The GATE


The Gate

This,
An unusual gate
An unusual shape
Formed 
Of two wooden beams
Not entirely an
Unbroken seam
What's known as
A Cross

On it people were hung
By hands or wrists
From its one horizontal rung
Until
No longer down here
Did they exist

Left to die
Against God's pale blue sky
But
For them it was not
The end
For them the journey
Was it just about 
To begin

Their souls released
To step through a gate
Into eternal peace
Or into a darker pain
For them,
Their existence would
Never be the same

Christ took that dark
Symbol of man's brutality
And turned it into the new 
Reality
Of God's goodness, 
Forgiveness
Love
Falling in heavenly showers
Of Jesus Christ's blood

So won't you step through
This heavenly gate 
Opened daily, 
Always freely to you
But remember,
Only by your own faith
As your Creator's joy-filled
Heart awaits
Do its portals swing wide
To reveal His Glorious Paradise inside!!

Martyr?


Martyr?

Are you really 
Willing to die?
Let go of it all?
For an illusion?
Something I cannot
See?
Something I
Cannot touch?

But you say it
Is the truth
This is indeed
Most acute!
Is this how
Your mind
You wish to soothe?

An unseen God
A Holy Savior
A spiritual level to life?
To save us from what?
I will admit
There is much chaos
Afoot
Everywhere much cruelty
Pain suffering
To find all of that
No one would really
Be at all hard put!

Maybe you are right
Perhaps I should be more
Contrite
Learn to let go
So I too may know
The Spirit's burning fire,
Joy, the Privilege
To pick up my cross
And follow Him
His paradise to win
To lose myself
And for the living Christ
Become a martyr!!

Warmth

Jesus’s powerful presence and love can fill your heart and spirit like nothing or anyone else can. Nothing else on our earth can satisfy your deep spiritual, emotional needs like He can, and He wants to do that eternally and forever. Praise God!


Warmth

Warmth fills the air
Pure gold
A white clad throng
They part
I stare

You come 
Walking
through the middle
No one makes a sound
Toward me 
You extend a hand
You smile

Your radiance,
Dear Christ,
Warms me 
To my bones
And
Within Your smile's
Warmth
Lies my forever home!

Then My Soul

We are all immortal, living spirits. Created in the image of God, we will never cease to exist, and the good thing about life is that He gives you the freedom to choose where you will spend eternity!


Then My Soul

Then my soul
Raised her hands
Unbound by earth
Unlocked from land

Blew out her wings
Called by Your Spirit's
Songs
From heaven's hope
They rise, they spring

And sailed away
From off this
Darkened ground
Following
Your Sweet Voice's sound
To live forever within
Christ’s Glory!!

Calm Before the Storm

We have had some beautiful, warm weather for this time of year, up into the low 70’s this week. I managed to find some time to ride my bike on our river’s greenway system and take a few pictures. It make you really, really wish April and May were already here. May you have a blessed day and praise God for his goodness in allowing our world to be such a wondrous place!

Calm Before The Storm

You seem so calm and
Mostly quiet
Only sounds of water over 
Rocks
Make me at water’s edge
Delight to listen, stop

No fresh young sprigs of 
Green
None on delicate limbs 
Yet to be seen
Today’s sun seems but 
A ruse
No matter how strong
Its rays
No matter how profuse

No strong spring’s chatters
No multiple birds’ voices
Yet to be gathered
But 
For today, the sun does smile
On this happy watered mile
Crystals shards of light 
Fill a gently rolling river

But do not fear
Soon I’ll see a world
Once more filled
With all the noise and
Joyous colors 
As spring’s breezes
Again allow my senses
To be completely thrilled!!

No Other Blood

No Other Blood

My slate wiped 
Clean
Of everything I
Have done selfishly
Everything mean
And
By what you say?
Christ's Holy, Pure
Blood

On an ancient hill
called Calvary
Put forth for 
Every living, breathing
Creature to see
The God-man hung
From spikes in hands
And feet
His love-filled Blood
Staining the ground

So with only from 
His lips a few
Sounds
His Pure, Holy Blood
Did encircle, surround
His earth
For all eternity,
All time
Certainly not yours
And never mine

It was only Him
Our King, Lord, Creator
Savior
Joined with the Holy
Father
That made the plan
Only His Blood 
Strong, pure, clean
Enough
To save corrupted
Man

So next time you're
Feeling grateful
Get down on your knees
Thank Christ for that
Day most fateful
For there was no other 
Blood
That could have done
The job
Rescued us from our
Blackened sin
And
Brought us back home
To our generously
forgiving GOD!