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

  “...He is your life and the length of your days..."  - Deut. 3 0:20   Today is my birthday. For 43 years, I’ve breathed Your air,  been refreshed by Your gracious gifts of food and water,  and always had a place to lay my head at night.   Your Word has intersected with every one of those 43 years i n one way or another,  my constant companion in good and bad times. T he written Word has given me the Word-Made-Flesh.   You have given me blessings  that people in other places and centuries could only dream of: f reedom and education, a mind that could learn how to read,  and eyeglasses to make that possible.   You gave me a wonderful family growing up,  a husband of stability and children of joy,  and health to enjoy life together.  So many kind people have mirrored You in one way or another.   Beyond this life, You give me the promise of eternity  beholding Your face, the end for which I was made  and ...

  ­Revelation 2:1-7   Years of faithful serving And patient laboring, Truth affirming, Evil hating – Yet their light was flickering.   What threatened to their lamp extinguish? Christ said they had their love relinquished. Perhaps loss started undistinguished As cynicism of experience Stole joy, but led to rebuke’s anguish.   Christ’s words hurt, but they could heal; He saw inside all that was real Past duty’s persevering steel To love that had become congealed. He said “Remember, repent” in zeal.   Your eyes look even where I dwell: I’ve served You long, and perhaps well, But Father, Savior, Spirit, tell What is inside – does love for You make my heart swell Ardently unparalleled?   Oh, may it ever, ever be That love for Jesus inside me Is living, vibrant, flowing free Back to the One Who died for me! His love gave all at Calvary.

  “…the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel…” – Judges 6:8   “…The Lord knoweth them that are His…If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:19-21   An unnamed prophet God did send To challenge Israel their ways to mend. We don’t know much about the man, But he was ready at God’s command. In Scripture he only shows up once, Upstaged by an angel’s appearance To Gideon and all that would unfold. But let this prophet our attention hold; In the time of Judges’ disarray Faithful to his God he’d stayed, Ready for when and if God chose To use him publicly, His glory to show.   With eyes seeking the Master today I stand, Ready to do what He commands. Seen or unseen by other men - It matters not. Faithfully then, Honorably for Him, useful to be, Obedient to serve as He bids me. ...

 Easter Trilogy: Resurrection Sunday   “But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” – Acts 2:24 (NASB)   Not a chance that Jesus in the grave would stay, Not a chance – He’d promised He’d rise the third day. Not a chance that sin could ever win, Not a chance – let Hallelujahs begin! Not a chance that death could hold Him in its power, Not a chance – He resurrected at dawn’s hour. Not a chance that men or Satan could hinder, Not a chance – Jesus ever is over all Victor.   Not a chance that the Son wouldn’t rise to the throne, Not a chance – and He brings with Him His own. Not a chance His prophecies could ever fail, Not a chance – God’s Word shall always prevail. Not a chance that the King would relinquish His crown, Not a chance – eternity shall witness His renown. Not a chance that Alpha would not be Omega,  Not a chance – for the I AM is Yeshua.   Not a chance that His f...

Easter Trilogy: Good Friday   “Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me  unless it had been given you from above…’” – John 19:11   One awful, awe-full day You stood Alone, the Giver of all good, When men created to know You Did ultimate rebellion do. We used Your gifts against You then - High travesty by sinful men. Your Father turned His face away; You became sin, His wrath to pay.   Your gift of smiles and sweet laughter We turned to scorn, and mocked our Maker. Your gift of hands to help and hold, We used to slap in hatred cold. Your gifts of friendship and of choice We raised against You with one voice. Your gift of even digestive spit, We hurled at You in sheer contempt. Your gift of wood to craft and build We nailed You to when You were killed. Your gifts of justice, pow’r, and reason We used against You in high treason.   You gave us clothes to show salvation; We gambled Yours in degradation. You gave us life; we traded death To the very...

Easter Trilogy: Palm Sunday   “This is the day which the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24   This Day: Past A burst of sunshine amidst threatening days As the Son of David held their gaze; Celebration’s joy and “Hosanna” prophesied,* The Blessed One coming had now arrived. With a carpet of cloaks and palm branches to wave, Praises they shouted to the One Who would save. Though not yet understanding His ultimate mission, Disciples and children still sang in adoration.   This Day: Future One day in the future the King will come again, Not as humble Servant but as Conqueror to reign. All will bow the knee, even scoffers and oppressors; The indifferent and atheists will join them as confessors That “Jesus Christ is Lord,” as the truth is recognized. The submission of that day echoes eternity’s reprise: “All things created for Him, to Him all glory due; Salvation, honor, blessing - we live to worship You.”**   This Day: Present And this day...

  “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” – Psalm 115:3   Alive and quite active, my Father reigns Over every day of every year. No matter what happens, this truth remains: He is the Lord; Scripture is clear. Whether obvious or hidden, Providence is at work; He cannot be stopped by evil and sin. History becomes His scribal clerk; What may when in process seem foggy, unclear In retrospect often is understood best. Master of All, He stands without peer; His children can trust Him no matter their test. Many dismiss His authority to rule, But hatred and scorn will do them no good. Psalm 2 states that God will them ridicule; The Sovereign Son reigns as He should. This God of all history is also my Friend; From big to small things He sees all with care. Puzzles and mazes are all solved in Him; His gift is the knowledge that He’s always there.