Steamer Trunk

For some idea of what's been keeping me so busy lately . . . cleaning.

Steamer Trunk

Memories packed
In crumbling packages,
Stuffed into
A basement closet.

Someone comes
To clear out the cobwebs
And stumbles upon
Years enclosed in boxes.

Someone once had
A steamer trunk
With their name carved in the side,
But who knows whose
Trunk it was;
The name has been erased by time.

Strands of Christmas lights
Arranged in cups,
She remembers her father
Made it for her mom.

Well, it's been seven years
Now since he passed,
Easily-forgotten memories
Are all we have left.

Someone once had
A hat and glove,
Someone once wore them to go out,
But now they're stained
By layers of dust,
No, no one wants to wear them now.

And isn't time
The worst enemy
Of our natural desire?
'Cause all we want
Is to always be remembered.

And maybe God
Made cobwebs and dust
To remind us this life is not about us,
'Cause one day
Someone will throw away
Our hats, our gloves, and our steamer trunks.

Someone once had
A steamer trunk
With their name carved in the side,
But who knows whose
Trunk it was;
The name has been erased by time.

Someone once had
A hat and glove,
Someone once wore them to go out,
But now they're stained
By layers of dust,
No, no one wants to wear them now.

Someone once had a steamer trunk.

Someone once had a hat and glove.

Someone once had a steamer trunk.


©2013 Mary Schieferstein

Reasons 4122-4196 today,

(Oddly enough, working on this as 10,000 Reasons is playing on the radio)

Counting whenever I get a chance,

Because it's not about me at all -

It's all about Him:

4122. His love is great, higher than the heavens (Psalm 108:4)
4123. His faithfulness reaches to the skies (Psalm 108:4)
4124. He has rejected His people (Psalm 108:11)
4125. He no longer goes out with His people's armies (Psalm 108:11)
4126. He tramples down His people's enemies (Psalm 108:13)
4127. He stands at the right hand of the needy (Psalm 108:31)
4128. He stands at the right hand of the needy to save their lives from those who would condemn them (Psalm 109:31)
4129. He makes His enemies a footstool for His feet (Psalm 110:1)
4130. He will extend His mighty scepter from Zion (Psalm 110:2)
4131. He will rule in the midst of His enemies (Psalm 110:2)
4132. His troops will be willing on His day of battle (Psalm 110:3)
4133. He has sworn (Psalm 110:4)
4134. He will not change His mind (Psalm 110:4)
4135. He is a priest forever (Psalm 110:4)
4136. He is a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4)
4137. He is at His right hand (Psalm 110:5)
4138. He will crush kings on the day of His wrath (Psalm 110:5)
4139. He will judge the nations (Psalm 110:6)
4140. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead (Psalm 110:6)
4141. He will judge the nations, crushing the rulers of the whole earth (Psalm 110:6)
4142. He will drink from a brook (Psalm 110:7)
4143. He will lift His head high (Psalm 110:7)
4144. His great works are pondered by all who delight in them (Psalm 111:2)
4145. His deeds are glorious (Psalm 111:3)
4146. His deeds are majestic (Psalm 111:3)
4147. His deeds are glorious and majestic (Psalm 111:3)
4148. His Righteousness endures forever (Psalm 111:3)
4149. He has caused His wonders to be remembered (Psalm 111:4)
4150. He provides food for those who fear Him (Psalm 111:5)
4151. He has shown His people the power of His works (Psalm 111:6)
4152. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations (Psalm 111:6)
4153. The works of His hands are faithful and just (Psalm 111:7)
4154. All His precepts are trustworthy (Psalm 111:7)
4155. The works of His hands are established for ever and ever (Psalm 111:8)
4156. All His precepts are established for ever and ever (Psalm 111:8)
4157. The works of His hands are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:8)
4158. All His precepts are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:8)
4159. He provided redemption for His people (Psalm 111:9)
4160. He ordained His covenant forever (Psalm 111:9)
4161. Holy is His Name (Psalm 111:9)
4162. Awesome is His Name (Psalm 111:9)
4163. All who follow His precepts have good understanding (Psalm 111:10)
4164. To Him belongs eternal praise (Psalm 111:10)
4165. Those who fear Him are blessed (Psalm 112:1)
4166. Those who find great delight in His commands are blessed (Psalm 112:1)
4167. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, His Name is to be praised (Psalm 113:3)
4168. His Glory is exalted above the heavens (Psalm 113:4)
4169. No one is like Him, the One who sits enthroned on high (Psalm 113:5)
4170. He sits enthroned on high (Psalm 113:5)
4171. No one is like Him, the One who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth (Psalm 113:5-6)
4172. He stoops down to look on the heavens and on the earth (Psalm 113:6)
4173. He seats the poor with princes (Psalm 113:7-8)
4174. He seats the needy with princes (Psalm 113:7-8)
4175. He seats the poor with the princes of His people (Psalm 113:7-8)
4176. He seats the needy with the princes of His people (Psalm 113:7-8)
4177. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children (Psalm 113:9)
4178. Judah became His sanctuary (Psalm 114:2)
4179. Israel became His dominion (Psalm 114:2)
4180. He turns the rock into a pool (Psalm 114:8)
4181. He turns the hard rock into springs of water (Psalm 114:8)
4182. To His Name is the Glory (Psalm 115:1)
4183. To His Name is the Glory, because of His Love and Faithfulness (Psalm 115:1)
4184. He is in heaven (Psalm 115:3)
4185. He does whatever pleases Him (Psalm 115:3)
4186. He is the help and shield of the Israelites who trust in Him (Psalm 115:9)
4187. He is the help and shield of those in the house of Aaron who trust in Him (Psalm 115:9)
4188. He is the help and shield of those who fear Him and trust in Him (Psalm 115:9)
4189. He remembers His people (Psalm 115:12)
4190. He will bless His people (Psalm 115:12)
4191. He will bless His people Israel (Psalm 115:12)
4192. He will bless the house of Aaron (Psalm 115:12)
4193. He will bless those who fear Him (Psalm 115:12)
4194. He will bless those who fear Him - small and great alike (Psalm 115:12)
4195. The highest heavens belong to Him (Psalm 115:16)
4196. The earth He has given to mankind (Psalm 115:16)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community:

Looking Back

I've been looking back this week,

Looking back on months and years past,

Chords and microphones,

My chicken scratch filling piles of composition books,

Selecting . . . and which ones?

The best?

Which ones are the best?

The ones that touch me?

The ones that inspire me?

The ones that came from my heart?

Yeah, that really narrows down the pile.

They're all like that.

(Well, almost . . . like 99.2% . . .)

I've been listening this week,

To recordings made one,

Two,

Three years ago,

Songs I wrote two to three years ago,

Just to make sure they play

After hours of fighting with Noisetrade,

Reuploading to divide my songs into albums.

I remember that they didn't turn out well,

Polished, like studio albums,

That I'm not the best at accompaniments,

Maybe not terribly great with melodies, either.

And I hate listening to my own voice,

My own recordings.

All I hear are the imperfections.

I've been looking ahead the past week,

Month,

Year,

Trying to decide what to do next,

And it's a big step

And I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous and afraid,

But maybe it's time?

I think God told me a long time ago that it is,

I'm just too stubborn, lazy, and foolish to listen.

And, in looking ahead, I've been looking back,

Typing in paragraph tags and pasting in line breaks,

Eyes skimming words that I wrote so long ago,

Words that are as familiar to me as a treasured keepsake,

Words that came, some out of simple, passing thoughts about life,

But most directly from my own pain,

My own struggles,

My own wrestleings,

My own emotions,

And I poured my heart and soul into these songs,

And I've always thought that they weren't really that good . . .



But I'm drawn to them.

These songs -

Even the first one I ever wrote -

They all mean a lot to me.

They've done more than express the feelings in my heart,

In turning around and going back, they've touched my heart,

Made me see where I was,

What I was struggling with,

How God's been faithful,

How I still have a lot to learn.

A lot to learn.

I've been looking back.

Such grace in looking back.

Reasons 4122-4164 today,

Looking back at what I've read,

Digging deeper to really understand,

Or, at least, trying to.

So much to learn.

Counting:

4122. His love is great, higher than the heavens (Psalm 108:4)
4123. His faithfulness reaches to the skies (Psalm 108:4)
4124. He has rejected His people (Psalm 108:11)
4125. He no longer goes out with His people's armies (Psalm 108:11)
4126. He tramples down His people's enemies (Psalm 108:13)
4127. He stands at the right hand of the needy (Psalm 108:31)
4128. He stands at the right hand of the needy to save their lives from those who would condemn them (Psalm 109:31)
4129. He makes His enemies a footstool for His feet (Psalm 110:1)
4130. He will extend His mighty scepter from Zion (Psalm 110:2)
4131. He will rule in the midst of His enemies (Psalm 110:2)
4132. His troops will be willing on His day of battle (Psalm 110:3)
4133. He has sworn (Psalm 110:4)
4134. He will not change His mind (Psalm 110:4)
4135. He is a priest forever (Psalm 110:4)
4136. He is a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4)
4137. He is at His right hand (Psalm 110:5)
4138. He will crush kings on the day of His wrath (Psalm 110:5)
4139. He will judge the nations (Psalm 110:6)
4140. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead (Psalm 110:6)
4141. He will judge the nations, crushing the rulers of the whole earth (Psalm 110:6)
4142. He will drink from a brook (Psalm 110:7)
4143. He will lift His head high (Psalm 110:7)
4144. His great works are pondered by all who delight in them (Psalm 111:2)
4145. His deeds are glorious (Psalm 111:3)
4146. His deeds are majestic (Psalm 111:3)
4147. His deeds are glorious and majestic (Psalm 111:3)
4148. His Righteousness endures forever (Psalm 111:3)
4149. He has caused His wonders to be remembered (Psalm 111:4)
4150. He provides food for those who fear Him (Psalm 111:5)
4151. He has shown His people the power of His works (Psalm 111:6)
4152. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations (Psalm 111:6)
4153. The works of His hands are faithful and just (Psalm 111:7)
4154. All His precepts are trustworthy (Psalm 111:7)
4155. The works of His hands are established for ever and ever (Psalm 111:8)
4156. All His precepts are established for ever and ever (Psalm 111:8)
4157. The works of His hands are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:8)
4158. All His precepts are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:8)
4159. He provided redemption for His people (Psalm 111:9)
4160. He ordained His covenant forever (Psalm 111:9)
4161. Holy is His Name (Psalm 111:9)
4162. Awesome is His Name (Psalm 111:9)
4163. All who follow His precepts have good understanding (Psalm 111:10)
4164. To Him belongs eternal praise (Psalm 111:10)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community:

All I Need to Know

Note to self:

When the homework pile waxes and sleep wanes,

When rooms feel utterly empty,

When long good-byes aren't long enough,

When part of me stays and part of me leaves,

When he pokes my exhausted body during my nap just to annoy me,

When all I say is misunderstood,

When the state of my hair is a reflection of the state of my heart

And there just aren't enough hours in a day,

And, for whatever reason, there just aren't meant to be.

Slow.

Breathe.

Ponder.

Read.

"Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD." (Psalm 107:43, NIV)

"The loving deeds of the LORD" . . .

"Loving deeds" . . .

His deeds are loving.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Yes,

At this moment,

This is all I need to know.

Reasons 4010-4121 today,

Still counting,

Holding on to all I really need to know -

Him:

4010. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make those who despised the pleasant land fall in the wilderness (Psalm 106:24-26)
4011. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make the descendants of those who despised the pleasant land fall among the nations (Psalm 106:24-27)
4012. He swore with uplifted hand that he would scatter the descendants of those who despised the pleasant land throughout the lands (Psalm 106:24-27)
4013. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make those who did not believe His promise fall in the wilderness (Psalm 106:24-26)
4014. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make the descendants of those who did not believe His promise fall among the nations (Psalm 106:24-27)
4015. He swore with uplifted hand that he would scatter the descendants of those who did not believe His promise throughout the lands (Psalm 106:24-27)
4016. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make those who grumbled in their tents fall in the wilderness (Psalm 106:25-26)
4017. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make the descendants of those who grumbled in their tents fall among the nations (Psalm 106:25-27)
4018. He swore with uplifted hand that he would scatter the descendants of those who grumbled in their tents throughout the lands (Psalm 106:25-27)
4019. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make those who did not obey Him fall in the wilderness (Psalm 106:25-26)
4020. He swore with uplifted hand that he would make the descendants of those who did not obey Him fall among the nations (Psalm 106:25-27)
4021. He swore with uplifted hand that he would scatter the descendants of those who did not obey Him throughout the lands (Psalm 106:25-27)
4022. His anger is aroused by the wicked deeds of those who yoke themselves to the Baal of Peor (Psalm 106:28-29)
4023. His anger is aroused by the wicked deeds of those who eat sacrifices offered to lifeless gods (Psalm 106:28-29)
4024. A plague breaks out among those who arouse His anger by their wicked deeds (Psalm 106:29)
4025. He is angered by rebellion against His Spirit (Psalm 106:32-33)
4026. He is angry with His people because they did not destroy the peoples as He had commanded them (Psalm 106:34-40)
4027. He abhors His inheritance because they did not destroy the peoples as He had commanded them (Psalm 106:34-40)
4028. He is angry with His people because they mingled with the nations (Psalm 106:35-40)
4029. He abhors His inheritance because they mingled with the nations (Psalm 106:35-40)
4030. He is angry with His people because they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs (Psalm 106:35-40)
4031. He abhors His inheritance because they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs (Psalm 106:35-40)
4032. He is angry with His people because they worshiped the idols of the nations (Psalm 106:35-40)
4033. He abhors His inheritance because they worshiped the idols of the nations (Psalm 106:35-40)
4034. He is angry with His people because they worshiped the idols of the nations, which became a snare to them (Psalm 106:35-40)
4035. He abhors His inheritance because they worshiped the idols of the nations, which became a snare to them (Psalm 106:35-40)
4036. He is angry with His people because they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods (Psalm 106:37-40)
4037. He abhors His inheritance because they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods (Psalm 106:37-40)
4038. He is angry with His people because they shed innocent blood (Psalm 106:38-40)
4039. He abhors His inheritance because they shed innocent blood (Psalm 106:38-40)
4040. He is angry with His people because they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters (Psalm 106:38-40)
4041. He abhors His inheritance because they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters (Psalm 106:38-40)
4042. He is angry with His people because they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan (Psalm 106:38-40)
4043. He abhors His inheritance because they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan (Psalm 106:38-40)
4044. He is angry with His people because they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood (Psalm 106:38-40)
4045. He abhors His inheritance because they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood (Psalm 106:38-40)
4046. He is angry with His people because they defiled themselves by what they did (Psalm 106:39-40)
4047. He abhors His inheritance because they defiled themselves by what they did (Psalm 106:39-40)
4048. He is angry with His people because they prostituted themselves by their deeds (Psalm 106:39-40)
4049. He abhors His inheritance because they prostituted themselves by their deeds (Psalm 106:39-40)
4050. He gave His people into the hands of the nations (Psalm 106:40-41)
4051. He gave His people into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them (Psalm 106:40-41)
4052. Many times He delivered His people (Psalm 106:43)
4053. Many times He delivered His people, but they were bent on rebellion (Psalm 106:43)
4054. Many times He delivered His people, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin (Psalm 106:43)
4055. He takes note of His people's distress (Psalm 106:44)
4056. He takes note of His people's distress, though they are bent on rebellion and wasting away in their sin (Psalm 106:43-44)
4057. He takes note of His peoples' distress when he hears their cry (Psalm 106:44)
4058. For His people's sake He remembers His covenant (Psalm 106:45)
4059. For His people's sake He remembers His covenant and out of His great love He relents (Psalm 106:45)
4060. He causes all who hold His people captive to show them mercy (Psalm 106:46)
4061. He redeems from the hand of the foe (Psalm 107:2)
4062. He gathers from the lands (Psalm 107:3)
4063. He gathers from the lands, from east and west, from north and south (Psalm 107:3)
4064. He delivers from their distress those who cry out to Him in trouble (Psalm 107:6)
4065. He leads His people by a straight way (Psalm 107:7)
4066. He leads His people to a city where they can settle (Psalm 107:7)
4067. His deeds for mankind are wonderful (Psalm 107:8)
4068. He satisfies the thirsty (Psalm 107:9)
4069. He fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9)
4070. Some sit in darkness because they rebel against His commands (Psalm 107:10-11)
4071. Some sit in darkness because they despise the plans of the Most High (Psalm 107:10-11)
4072. Some sit in utter darkness because they rebel against His commands (Psalm 107:10-11)
4073. Some sit in utter darkness because they despise the plans of the Most High (Psalm 107:10-11)
4074. Some are prisoners, suffering in iron chains because they rebel against His commands (Psalm 107:10-11)
4075. Some are prisoners, suffering in iron chains because they despise the plans of the Most High (Psalm 107:10-11)
4076. He subjects those who rebel against His commands to bitter labor (Psalm 107:11-12)
4077. He subjects those who despise His plans to bitter labor (Psalm 107:11-12)
4078. Those who rebel against His commands stumble, and there is no one there to help (Psalm 107:11-12)
4079. Those who despise His plans stumble, and there is no one there to help (Psalm 107:11-12)
4080. Those who rebelled against His commands cry out to Him in their trouble, and He saves them from their distress (Psalm 107:11-13)
4081. Those who despised His plans cry out to Him in their trouble, and He saves them from their distress (Psalm 107:11-13)
4082. Those who rebelled against His commands cry out to Him in their trouble, and He brings them out of darkness (Psalm 107:11-14)
4083. Those who despised His plans cry out to Him in their trouble, and He brings them out of darkness (Psalm 107:11-14)
4084. Those who rebelled against His commands cry out to Him in their trouble, and He brings them out of the utter darkness (Psalm 107:11-14)
4085. Those who despised His plans cry out to Him in their trouble, and He brings them out of the utter darkness (Psalm 107:11-14)
4086. Those who rebelled against His commands cry out to Him in their trouble, and He breaks away their chains (Psalm 107:11-14)
4087. Those who despised His plans cry out to Him in their trouble, and He breaks away their chains (Psalm 107:11-14)
4088. He breaks down gates of bronze (Psalm 107:16)
4089. He cuts through bars of iron (Psalm 107:16)
4090. Those who cry to Him in their trouble, He saves from their distress (Psalm 107:19)
4091. He sends out His word and heals those who cry to Him in their trouble (Psalm 107:19-20)
4092. He rescues from the grave those who cry to Him in their trouble (Psalm 107:19-20)
4093. His deeds in the deep are wonderful (Psalm 107:24)
4094. He speaks and stirs up a tempest (Psalm 107:25)
4095. He speaks and stirs up a tempest that lifts high the waves (Psalm 107:25)
4096. Those who cry out to Him in their trouble, He brings out of their distress (Psalm 107:28)
4097. He stills the storm to a whisper (Psalm 107:29)
4098. He stills the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea are hushed (Psalm 107:29)
4099. He guides those who cry out to Him in their trouble to their desired haven (Psalm 107:28-30)
4100. He turns rivers into a desert (Psalm 107:33)
4101. He turns flowing springs into thirsty ground (Psalm 107:33)
4102. He turns fruitful land into a salt waste (Psalm 107:33-34)
4103. He turns rivers into a desert because of the wickedness of those who live there (Psalm 107:33)
4104. He turns flowing springs into thirsty ground because of the wickedness of those who live there (Psalm 107:33)
4105. He turns fruitful land into a salt waste because of the wickedness of those who live there (Psalm 107:33-34)
4106. He turns the desert into pools of water (Psalm 107:35)
4107. He turns the parched ground into flowering springs (Psalm 107:35)
4108. He brings the hungry to live where He turned the desert into pools of water (Psalm 107:35-36)
4109. He brings the hungry to live where He turned the parched ground into flowing springs (Psalm 107:35-36)
4110. He blesses the hungry He brought to live where he turned the desert into pools of water (Psalm 107:35-38)
4111. He blesses the hungry He brought to live where he turned the parched ground into flowing springs (Psalm 107:35-38)
4112. He blesses the hungry He brought to live where he turned the desert into pools of water, and their numbers greatly increase (Psalm 107:35-38)
4113. He blesses the hungry He brought to live where he turned the parched ground into flowing springs, and their numbers greatly increase (Psalm 107:35-38)
4114. He does not let the herds of the hungry He brought to live where he turned the desert into pools of water diminish(Psalm 107:35-38)
4115. He does not let the herds of the hungry He brought to live where he turned the parched ground into flowing springs diminish (Psalm 107:35-38)
4116. He pours contempt on nobles (Psalm 107:40)
4117. He made the hungry He brought to live where he turned the desert into pools of water wander in a trackless waste (Psalm 107:35-40)
4118. He made the hungry He brought to live where he turned the parched ground into flowing springs wander in a trackless waste (Psalm 107:35-40)
4119. He lifts the needy out of their affliction (Psalm 107:41)
4120. He increases the families of the needy like flocks (Psalm 107:41)
4121. His deeds are loving (Psalm 107:43)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community: