Unrelenting

I posted a new poem last week called "Unrelenting" which was born out of the song "You Won't Relent" by Misty Edwards from IHOP-KC. You can see a video of it performed live here on YouTube. It's also on her album, Relentless, available in a number of places. The verse that some of lyrics come from is Song of Solomon 8:6.

God loves us. God loves us passionately. God wants us, all of us. And He will ask us relentlessly to give Him everything in our lives. But He will never force anything. He will never stop pursuing us as His children, but He will never force us to love Him.

One of my favorite VeggieTales quotes is from "A Snoodle's Tale". The "Creator" is asked by the little Snoodle why he doesn't just make the other Snoodles love him. And the man replies, "A gift that's demanded is no gift at all." It makes me cry every time. If God wanted everyone to love Him, He could force us to do that. But He wants us to make that choice. He gave us freewill and gave up the chance for universal admiration when He did that. However, He will never stop trying to woo us to love Him.

My family and I would appreciate your prayers. We have all been sick with colds and such, and our son had another seizure this past week. We need healing!

I am still working on my book, with formatting well on its way. I am very pleased with the way it is coming together. I hope that poems, but more importantly the testimony, will bless a lot of women who have been through some of the same things I have.

If you have a prayer request, feel free to leave a comment, contact me on Facebook or Twitter, or send me an e-mail here. Have blessed week and may God watch over you all!

Fork in the Road

I've been a poet for a large chunk of my life now. I've always loved reading and so reading poetry came naturally. For the last two years, it's been my clear calling from the Lord.

It seems however that I've reached a bit of a fork in that road now. I'd been wondering why the poetry had not been flowing like before. I chalked it up to the winter weather like last year and waited for the sun to come out again. But in the last week God has made it apparent that the reason the poetry isn't flowing is because that's not what he wants me to be writing at the moment.

Now, don't worry, I'm not abandoning the poetry. I still have a ton of ideas and desire to create poetry for God. Right now though, He's got me writing music. Well, lyrics anyway. My husband is handling the music side of things, which makes for an amazing partnership. Here is our first effort together that he posted on YouTube. I've added his channel to the YouTube sidebar to the left where you can see the videos as he posts them. Some of his music, which I highly recommend, is on there as well.

So for the time being that is where my concentration will be. I'm hoping that as the creativity flows for the music, I'll be able to get some poetry in as well, but we'll see. Thanks for sticking with me and I'll keep you up to date on everything. The book is still in the pipeline as is a brand new website. It's an exciting time!

Have a great week and may God's blessings rain down on you!

Word of Mouth

I pray that your week, and year, is starting off as well as possible!

I have a new poem up this week called "Word of Mouth". Passing things by word of mouth has often been thought of as one of the best advertising tools, and I would agree. I would also say though that word of mouth can be a dangerous weapon when used to spread gossip and rumors. We live in a digital age where everyone can know peoples' "business" in an instant through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Add in a vindictive spirit and trouble begins.

I've also noticed that in general we're all becoming more flippant with words and insults towards others. It's not uncommon to hear kids cursing at their parents, and vice versa, in Wal-Mart these days. Respect for others is a slowly decaying idea. We as Christians need to take that back and lead by example, showing Christ's love by taming the tongue.

The past couple days have been ones of turmoil for me that's been brewing for several weeks I guess. My sense of who I am in God, where my heart is, and how I've actually been living are being deeply shaken. A new year is bringing new revelation of where I should be, and I am struggling with giving it ALL to Him. Complete surrender is what He asks, and He will settle for no less. I would appreciate your prayers as I stumble through this new section of the path God has for me.

I posted on Twitter and Facebook on New Year's Day that I was working on a major project for the poetry, so I thought I'd let you in on the secret a bit. I'm not certain of a date, but within the next couple months I will be releasing a book! It will include a selection of my poetry from the past two years, as well as some of my testimony. I wanted to tell some of my story, the amazing journey I've been on for 32 years and how Christ has lifted me out of the miry clay. You'll get to see how some of the poems were born out of that and find out more about my background. So keep your eyes open for that announcement!

I would be happy to pray for anyone who is in need. Please let me know how I can pray for you at anytime! You can send me an e-mail at holli@holliswank.com, contact me on Twitter, or on Facebook. You can also leave a comment here on the blog.

Have a wonderful week and may God bless each and every one of you!

Toda

Toda means thanks in Hebrew. This became the basis for my poem this Thanksgiving, giving thanks to God and Christ in one of the most important languages to both Jews and Christians.

I really wanted to write something special this year, because I have so much to be thankful for. The past few months have been an incredible season of blessing and learning and spiritual growth for me. He has poured out so much into and for me recently.

I pray that you have a blessed holiday and safe travels this week. May He smile on each one of you during this time. God bless!

Impressions

"Impressions" was inspired, like many other poems, by a song. "The Song You Sing" by Creed really made me think about the impact I was having on other people, day in and day out. The lyrics that really caught me were:

Does the song you sing
Have enough meaning
Inspire us to sing along
Does the song you sing keep echoing
Inspire us to sing the song you sing

God wants us to have an everlasting song. He wants us to sing a song that brings others to eternal life with us. It's not enough for us to make it if we don't try to bring anyone else to Jesus. We can't just coast along now that we're saved. We need to go out, be His hands and feet, sing His song, speak His word, and spread His gospel.

Have a great week everyone and may God bless you all greatly. See you next week!

Influential Music

My life has almost always been built around music. My parents raised me to 60's, 70's and 80's music on vinyl records and radio stations. Events in my life are recalled by a song that was playing when they happened. I don't ever remember not having music around, and now when there is no music on, I feel kind of empty.

As expected, music is a huge influence on my poetry. I thought you might be interested in what's engaging me right now, and where many of my ideas are flowing from. Here is a list of music I'm using to get me writing these days:

• "2000 Decembers Ago" by Joy Williams
• "What Child is This?" by Mercy Me
• "I Want to Be with You" by Cory Asbury and Team (KC-IHOP)
• "Jesus Is" by Hillsong Church London
• "Rend the Heavens" by Isa Couvertier
• "Samuel's Awakening" by Jason Upton
• "A Lion Has Roared" by Jeremy Horn
• "Soul Cry" by Misty Edwards
• "Revelation 4-5" by Justin Rizzo and Team (KC-IHOP)

Christmas music? Yeah, I'm writing for Christmas right now. I have one called "This Child" and I am hoping for at least one more before the end. The others I have found to be very good at stirring my heart and my emotions as I write, bringing me closer to His ideas for the poems.

A lot of it is likely unknown to many of you because it comes from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. Every two months we get a Limited Edition MP3 download of the "highlights" of the Global Prayer Room there, and every time we have found at least one song that touches us. It is an amazing place and an amazing resource for pure, heartfelt worship music.

Before I go, I need to ask for your help. It won't take long but I have a ten question survey that I need as many people as possible to fill out. It will really help me shape how I get the poetry to you, if you're interested in products or a book, and let me know how you're finding things.

Have a great week and I'll talk to you again soon. God bless!

One and Only

As I have drawn closer to Jesus, it has been made apparent that He needs to be my singular focus. "One and Only" is an expression of that. I love my children, and I am devoted to my husband, but Jesus must come before all of that. He spoke of this in Matthew 10:37. He demands to come first, nothing less.

I pray that your weekend is a great one! Let me know if there is anything I can pray for you about. Leave a comment here or get in touch with me through Twitter, Facebook, or e-mail. God bless everyone!

Blessed Ones (Matt 5:3-12)

I am not feeling very good, so I am going to keep this short.

"Blessed Ones" comes from Matthew 5:3-12, otherwise known as the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes. It is the second in the His Words series I am working on. I pray that it blesses you this day.

Have a great week and may God bless!

Silence

"Silence is golden."

"A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;" - Ecclesiastes 3:7

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." - Proverbs 17:28

Much is, and can be, done in silence. God used the silence before time began to start His work. When we turn off all of the world's distractions, all of the world's temptations, and just sit, He is there. That is what "Silence" is about.

Have a great weekend everyone. Send me a note if there's anything I can pray about in your life, and may God bless each moment!

Different

What a difference a year makes ...

Last year, the day after my birthday, I was in tears, having been very badly hurt by someone in my family. I was full of skepticism and cynicism about people's well wishes. I was depressed and angry.

This year could not be more different. I feel so incredibly blessed to have spent time with my children, mother, brother and husband all day Saturday. And I get to look forward to celebrating again next month when my dad can come down.

"Different" is a poem about the struggle of being considered abnormal. Christians don't act the same, talk the same, live the same. Sometimes that isn't fun. Sometimes it's downright horrible. But if we are followers of Jesus, we have to be different. We are not of the world, just as Christ was not of the world.

I pray you all have a great week and if I can intercede for any of you, just let me know! God bless!

Happy Birthday to me

I'm 32 today!

Yay ... I guess ...

Just kidding. Another year with God is a great thing!

Last year I wrote a poem for my birthday, somewhat chronicling where I was with my faith. As this birthday approached, I thought it might be interesting to do another one. So, I'm planning on trying to do this every year around my birthday.

This year's installment is called "Butterfly". It talks about my lifelong trek and where I am now, waiting to be robed in white with my Savior.

For now though, I will enjoy having my brother come into town and eating the best cupcakes I've ever had. If you're in Terre Haute, you really should try Caboodle Cupcakes! If you're not, then ... I am sorry.

Have a great weekend and let me know if you need some prayer! God bless!

My Beloved

I hope everybody had a great weekend, long or short!

My Beloved is one of my favorite poems that I have written lately. Getting more deeply involved with WVIHOP has brought me to much better understanding of the church, or believers, as the bride. The Song of Solomon has opened up to me with a second layer portraying Jesus as The Beloved and the church as the Shulamite. The love between them is pure and sweet, as the love between Christ and ourselves should be. I am somewhat impatiently awaiting the return of my Beloved, anxious to see His face and glory.

In case you missed the link on Twitter, there's a new video up on my YouTube Channel called "Night". You can find the poem here.

Have a blessed (hopefully short) work week, and if you need prayer for anything, feel free to get in touch with me!

Beautiful Magnificence

"Beautiful Magnificence" is a simple offering of praise to my God. His beauty is unmatched in this world. He appears as precious stones, surrounded by a rainbow. Jesus is the Beloved, chief among ten thousand.

I hope you have all had a wonderful week, and I pray your weekend is full of rest and fun times. If you are in need of prayer, feel free to get in touch with me and I would be happy to pray for you. I'll see you again on Monday! God bless!

Fear

We all have fears whether we admit it or not. Fears of loss, fears of the public speaking, fears of death. My biggest fear though has nothing to do with earthly things. Hearing the dreaded words on Judgment Day. That is my biggest "Fear".

I will be getting a new video up in the near future, perhaps even today. It will be for the poem, "Night" with peaceful music behind it, trying to convey the tone of what I wrote.

Again, I want to offer prayer to anyone who needs it. You can leave a comment here on the blog or contact me through Twitter or Facebook. Be as specific or vague as you like.

Have a great week everyone! May God continue to bless you all!

Metamorphosis

"Metamorphosis" is a path that many people take to finding the Lord. At the end of their rope, they accept an invitation to church, or stumble in on their own, and start to hear about this thing called salvation. With a hunger in them that they can't explain, they listen and search and study, eventually accepting Christ into their life.

The key, though, is that they are not perfect once they get baptized or say a prayer. They still sin. They still mess up. They still do all those "bad" things. But Jesus still saves them. He died for us, "while we were still sinners". Everything rests on what Jesus did, not what we do.

I hope your week was a blessed one, but if not, I would be happy to pray for you. Get in touch with me and I will add you to my prayers. The link to my various social media outlets are on the right-hand side of the front page of the blog. You can also leave a comment below any of the posts here if you wish.

Have a great weekend everyone! God bless!

Chorus

There is a huge chasm in the church right now as denominations dig in and refuse to work together as "members of that one body". Congregations are shrinking and no one is willing to lose one more, even if that means being insular. "Chorus" speaks about what God sees when He looks down the church, and what should be happening within it.

I know that this may be controversial, but if you look through the Word the only thing Jesus is concerned with is our devotion to Him, our acceptance of Him, and our relationship with Him. Not what denomination we are, not the works we do, not the doctrine we follow. One bride. One church.

I pray that your week has started well, and continues to be so, every moment of every day. God bless and thank you for your support!

Beyond Comprehension

I don't remember exactly where the title came from, but I think when we take a moment to sit back and REALLY think about what Jesus did for us, we can all agree that it's beyond comprehension. I don't think any of us can fully understand how God, the God of the universe, could come down to Earth as an infant, and then work Himself, literally, to death, all for love. That is a love that is beyond any of us.

However, I tried to express some of that in "Beyond Comprehension". My gratitude, my utter lack of understanding, my love for Him. He reigns, now and forever.

Matchless Redux

I posted about a poem called "Matchless" here about three weeks ago, and I talked about the inspiration for it. I was listening to some music and realized that I forgot a very important part of that.

The song "Holy" by Matt Gilman has been one of my favorites for a long time now. It's what I call a "big song" because it builds to a tremendous crescendo with the refrain of, "There is no one like you/You are holy/Holy!". It speaks directly out of the Book of Revelation about God's holiness and the majesty of heaven around Him.

So I wanted to fix my oversight from a few weeks ago, and clue you in to some great Christian music, and a little more of how my brain works when I'm writing!

New Psong

No, it's not a typo. That's really the title!

"New Psong" was written by taking lines from various Psalms (95, 96, 98, 100, or 101) and filling in between them with lines of my own. It's a lengthy poem but I love the picture of praise that it puts forth. I regularly read it at WVIHOP during our devotional set on Tuesday evenings because it fits so well with the thought of singing prayers and praying songs. And after all, God is so worthy!

So (hopefully) you noticed the huge change to the theme of the blog when you first arrived. I hope that you like the shift in style. I like the purple touches since much of my webpage is purple. The background is very soothing and unobtrusive, as well as showing off the Lord's Creation.

School starts again this week, which I am actually kind of happy about. I am hoping that soon we will settle into a really nice schedule that allows me to communicate more with all of you. I hate being out of touch.

So we shall see what the next month or so brings, and until Friday have a blessed week!

Stand

"Stand" came out of the lyrics to a Skillet song called "Awake and Alive". We are all going to have to take a stand someday. We will all face opposition from someone at some point over our faith, and we have to make a decision. Who will have our allegiance? Who will we choose? The answer has everlasting implications.

Don't forget that I would be happy to pray for anyone in need. Take advantage of one of the many ways to get ahold of me and I'll be glad to keep you in my prayers.

Have a great weekend everyone, and now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to a end of the school year party for my children! God bless!