I wrote this poem and prayer in 2012.
Prayerful
In the morning sunshine, with waves advancing
Near my feet, near my soul,
Soothing voice deep within my spirit,
I listen.
Listening to that still, powerful voice,
Each word touches me
Now, as I invite into me the words and the Spirit.
Calmly, I follow, and cease wrestling.
Elevate me from this place; place me where you will.
(c) Tom Bolton, August 5, 2012, Janesville, WI
I am again posting stanzas from my meditation on Psalm 119. I wrote this in early 2012.
I. In Judgement, Knowing
Jubilation! I know how you treat me!
As you promised, you treat me just so.
Judgement and knowledge are in your word,
and you teach me each day, because I see
your commandments as jewels.
Just then, again I thought I might wander
away from you again, but I know that in suffering, I yearned again
to hold onto your word.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in your word! Teach me.
Judged by haughty and self-righteous hedonists,
I am defamed some days, but I do best when I set these things far away and
obey what you put before me.
Jaundiced and cold, calloused really,
they don’t see me, and miss you, Lord,
but I am happy again, enriched by your word.
Joyful in the word, blessed!
Once I suffered and I learned from you:
Joy and Hope!
Judged by the measures of this fanciful society,
your words fill me more than any
Jeopardy winnings. You are my prize.
(C) 2012 Tom Bolton, Milwaukee
Re-blogged
I am having surgery at 12:30 on Thursday, and will re-post some blogs the next few days.
Today, I am preparing for surgery to have a tumor removed from my right kidney. I have been blessed that it was found early, and I have a top-notch surgeon. I am doubly blessed that many friends and members of Christ’s body have been praying for me. I believe in the power of prayer.
Here are a few thoughts that percolate in my mind as I prepare for my 12:30 pm surgery:
I am thankful that I have a wonderful wife who supports me and looks out for me;
I am feeling like somewhat of a burden to family today;
I am worried about being out of control: As often as I have tried to turn over control of my life to God, I have a really hard time being out of control; I don’t fear death, but I do fear the idea of having no control while I’m laying in the hospital;
I feel weak today;
I hate anesthesia and worry about it;
I am contemplating hearing voices while I am under anesthesia this day: Will it open me to new voices? For some reason this has been on my mind for the past month:
Can I be a good patient?
How soon can I return to work?
Can I turn over control and discernment and return to daily life when it is best to do it?
My blog will present mostly reruns this next week, and a few poems that I have written in April. I seek your prayers. I do believe in prayer. –Tom
Reflecting on Deuteronomy 29:29
Reveal These Things
I know that I don’t know, and
When I do know, I learn just
How much I do not know!
But I wish that I might know!
Show me you who are.
At the edge I know some things,
and I peer in to know more.
Again I wish to listen and be open, to
Know more.
In these struggles,
seeking to know God,
We each struggle to see our purpose.
Reveal these things!
Constrain me not by what I seek,
But reveal to me what is your will.
Know me!
You know my way!
Reveal these things.
I may yet listen quietly.
Reveal these things!
(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, 29 April 2014
New English Translation (NET)
Secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we might obey all the words of this law.
Contemplating John 15:16
Chosen
So many, I have known on this journey to find God. 
So many days, I journeyed.
So many classes, paths, and ways.
So many disciplines!
Truth is:
He finds us.
He entered our world, and loved it and loved us,
just as we are.
He is as close to us as He can be.
Truth is:
The Holy one holds us and prunes us and loves us,
lifting sin from us,
bridging gaps,
freeing us.
He brings new life,
here in this degraded world.
He loves us, and we find life in the light.
Truth is:
He finds us.
(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, 24 April 2014
I am working from Matt 22:1-4
To Know Life and To Know God
Hand in Hand
I may know life, and may know the fattened calf,
but I will not be tangled in guilt.
Rather than the needy and the unholy,
I would rather always be holy,
still knowing the mist of grace upon me.
I seek each day hope and reconciliation.
I seek real meaning, knowing the master.
Let not my ‘holiness’ be a stumbling block.
Let me be aware of His grace,
and covered by grace each day.
Let me be holy, even as it seems so hard.
Joy in the Word!
(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, 22 April 2014
Also on on Matthew: Simple Life
I was thinking about, and writing about, my faith when I wrote this in December 2012.
Hand in Hand
My Faith, fragile, Help my Faith
I believe, I believe, I believe,
I believe, and yet:
Help my unbelief today and yesterday and all this week and forever.
How can it be?
Redeemed and healed, I am often filled with joy,
And yet,
Where does this unbelief come from? Where was it hidden?
Was it hidden at all?
When this faith becomes doubtful of itself,
it stands in temptation again,
as it was in the beginning, in the edge of the garden.
Fragile in our faith, we are sorely tested
each day.
But we have not been saved by our faith. It was
God’s love—his grace—in Jesus that saves us.
It is our faith that takes us there to gaze on Jesus,
To grab hold of His grace, His forgiveness, His empowerment;
Lord, I ride my faith to return to your power.
My faith is in a great, great God.
Yet my faith can be so small;
Help me Lord.
© Tom Bolton, December 12, 2012, Milwaukee
Hopeful 