We had attended a conference at our church with the focus, "Against the Grain"; I came away changed (I thought) and determined; then came a challenge.
Against the Grain
It's hard to cut against the grain because
It brings a lot of pain,
Because the cost is so high,
Because the flesh is unwilling to die.
It's hard to cut against the grain and lay the pieces another way,
It's hard to take a different direction, re-lay each piece
With patience then skill when it goes against the "old man's" will.
It's hard to cut against the grain; mere inertia calls so siren-like.
But one must so go for the Cross is there;
God's Only Son He did not spare.
Subsequent to the conference, Garry and I found ourselves involved in a situation which eventually ended humanly unresolved in December when the other person involved died suddenly.
Lord, all I can say
Lord,
All I can say is,
Thy will be done,
And say this in the confidence that
Thy will will be done,
In this as in all else,
Thy will be done.
I can say it not only in the confidence of Your omnipotence,
I can say it also in the confidence of all other characteristics
You have, You are,
Eternally
Unchanging
Sovereign,
Ruling all from Your throne,
Thy will be done, Thine alone.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Sovereign
Have you ever read a book and found your response one of discouragement? This was my experience. It would not have improved had I not thought about Who is really in control of developments at both macro and micro levels of life.
Sovereign, Sovereignty
A sovereign [noun] is one possessing or held to possess sovereignty;
One that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere;
An acknowledged leader: ARBITER
A sovereign [adjective] is defined as
Superlative in quality: EXCELLENT;
Of the most exalted kind: SUPREME;
Having generalized curative powers;
Of an unqualified nature: UNMITIGATED;
Having undisputed ascendancy: PARAMOUNT;
Possessed of supreme power;
Unlimited in extent: ABSOLUTE;
Enjoying autonomy: INDEPENDENT;
Relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a sovereign;
Synonyms see FREE
What a lot of words for sovereign [noun] and sovereign [adjective];
And yet, and yet
They only begin to describe
The Sovereign.
He is indeed arbiter/lawgiver/judge
He is in all ways excellent
He is the most supreme
He is unmitigated in holiness
He is paramount in perfection
He is absolute governor as sustainer as creator
He is independent in ways we creatures cannot conceive of
He has a freedom of which we cannot imagine
Sovereign, Sovereignty
A sovereign [noun] is one possessing or held to possess sovereignty;
One that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere;
An acknowledged leader: ARBITER
A sovereign [adjective] is defined as
Superlative in quality: EXCELLENT;
Of the most exalted kind: SUPREME;
Having generalized curative powers;
Of an unqualified nature: UNMITIGATED;
Having undisputed ascendancy: PARAMOUNT;
Possessed of supreme power;
Unlimited in extent: ABSOLUTE;
Enjoying autonomy: INDEPENDENT;
Relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a sovereign;
Synonyms see FREE
What a lot of words for sovereign [noun] and sovereign [adjective];
And yet, and yet
They only begin to describe
The Sovereign.
He is indeed arbiter/lawgiver/judge
He is in all ways excellent
He is the most supreme
He is unmitigated in holiness
He is paramount in perfection
He is absolute governor as sustainer as creator
He is independent in ways we creatures cannot conceive of
He has a freedom of which we cannot imagine
And yet, and yet,
These words only begin;
The Word is--without beginning, without end,
With control of all,
Even the most mundane of life's details,
As well as the most critical [seemingly critical].
He rules over all invisible [except to him]
He rules over all visible
He rules over all time and
Over all space and
Over all created beings and
Over all created other.
No detail escapes his notice;
No technology is beyond his grasp;
No relationships are too boring for his interest.
What comfort!
Amazing,
Grace.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Encouraging Words from Psalm 22
We see Christ quote from the first verse of Psalm 22 during His time on the cross. Later in this Psalm, we read these verses which I would suggest reflect the consequences of His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and anticipated return.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.
Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.
Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Anthem
Easter Anthem
Holy passion, wholly free
The sacrifice of Christ for me
Wholly free holy cost
The Savior for the wholly lost
------------------------------
How sweet it is to think of Christ,
And heaven in His presence,
To worship, holy, Him who died,
Who in my place was sacrificed,
That I might there have residence.
How great the agony which He felt
Who sinless here had wholly dwelt,
How immeasurable the pain
Of my sins' penalty He freely bore,
Who rightly with the Father now reigns.
How on my face I rightly fall
To worship Him, the All in All.
Holy passion, wholly free
The sacrifice of Christ for me
Wholly free holy cost
The Savior for the wholly lost
------------------------------
How sweet it is to think of Christ,
And heaven in His presence,
To worship, holy, Him who died,
Who in my place was sacrificed,
That I might there have residence.
How great the agony which He felt
Who sinless here had wholly dwelt,
How immeasurable the pain
Of my sins' penalty He freely bore,
Who rightly with the Father now reigns.
How on my face I rightly fall
To worship Him, the All in All.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
[Originally written 6 April 2007, sentiments unchanged, 21 March 2008]
Good Friday
I scanned Psalm 22 again, in keeping with this day,
And came away with these words in particular:
Yet you are holy.
What difference does that make?
When I cry out as the Psalmist and
Empty heart and empty hand,
When there is no response to my prayers
And God seems to be no where--
Yet He is holy.
When abuse for my belief in Him
Causes my faith light to grow dim,
When others say my faith is without sense,
In this I find my strength's defense--
Yet He is holy.
When I am scorned by foe and friend alike,
When feeling alone resonates, words harmful spike,
When I grow more weak and my body gives out,
In this fact I have no doubt--
Yet He is holy.
On Him alone shall I lean for my days,
To Him alone give all my praise,
To Him alone direct my thinking,
From His living water drinking--
He is holy, He alone,
Ruling from His eternal throne.
Good Friday
I scanned Psalm 22 again, in keeping with this day,
And came away with these words in particular:
Yet you are holy.
What difference does that make?
When I cry out as the Psalmist and
Empty heart and empty hand,
When there is no response to my prayers
And God seems to be no where--
Yet He is holy.
When abuse for my belief in Him
Causes my faith light to grow dim,
When others say my faith is without sense,
In this I find my strength's defense--
Yet He is holy.
When I am scorned by foe and friend alike,
When feeling alone resonates, words harmful spike,
When I grow more weak and my body gives out,
In this fact I have no doubt--
Yet He is holy.
On Him alone shall I lean for my days,
To Him alone give all my praise,
To Him alone direct my thinking,
From His living water drinking--
He is holy, He alone,
Ruling from His eternal throne.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
One August Evening
One August Evening
Written while we were still living in Illinois, in the top floor of a two-flat which was built around the time of the War to End All Wars. I rarely think in a straight line so one observation of some temporal situation often leads to something I hope more eternal in significance. In this instance, it is Ephesians 5:8-15. I will wait while you read that before you read the following. Ready?
One August Evening
Muggy Monday, yet coffee brews
While languid fans bemuse.
Warm, damp, close, all summer summing
In one evening's coming.
Sunrise:
Dew-darkened leaves,
Mourning doves,
Whippoorwill,
Mild-stained sky,
Remind me still
Of Grandma's farm,
Of childhood's simpler days
When peace was understood, accepted, undemanded, enjoyed as
Only a purer, more singular
Eye/heart receive, rejoice in.
Children's voices trigger memory
Without regret and resolution within.
One angle gives away
What another can't: The light
Sneaking through
A warped crack, a door
Cut to a different frame
Doesn't matter as long as the lock
Fits, the bolt
Holds a door
Cut to a different frame.
One angle reveals
What no other can: the light
Written while we were still living in Illinois, in the top floor of a two-flat which was built around the time of the War to End All Wars. I rarely think in a straight line so one observation of some temporal situation often leads to something I hope more eternal in significance. In this instance, it is Ephesians 5:8-15. I will wait while you read that before you read the following. Ready?
One August Evening
Muggy Monday, yet coffee brews
While languid fans bemuse.
Warm, damp, close, all summer summing
In one evening's coming.
Sunrise:
Dew-darkened leaves,
Mourning doves,
Whippoorwill,
Mild-stained sky,
Remind me still
Of Grandma's farm,
Of childhood's simpler days
When peace was understood, accepted, undemanded, enjoyed as
Only a purer, more singular
Eye/heart receive, rejoice in.
Children's voices trigger memory
Without regret and resolution within.
One angle gives away
What another can't: The light
Sneaking through
A warped crack, a door
Cut to a different frame
Doesn't matter as long as the lock
Fits, the bolt
Holds a door
Cut to a different frame.
One angle reveals
What no other can: the light
Thursday, March 6, 2008
uncontrolled mind uncontrolled mouth
It's hard to say I'll only say what's wise and kind;
It's hard to control my mouth and my mind,
Or so I find;
All seems to run on remote control, if any control at all,
And so I fall--
Boy, do I fall, somehow on front and kiester both at once
Like a dunce--
Pretend that fool wasn't me at all
But I know it was I who took the fall
And fell again until black and blue and I rue
And repent of all I out of my mouth sent
That wasn't wise or wasn't kind
Which came from an uncontrolled mind.
[2002-2003]
It's hard to control my mouth and my mind,
Or so I find;
All seems to run on remote control, if any control at all,
And so I fall--
Boy, do I fall, somehow on front and kiester both at once
Like a dunce--
Pretend that fool wasn't me at all
But I know it was I who took the fall
And fell again until black and blue and I rue
And repent of all I out of my mouth sent
That wasn't wise or wasn't kind
Which came from an uncontrolled mind.
[2002-2003]
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