holy week triolet

if we believe, we will be saved
remember how God loves us still
although it’s true we live depraved
if we believe, we will be saved
from idols that keep souls enslaved
we can’t be freed by our own will
if we believe, we will be saved
remember how God loves us still

dear Jesus offered life on cross
blood of pure lamb is shed for sin
sin brings us death, despair, chaos
dear Jesus offered life on cross
estranged from Father, such a loss
when God turned face away from him
dear Jesus offered life on cross
blood of pure lamb is shed for sin

Christ is risen, he lives today
come look, the grave is now empty!
women witness what angels say
“Christ is risen, he lives today!”
our heavy stone is rolled away
john and peter run fast to see
Christ is risen, he lives today
come look, the grave is now empty!

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master of ceremonies

at small town wedding party,
invited guests drank and danced
in week-long jewish celebration

“they’ve run out of wine,” she
stated simply yet in urgent tone
to rabbi son seated with disciples

(why should I reveal my powers
to rescue neighbor’s reputation
when it is not my time to die?)

“do whatever he tells you,” she
nodded to shamefaced servants
holding empty thirty-gallon jugs

he ordered them to fill jars
with water, draw out sample
and take it to master of feast

who sputtered after tasting,
“why would the family wait to
serve finest wine until now?”

not watery kool-aid or cheap
wine cooler but velvety merlot
or perhaps deepest sauvignon

gift from him, the vine and groom,
whose wine of blood saves from
shame all who will drink in faith

(see John 2:1-11)

God incognito

from a strictly human perspective
(which is our only small point of view),
jesus confined in utero would have been
considered an “unplanned” pregnancy;

mary could have been stoned (at worst)
or labeled a divorcee (at best) if joseph
hadn’t been the man who stepped into
his hard role as husband and father of
the young and the restless (present on a

holy night). infant delivered into smelly
cave; later, trio left town as refugees to
escape paranoid despot’s slaughter of
the innocents (are any of us innocent

when it comes to) not recognizing
the full divinity, cosmic authority,
and humblest, self-sacrificial love
of that singular squalling baby boy?

life is brief

we’re but passing mist

our lifespan a breath of God

shadows seen through fog

James 4:14

future revelation

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” *

pay attention to Logos
the first and the last Word
who embodies hidden manna
if you have ears, use them to
listen and believe, remember

hold fast to faith, claim victory
reward of pure white stone
written with glorified real name
smooth in overcomer’s fingers
testament to commuted virtue

signifies acquittal from guilt and
condemnation, seen as worthy
in the Master’s eyes, welcomed
with solid ticket to the kingdom
as he persevered, so shall we!

_____________

*Revelation 2:17 NIV

look up

A photo and quadrille of 44 words for dVerse poets on “sky” theme…

i desire to be
a prisoner of hope
captivated by love

learning to surrender
to ultimate good will;

transformed, renewed,
impassioned and freed

to serve, unreservedly, as
we await full redemption


when Jesus, our glorious
hope, returns in blazing
sky with power to reign!


“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. “

(Romans 5:1 & 2 NIV)

messenger pigeon

 

He cried tears of sorrow

over creatures who rebelled

and washed the earth clean

of violence in ancient times

( humanity hasn’t changed )

faith-full Noah rode out storm

with motley-crewed menagerie

in huge hand-built (pitched

and precariously pitching) boat

until drencher rain stopped,

floodwaters began to recede

when raven embarks from ark,

on long reconnaissance mission

pumping back and forth across

expansive sea on strong wings.

days later, Noah let out a dove,

delicate creature in search of

nesting place for her young.

first flight aborted, exhausted

re-released after (weak) week

she returns with an olive branch

of peace to the human family (who

bowed) under God’s bow of promise

— aimed back at Him who would

bear our sin and rescue the world.

 

 


A prose poem linked to dVerse poets where Laura Bloomsbury encourages us to take flight!

melanin myopia

We must remember we are all members of one race…the human race!

wedding dress

 

“The clothing you wear in marriage must come from the closet of God’s grace.”

-Pastor John Lee on Colossians 3:12

______________

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,

gentleness and patience.”

 

 

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photo by lynn

 

personal notes on psalm 121

 

I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from?

I look up… is there anyone who can help me?

 

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

My Creator sees me; He knows, he cares, he will rescue me!

 

He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber;

God is always awake and watching over my path.

 

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

He is on duty 24/7; guarding and watching over his people.

 

The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

I can take comfort in the shade of his protection; he’s got me!

 

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

Natural threats (pandemic) and disasters will not harm me ultimately.

 

The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life;

My life is hidden in God; I belong to him and he keeps me safe.

 

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

He will be with us through all our life’s journey into eternity.

 

 

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garden of the gods – photo by lynn

 

 

 

 

 

give honor where honor due

 

Hallowed be your name?

be set apart, made holy

to know God, to make him known

but we are an unholy people

hollow/hollowed out, hurt/ hurting

we’ve brought shame on your name

we have put out the bright signal fires

even dousing them with tepid water

yet, when life’s trouble terrifies us

we again take your name on our lips

cry for help in hopeless places

look for you in unfamiliar faces

you hear, you answer, you come

dispel our soul darkness

heal our heart wounds

wake us to our real life

Hallowed be your name!

 

 

climate change

I’m linking this “sun/Son” quadrille (44 words) to  dVerse Poets pub   where we’re diving into the subject of climate crisis this week…


powerful star
commands our
entire system solar

glorious light
shines too bright
for human sight

his light maintains
so life sustains
planet’s green plains

will we war for
what we adore?
been done before

apostasy done
spiritual war won
when earth falls into sun

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”  (Psalm 2:12 KJV)

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