Be still

To challenge norms,
To have us learn,
He forms the storms,
While in the stern.

We drop the sail.
We toss about.
And stoop to bail
The ocean out.

We trust in Him.
We bend the knee.
And by His Word
He stills the sea.

Inspired by Mark 4:36-41

“And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Megaphone

His empty tomb, His megaphone,
Up from the dead, all dead men’s bones.

To everything

To everything she did confess
Civility and openness.
Her sacred stones she did admit,
To worship them was counterfeit,
When she declared their maker’s name,
The rock and stumbling block the same.

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” I Corinthians 1:23,24

Treason

Hanging there for treason,
The crime we had committed,
Our rescue was the reason,
Our charge to Him was fitted.

Yoked now we to Him,
Both in and out of season,
Each member just a limb,
Plowing midst the heathen.

Good friday

Good because He willing suffered.
Good because He full obeyed.
Good because our sins He covered.
Good because He made the trade.

Good because He stooped so low.
Good because He broke the spell.
Good because He loved us so.
Good because He owed us Hell.

John 10:17,18 – “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Too deep

The demon’s in too deep
Some sacrifice required
Pray, don’t fall asleep
Until it is retired.

inspired by Mark 9:14-29

“When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.””

Calmly calamity

Calmly calamity,
In Christ we find,
Rivers of sanity,
Our peace His mind.

1 Corinthians 2:16 – “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.”

Obsolete

Never absent, His befriending,
Full redeemed my soul.
Death, its patent ever pending,
Obsolete its hold.

Ecce homo phobia

With a hardy cheer applaud,
Christ the King once more outlawed,
Defaulted His disciples queer,
Who dare proclaim His doctrine clear.

Welded

Welded in one man,
Perfect love and justice.
Triple Holy God
Came to change not dust us.

Rejoined us to himself,
With life and death at stake.
His weld is everlasting.
Never will it break.

John 3:17,18 – “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”