Smooth words
Wily words
Twisty words
Enticing words
“Draw you in” words
Honey and treacle words
Not quite right words
Reptile words
True words
Honest words
Loving words
Correcting words
“Life” words
Healing words
Restoring words
Eternal Word
A reflection on Psalm 91
Sagrada Familia
I have …
… a God who covers his children
like a mother hen,
and whose feathers
become a fortress that is
a refuge from danger,
evil
and all that destroys.
… a God who lifts me up
beyond the harm
and hatred swirling ’round me.
… a God who gathers me
in his arms
and gives me
more,
far more,
than I deserve.
… a God
whose son is,
right now,
busy making a home for me,
forever.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. Micah 5:2, 4 “
Promises, promises.
Human vows –
some come true
and others fade to empty words.
Promises, promises.
God’s divine pledges
are fulfilled
beyond measure:
From the small and weak
the Saviour will come.
The Satan crusher
and death slayer
will arrive as an infant.
And the healer and miracle worker
as a man from David’s family.
Promises, Promises.
The king came to a country inn.
The victory was won
on a crude wooden cross.
Promises, promises –
fulfilled.
… but the king’s return
is still to come.
There are still promises to see.
The palace:
the backyard of
a small town inn.
The throne:
a manger
The courtly attendants:
Shepherds.
The king is born!
Long live the King!
David’s throne
has reached its destiny.
In infant frailty,
the power of God.
Last Year’s Poems
Surrounded by brokenness,
holy perfection.
Oh God can you forgive us?
We sacrifice our innocents
In so many ways.
We defile their youth
with adult filth
and age them before their time.
We shake their security
with adult quarrels.
And we take their lives
far before time
for the love of ” rights” and ” freedoms”.
Oh God forgive us
for the altars to Molech
we have made
to shatter young lives.
Oh God forgive us
for emulating Herod
again,
this Christmas.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
The door of the law,
is solid, large,
immovable and closed.
We lie lifeless
Last Year’s Poems
Holy, immovable,
divine expectations
bar entry
into God’s perfect presence.
Then,
in Bethlehem
a Key was born:
the door opener –
the barrier destroyer.
The manger child
came
to throw open wide
and prepare entry
for his adopted
brothers and sisters.
And the father
will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.
The next O.T. Advent poem comes straight from Scripture. As a piece of poetry it is untouchable. As gospel, it is beyond price.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7: 13 & 14
To be slow to believe
and hard to hear
is not a new thing.
Human hearts
are not soft to
God’s miracles
and promises.
In turmoil
God pointed to hope
a King
defeater of enemies.
When all is dark
and the gloom descends
remember
a child was born,
promises fulfilled,
a King delivered.
The oil trickled
down his hair
and handsome young neck.
Before David’s kin
the Spirit plunged into his being.
A new king was made.
Another time:
A chilled night,
No oil,
but the Spirit hovered
lovingly, mightily:
The Everlasting King
was born.
Joshua:
YHWH rescues
A faithful, young
obedient leader
took God’s children
by the hand
into the land of promise
to receive their
God given
inheritance.
Jesus:
YHWH rescues
Is God
whose hands were nailed
to a tree
so that we
could receive
our God bought
inheritance.
Travels from Ur 