And we are with you in the Lord

Hearts intertwined

Faith filled Love over mind

Go ahead where He sends

Our support we lend

Surely, we shall meet again.

Always pursuing elevation

United as a Scribal Nation

Our support we lend

Knowing we shall meet again.

Christine Lombard

July 6, 2019

The Color of Courage

If courage were a masterpiece

Painted for all to see

What color would courage be?

Would courage be a he or a she?

Would courage look like you or me?

What color is courage?

Courage is as red

As a warrior’s blood shed,

Who with bravery and might

Stands and falls in the freedom fight.

Courage is as yellow

As the noonday sun,

Who burns with passion,

Stirring soldiers into action.

Courage is as black

As the darkest night,

When others run in flight

Courage never gives up the fight.

Courage is as white

As the brightest light,

Who shines through the eyes

Of the brave and wise.

Courage is as green

As the breath of Spring,

Who causes the birds to sing,

“Let freedom ring!”

Courage is as orange

As the setting sun

Whose day is never done,

Until the victory’s won.

Courage is as brown

As the wood that burns

In the blazing fire

Of hope’s restless desire.

Courage is as blue

As the ocean’s hue

Whose depth is vaster

Than man could ever master.

If courage were a master piece

Painted for all to see

What color would courage be?

Would courage be a he or a she?

Would courage look like you or me?

What color is courage?

Courage is red, yellow, black, white

And every color in between

That can and can not be seen.

Courage is found in those who dare to dream,

And those who are wise enough to know

Things aren’t always as they seem.

Courage is found in those who never quit

No matter how deep the pit,

And those whose legacies last

As future generations learn from their past.

What color is courage?

Even the color blind can see

When courage is a reality.

The real question is…

Can courage be found in you and me?

© 2010 Christine Lombard; All rights reserved; Use only with permission

Living on the Other Side of the Cross - Spoken Word

Dear Religion,

I’ve made my decision

I am living on the other side of the cross

I’m not lost

I’m just living on the other side of the cross

I’m living in my finished place

Where for you, there is no space

I’m no longer standing where we first met

But I won’t forget

The journey thus far

Of discovering who we are

We are not the same at all

That’s why I no longer hear your call

I’m no longer weeping at the foot of the cross

Where I first tossed

All my cares

And became aware

Of my position there

I’m no longer traveling through the cross

Where I became no longer lost

On my journey

Because Christ’s fire kept burning

On the inside

And I realized I had already died

With Him before my entrance into Earth space

And I wasn’t even a special case

It may sound strange, but I remember

And I’ve become Truth’s defender

He became humanity

Erasing all vanity

From our hearts

So, we’d never be apart

From Him

Love sure did win

A tremendous victory

The rest is history

So, I moved on in my journey

All the while discerning

That the space between my now and then

My present and has been

Is what distanced me

From our previously

Shared perception

And caused painful rejection

Even from those I purposed to love and treasure

Without measure

For the rest of my days

Because Religion, you hate the blaze

Of unquenchable fire

That opposes your desire

To tame it

So, you blame it

On everything but the truth of the matter

We either gather or scatter

Jesus said it

And then He bled it

As He gathered all humanity into His bosom

And became the womb

Of Eternal Life

Making us His wife

So, I had no choice but to move forward

Closer and closer toward

The other side of the cross

And here I am, not lost

But actually found

And unbound

No longer tied to a religious token

Cause I’ve awoken

To the resurrection of my inner man

Something Religion, you’ll never understand

Having died and risen with Christ

I’ve headed His advice

To be continually born again

And to go wherever He sends

Cause I’m never alone

I’ve found my home

And it’s on the other side of the cross

Christ as me, and I as Him

Love always wins

So, Religion,

I’ve made my decision

 I am living on the other side of the cross

I’m not lost

I’m just living on the other side of the cross.

© 2019 Christine Lombard; All rights reserved; Use only with permission

Living on the Other Side of the Cross

          Our journey to the cross is beautiful.  At the foot of the cross, we awaken and are born again.  But our journey must not end there.  Rather, our journey must continue THROUGH the cross and onto the OTHER SIDE of the cross, where we LIVE BEYOND the cross.  It is on the other side of the cross that we are born again... again... again...  and the further we journey with and in the resurrected Christ. 

          This by no means devalues the journey to the cross and our transformation through the cross.  Rather, it legitimizes it, and makes it known as when Jesus said to His disciples, "When you see Me, you see the Father."  They still didn't understand, because they had not yet journeyed through and to the other side of the cross. 

          Therefore, let us continue on from faith to faith... grace to grace... strength to strenth... and glory to glory.... as we experience the Resurrected Life BEYOND THE CROSS...

© 2018 Christine Lombard; All rights reserved; Use only with permission

Lessons Learned About Suicide

1.     The Struggle is Real.  The struggle against the negative emotions of depression, condemnation, shame, worthlessness and hopelessness, along with the resulting desire to die and escape the reality of seemingly unbearable and inescapable pain is not just some powerless thought that can be ignored or wished away.  It is not a struggle that merits a “JUST GET OVER IT” response, because it cannot just be “gotten over” without true practical solutions and healing.  This includes the insufficiency of "GET OVER IT" counseling or advice re-branded as promises to "pray for you", religious cliches or Bible verses.  Rather, there is only ONE WAY to survive and thrive the very real struggle against suicide and that is to go THROUGH IT on one’s personal JOURNEY to HEALING and WHOLENESS.  I can say with verifiable assurance from my own personal experience to all…  THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SUICIDE IS REAL, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERCOME.

2.     Suicide is a fruit, not a root issue.  The struggle against suicide is connected to beliefs, emotions and thoughts that have a SOURCE, called a ROOT.  The resulting negative emotions and thoughts about dying and suicide are the FRUIT of that ROOT.  The ROOT often spreads deep and wide into many directions through an interconnected web of pieces just like the natural root of a tree.  The ROOT is not always the same from person to person, but it may include physical, mental, emotional and spiritual factors.  As a result, PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS include, but are not limited to consulting a medical doctor and/or psychologist, change of diet, increased quality sleep and rest, natural supplements, prescribed medication, spiritual counsel, prayer, meditation and personal transformation of beliefs and thought processes.  Most importantly, it is imperative to seek out help from those who are best equipped to help you.  Sometimes, those closes to a person, such as family and friends, though well meaning, are not equipped to help in one’s process to healing and wholeness.  Unfortunately, toxic relationships with those we sincerely love and value most may be a significant part of the ROOT of the struggle and issue.    

3.     You are NOT alone.  One of the biggest misconceptions and deterrents to healing and wholeness is the belief that we are all alone in our struggle.  Yes, it is true that no one else has ever “walked in our shoes” or experienced the EXACT circumstances that have led to our unique pain and struggles.  Yet, PAIN and STRUGGLE is a part of the human experience, and truthfully people all around us can actually relate and empathize with our struggles and pain more than we may ever realize.  And regardless of our faith, belief system and level of awareness of the presence of God all around us, it is a FACT that we are CREATED in His likeness and image.  The Lord’s DNA (Dynamic Divine Nature of Abba) flows through us, and we are SEVERELY LOVED by Him.  We only need to become more AWARE of His presence and love in order to experience the resulting divine encounter, healing and wholeness.

4.     There is HOPE.  Another HUGE misconception and deterrent to healing and wholeness is the negative web of beliefs that result in a sense of hopelessness.  How can I say this?  Because “living in our feelings”, especially the negative ones that are a part of the real struggle against suicide represent the choice of death, not life.  As I expressed in a recent poem, "If I Live in My Feelings", we must choose to live in our healings, not our feelings.  The VICTORY to OVERCOME the very real struggle against suicide largely depends of THIS ONE MAJOR CHOICE… to live in our healings, not our feelings.  In other words, it means to PURSUE life, truth and wholeness, rather than death, deception and brokenness.  How do we do this?  ONE THOUGHT, ONE CHOICE and ONE DECISION AT A TIME.  Yes, the struggle against depression and suicide is REAL, and it’s NOT easy, but IT IS VERY POSSIBLE and ACHIEVABLE TO OVERCOME.  So, let us choose to LIVE and NOT DIE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS REACH OUT FOR HELP! 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

© 2018 Christine Lombard; All rights reserved; Use only with permission

If I Lived in My Feelings

If I lived in my feelings

I wouldn’t be alive at all

I’d be on ‘da ground

With no room to even fall

I’d be six feet under

With no ability to even wonder

If there was any hope

For me to get back up and cope

If I lived in my feelings

I’d have no dealings

With a reason to live

Or a chance to even give

A single part of myself to this world

I’d be just another girl

Who called it quits

Before she took her last hit

Of oxygen through her lungs

And I know I ain’t ‘dat one

So, I refuse to live in my feelings

I’d rather live in my healings

Healing from the past

Knowing ‘dat pain doesn’t last

Always

No matter what my feelings say

Healing from the wounds

Inflicted way too soon

For me to recognize

‘Dat they came from lies

But now I’m wise

Enough to know

Some seeds never grow

To full maturity

And I can still regain my purity

As long as I live in my healings

Instead of my feelings!

Cause If I lived in my feelings

I wouldn’t be alive at all

I’d be on ‘da ground

With no room to even fall

I’d be six feet under

With no ability to even wonder

If there was any hope

For me to get back up and cope

© 2018 Christine Lombard

I Fell Still

I fell still

Against my own will

As I leaned against the window sill

Watching the pain

Fall like rain

I couldn't cease with my own brain

Knowing I was to blame

For my uncomfortable view

Cause I had broken through

My own self protective lock

By rewinding the clock

And forgetting to block

The entrance of my own heart

Now all things were falling apart

And there was no way to push restart

I had already violated the guard

And I was no longer barred

From the locked up secrets

They were published on the leaflets

Of my tears

I had held back for years

Along with pent up fears

Cause I couldn't bare

The thought of going there

Where no man had ever gone before

But I had opened the door

Crossing the threshold

Allowing the truth to unfold

That I wasn't really as bold

As I pretended to be

I wasn't even bold enough to see

The real me

Hiding behind the mask

Of the meaningless tasks

Of my life

Keeping the pain out of sight

Cause such brutal honesty just wasn't right

So, I put up a good fight

To keep everything black and white

Without any shades of gray

Come what may

The secret pain must stay

Hidden

Never bidden

To come out and play

Till that fateful day

I fell still

Against my own will

As I leaned against the window sill

Watching the pain

Fall like rain

I couldn't cease with my own brain.

© 2018 Christine Lombard; All rights reserved; Use only with permission