Sunday 30 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: XI

(Chap 6: 8)


O man, the Lord has shewn you what is good
And what the Lord requires of you. He sought
Those who were just, loved mercy, and pursued
The humble pathway with Him, as He taught.


Think of the blessedness that will ensue
With Him! O man, the Lord has shewn you what
Is good and what the Lord requires of you.

16/08/12

Saturday 29 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: X

(Chap 5: 5)


Rejoice - “for this man shall be peace” within
The hearts of those who call upon His Name;
For them He bore God's wrath for every sin,
While He endured the agony and shame.


Soon they will answer to the heavenly voice,
Then reign with Him when he asserts His claim
To earth “for this man shall be peace”; rejoice. 

17/08/12

Friday 28 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: IX

(Chap 5: 4)


He gave His life for them “And he shall stand
To feed his flock”, clothed in Jehovah's strength;
The love that shepherds to their heavenly land
Is love that sought for them to such a length.


The One who is their fortress and their Rock
Has shown that He will always understand
Their needs “and he shall stand and feed his flock”.

23/08/02 
Gulf of Khambat

Thursday 27 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: VIII

(Chap 5: 2)


He shall come forth to God “who is to be
Ruler in Israel” having achieved
All that the heart of God desired to see
And to display in those who have believed.


All nations, knowing He does all things well,
Will add to praises which He has received
“Who is to be Ruler in Israel”. 

31/08/12 
Miryalaguda

Wednesday 26 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: VII

(Chap 4: 6)


'I will assemble her that halteth and
Will gather her that's driven out'; His grace,
Not only drawing from a distant land,
Will settle her in her exalted place.


God shall reign over them, who brought about
Their healing; they shall bow before His face
When He will gather her that's driven out. 

03/09/12 
UK airspace

Tuesday 25 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: VI

(Chap 4: 4)


And every one shall sit “under his vine
And under his fig-tree” as made replete,
Enjoying both a joy that is divine
And blessings that are succulent and sweet.


What blessedness that this is what we see
By faith, as each believer takes his seat,
“Under his vine and under his fig-tree”.

28/08/12
Indian airspace!



Monday 24 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: V

(Chap 4: 2)


And he shall teach us of his ways”, the nations
Will say, and bind themselves to follow in
His paths. For Christ shall bring in new relations
On earth when His millennium shall begin.


All shall redound to god the Father's praise
As he by whom the world is cleansed from sin
Shall rule, “and he will teach us of his ways. 
                                                                  
18/08/12

Sunday 23 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: IV

(Chap 3: 8)

He told them, “truly I am filled with power by
The Spirit of Jehovah”; what he claimed
Was proved by all the blessing he was showered by
In light concerning Christ which he proclaimed.


Blest Spirit, as I see the Man I'm thrilled with
And seek to gather where His Name is named
May I have power that truly I am filled with! 

20-21/08/12

Saturday 22 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: III

(Chap 2: 13)

Since “One that breaketh through” has gone before
We may advance whatever may ensue;
One who was once confined has burst the door
Of death, securing pasture that is new.


Discern, because of the exultant noise
The host of men since “One that breaketh through”
Has gone before to lead to heavenly joys. 

13/08/12



Friday 21 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: II

(Chap 2: 7)

God says, “Do not my words do good to him
That walketh uprightly”. It is his food
For every day; whenever life is dim
It is his light; his guard when sins intrude.


It is his tutor in the heavenly ways:
For this, and more: “Do not my words do good
To him that walketh uprightly”, God says.

12/08/12

Thursday 20 September 2012

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: I

(Chap 1: 15)


'I will yet bring to you an heir.' God keeps
His promises, and all His loving ways
Bring out the glory of the hidden deeps
Of works in purpose to secure His praise.


But what a thought of grace that we should share
As Christ's co-heirs. What boundless grace essays
To promise He will bring to us an Heir.

24/08/12
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

This starts a series of these: in the order of the verses in Micah, rather than in the order written.

All written in half sonnets; "onns".

Wednesday 19 September 2012

MATTHIAS

Your fame lies in that you never
Missed an occasion - from John's
Baptism to the Lord's ascension -  
Unrecognised, not an apostle.
But always a disciple, always
Ready for the call to come.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

SIMON

Zealots are not my style;
If the Lord in His wisdom   after
A night of prayer   chose such
As you this word is for me:
"Be zealous therefore and repent."

Monday 17 September 2012

JUDAS ...

"...Not the Iscariote" but marked
By that name, Judas. No doubt
This led to your exhortation to
Contend earnestly for the faith
Once delivered to the saints,
To your outpouring to Him who
Can keep you without stumbling
And can set you before His glory.

Sunday 16 September 2012

JAMES ...

"...The Less" you are presumed to be;
Much grace would have been needed to hold
Such a title; yet none the less you
Were endowed with apostolic authority
To say: "Brethren, listen to me..."

Saturday 15 September 2012

MATTHEW

Like me, a taxman with a desire
To write well: even to write
Well of Christ. Perhaps I should
Emulate your total abandon
Of a whole way of life
To keep close to your Master's heels.

Friday 14 September 2012

THOMAS

It being easier to criticise
Than to praise you are famed
As Doubting Thomas; but
To me, who has also doubted,
This comfort comes: you
First expressed the appreciation
Of Jesus, "My Lord and my the God".

Thursday 13 September 2012

BARTHOLOMEW

No words are known:
No deeds written.
But, one of the eleven,
You supported Peter;
And your name will grace
The City's foundation, one of
The Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

Wednesday 12 September 2012

PHILIP

Sufficiency was your theme:
Whether the body's need for loaves
And fishes or more spiritual need,
"Show us the Father". From this
Arose your prompt word
To Nathaniel, "Come and see..."
One sufficient for soul or body.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

JOHN

Consciously the disciple whom Jesus
Loved, you followed:
For you had leaned on Him
And you, in that nearness, had
Enquired: these features displayed
Such as continue to the end.

Monday 10 September 2012

JAMES

Was the training - one
Of the select: taken to the house
Of Jairus, the mountain of glory,
The garden of distress - squandered
On the point of Herod's sword?
No; you had thus formed in
Perfection heaven required.

Sunday 9 September 2012

ANDREW

A fisherman's life - finding:
Messias found, your thought
Was first to find your brother
- Earliest fisher of men.
And the boy with loaves and fishes
You discovered: may I have such
Divine serendipity!

Saturday 8 September 2012

PETER


First, Peter   not only
First to speak, wisely
Or not, first to act
Most often rashly   you
Were selected, the first
Apostle to see Christ
Risen; the first preacher
In the fresh era; the first
To invade the Gentile earth.

Friday 7 September 2012

THE LOVE OF CHRIST AND THE LOVE OF THE FATHER

The strength of Christ’s love has been proved when He came
To suffer, and lie in the grave;
The power of His love those who know it acclaim -
Kind to seek, strong to welcome and save.

The Father Himself has affection for you
Since ye have affection for me” -
The Lord has conveyed to our souls heaven’s view
Great in grace, grand in love to set free.

Thursday 6 September 2012

THE COMING ONE

(Mary)
A paean,
Eruption of soul and spirit,
Touching the King.

(Zacharias)
Bursting from silence
I prophesy the Coming One,
The Day Spring.

(Joseph)
Stolid, a craftsman, why
Choose me as trustee of
The Holy Thing?

(Magi)
Though the weather cuts
And stones abrade,
Nettles and thorns sting

We glory in our pilgrimage
More than in ease
Or governing

Glad to be encumbered  
Gold, frankincense and myrrh  
By gifts we bring.

(Shepherd)
More than an angel
Redeemed, directed, lightened,
I now can sing.




Wednesday 5 September 2012

THE LORD’S SUPPER

God’s wisdom first provided it;
God gives the power that’s requisite;
And through His grace He makes us fit.

Tuesday 4 September 2012

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Saviour, serve us
Mid sins that might infect us,
From which we might receive ill;
And make us really free;
Preserve us;
Protect us;
Keep us from evil;
Help us to walk with Thee.



Safely returned from a happy time in south India.