A Hand Along the Journey: Poems for the King from One Pilgrim to Another

A Christmas Card from Simeon (by Bill Hall) Luke 2:25-35 We waited and we waited. Moses told us of Him, and we waited. Joshua and the judges spoke of Him, and we waited. Samuel and David gave us hope in Him, and we waited. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Elisha, and Jeremiah, and many, many more, proclaimed Him. But we still waited. Year upon year, ages it seemed, passed without His coming. But, yet we were made to wait. Would it have been better if we hadn’t waited? Was it good for us? Maybe we needed the time. Maybe we were still too stiff necked. Maybe even now we were not quite ready. Oh, how we longed for Him! And yet we often forgot Him. Oh, how we dreamed of the day! And yet our dreams had changed somehow. We thought more of His force than His forgiveness, and His rule than His righteousness. Was waiting truly a matter of timing, or more a matter of testing? Could it be that waiting was the best thing for us? ‘They that wait upon the Lord,’ yes, that is what the prophet says. Can we...

A Christmas Card from Joseph (by Bill Hall) Luke 2:1-7 Some days I think I am crazy. Happy Christmas 2017, by the way. Anyway, sometimes I’m not sure if I’m coming or going. But, I’m sure that life just keeps going, whether I do or not. I remember one year, year one, it was like that, coming and going . . . going and coming. For one thing, I was engaged. Now that will put a lot on a fellow’s mind. Stress. About the most stressful thing I ever did. Totally worth it, of course. But then, this wasn’t going to be just ANY engagement either. Let’s just say it took much more than an act of congress to convince me this was the right step to take. God Himself moved me into this marriage. The whole thing was more than I could handle, and more than I would ever have expected. And, right in the middle of all that, Caesar has to come up with a brilliant tax scheme. Yikes! Could it get any hairier? What was life in this family going to be like? Would we always get shuttled around like thi...

Every once in a while I feature another author or style of writing. For today and the next two Sundays, I have the privilege to pass on to you, the reader, three very ancient, yet modern, Christmas cards I received from a gifted messenger, my favorite pastor. Hope you enjoy reading what Zacharias, Joseph, and Simeon would say if they could send us Christmas cards today... A Christmas Card from Zacharias (by Bill Hall) Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 I send you Christmas greetings on this 2017 year. I tell you what I have learned of Christ. In righteous works and deeds my hands were busy. About the works of the temple I was honored to serve. It was of a proud and special few that I was a member. And my turn for the dignity of offering the incense had fully arrived. And yet on this great day there lay deep in my heart a scar. I had not discussed it in quite a while. But still it broke me when I thought of it. Having been the servant of the Lord for many long years, the Lord had never bles...

Each of our lives has the potential to be a beautiful poem of praise for our Creator, a unique tapestry that blesses His heart and others. Today's post highlights the life of one such person, whose 101st birthday is today. Thank you, Eva Bossenberger! May it touch your heart as it has mine. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/100-year-old-seamstress-makes-dresses-to-pack-in-shoebox-gifts/

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,” Jude 24 I looked in the mirror and what did I see? A failure’s reflection staring at me: Someone who never can get it all done, Who seems like she’s failed each time she’s begun, Someone who’s ugly – not pretty and sweet, Who struggles to be all she knows she should be, Someone who’s been saved for quite a long time, Still fumbling the ball when it’s her time to shine. I looked in God’s mirror and what did I see? What did His Word have to say about me? It said that He loves me and died in my place. It said He can daily replace faults with grace. It said He gives courage to try once again. It said He has put His own image within. It said He has promised I’ll be sanctified. He Who knows me takes joy; I will stand purified.  So today it’s my choice which mirror to see, Which thoughts to believe; will I ...

Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;  and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” The sea was smooth when I set sail, And everything was going well. My little craft had been well-made; Plans for my trip with care been laid. But in the distance then I saw Dark storm clouds forming monstrous jaw That soon would swallow all in sight. Escape impossible, my faith fought fright. Why here? Why now? Why ever at all? Unanswered questions loomed so tall. All I could do was bail water and pray To make it through to another day. But then my Savior spoke His peace; Into my heart came sweet release, For He Who stilled storms long ago Will never leave me to my foe. Whether or not the storm disappears Changes not the fact that He is near. He’ll take me through to the other side, And all I need, in His way, provide. Then trust your Lord, my soul, today; Lean hard on Jesus, come what may. You’ve known Him true ...

“…in His favour is life:…” (KJV) “…His favor is for a lifetime…” (NASB) Psalm 30:5 Your favor to me, Lord, Is life unto my soul, And when I read Your Word, Its balm does make me whole. Like spring rain does to seedlings, It nourishes parched ground. Above my thoughts and feelings Your grace is always found. Like mother comforts child, You still my frantic cries, For when the storm grows wild, Your smile its pow’r defies. Like fresh-baked bread to weary man, You are my satisfaction. All gifts flow from Your outstretched hand, My King of All Creation. The great juxtaposition Of Shepherd’s care for lamb Is beautiful compassion That flows from the “I AM.” I breathe Your love as rare perfume; It fills me to the core. Then as my love in turn does bloom, I want You all the more. Though You I never could deserve, Yet still You call my name, And give Yourself without reserve; Oh, that to You I’d do the s...

For You, O Lord , will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Ps. 5:12) Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life… (Ps. 23:6) “Kisses from heaven upon your brow”* God shows His love in gentle ways! They're little reminders for here and now Of how much He cares, and His unending grace.   A drink when you're thirsty, Good sleep when you're weary, Bright smiles from a child, Kind words from a friend, Time to finish a chore When deadlines crowd close, A good deal from the store On what you "needed" the most, A sweet haunting melody That tugs at your soul, Or just the right Scripture To make your heart whole,   The beauty of sunrise With it's breathtaking skies, Or mountains or trees; For us he made all of these!   Unexpected blessings Are His way of caressing Our souls in this pilgrimage Of being transformed to His imag...

Psalm 119:9-16   Folks often speak of God's love given, And how He saves our souls; But salvation doesn't start with heaven: Here and now He saves our lives. He saves us from sin's misery; His power can prevail To give us daily victory When temptations do assail. Bad habits and old ways of life He promised He can change. He can free us from internal strife; His grace offers exchange. So how do we break free for good From all that holds us back? How do we obey as we should And conquer sin's attack? I only know what God's Word says On how to cleanse our way. And so it's more than just a guess, This pathway to success. We first must take heed to His Word: To steer our thoughts toward Him, Above all else to make Him Lord, Our hearts' desire, not just a whim. We seek Him daily and implore His grace to keep us close. We put His Word within the core Of who we are; it hel...

On July 19, 2013, NASA spacecraft Cassini photographed Earth from 900 million miles away (near Saturn). The resulting picture was reminiscent of one taken on Valentine’s Day, 1990, from the edge of the solar system, where Earth was seen as a mere blue speck caught in a beam of light. Follow the link to view the 2013 picture.  https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/23jul_palebluedot “Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord :…”   Psalm 118:26 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 Earth is a pale blue dot we call “home,” And has been the backdrop of all we’ve known. Rocky mountains, rugged coasts, Sand, and ice are things Earth boasts. Questions and journeys have made up our days,   As ‘round the sun spins our blue dot through space. Struggles of nations and billions of souls Litter history’s attempts to fill God-shaped holes. ...

Luke 18:1   “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” Sometimes it seems that people stay The same forever; they just won’t change. Though others pray day after day, It seems they’ll never yield or sway. A heart can be as hard as stone, Where nothing seems to penetrate, Yet there is One, our God alone, Whose words can change the harshest tone. Our job is just to faithful be In trusting Him; we cannot see All of His works and ways so high. We must pray when we’d rather sigh. God has changed us; He can change them. And in enduring prayer we'll find He’s changed us more to be like Him. Never give up, though hope is dim!