~ denise marie | poetry

[nolongerheldcaptive]

To lament…

“There is a kind of joy that doesn’t wait for sorrow to leave before it arrives”. I’ve been learning that lament and joy can exist in the same breath. One carries the weight of what has been lost, the other gently reminds me that not everything has been lost. Lament gives  me permission to tell God the truth and joy reminds me that He is still with me in that truth. Some days, my prayers are…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

There is something waiting for you today….

You don’t have to look for His presence. He is already surrounding you, in the warmth of the sun, the sway of the trees, the song of the birds, and the quiet places within your own soul. Stay here for a while. Life is a sacred gift, it was never meant to be lived disconnected from the One who created it. This moment is enough. – denise marie “So if the son sets you free, you will be free…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

Slow your pace and take a breath…

Sometimes the best thing we can do is slow our pace and take a breath. Let the air fill your lungs,  notice the way the wind sways the trees, and the way the light finds its way through the branches. God speaks to me there,  in the quiet reminder that I am His. If your mind feels full or your heart feels tired, let this be your invitation to come back to this moment. His presence is enough…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

God meets me here…

I’m learning that, I don’t need to figure out the whole path. I only need to take the next step right in front of me. So I pause, take a deep breath and notice the breeze moving through the trees, the warmth of the sun, the birds singing, and know that creation trusts our Creator; and I believe that I too, can trust God with my life. So I let go of the pressure to have it all figured out, and I…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

Juneteenth…sacred liberation.

I imagine the first moments of hearing freedom spoken aloud after waiting generations for it, was like breath loosening in the chest after being held for way too long, that first exhale brought a feeling of sudden, overwhelming physical relief.  Juneteenth calls me to dwell in that sacred moment of liberation and to honor the courage, resilience and faith of those who held onto hope. It reminds…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

Goodness & Mercy…follows me.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” – Psalm 23:6 There is something deeply grounding about this promise. Not that life will always be easy, but that God’s goodness and mercy are already moving with me. They are not distant, or waiting for me to earn them, but they are present in this breath, in this moment, in the steady rhythm of my heart. As I inhale, I…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

Be still and know…

Today, I place my hand over my heart and remember that God is here. I notice my breath moving in and out. I feel my feet connected to the ground beneath me. I pay attention to the places that feel tight, weary, or guarded, and instead of fighting them, I offer them compassion. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. As I breathe deeply and turn my attention toward God’s presence, my…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

Joy….

Joy is an inside work. A gift from God that can exist even when life feels uncertain. It grows when we become rooted in truth instead of outcomes, and when we trust God’s presence more than we trust our circumstances. When we remember that our worth is not determined by who stays, who leaves, who understands us, or who doesn’t. People will disappoint us, seasons will change and life will stretch…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

To move with intention…

I am learning to move with intention,  grounded, aware, and open to the beauty around me. God, I trust You here, in my breath and in my becoming. – denise marie  “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

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Restores my soul…

God, Creator of all things, He restores me. He brings my mind into stillness,  He settles my body into rest, and He anchors me in what is real and unshaken. I am not lost, I am being restored, my breath is steady, my thoughts are clear, and my nervous system is safe in His care. I don’t have to perform, or reach for something that is unattainable, God is attentive to me, He is present with me,…

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It’s not too late…

It’s not too late. I know sometimes it feels that way when life has stretched you thin, when grief sits heavy in your chest, or when you look around and wonder how so much time has passed while you were simply trying to survive. And if that is where you are right now, I just want you to know, there is still space for your life to bloom again.  There is still beauty ahead for you, still…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

Moving with intention…

I am learning to move with intention,  grounded, aware, and open to the beauty around me.  God, I trust You here,  in my breath and in my becoming. – denise marie  “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

[nolongerheldcaptive]

The gift of now…

There is a quiet joy that rises when I finally slow down enough to notice where I am. Right here, in this breath, in this moment, in the soft, ordinary beauty that surrounds me. It’s the way trees sway like they’re whispering a gentle reminder, you don’t have to rush your way through your own life. It’s the sound of my breath returning home to my body. It’s the simple holiness of noticing…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

God’s presence…

There is a sacred freedom that unfolds when I rest in God’s presence. In His nearness, the need to perform or prove myself fades. The masks come off, the striving ceases and I begin to breathe again, deeply and honestly. I’m learning that returning home to self and to God, is freedom. It’s the soul remembering who it’s always been…Here, I am defined by love.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is,…

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God is my source…

There’s a stillness that comes when I remember who sustains me. When I stop stressing and start trusting, I find peace that doesn’t depend on my circumstances.  God is the source of my strength, my provision and calm. His presence grounds me and my soul exhales. – denise marie  “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

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A sacred surrender….

It’s in the stillness where I’ve met God most intimately, in the raw, unfiltered spaces where I have nothing left to offer but my honesty. I’ve learned that healing isn’t found in rushing to fix what’s broken or pretending the pain didn’t happen. It’s a slow unraveling, a sacred surrender. It’s the way my spirit leans into His presence when I don’t understand, and in this space, is where I find…

[nolongerheldcaptive]

The simple things…

There’s something sacred about the simple things that fill my days with quiet joy, a reminder that peace is created, moment by moment. In these still spaces, I breathe easier. My home becomes a sanctuary, a place where my soul exhales. I find joy in tending to what’s living around me and within me. These simple rituals, aren’t found in doing more, but in being present to the beauty already…