Marlene Taylor

Richmond, VA, USA

I am one of seven children. I was a loner as a child. I was seldom ever found playing with my siblings. My mother usually found me sitting alone looking up into what some believed was space, having kinky hair with what looked to be a sad face. But within me, I knew that above those clouds there was a place. Holes in my shoes, feeling the blues. But somehow I knew my dreams would come true. As a child, I did not understand the visions and dreams that I would have. All I knew was that there was a powerful presence surrounding me. At the time I did not know Him personally. Though it was the beginning of my faith, that would strengthen over the years. If I would continue to believe from my heart. Even during my family hardships, struggles, teary eyes during night cries, a peaceful presence from within allowed me to envision blue skies. Through the Lord during the midst of these times, my mother was able to instill morals, principles and to give family ties. Often older folks would say to my mother, that I was a child who was wise. Around the age of 7, I experienced an extreme tragedy that only the Lord could have brought me out of. I witnessed my father tragically trying to take my mother's life. By shooting her twice in the head with a sawed-off rifle. He then ended his own life. My mother is still living and is now 55. She is truly a miracle of God. Unlike some, I recovered. It is only by the Grace of God that I did. And today I'm trying with all I know how, to lift up the Glory and Praise of my Lord and Savior: JESUS CHRIST. God is love, life and light; He showed His love through life itself. He sent His son our Lord and Savior; the light of life, to place in our lives His Holy Spirit, the light of eternal life.

I'm Like All Others

Like the sky that doesn't know whether it will be blue or gray,
but yet it's there.
Like the sun that doesn't know whether it will rise or set, but
yet it rise.
Like the moon that doesn't know when it will appear, but yet it
appears.
Like the star that doesn't know whether it will twinkle alone,
but yet it twinkles.
Like a drop of rain that doesn't know where it will drop, but yet
it drops.
Like the wind that doesn't know in which direction it will blow,
but yet it blows.
Like a flower that doesn't know whether it will wither or bloom,
but yet it blooms.
Like a tree that doesn't know whether it will grow big or small,
but yet it grows.
Like the air that we breathe that we can't see, but yet it's
there.
I'm like all other origins of every generation, I will not bow
down to any accusation that I'm some imitation or duplication,
my Being exists because of my God Almighty, the creator of this creation and His origination.

Show Me The Way

Take me by the hand and lead me.
Teach me that the Lord is the Key.
Make me believe and see and my spirit will be the best that it
could be.
Don't leave me unaware that there's a place upstairs, where the
birds will fly high and there will be no planes in the sky.
Where the grass will be green and people will never grow mean,
where we all will be on God's team.
Help me to believe that it will be more than a dream.
That in the end, it will be reality to me.
Whereas, my soul will be set free.
Tell me that by getting on my knees will make God pleased.
That by bowing my head will keep me fed.
That by living in the way in which God will have me to, will
keep me as good as new.
Therefore, I would not be drawn to things that aren't true.
So that in the end, I would know that I'm a child of the Lord,
so that I would not have followed those of a fraud.
Give to me the knowledge, that it was my Lord, who died on that old rugged cross.
For a special and precious cause, so that my soul would not be
lost.
Whereas, my heart would be touched, during times I may be weakened because times are rough.
Knowing that it is His gentle hand, that leads me to understand
that He is the most Grand.
Whether at home in Heaven or on this great land, my life will not
be simply bland.
That when He returns there will be sounds of a trumpet of a band.
That when standing in a field, I would be chosen among the few,
He would be here to carry me back to the Promised Land; PARADISE,
where the skies will continue to stay blue.

A Mother and Her Love

It's as precious as a Soul, being able to bear because God chose.
Listen to a mother who knows and life will uphold, keeping you on
your toes.
A blessing word, she always told, when life's dilemmas throws you
a blow, that often left you low.
Her gentle hand caused you to stand, to fight and demand for what
God has planned for all man.
A mother can be a daughter, aunt, niece or neighbor, long as her
love is strong and able, leading one to be stable.
She places her cards on the table and dares one to change the hand, she stands firm behind her command.
When that hand was switched that she was dealt, the disobeyed child was given the belt, although there was love within her heart she still felt.
Her powerful words should always be kept in the back of one's mind,
giving you help. Yep! Yep! Yep!
A mother's love is as wide as a sea, just as the sister who God
enabled to set hundreds of slaves free.
She encourages you to strive for the best and to never settle for less.
To all mothers from the north, east, south and west, as a mother,
I urge you to continue being a mother, pushing your child to
accomplish life's test and to not fall weak to the devil's mess.
So to my mother and all the rest, I wish you the very best!

Each and Everything

Is it my imagination, as I look up in the darkness, the sparkles
of the stars, carry my mind somewhere far? There's not a train, boat nor car, in this place so far. The sun shines so brightly
even on rainy days. There's no blood shed or pain, in this place
so far away. All of the little children gather around Jesus and
play. Is it because I pray, that this place is that way or is it
because of the things I've been taught to say? Things like Glory,
Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Amen, Yes Sir, Mrs., Mr. and Ma'am.
But in the midst of it all, it's because of my Lord and Savior,
who I have found. He's so roundly profound, He causes the words
to come out of my mouth to be of a musical sound. The energy of
me, comes from within side of me, setting my Soul free, The power
of my words, are only of those I've heard, from deep inside of my
heart, my Lord's and my meeting spot. As a child, I often wondered
why I spoke these words of phases, that at the time seemed so hazy,
time and time again leaving me lazy, an inner strength dying to
come out but yet I never let come out of my mouth. It's because of
my Lord that I am now able to shout. He always led the way whether
I was willing or not, without a doubt, He would cause good things
to come about. Keeping a wretched sinner like me on His route. My
Lord is the most greatest that ever came about. It's because of
Him that I am now able to say the things I say and to Him, I give
praises to each and every day. He's the King of all Kings, joy He
brings. In His name the angels all sang. He was born here on this
Earth, a Savior long before His birth. He put before Himself, the
saving of our souls first. His healing is more greater than any
therapist, doctor or nurse. He has brought me out of ordeals that
have been of some of the worst. Testimonial words and not just of
those I've heard. He has picked me up, when I was down, has taken
me off of shaky grounds. When the devil was about to take his final
round, Satan had placed that rope around my throat. But just in
that instant, I heard my name called, it was my Lord from above,
He had spoke. He said: My child come to Me and I shall set you
free, open your eyes and make it where you can see, that your joy
is not with him but with Me. I shook my head, hallooed and cried,
it was the Holy Spirit, that lives from within side. He's the one
who saves lives. I was lost and partially blind. My Lord came
right on time and after His visit I was fine. And that joy that I
had locked up within side of me, sprung out like sunshine and
blooming flowers in the spring time. It is not me you see! Joy,
He brings, in His name the Angels all sang. He will soothe your
heart, move your feet, cause you to sing and make you scream and
right to this day I'm on His team. He's my salvation, my motivation,
there during my trials and tribulations. Gives me strength
to fight against that treacherous sin called temptation. I ran
away from my Lord for years and years, caught up in my own fears.
Thanks to my Lord, I no longer have to shed no more self-indulgent
tears, my life is now fulfilled and my dreams will come true if
they are of His Will.