THE FIRSTBORN

Thou cause of heaven’s exultation,
Yet in such lowliness displayed,
Thou hast, as Firstborn of creation,
Lived in the world that Thou hadst made!

And such the grace of Thy subjection
That Thou hast died here in our stead,
But in Thy glorious resurrection
Thou art the Firstborn from the dead.

When Thou wast here there were not any
To comfort Thee in time of strife
But now Thou art Firstborn of many -
Thy brethren in Thy risen life.

Come near as Man Thou art distinguished
As Firstborn by the Father’s choice;
Thy praise will never be extinguished
And all Thy worshippers rejoice.

If you look hard you can see Edinburgh Castle top centre, and, a little clearer, Craigmillar Castle to the left, with Arthur's Seat to the right.  This is from the only spot I know of, near Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where the two castles can be seen.

TO YOU WHO BELIEVE

(1 Peter 2: 7)

(1 Peter 1: 19)
What could resolve our need,
And satisfy God’s heart and mind?
Precious blood.

(1 Peter 2: 6)
Men saw a stone, thwart to their building;
God saw a Corner-stone for all His works,
Elect, precious.

(2 Peter 1: 1)
What can avail itself of precious blood?
Or of this precious Corner-stone?
Precious faith.

(Psalm 133: 2)
From the Head, giving savour to all
Down to the hem of the garments flows
Precious Oil.

 (1 Kings 10: 21)
In the expansive house of the forest
Of Lebanon all of the vessels
Precious gold.

(Ezra 8: 27)
What workmanship!  Now God has
Vessels of shining copper
Precious as gold.

(Revelation 21: 11)
What workmanship! Now descends
The holy city – her illuminating,
Like a most precious stone.

Near home in Midlothian, Scotland

"I ASCEND"

 "I ascend":

One Man had the capability to say this.

 "I ascend":

One Man had the authority to say this.

 "I ascend":

One Man had the moral right to say this. 

On The Moray Firth

RAISINCAKES

The vine had budded, blossomed and produced

Its grapes; they had been picked, and dried and pressed

And brought to David’s men, where they conduced

To show the graces Abigail expressed.

So some were given to the Egyptian slave

In his distress, so that his soul grew strong;

As brought back from the frontier of the grave,

He led against those who did David wrong.

Thus David, when he came to celebrate

The ark of God borne to a settled place

Gave with the bread and wine, joy was so great,

A raisin-cake as token of God’s grace.

And now sustaining food from the True Vine

Through grace and pressure may be yours and mine!

In the Grampian Highlands

LANDING IN BHUTAN

 

SPEAKING

The dumb ass spoke

Under divine power:

Lord, at least,

Make such use of me.

Abner, general

Of those against God’s king

Could speak truth: allow truth

To come even from me.

Necho, King of Egypt,

Could convey to Josiah

The word of God: let thy word

Issue by me.

But much more, make me

A suitable instrument,

A vessel consistent

With the message.

Let the trumpet tone

Be true; the string, tautened

By Thee, be undiscordant; the bell

Chime clear!

I'm safely back from Bhutan and India where I had a very good time.  I've been a bit busy since.

JOURNEY AND A FEW LINKS

 For your prayers: I go to Bhutan and India to visit believers on the Lord Jesus there over the next three weekends (if the Lord will).  A first visit to Bhutan, a largely Buddhist country, where Christians are restricted rather than persecuted.

I have eventually put all last year's Indian scenery photographs on https://dcbindia.blogspot.com/.

I have a bit of reading for anyone who wants it at Gislebertus, and also some Reflections here.

You can also look at the Christian magazine for which I share editing work at A Word in its Season.

And here are a few more Scottish scenes:

Near Montrose: with washing hanging out over the sea when the tide comes in.

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.

More near Scurdie Ness