God is Sovereign
Of the universe
And of my kitchen sink--
Not just my future
But here, where I think,
Of the plans I make
And the tasks I do--
The small with the large
Is all the same to You
And that brinks me comfort
Along with responsibility,
Knowing You reign
Sovereign over all
Large and small
There and then,
Here and now,
The universe,
My home.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Working, Waiting, Watching
I remember when we were much younger and we traveled to see family, my sister and I would continue to as, Are we there yet? And our patient parents would reply, No, not yet; after you read a while, we'll be there. How much more Mary and Joseph may have wondered at the time their journey took. Now, between Advents, we look with wonder: How long, o Lord?
Working, Waiting, Watching
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
Time is a package to be opened with care,
To not be used up too quickly or let into thin air.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
Time goes so quickly with each passing breath,
One less beat of the heart, one less beat.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
How were those days Mary and Joseph labored
To travel from here to there over difficult terrain.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Joseph may have watched Mary more than the trail,
May have wished to take the labor's pain.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Mary, on donkey or foot, watched and waited,
Joseph, no doubt on foot, worked and walked, watched and waited.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Over the terrain in some amount of pain walking,
Stumbling perhaps but moving.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Would they get to Bethlehem before the birth?
Would there be room, even on packed earth?
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
The angels kept the shepherds in sight,
Poised to messenger on the coming night.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
The shepherds were diligent to work, to wait, to watch,
Little imagining they'd see the Lamb of Israel.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
Between that First Advent and the Second,
We wait which we work and we too watch.
(Even so, come!)
Working, Waiting, Watching
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
Time is a package to be opened with care,
To not be used up too quickly or let into thin air.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
Time goes so quickly with each passing breath,
One less beat of the heart, one less beat.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
How were those days Mary and Joseph labored
To travel from here to there over difficult terrain.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Joseph may have watched Mary more than the trail,
May have wished to take the labor's pain.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Mary, on donkey or foot, watched and waited,
Joseph, no doubt on foot, worked and walked, watched and waited.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Over the terrain in some amount of pain walking,
Stumbling perhaps but moving.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching;
Would they get to Bethlehem before the birth?
Would there be room, even on packed earth?
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
The angels kept the shepherds in sight,
Poised to messenger on the coming night.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
The shepherds were diligent to work, to wait, to watch,
Little imagining they'd see the Lamb of Israel.
Working and waiting, waiting and watching,
Between that First Advent and the Second,
We wait which we work and we too watch.
(Even so, come!)
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Advent Poem: After Gabriel's Visit
How strange those months must have been
For Mary and her family.
No wonder she went to visit Elizabeth;
Who else could sympathize?
And then the news.
She and Joseph would have to travel . . .
To Bethlehem.
And then.
Did she know then would be then?
And when did she first feel
Life within?
Life which chose to be contained.
How strange that Grace
Would choose to come in such a common form
Yet
In such an uncommon manner.
How strange those months must have been
For Mary and her family.
No wonder she went to visit Elizabeth;
Who else could sympathize?
And then the news.
She and Joseph would have to travel . . .
To Bethlehem.
And then.
Did she know then would be then?
And when did she first feel
Life within?
Life which chose to be contained.
How strange that Grace
Would choose to come in such a common form
Yet
In such an uncommon manner.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Always Pertinent Selections from Proverbs
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 13:3
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Proverbs 18:13
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
Proverbs 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 13:3
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Proverbs 18:13
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
Proverbs 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Abram, Sarai, and Lot
At the beginning of what we know as Genesis 12, we have the remarkable call of Abram by God, but by the end of that chapter, we have Abram being chided by Pharaoh of Egypt for dishonesty which was caused by unbelief. The sad story ends this way: "And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him [Abram], and they sent him away with his wife, and all that he had." (12:20).
In chapters 13 and 14, we see Abram interacting with his nephew Lot. God had seen to it that both men had prospered "So that the land could not support both of them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock" (13:6-7a). Abram graciously permits Lot to choose which part of the land to dwell in. We observe Lot's choice in chapter 13, which seems completely understandable. But in chapter 14, and again in chapters 18 and 19, Lot's choice turns out to have farther reaching consequences than anyone could imagine.
Interestingly, in chapter 13 we learn this: "The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him [emphasis added] 'Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land than you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever'" (13:14). Again God commits Himself to fulfilling His covenant with Abram.
The vignette in chapter 14 may foreshadow the events of chapters 18 and 19, though here not only Lot but all he possessed was rescued by Abram and his associates, whereas when Lot is rescued from Sodom the next time, only he and his immediate family will be spared.
How did Lot come to such a sad end as chapters 18 and 19 reveal? He'd had the benefit of living with his godly uncle and aunt, and profited financially to the point where he had to separate from them. Yet he made one choice which led to others, moving toward and then into Sodom. His reputation with the residents of Sodom was mixed at best. Those who came to take the angels were unappeased by his position in the community. His would-be sons-in-law thought he was joking about the imminent destruction. His wife looked back and was destroyed. His daughters would take advantage of his weaknesses and bear sons by him incestuously. The sons they bore were to become the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites--who became enemies of the descendants of Abram.
Abram and Sarai had weaknesses of their own which would also lead to tragedy.
At the beginning of what we know as Genesis 12, we have the remarkable call of Abram by God, but by the end of that chapter, we have Abram being chided by Pharaoh of Egypt for dishonesty which was caused by unbelief. The sad story ends this way: "And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him [Abram], and they sent him away with his wife, and all that he had." (12:20).
In chapters 13 and 14, we see Abram interacting with his nephew Lot. God had seen to it that both men had prospered "So that the land could not support both of them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock" (13:6-7a). Abram graciously permits Lot to choose which part of the land to dwell in. We observe Lot's choice in chapter 13, which seems completely understandable. But in chapter 14, and again in chapters 18 and 19, Lot's choice turns out to have farther reaching consequences than anyone could imagine.
Interestingly, in chapter 13 we learn this: "The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him [emphasis added] 'Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land than you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever'" (13:14). Again God commits Himself to fulfilling His covenant with Abram.
The vignette in chapter 14 may foreshadow the events of chapters 18 and 19, though here not only Lot but all he possessed was rescued by Abram and his associates, whereas when Lot is rescued from Sodom the next time, only he and his immediate family will be spared.
How did Lot come to such a sad end as chapters 18 and 19 reveal? He'd had the benefit of living with his godly uncle and aunt, and profited financially to the point where he had to separate from them. Yet he made one choice which led to others, moving toward and then into Sodom. His reputation with the residents of Sodom was mixed at best. Those who came to take the angels were unappeased by his position in the community. His would-be sons-in-law thought he was joking about the imminent destruction. His wife looked back and was destroyed. His daughters would take advantage of his weaknesses and bear sons by him incestuously. The sons they bore were to become the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites--who became enemies of the descendants of Abram.
Abram and Sarai had weaknesses of their own which would also lead to tragedy.
Friday, June 5, 2009
observations on Genesis part 1
Genesis
Because Every Woman's Grace is scheduled to study Joseph in the fall, Joshua in the winter, and Daniel in the spring of this coming year, we have been encouraged to do some background reading during the summer. I am among a number who are reading the book of Genesis, and no doubt rereading it, now. I have seen things I missed before. And so I am going to post my observations here and elsewhere over the summer.
When God confronted Adam and Eve after they fell, who did they blame? Adam blamed God--the woman who you gave to me--and Eve blamed the serpent; neither took any responsibility at that time. How often do I blame shift?
When God warned Cain, did he hear the warning? Obviously not. And Abel trusted Cain, which led to murder of Abel by Cain. When God gave Cain the opportunity to come clean, what was Cain's response? "Am I my brother's keeper?" How hard was his heart already? And when God banished Cain, even then he was more concerned for his own skin than the effect of all of this on his parents. How often do I worry more about myself than the consequences of my sin on others?
And Abraham and Sarah--how complicated their lives were! More on them next
Because Every Woman's Grace is scheduled to study Joseph in the fall, Joshua in the winter, and Daniel in the spring of this coming year, we have been encouraged to do some background reading during the summer. I am among a number who are reading the book of Genesis, and no doubt rereading it, now. I have seen things I missed before. And so I am going to post my observations here and elsewhere over the summer.
When God confronted Adam and Eve after they fell, who did they blame? Adam blamed God--the woman who you gave to me--and Eve blamed the serpent; neither took any responsibility at that time. How often do I blame shift?
When God warned Cain, did he hear the warning? Obviously not. And Abel trusted Cain, which led to murder of Abel by Cain. When God gave Cain the opportunity to come clean, what was Cain's response? "Am I my brother's keeper?" How hard was his heart already? And when God banished Cain, even then he was more concerned for his own skin than the effect of all of this on his parents. How often do I worry more about myself than the consequences of my sin on others?
And Abraham and Sarah--how complicated their lives were! More on them next
The Challenge of Being Strong
The Challenge of Being Strong
The challenge of being strong
Comes at each all life long,
Comes as a tempter,
Comes as a gift,
Comes and coils itself around a life until
There is no life left,
Comes portraying itself as sovereignly desirable,
Comes costing all while leaving ashes,
Comes costing and destroying and comes
Guileful,
Bashful,
Witty,
Deadly,
The challenge of being strong
The challenge of being strong
Comes at each all life long,
Comes as a tempter,
Comes as a gift,
Comes and coils itself around a life until
There is no life left,
Comes portraying itself as sovereignly desirable,
Comes costing all while leaving ashes,
Comes costing and destroying and comes
Guileful,
Bashful,
Witty,
Deadly,
The challenge of being strong
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