Wednesday 26 December 2018

Strive

When Jesus visits
the lure of being with him
is irresistible.

Like Zaccheus, we
strive our best to see him,
be undignified.

How far will we go?
To the wise men, Bethlehem
far across their world.

Perhaps we also
could patiently make our way
wherever he is.

He deserves our best.
Distance or difficulty
should not deter us.

Advice

A word to the wise,
to those who follow Jesus:
PRAY! Do NOT stop, but keep on

praying and asking
God to intercede for us.
And He WILL answer.

Yet, perhaps, there is
a condition? Be humble,
give your life to Him.

After all, He gave
HIS life to us and for us
in His birth and death.

Nothing is too big
nor too small in return, when
He has done so much.

Be aware

Watch ourselves. Jesus
warns to keep faith, unfailing
in constant duty.

Let us continue
to love and serve and praise God.
This is the Kingdom

he preaches: this the
Way, this is Him among us.
Lord Emmanuel.

Tuesday 25 December 2018

Riches

Jesus comes. He warns
to use our money wisely.
For eternity.

This tiny babe grew
to have so much wisdom, that
we might see truth.

Wealth is for this world.
How we use it affects our
heavenly destiny.

Lost

Jesus comes to seek
and save the lost. He searches
for us, His treasure.

Invited.

Jesus invites us.
All are welcome at His feast
in humility.

Jesus invites us
with a warning first to count
the cost of following.

Jesus bids us come
to give our selves completely
keeping no thing back.

Monday 24 December 2018

Repent or perish

Words from our loving
Saviour. Turn in faith to ask
forgiveness, healing.

Imperceptible
as a mustard seed is faith,
only a narrow door

will lead us to the Kingdom.
Dare we enter?

Without our Jesus
is only sorrow
and weeping.

Sunday 23 December 2018

Do not fear: stay watchful.

In this Advent time
Jesus warns us not to fear
nor worry ourselves.

Instead, be watchful.
Focus on eternity,
on real matters.

Watch for God to act:
stay awake for his coming
Choose what is right.

Sunday 16 December 2018

Waiting. Asking. Waiting.

Advent. We wait.

But perhaps Advent
is also a time for asking anew.
Those prayers we hide in our hearts
and rarely look at. For God is good.
And all things come in due time.

But perhaps sometimes
we are to unpack those desires
retrieve our buried wishes
ask again. And again. And
In our shameless audacity

our Father welcomes us.

We wait together.

A God of Second Chances

Again, Jesus sends
disciples, preaching good news,
out to the people.

Did some of them go
where others had already
been sharing the truth?

Were there some of those
who had not listened first time?
Did they receive peace?

Christmas is coming.
Are we, too, ready to speak
Good news to listeners?

Jesus sends again
out to tell this hurting world
the Peace he offers.

Friday 14 December 2018

Lights, camera, action!

The pace picks up. We
see event after event
begin to hurtle

towards fulfilment
of the Promised redemption.
Jesus our Saviour.

He sends out his 'staff'
travelling, to heal and preach
the Kingdom of God.

They go with nothing.

He sends out his 'staff'
to find food for five thousand
hungry listeners.

They provide nothing

save a few bread loaves,
some fish. Jesus takes it all
feeds all those people.

Jesus knows the Truth
of approaching persecution
and ultimate glory.

Jesus shows heaven
on a mountaintop of glory
too marvellou for words.

Jesus heals a boy
from demon persecution:
such love and power.

Jesus shows the way
to follow God, humble
as a child.

Jesus knows our hearts
heading towards memories
of Bethlehem birth.

Jesus bids us follow
single-hearted, focussing
on Him. No looking back.



Monday 10 December 2018

Extra ordinary

Reading between lines
we see the unusual
surrounding Jesus.

Women leave their homes
and families, following
this young preacher man.

What did their husbands
think? Was there resentment, anger?
Think of the scandal?

Jesus, meanwhile, caused
more embarrassment, healing
unmentionable illness,

raising from the dead,
Extraordinary sights.
Miracle worker!

This Advent, we wait
in expectation for Him,
hoping that we too

will have our lives changed.
Embarrassment? Certainly.
Jesus changes things.

Such priceless knowledge
to know the King of all kings
come to save us all.

This Man, who calms storms
restores the broken-mindedr
aises dead to life.

So tell of his deeds,
show His love shining from us
so all, too, may know.

Luke 8

Sunday 9 December 2018

Faith

That baby, renowned
the world over from his birth,
grown to be a man

of stature, wisdom,
and now miracle worker.
All had heard of him.

Even foreigners.
This Roman centurion
desperate for healing.

"Speak Your Words," he said.
"Speak healing to my servant.
Nothing else needed."

This man knew Jesus.
He recognised the power
of the Son of God.

Such faith. We also
come to the manger, trusting
in Him to save us too.



Friday 7 December 2018

Wisdom

This baby! Who would
have ever thought such wisdom
would come from a child

grown man, wise in years
with godly inspiration
teaching all who hear.

Lord of all, yet he
chose those special friends, teaching
love and forgiveness.

Following this man,
basing my life on his life
and words, brings me life.


Luke 6: The Beatitudes

Healer

The baby has grown
into a perfect man, so
free from all wrong.

Miracle healer.
Freely giving forgiveness.
Astounding man.

He invites. No one
who comes to him excluded.
We too can come

This Christmas, turning
our hearts towards that baby
who came our Saviour.


Tuesday 4 December 2018

Arrival.

Jesus arrived to
temptation, testing, trial.
rejection, ridicule.

So he healed.
delivered.
prayed.

Did any one dream
that this babe would overcome
and save us all?


Luke 4.

Monday 3 December 2018

Advent: the Coming

The media is filled with frenzy.
Imperatives are the new emperor.
Buy this. Plan that. Go here. Do. Do. Do....

Christians, succumb. Or struggle bravely
against the prevailing culture
while still shopping.

Me? Me too. But I
also choose to plunge
deep into the Word.

Daily Bible readings
doubled with Advent studies
and attempts at prayer.

Culture calls.
Holding my course
I hold the things of Christmas lightly.

Only Christmas correspondence
hovers
on the edges of my soul.

This time of year,
this time of reconnection,
where friendship feeds my soul,

bringing joys and sorrows
as I read of change and loss
in dear lives.

Shadows of the Saviour
fully like us.
I dare to think, like me.

Here, on this little page,
this tiny unnoticed corner of a vast world,
I share my thoughts with Him.

Preparation

And so, John presciently preaches Isaiah:
"“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’"

All were waiting on
this preacher man John:could HE
be the Messiah?

No. That humble man
deemed himself too unworthy
even to untie shoes.

He prepared the hearts
of those who turn to God in
humble repentance.

His job done, Jesus
was baptized. Next we learn of
his royal lineage.

We prepare to be 
surprised by this man Jesus.
Descended of God.

Sunday 2 December 2018

Waiting

The saga continues
with Roman emperors,
humble carpenters
and a Baby.

Shepherds, too,
experience angels (oh,
so many angelic visitations
these two chapters before His life.)

Waiting is rewarded. After nine months
Mary, with her babe
knows all is well. She guards
words in her heart.

Faithful Simeon and Anna
waiting at the temple
for the One.
Rewarded with His presence.

I may not see angels,
nor do I yet know the art
of waiting patiently.
Yet I practise
awaiting His presence.

Saturday 1 December 2018

Advent comes

Today in darkness,
now December has arrived:
day before Advent.

Luke 1: an orderly account
that we might know
the certainty of things.

Zechariah: no longer waiting
for a child: only doubting.
Even an angel
could not convince him easily.

Yet Elizabeth knew. As did Mary.
These long-suffering women
accepted news of undreamed
pregnancy gladly.

This first chapter
of the Jesus story
is full of songs of certainty.