Expressions on Earth, as It Is in Heaven: An Anthology of Poetry and Creative Writings

By Cam Beyenberg

Expressions on eARTh, as It Is in Heaven is a collection of the poetry, creative writing, and songs by Cameron Beyenberg. It is an attempt at connecting the heart of the Creator with the hearts of Creation. It is a dream of stirring all to a deeper relationship with Christ Jesus, leading to greater creativity and artistic expression.

The heart beat of this book is to inspire and empower Christians to walk out their callings as Gods Beloved Children in all the creative ways possible. The hope is that it will stir faithful and obedient love that blesses those who are not even thought to be blessed. The author hopes that readers may be released into the fullness of Gods creative love.

Cameron has the unique ability to take the often unutterable and spiritually grand words of our life and put them on the page for us to observe the language of our hearts. This is a triumphant work of bringing both spiritual and biblical truths into direct alignment with powerfully intimate creativity.

Pastor Fraser Venter, MDiv, Lead Pastor at Cucamonga Christian Fellowship

Cameron is a deep thinker; he writes through the kingdom lenses of grace, mercy, and scandalous love, giving practical insights from his lifes experiences. The poetic songs and writings will draw you right into the very presence of the heart of God.

Dr. Dave Collins, Wagner Leadership Institute, Claremont Healing Rooms

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490865997

Cam Beyenberg

Cameron Beyenberg is a beloved son of the Most High King, a husband to the most amazing and beautiful woman in the world, a Pastor at Cucamonga Christian Fellowship, a Fuller Seminary Theology student, a sports fanatic, a burrito enthusiast, and writes some poetry on the side.

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Copyright © 2015 Cameron Beyenberg.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6598-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6600-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6599-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900479

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/20/2015

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Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Foreword by John Shepherd

Foreword by Jake Hamilton

Introduction

1.   Abbie

2.   Abide in Me

3.   all things New.

4.   Aroma.

5.   art in the eARTh

6.   awakening

7.   beautiful hunger

8.   Blessing over the Self

9.   Breath

10. Confession

11. Correction.

12. Criticism

13. crop circles

14. definitions

15. delight

16. Dry Bones and Writing Stones.

17. Emmanuel

18. exchange

19. Excuse me.

20. Father, You Amaze me

21. feeling numbless

22. Fierce.

23. finishing

24. generation

25. God’s Artwork

26. grace.

27. Gratitude.

28. Heart and Mind

29. He Fasted His Life

30. He is Risen, Love is Here

31. Hosanna Indeed!

32. House Structures

33. How to Slay Your Dragon

34. Humility is Authority

35. i am found!

36. i am His legend

37. identity

38. image of forgiveness

39. integrity

40. instrumentals

41. Intersection.

42. it’s days like this

43. it is finished

44. Jesus, You are Everywhere

45. keys

46. kingdom dreams

47. life and death

48. logos

49. love

50. love is…

51. love is blood

52. Mama’s Day

53. maranatha

54. marriage

55. May I have your attention?

56. mystery awaits

57. nazarite’s cry

58. Not My Will but Yours Be Done

59. oneness

60. perplexed not in despair.

61. Perspective

62. Photograph.

63. pride

64. prayer poem - EC

65. prayer poem - mags

66. prayer poem - jg

67. prodigals

68. progress : anger management

69. Promise Keeper

70. prophetic poem: doubt

71. Psalm 47

72. pursuit

73. REfocus

74. reformation

75. reputation

76. road maps

77. rock

78. ROOtED

79. sidewalk prophet

80. sixth sensing

81. surface level

82. testimony

83. That’s My Bridegroom

84. the great masquerade

85. this song

86. time is on my side

87. u.n.c.o.n.d.i.t.i.o.n.a.l. l.o.v.e.

88. visionaries of grace.

89. voices

90. vows

91. wars

92. we are His tribe

93. what’s rising in you?

94. Where’s Your Heart?

95. wittingly washed

96. Word.

97. Worthy is the Lamb

98. write.

99. you are not your own

100. Youths

Epilogue

About the Author

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Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my best friend, my beloved, my bride, my wife, and my way-better half: my amazing Abigail. Your friendship, support, covenant keeping and love in our marriage is beyond words beautiful and creative. You inspire me to write, to dream bigger, to love Jesus more, to seek the Father more, to be more present with Holy Spirit, and to create with our Creator. Thank you for showing me creativity and a life that looks like the poem that God calls us and is writing us out to be. Thank you for illustrating the portrait and canvas of the most Famous Artist we know. You are a breath of fresh air in each moment and I love you. Thank you for always calling me to never limit who God is, and what God can and will do in us and through us.

I am stoked to see what God has in store for us and can’t wait to experience it all with you. Thank you. I love you.

"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;

I recite my composition concerning the King;

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

- Psalm 45:1 (NKJV)

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Acknowledgement

I would primarily like to acknowledge the source and reason for this book: The Lord. The Father and Creator who has placed the creativity of love in my heart. The Lord and Savior, the Humble King, Christ Jesus of Nazareth, who has pursued me, died for me, raised me up with Him, and seats me in heavenly places to think like He thinks. The Present and Truth-giving Holy Spirit, who empowers me to recognize that He is always present. Without God, this book, these writings, even writing itself would not exist. Thank you Abba.

With an overwhelmed and abundantly grateful heart, I would like to thank all who contributed in the process of this book’s publication. This includes all who have had an impact on me in the realm of creativity from schooling, families, the Church, musicians, artists, etc. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all who believed in me in every season of my life, to all who never gave up on me, to all who laid down their lives to help me forward: thank you. I would like to thank all who contributed in prayer covering and intercession for this book and the impact of the book: thank you. I agree with your prayers and ask for stirring, shaping, and hope in each reader.

I would like to thank all who gave financially to this book whether this be indirectly through buying of meals or gas for me, or directly through my fundraising specifically for the publication process. I would like to thank by name those who donated financially: Shane Favinger, Sarah Sonders, Eric McPherson, The Gutierrez Family, Melody Karpinski, The Neilson Family, The Mitchell Family, Dan Fisher, The McKelvey Family, Wes and Jan Ashmore, The Shepherd Family, Rob Rugen, Tricia Jacobs, Vickie Clark-McLaurin, Karen and Lance Asbra, Dean and Diana Rosco, Aaron LaBare, Meg Van Dran, Jennie McFarlane, The Venter Family, Chris Martinez, Juan Moriel, David Myers, Dr. Scott Lee, Cheri and Dan Coleman, and my wife.

Thank you to Pastor Fraser Venter and Pastor Dave Collins for being fathers and mentors to me in this process. You amaze me with your loving kindness and your intentional care for Abbie and myself. Thank you.

I would finally like to acknowledge the two men who have placed forewords and their words into this book: John and Jake. Thank you for taking the time, not only to write, but to invest into my life, to inspire me to create, and to love me and support me in all my dreams. I am blessed to call you fathers, mentors, and friends. Thank you.

With the deepest of gratitude and the most heartfelt love, thank you. You have made my dreams reality. You have loved me wonderfully and uniquely. You have been the answer to prayers and the one’s the Father has used in loving and blessing me to love and bless others. I am so honored and just want to say thank you.

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Foreword

Cam would like to spend some time with us, my wife said. That’s nice. But I don’t think I really need to spend any time with our daughter’s boyfriend, I replied. Oh, I think we do. I think he has…intentions. Intentions? Serious intentions, she said. I think you might want to get your house in order. Silence. I think he’s going to ask you for our daughter’s hand! A quick search of the internet — (questions to ask your prospective son-in-law) and yikes… I realize …I’m not ready to be the father of the bride. (I’m still recovering from being a father. The day Nina’s water broke —well in advance of her due date—she announced that I should take her to the hospital immediately. But…but… I’ve got two more weeks!)

Babies, sons-in-law, God — often show up unexpectedly. Life surprises us, sometimes shocking us — waking us up from our dream-state…forcing us to face the light, to come alive.

Cameron Beyenberg has that effect on people. He’s surprising, shocking, his words may even offend you if you listen closely enough… it’s what good art, is good at. Disruptive and unpredictable – it provokes and challenges us until we run to the internet… or realize we need to get our house in order. Inspired art takes us to a higher place, giving us a new understanding of our role in the world. No longer am I just a father, suddenly I am father of the bride. No longer just a reader of poetry — I am now a poet, and my life revealed to be poetic.

How did I underestimate this tattooed musician who so captured my daughter’s heart? How could I have so misjudged this unassuming upstart— this image bearer of the Almighty, cleverly disguised as an ordinary grad student?

Perhaps because his work, the words herein are the divine weapons of an even greater Warrior Poet who pursues each of us — relentlessly, with a love that will not let go. With whispers that speak of Beautiful Hunger and of being Fierce, songs that not only call, but convict – like Where’s Your Heart…and The Great Masquerade.

Robert Farrar Capon states We were given appetites, not to consume the world and forget it, but to taste it’s goodness and hunger to make it great.

Cameron and Abbie are not consumers — they are those who hunger and thirst to make our world better through imaging Christ in all they do.

One of the questions I asked my future son-in-law, the day Cam asked for Abbie’s hand, was Will she become more godly for having married you? When you meet God in heaven will He say that my daughter, my grandchildren, are better for having loved you?

Cameron — your words contained in this anthology, and your actions in life answer those questions clearly. And I find I am a better father, we are a better family, for knowing you.

It’s a terrifying and, at the same time, amazing thing to fall into the hands of the living God, to find oneself completely wrecked by His love. Christ’s presence in and on these pages has that power and potential.

Thank you Cam and Abbie for having the courage to listen up, to write down, to speak out (loud) — this blessing you have released to the world.

Thank you for expressing Christ unashamedly, and for encouraging each of us to taste and see that the Lord is good… that we might hunger to be fearless, fellow image bearers.

May all who read be inspired to use their gifts to bless others as you have blessed us.

Gentle reader…Cam would like to spend some time with us.

John Shepherd

October 2014

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Foreword

There is a dream in the heart of every human being who was ever born.

It was put there by their Father.

This dream is the same for everyone, to live in the fullness they were created for.

"But, what was I created for?" (You might ask)

Every human being on planet earth was created with purpose, identity, and destiny.

"Okay, so what is my purpose, identity, and destiny?" (You might be a little eager to know)

It’s how we play pretend when we are young and how we choose a college and a career as we grow. We are searching, always searching, for these three things from the day we are born until the day we die. But, if we could just learn to go back to the source of our creation we might find it a lot easier to make some of life’s most important decisions. You see, the sovereign will of God for all of us is the same. No matter how rich you are or how poor you are, no matter what color, race or creed, no matter your size, your passions or personality, we were all hard wired to live in the same reality laid out in front of us by our Father. You can choose a job, or a task, or a mate, you can make bad choices or good ones but the will of God is the same for all of us whether you call Jesus Lord or not. You were created to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength.

But like all things, there is a catch.

You can’t Love God until you know that you are Loved by God. Its how love works. All of Love is a response towards love. Marriages separate all the time because of irreconcilable differences which is simply another way of saying, I don’t feel loved which in turn means I won’t love until I feel loved. But heres the beautiful part: in life we are always first the object before any good work or deed or behavior, we are Loved. We are all children of the same Father who is in heaven who calls us by our name and loves us as we are, not that we should stay as we are, but that we should pursue the likeness of the one who loves us so intimately. There is no demands, only invitations and those who know His voice will always respond.

So what’s the point?

There is a dream in the heart of every human being who was ever born. The dream is to know that we are loved, to live in that love, and respond to that love for all the days of our life. It is where we find our purpose, our identity, and our destiny. We were created for Love that is our sole purpose, to be jewels in the hands of an All Loving Father. We are His objects of affection from which His gaze is never lifted. Our identity is found in Him alone as His children, perfectly loved, provided for, and protected. Our identity is never found in what we do but who we are. What we do will change with different seasons of life and different opportunities afforded to us by circumstance and decisions we make. That leads us to destiny, what we are living for beyond today. When we know we are loved and that our identity is found in who we are, not what we do, we will begin to make decisions based on what pleases our Father and gives Him the most glory not what pleases us and what will be better for us. We will begin to take more risks because we know that failure isn’t fatal, and that falling down is just a part of the learning process. Our destiny is then found in a response to the love that has been so freely given to us. We want to honor that love, remain in that love and share that love with others using the gifts, talents and abilities given to us.

I believe that if we spend our lives dreaming about how rich we will be and how famous we will become or how big our ministry will get we create a selfish lifestyle that pleases us but does nothing to further the Kingdom of God. This love that fuels our dreams will give us life whether we find ourselves in a dead end mundane desk job for a season or standing in front of thousands who are applauding our name. We don’t want to spend our lives living in fear and doubt and shame we want to become fully alive in our skin risking it all to share the love that we have with so many others who are desperately searching for it.

This is where Creativity becomes a Reality.

You are exactly where God wanted you to be, born in the right time, in the right place, to the right family, in the right city, with the right circumstance but it takes real creativity and the right understanding of your purpose, identity and destiny to take what you have been given and see it multiplied right before your very eyes. It takes real creativity to see how your pain can inspire someone else promise. It takes real creativity to see how your weak yes can shake others from a thousand fears.

That’s why this book is important. It can inspire hundreds of more voices and can release a thousand more promises. We must know who we are and begin to dream with God about how we can take what we have today to release someone else into tomorrow. Don’t give up. Dream for something more than finances and fame. Dream about a life without fear and how that life can release others. This book is a sign and a wonder put together by one life that said, "YES! Let Cameron’s YES! inspire you to say, YES!" in ways you never thought possible.

You are Royalty.

You have Destiny.

You have been Set Free.

You’re going to shape History.

You are going to Change the World.

- Jake Hamilton

October 2014

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Introduction

As I begin on this journey of writing, I want to begin with two stories.

The first story is from a season in my life in which I was interning at Refuge House of Prayer in the 2008 summer. During one of our prayer meetings I was approached by another intern (Meg Van Dran) who told me that the Lord had told them to give me $20. Immediately, I said, No. Now before you judge me, I knew that this person was in a tough season financially and I did not want them to go into a deeper place of fiscal turmoil by giving me $20 (of which would be a nice blessing, however I was in stable place financially). This fellow intern argued with me asking me to please receive her gracious gift, to which I was, in retrospect, denying in false humility.

During our debating, a staff member (Josh Miko) entered into the conversation (by the grace of God) to help diffuse what he thought was conflict in the interns. However, as he learned of the situation he calmly looked at me and said, Cameron, you’re wrong. Baffled I looked at him with obvious disgust, thinking, What does this guy know!? I asked him why I was wrong and he responded with something that shook me to core. He said, Cameron, if you don’t receive her blessing, you are robbing her of her blessing.

Now everything was clear to me, both of these people were crazy. However, to my utter dissent, he continued stating that I was robbing of her a blessing. I took the $20 reluctantly and not until recently did I understand the depth of this situation and what God was trying to reveal to my thick head and heart.

The second story happened in May of 2014 after a worship service at my home congregation, Cucamonga Christian Fellowship. We were in the middle of a preaching series titled Heart Check based off of Matthew 13 and the parable of the sower. The series was constructed by our head pastor to give our congregation members space to reflect deeply upon the soil of their hearts. During one week, my head pastor, Fraser Venter, asked me to read a poem which is in this collection called Where is Your Heart? It just so happened that this poem which I had written in January of the same year resurfaced during a pivotal time in the series. I was honored and privileged to read the poem during both worship services, and received many positive and deeply warming comments.

After service I was chatting with Pastor Fraser, and he said something to me, that again, shook me to the core. He said, So. . . when are you going to publish your poetry? At first what I thought was internal I then realized was an external laugh. ME? HA! I gave back to him. He said, Cameron, you’re stuff is incredible. It’s deeply moving and it’s a blessing. I think I laughed again, but this time it was definitely an internal giggle. I then jeered, With all my free time I will publish these poems, almost as if I was getting away with staying inside the comfort zone of my heart’s content. He then said in all seriousness, "Well my friend, you will only be robbing the world of the blessing that will come from your works. No pressure or anything."

We