Wednesday 31 October 2012

WRITING

You may write as an old dip pen,
Repeatedly immersing yourself,
Repeatedly leaving a trail.
You may write as a fountain pen
Having drunk deeply yet
Discretely contained the ink.
You may write as a ballpoint
Emptying ink from within.
Or you may write as a pencil,
Sharp, blunting with use,
Sharpened - shaved to sharpness -
The wood discarded, the lead
Cut, and the spoor left
Yourself scrawled on the page.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

WORDS

Words are tools
to form meanings
to be given to readers
or hearers.

Words are a path
by which meanings
may travel from mind
to mind.

Words are animals,
semi-trained, which become
meanings when tongue
or pen releases them,

Words are cogs in
the machinery of language
conveying energy
as meanings.

Words are drugs
whose influence grasps
meanings from
inarticulate sound.

Monday 29 October 2012

WALLS


It is not difficult to rhyme:
You let the feet all run along
And in a very little time
You have a thing that’s like a song.

But, when you attempt free
Verse - where do you dis-
Sect the lines? Should
Your weight fall on
This foot, or on
That?

Traditional verse is like a wall
Built by a brick upon a brick
With rhyme to save it from a fall
And if it’s done well it is slick.

It takes practice to
Weigh, stone against stone,
So that its own weight
Makes a dry-stone dyke
Stand. That is free verse.

Allow me a diversion.  If you write verse the writing of verse is fascinating, and it's a theme in itself.  Here's one, and I'll maybe have a few more this week.

Sunday 28 October 2012

TWO THINGS

These two things we may
Count on: the purpose of God
And the love of Christ.

Saturday 27 October 2012

US

Before divine power wrought
Divine affection thought
of us.

In mercy Jesus came
To bear both sin and shame
for us.

Now from His glorious place
He comes to show His grace
to us.

He's gone in to prepare
A place that He will share
with us.

Where He with joy will raise
An anthem to God's praise
by us.

Friday 26 October 2012

SUITED

saints are living stones
suited for Christ's assembly
by divine calling

Thursday 25 October 2012

VICTOR

If Satan offered natural resource
In face of Christ's apparent need of food
The Lord displayed that He had amplitude
Because the word of God was His recourse.
If Satan proffered next the world's resource
It and its power were readily eschewed
Since a dependent Man gladly pursued
A way that owned God as His only source.
Religiousness was Satan's last resource
In imitation of what God found good
But for the Lord, whose spirit was imbrued
By faith, this last temptation had no force.

So Satan left Him for a time - and found
The tide of grace was sweeping his domain;
So when he challenged Jesus yet again
It was with force, the power of death, and fear.
He could not understand One who was bound
By love with which force could not interfere.

The altar's horns were of itself; it stood
Four-square; it bore the heat; and God had seen
Under the copper was acacia wood.

21 October 2012
This is a sonnet and a half

Wednesday 24 October 2012

THE HEART OF GOD

Thinking of God, and noticing His ways,
As shown to me by Jesus, His own Son,
My soul has been not only moved to praise,

That I should know the ways of such a One,
But moved to love, considering the heart
(Filled with desire that when these ways were done

I, as myself a son, should have a part
In His eternal presence, being too
Integral in Christ's glorious counterpart  

The splendid bride, joined to the Bridegroom who
Gave all for her) which, from profound affection,
Conceived and used these ways to carry through

Those whom He loved into complete perfection,
Washed from their sins, cleared from the power of sin,
Knowing His love, in Christ, the Resurrection

And in the arms of God, who drew them in
To His own countenance. No other mind
Could, straining to its greatest heights, begin

To think of such a plan as this, designed
By such a God; no other heart required
Such a conception for its unconfined

Expanse of love; no other love inspired
Such love as that by which God's sons are fired.

Tuesday 23 October 2012

ASCENT

I

Homelessness: Adam's condition,
Ousted from Eden, He took part in
From His moment of birth. A beast has its earth;
A bird its nest; even the sun its tent;
He had nowhere to lay His head.
He must pass by foot the land's length,
Becoming wearied, requesting refreshment,
His feet roughed by shards of stone.
Though always purposefully advancing to that ultimate  
Homelessness; friendlessness  
That through anguish for men He should secure
Never to be lacked, God's concept of home.

II

Selflessness: always the sheep,
All wanderers and all in need,
Brambled, fallen, or sickening,
Occupied His days. Touching,
Searching and healing He cared for them;
Whatever the distance, the hour, the depths,
Like the urgent benighted fisher
He was on call and on duty. Tenderly
He bore the lambs; patiently
Led the sheep; constantly was door
To their fold: both in metaphor and fact
He laid down His life for the sheep.

III

Tirelessness   season after season:
Ploughing the clogging soil (smelling
Freshness of clods); sowing good seed
Broadcast, tending, daily
Enduring that day's work, sustained
By the joy lying before, the vision
Of gold grain rippling in the breeze,
Foresight of the glory of the harvest.

IV

Blamelessness   what these hands
(Blessing, healing, suffering) did,
What the pure heart felt, what
The descendent mind thought, perfected
For priesthood, ascent to the mount of God,
A stance in His holy place. Hands
Filled, consecrated, from God to men,
To God from men He served   to what
Extent? By the eternal Spirit He,
Spotless, offered Himself to God.

V

Fearlessness   our Hero went
The downward track, face set
Steadfastly; unencumbered by
A great man's armour He advanced
Against both death and its wielder
In the name of God whose ranks they defied:
By death death has been wrested
Into His victorious hand. Shielded
By the Conqueror's shield, defended
By His sword, victors by His victory
We cleave to our Deliverer.

VI

Peerlessness   whether the descent
To the lower parts of the earth, whether
Ascent above all heavens;
Or simply child, man, carpenter,
Preacher and sufferer, not one
Can compare: how rightly therefore,
His worth proved, He has the place
We could not give though knowing He
Deserves it   accommodated on the Father's
Throne, coronated in His affections:
And among His brethren, those equipped
To surround His glory, refracting
To the magnification of His splendour.

VII

Tearlessness   He will preside
Where not cheeks only but eyes
Will have received God's personal attention;
There, Minister of the Sanctuary, He,
Sweet Psalmist of Israel will orchestrate
Response. Under the King's direction
Instruments He has made will answer
To long years tautening and tuning,
To provide God what He first desired:
Amid the praises of His people - a home.

Monday 22 October 2012

NOW MUCH I'M LOVED

On me, God’s grace has beamed;
By blood, I am redeemed;
To me His kindnesses have streamed:
How much I’m loved!


For me, the Saviour died;
For me, was crucified;
And now, for me He’s glorified:
How much I’m loved!


He suffered to atone,
But now, upon the throne,
He cares for me, with all His own
How much I’m loved!


He has prepared the place
Before the Father’s face
Which we will share, through boundless grace:
How much I’m loved!


Though here the world outside
Should raise an evil tide
With me, He says, He will abide:
How much I’m loved!


And as His word may be
Abiding now in me
Increasingly He’ll make me see
How much I’m loved!

Sunday 21 October 2012

GLORY

"The glory of God
and the glory of Man go
together in Christ".

Saturday 20 October 2012

Friday 19 October 2012

WALK WORTHY

That coat of skin God 
Designed suits you for
Your thorned path: walk worthy
Of the glad tidings.

Your festival robe, your
Holy turban, remake you
For priestliness: walk worthy
Of God.

Truth-girt, helmeted
With salvation, in your full
Equipage: walk worthy
Of the Lord.

dapper in your best
Robe, ring on hand,
Sandalled: walk worthy
Of the calling.

Philippians 1: 27
1 Thessalonians 2: 12
Colossians 1: 10
Ephesians 4: 1 


Thursday 18 October 2012

VOLITION

When the Spirit took
A subject place is was of
His own volition.

Wednesday 17 October 2012

JESUS IS MY SAVIOUR

Jesus is my Saviour, Jesus is my Friend,
Jesus is my Shepherd, guiding to the end;
Jesus is my Master, Jesus is my Lord,
Jesus is my Shield and very great Reward;
Jesus is my Sunshine, Jesus is my Day,
Jesus is my Leader in the heavenly way.

Do you know the Saviour? Do you have a Friend?
Do you know the Man on whom you can depend?
Do you know the Master? Do you call Him Lord?
Are you bound to Jesus by faith's eternal cord?
Do you walk in sunshine? Do you know the day
Which goes and brightens to eternity.

He will be your Saviour if you trust in Him:
He will give you sunshine which will never dim;
When you know the Master, when you know the Lord
You with those who love him will sing with one accord:
"Jesus is my Saviour, Jesus is my Friend,
Jesus is my Shepherd guiding to the end!"

Tuesday 16 October 2012

MOSES

Muscle was needed. The throb of thighs,
Shift of feet on the mountainside. Strain
Of gaining the crags of Sinai's summit,
The gentler tops of Horeb, or the heights
Of Pisgah. This was your route of approach
To the nearness marked in advance for you -  
And the friendship. So that rest, peaceful security,
Was something valuable as you were with Jehovah
Since you arrived through harsh experience
But softened since experience with Him, His eagle
Winging to Himself to be through long tramping
More than any other "among His priests".

And only through such experience could you be His people's shepherd,
Leashing their waywardness, cajoling, using your rod -  
Mindful always that it could become a serpent but using it
More as provider of water - till their princes could dig with their staves.

But the desert was not all harshness
Since from its drought songs echoed
As splendid punctuation. While dearth
Parched tongues and the sultriness
Enervated your doctrine bathed
Like the rain, your speech flowed,
A refreshing dew. A gentle smirr
Sprouted the tender herbs,
To make the grasses pullulate
Lush strands skyward -   
Patience, with God, made song.

Monday 15 October 2012

THE OPERATIONS OF GOD

All this world's vigour is dismayed,
All this world's wisdom is denied;
Fresh power and wisdom is displayed
In Jesus Christ, the Crucified.

Secured at infinite expense
Many, deriving from that One
Share - while He has pre-eminence -
The place, and Spirit of God's Son.

Esteeming the descending mind
Which moved Christ Jesus as He came
From glory to the depths we find
Our minds conforming to the same.

In the affectionate control
Of Him, who fills the Father's heart,
With grateful voices we extol
The God whose work sets us apart.

Chosen before time had begun,
Redeemed, forgiven, given grace
In Christ, in God's Beloved One,
We bless God for our favoured place.

Sunday 14 October 2012

TO CATRIONA

Care, child, for the lambs
You will have in your trust.

Value the blameless Lamb
Led dumb to the shearers.

Spin the gnarled fleece
To taut, fine, warp.

Drench the tight threads
Till warm dyes permeate.

Weave loose weft and tight warp
Into a seamless garment.

Hem, embroider, finish
In fine stitching.

Lastly, my daughter,
Wear it with good grace.



We were - a little late - celebrating her 30th birthday yesterday.

Saturday 13 October 2012

MOTION

Whenever God means
To put people in motion
He firstly feeds them.



The thought I have gleaned, although I have shaped it.  As often.

Friday 12 October 2012

JESUS THE LORD IS RISEN FROM THE TOMB

As lightening flashes shattering the gloom
In the disciples hearts the message came  
Jesus the Lord is risen from the tomb.

And still in souls by grace preserved from doom
The message and effect remain the same  
As lightening flashes shattering the gloom

They come and move the heart till we have room
For nothing but the glory of the Name 
Jesus. The Lord is risen from the tomb

And comes among His own as the Bridegroom
Who gave Himself and thus secured His claim.
As lightening flashes shattering the gloom

He will return   before He will consume
Those who reject Him   for us who proclaim
"Jesus the Lord is risen. From the tomb

He is now free. And soon He will assume
The public place that suits His worth and fame."
As lightening flashes shattering the gloom
Jesus the Lord is risen from the tomb.

Thursday 11 October 2012

GETHSEMANE


The deep agony
Of Christ told itself out in
Few, yet mighty, words.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

THE FATHER'S DELIGHT

After the secret years when Christ excelled
In virtue, largely for the Father's sight,
Praying, He was baptised and thus impelled
The Father's exclamation of delight.

Upon the holy mountain where Christ prayed,
After the years of service among men
In which God's grace was perfectly displayed,
The Father's joy in Christ was told again.

After the fulness of Christ's work was done
To expiate, redeem, forgive and save,
Enraptured by the beauties of the Son
The Father's glory raised Him from the dead.

Tuesday 9 October 2012

VARIATIONS: C

i

And how did Abel know how
To offer righteously? How did Enoch understand
How to please God? How did Abraham see
Christ's day? Or how did Moses judge
What was the reproach of Christ? Faith
Was their secret: by it they looked forward to
Christ, Leader and Completer of Faith.

ii

Whence is the joy that stirs these people's lives
As if a harvest had filled them with delight?
What power has risen to obviate decline
And all the forces that caused them to divide?
Those walking in the darkness have seen a light;
Those dwelling in death's shadow have seen one shine.

iii

After the time of concealment,
Necessary famine, or gloom,
His delight was to let them know
Himself, his love and his supplies:
Greater than all of secret dreams
These were what designated him
As the Revealer of Secrets.

Monday 8 October 2012

VARIATIONS: B

i

Pullulations of plants, actions
Of animals,expenditure
Of energy   all source themselves
On one centre of light and heat:
Hyssop and cedar, ant and man
Sustained in sap or blood, flowing
Because of one emanation.

ii

Thus all the people found a man:
"Go to Joseph" was the king's counsel.
The great administration flowed
From the granaries his wisdom had built.
By this foresight, and this organisation,
He acquired the name "Sustainer of Life".


iii

The Originator of Life having been killed
Out of that death whose power could not hold Him
Issues the life we dwell in now as His.
Death has no claim on those who are His kin;
The darkest tomb His victory has lit;
He holds death's keys and leads us out to bliss.

Sunday 7 October 2012

VARIATIONS: A

i
He found a man in whom his heart could trust
Who would accomplish each detail of the work;
Joseph was he to whom all men could turn  
He could supply the answer to their wants;
And so he named him as Saviour of the World.

ii
As made perfect through suffering,
Suitable in every detail,
Holy, harmless and undefiled,
Tested and tempted in all things,
He has encountered the darkness,
The Leader of our Salvation.

iii
See, it sinks in red splendour,
Invading the sovereignty of darkness;
See, it departs into the winter,
Leaving earth in its barrenness.
It comes, the morning looms,
Night's shroud is torn;
It comes, the summer brims,
Saved by its healing power.

Saturday 6 October 2012

THE SUPPER

We gather, Lord, to call to mind
Thyself and all Thy worthiness;
Thou hast secured all God designed
For those whom He desired to bless;
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

We gather, Lord, till Thou shalt come
As testimony in the scene
When, mid this world's opprobrium
Thy death and sufferings have been;
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

We gather, Lord, unto Thy Name
In fellowship that will not cease
United in the single aim
Of righteousness, faith, love and peace
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

We gather, Lord, to furnish Thee
With opportunity to show
Thyself and all Thy love whilst we
Remain in pilgrimage below:
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup

Friday 5 October 2012

A MAN

A Man has followed a lonely way -
Like a clear stream unaffected
By the surrounding soils,
Reflecting and scintillating under
The blue of heaven - God
Was glorified in that life.

A Man has come to a lonely cross -
There, the object of smiting,
Man's malice against goodness; then
God's righteous sword smiting
The Substitute - God
Was glorified in that death.

A Man has risen from amongst the dead -
Risen, since death's grip is shattered,
Raised by the glory of the Father
Who loved; made alive -
In the Spirit - God
Was glorified in that rising.

A Man has ascended above all heavens -
Captivity has been led captive,
He has been made both Lord and Christ,
The Father has rejoiced to give Him
A place on His throne - God
Was glorified in that ascension.

A Man on the throne has given -
The Holy Spirit of God,
The knowledge of divine purposes,
The grace and gifts required
To sustain His people here: God
Is glorified in that giving.

A Man is coming to reign -
The earth will blossom for Him,
The blossom will fertilise,
The fruits will swell and ripen
In luscious abundance - God
Will be glorified in that dominion.

Thursday 4 October 2012

NAME

I had not invented that
Name.  I might have gone for
Destroyer as well as Creator,
Attributed duality to
Him.  Or might have posited
His absence, perhaps blaming 
Him for it.  But love insisted
On His presentation; grace,
Coming to us, avowed
Another was.  One, once known as
I AM, is known as "Father".

Wednesday 3 October 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH XIV

(Chap 7: 18)


“Who is a God like unto thee?”; our souls
Bow to the God who blesses and forgives;
Each one who knows His graciousness extols
The only One through whom their spirit lives.


God's will desired that all His saints should be
Within His presence in the grace He gives
To say, “Who is a God like unto thee?”

 02/09/12
Nandyal


This concludes the "Thoughts on Micah"

Tuesday 2 October 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH XIII

(Chap 7: 9)


“I shall behold his righteousness” in One
Who walked a righteous path; and who has proved
God's righteousness upon the cross: God's Son,
By whom the power of sin will be removed.


And in the multitude who God will bless,
As both His purpose and His grace behoved,
Through Christ “I shall behold his righteousness”.

27/08/12
Coimbatore (Jenney's Residency)

Monday 1 October 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH XII

(Chap 7: 8)


My enemy, do not gloat over me:
Although I fall I shall arise. My eyes
Shall see the light because the Lord shall be
A light to me. You will not seize His prize.


Since He has taken my iniquity,
Through grace, although I fall, I shall arise;
Do not gloat over me, my enemy.

14/08/12