A SELF-CONTROL VILLANELLE

True self-control is when the Spirit fills

The soul and shows us Christ, to captivate

The heart – and not by human works or wills.

With noble self-control amid men's ills

Stephen's demeanour can well demonstrate

True self-control is when the Spirit fills.

Good self-control comes as the Just One thrills

The soul and moves the saint to consecrate

The heart – and not by human works or wills.

A self-control that's pharisaic chills

The soul, but, as the pure in heart relate,

True self-control in when the Spirit fills

The Spirit loves the self-control He instils

In souls; and by His grace will elevate

The heart – and not by human works or wills.

The Spirit quickens though the letter kills

So this is the report we promulgate:

True self-control in when the Spirit fills

The heart – and not by human works or wills.

This concludes the interaction of Galatians 5 and Philippians 4.

FLOW

The Jewish system

Was not great enough to hold

The flow of blessing.

UNIQUE

See Joseph roused from his reverie
By the angel's message; hear the word
Of the distinctiveness of Christ's birth,
God's wisdom dictating that in every
Way He was unique.

Hear what the Father's Beloved had to say
In the temple: a Child devoted utterly
To His father's will, demonstrating to all
That frequented the place - in every way
He was unique.

What God's delight in One in whom sin
Was not!  Hear Him acclaimed from heaven;
Behold the Spirit descend as a dove
Upon Him, marking out that in
Every way He was unique.

There at Golgotha, between two thieves, see
The Lord of glory; there was no other
Atonement; no other death in power; no
Other invasion of death; in every way He
Was unique.

His grave was distinguished by God because
He was with the rich in His death - God
Watched the tomb, and the Father raising Him
Meant that in every way He was
Unique.

One who was here, incomparably meek
Was received up in glory; Christ
Who once was rejected now is acclaimed,
The only sharer of the throne of the Father:
In every way He was unique.

Knutsford 
6 April 2014

UNIQUE

Distinctive as the great I AM,
Or as a Person who was meek,
Or as God's sacrificial Lamb:
In every way He was unique.

The Father's voice rejoiced to tell
Of pleasure in each perfect day,
While men said, "He does all things well":
He was unique in every way.

He is exalted in the hearts
Of all the lost He came to seek
Who say, through grace which He imparts,
"In every way He was unique".

The Help of persons who are weak,
The Joy of all who watch and pray,
In every way He was unique;
He was unique in every way.

Cheshire 6 April 2014

NEWBORN

“Every shepherd

Must feel the same” –

Thus Abel,

Watching the firstling of the flock,

As instinct, trial and error,

Guided to its mother’s udder.

Thus Rachel

As she saw the lamb

Suck the teat’s rich colostrum.

Thus Moses

As he felt the tight belly

Of a minutes-old satiated lamb.

Thus David,

As he heard the ewe murmuring

Her psalm of contentment.

Thus the Good Shepherd

As the man once blind asked avidly,

“Who is He, Lord,

That I may believe on Him?”

The quote at the start is from a present-day shepherd, about his joy in a newborn lamb feeding.

A MEEKNESS VILLANELLE

True meekness, seen in Jesus, was unique

Yet by the Spirit saints conform to Him:

God's heart is cheered by persons who are meek.

In noble meekness see the Shepherd seek

Lost sheep in a poor world where life is grim:

True meekness, seen in Jesus, was unique.

As led in judgement through a world that's bleak

The meek will show God's blessings do not dim:

God's heart is cheered by persons who are meek.

In a world soiled by Roman, Jew or Greek

Like the pure ark beneath the cherubim

True meekness, seen in Jesus, was unique.

God loves the man who'll turn the other cheek

Rather than fighting with another's whim:

God's heart is cheered by persons who are meek.

And God delights to hear men humbly speak

Of grace which fills our vessels to the brim.

True meekness, seen in Jesus, was unique:

God's heart is cheered by persons who are meek.

HOW GRAND THE REVELATION!

The mighty God, who dwelt alone,

Before the world’s foundation,

In perfect light, has been made known -

How grand the revelation!

The Lord of glory took His place

Within His own creation

To demonstrate transcendent grace -

How grand the revelation!

We know the One who took our part

For our emancipation

And to disclose the Father’s heart -

How grand the revelation!

And, brought to know God’s holy Name,

His sons with exultation

Expand their praises and exclaim -

How grand the revelation!

MERCY

Mercy endured for me

When I was lost;

Mercy secured for me

Peace - at great cost;

Mercy has reached for me,

Mercy has preached for me,

Mercy beseeched for me

When I was lost.

Mercy has cared for me,

One who is found;

Mercy prepared for me

Heavenly ground;

Mercy has sought for me,

Mercy has wrought for me,

Mercy has fought for me -

One who is found.